In Sermon Illustrations: "Old"

To The Best Of Our Knowledge, The New Hebrides ...

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Mar 25, 2008

“To the best of our knowledge, the New Hebrides had no Christian influence before John Williams and James Harris from the London Missionary Society landed in 1839. Minutes after going ashore, both missionaries were killed and eaten by cannibals” (John Piper, online paper). Eighteen years later, ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus's Presence In The Ordinary

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Jul 22, 2008

JESUS'S PRESENCE IN THE ORDINARY Dr. Dale E. Turner writing for Health Action News in July 1993 tells an interesting story of John W. Gardner, founding Chairman of Common Cause. Turner quotes Gardner as saying that it is “a rare and high privilege to help people understand the difference they can ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will

Denomination: Salvation Army

In One Of My Sources, I Read This About The ‘wise ...

Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 27, 2008

In one of my sources, I read this about the ‘wise men’ and some of it was news to me! "Not much is known about these astrologers (traditionally called wise men). We don't know where they came from or how many there were. Tradition says they were men of high position from Parthia, near the site of ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Church Of God

Looks Great, But Where's ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

LOOKS GREAT, BUT WHERE’S GOD? I am reminded of the story about how a cowboy ventured right off the range one Sunday and attended church. This was a fine church; one of the town’s best and most influential. And the people wore suits that even Armani couldn’t afford. The problem is the cowboy ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Paul And Kelly ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 11, 2009

PAUL AND KELLY BENITEZ In 1967, Paul Benitez and his fiancée Debra were married. In 1968, they had a baby boy and named him Kelly. Paul was drafted into the Army in 1969. While he was overseas, Debra moved away and changed her name. Paul was never able to find his wife nor his baby boy. He would ...read more

Tags: Sin Separates From God

Being Right Is More Important, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 27, 2009

BEING RIGHT IS MORE IMPORTANT, RIGHT? Two Malaysian farmers had a dispute over a calf. 37-year-old Zulkifli said it was his, and 44-year-old Isa said it was his. Zulkifli just went out to tether the calf in a field to graze, when Isa stopped him and claimed the calf was his, claiming that Zulkifli ...read more

Tags: Pride

The Light Of The Word

Contributed by Taiwo Oyadiran on Mar 23, 2019

I like to tell this story about my son as a 2-year-old. I always liked to give him a shower/bath and like most kids that age, he liked playing with the water. Many times, when there’s water and soap on his head and face, he, of course, had to close his eyes. That part he didn’t like. No kid would ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:105

Tags: Faith, Revelation

Where Will You Be?

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 23, 2019

Where Will You Be? When the clouds burst open where will you be? Will there be joy in your heart when Jesus you see? Will you be running to hide from His face Or standing there with your head hanging in disgrace/ It surely is coming and the time is near at hand When Jesus comes to take his ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20:12

Tags: Death, Rapture, Great White Throne, Bema

Denomination: Baptist

Get Back In The Game!

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 19, 2021

What if God started telling your church to do something we had never done before? How hard would you work against it - unwilling to change? There is an old saying – do you know what they put on the tombstone in front of a closed church? “WE NEVER DID IT THAT WAY BEFORE” If that’s the case, we ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:12-26, Ephesians 4:11-12

Tags: Laity, Sports, Pastor, Basketball

Denomination: Methodist

After Work

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Sep 2, 2023

Forty hours of toiling hard Can make a tiresome week; But the work has to be done, Though old bodies grow so weak. Now, I’ve heard Pop often say, “Be glad when this work day’s through, I just can’t wait to clock out, Go home and rest with Mom and you. Son, it’s been a long hard day, I’m worn ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23, Ephesians 2:10, Proverbs 20:7, Ephesians 6:1-4

Tags: Family, Labor, Labor Day, Hard Work, Dads, Tough Times, Olden Days, Back Then  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

I Found An Almost Unbelievable Demonstration Of ...

Contributed by Mark Haines on Dec 16, 2006

I found an almost unbelievable demonstration of how the Christmas spirit comes and goes in a story told to Pastor Stuart Briscoe years ago by an old German man. He fought with the German forces in the First World War. In those days, battles were not high tech but hand-to-hand trench warfare. ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

Overcomers  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on Feb 6, 2003

Overcomers 1. Johnny Fulton was run over by a car at the age of three. He suffered crushed hips, broken ribs, a fractured skull, and compound fractures in his legs. It did not look as if he would live. But he would not give up. In fact, he later ran the half-mile in less than two minutes. 2. Walt ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Endurance

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Recently Read An Article By Jill Carattini ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on May 23, 2004

I recently read an article by Jill Carattini where she told this story: “A nurse named Melanie was on her way to work when something in the trash bin caught her eye. She was immediately taken with the possibilities in the discarded treasure. It was a cello, slightly cracked in several places, but ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God, Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Methodist

A Forever Family

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 10, 2009

A FOREVER FAMILY Author Keith Miller tells of an outgoing 40-year-old woman who was part of a sharing group he led. Here is her story: "When I was a tiny little girl, my parents died and I was put in an orphanage. I was not pretty at all and no one seemed to want me. But I longed to be adopted ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Tags: Adoption

Ipod ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 14, 2009

iPod Religion This is right up there with what 10-year-old Joshua wrote to his pastor: “Dear Pastor, My father says I should learn the 10 Commandments. But I don’t think I want to because we have enough rules already in our house.” That’s not as bad as what 11-year-old Ralph wrote: “Dear Pastor, I ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:7-9

Tags: Youth

Not Everything Is Gone

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Jul 14, 2010

NOT EVERYTHING IS GONE As I was putting this message together his past Monday evening, I got a phone call. It was the police department. I serve as one of their chaplains, and they called me to respond to a house fire. A woman was found dead inside, and her husband had just arrived on the scene, ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Methodist

A Woman Was At Work When She Received A Phone ...  PRO

Contributed by Jimmy Chapman on Jan 16, 2008

A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her small daughter was very sick with a fever. She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication. She got back to her car and found that she had locked her keys in the car. She didn’t know what to do, so she called home and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Commitment Or Surrender What's The Difference

Contributed by Raymond Petzholt on Jun 26, 2023

Adrian Rogers tells the story of his meeting with Josef T’son who had suffered greatly under communism. Adrian said: “Josef, tell me about American Christianity.” Josef responded: “Adrian, I had rather not.” “No, I want to know.” “Well, Adrian, since you have asked me, I’ll tell you. The key ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:9

Tags: Serving Christ, Commitment, Surrender

Denomination: Baptist

Paul Harvey Told This In 1977 As Part Of His The ...  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Sep 2, 2003

Paul Harvey told this in 1977 as part of his The Rest of the Story radio program. “It is gratitude that prompted an old man to visit an old broken pier on the eastern seacoast of Florida. Every Friday night, until his death in 1973, he would return, walking slowly and slightly stooped with a large ...read more

Tags: Lord's Supper

Denomination: Baptist

Paul Brand's Missionary Mother  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 14, 2011

PAUL BRAND'S MISSIONARY MOTHER Dr. Paul Brand, a well known doctor and author, was raised in India. His parents were missionaries there. In his book, titled "In His Image," he writes about his mother. It is one of the most touching stories I’ve ever read. He writes that when his mother was 75 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-13

Tags: Missions