In Sermon Illustrations: "Olden Days"

Valentine's Day, Romantic

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 24, 2021

“Every Valentine’s Day our campus newspaper has a section for student messages. Last year my roommate surprised his girlfriend with roses and dinner at a fancy restaurant. When they returned from their date, she leafed through the paper to see if he had written a note to her. Near the bottom of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:16

Tags: Love, Marriage, Romance, Dating, Valentine's Day  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Mother's Day Humor!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 19, 2022

A little boy forgot his lines in a Sunday School presentation. His mother was in the front row to prompt him. She gestured and formed the words silently with her lips, but it did not help. Her son's memory was blank. Finally, she leaned forward and whispered the cue, "I am the light of ...read more

Tags: Church, Children, Sunday School, Humor, Mothers, Mother's Day, Light Of The World  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mother's Day Joke

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 19, 2022

Several years ago, when fathers were not with the mom for her delivery, a group of expectant fathers were in a waiting room, while their wives were in the process of delivering babies. A nurse came in and announced to one man that his wife had just given birth to twins. "That's quite a ...read more

Tags: Children, Birth, Mothers, Mother's Day, Delivery, Dads  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jewish Weddings Are A Portrait Of The Last Days

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 2, 2023

When a Jewish man found a woman he liked (and most times his father would pick one out for him) he would approach the young lady with a marriage contract (a covenant). In the contract were laid out the legal terms in which he would propose marriage. The most important part of this contract was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Revelation, Church, Israel, End Times, Last Days, Rapture, Bride Of Christ, Weddings  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Six Ways To Be A Modern Day Barnabas

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 2, 2023

Below are six ways to encourage someone. When was the last time you encouraged someone in any of the following ways? Have you ignored some gentle promptings by the Spirit to encourage someone? Perhaps today you might ask God to whom you might send a note or make a call? Yes, dear brother or ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:36

Tags: Encouragement, Barnabas, Serving, Ministry To Others, Volunteers, Fellowship, Support, Giving  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Devil Never Takes A Day Off

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Aug 7, 2023

Not long ago, ... a minister shared... a conversation ...he had ... with one of his ...parishioners. He said that one day ... a church member ... called him up on the telephone, ... and angrily said ... I phoned you Saturday, ... but I could not get you. The pastor explained that it was his day ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:9-10, Mark 2:23-28, Exodus 34:21, Matthew 11:28

Tags: Sabbath, Rest

Denomination: Anglican

Is The Solar Eclipse A Sign Of The Last Days?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 6, 2024

“The Bible says a number of times that there’s going to be lots of signs in the heavens before Jesus Christ returns to Earth. What about the Solar Eclipse that is coming on April 8? We see this as possibly one of those." “However, my number one encouragement to people would be to just ...read more

Tags: Revelation, Salvation, Hope, End Times, Prophecy, Last Days, Son Of God, Sun, Return Of Christ, Solar Eclipse  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Father's Day Gift

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Jun 26, 2024

One morning I got a text from my daughter about 4 days before Father's Day and we exchanged these texts. Dad, what size shirt do you wear. Large, Extra Large, or Extra, Extra Large. Me: Extra Large. What size pants do you wear? Me: 36 by 34 What size shoes do you wear in dress and tennis ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Tags: Father's Day, Gift For Father

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Unwanted-Zimri, The King For Seven Days

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jul 2, 2025

Introduction: Some kings in Old Testament days had very long reigns, like Uzziah (52 years), Manasseh (55 years) and Jeroboam II of the Ten Northern Tribes (Israel, 41 years). The reigns of others were sometimes very short, but nothing like the week-long reign of Zimri, one of history’s most ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 16:8-20

Tags: Palace Coups, Zimri, Suicides

Denomination: Baptist

Boy, Oh Boy, What A Day It Was

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 27, 2025

Dr. James L. Snyder Throughout my years, I have had many crazy days. I guess it's crazy days that develop character. If so, I have a lot of character. I never had a day quite like last week. Everything seemed to go wrong for me. When we got up, our electricity was off. It had been off for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Accident, Scam

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

We Need To Understand That Our World Is A Fast ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Sep 25, 2001

We need to understand that our world is a fast changing world. Change is not necessary bad - if fact change is normal - Change is really a sign of life. Do you know, what the medical definition of death is? a body that does not change... During my sermon your body is going to change - ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Tags: Change, Creation, Growth In Christ, Workplace

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Listen To The Words Of Max Lucado From His Book ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 2, 2008

Listen to the words of Max Lucado from his book "When God Whispers Your Name": "For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day’s demands. It is now that I must make a choice Because of Calvary, I’m free to choose. And so I choose. I choose love. No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice ...read more

Tags: Father's Day, Mother's Day, New Year's Day

One Day, A Little Girl Is Sitting And Watching ...  PRO

Contributed by Stephen Fournier on Dec 8, 2000

One day, a little girl is sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly notices that her mother has several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?" she asks. Her mother replies, "Well, every time ...read more

Scripture: John 3:21-32, John 10:1-18, Hebrews 11:8-16

Tags: Faith, Mother's Day, Parenting

Denomination: Bible Church

On A February Day In 1925, Floyd Collins Climbed ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 17, 2001

On a February day in 1925, Floyd Collins climbed into Sand Cave in search of fortune. Suddenly, his lantern failed. Crawling through the darkness, Collin’s foot hit a seven-ton boulder. It fell on his leg, trapping him in the coffin-like narrowness of a dark, subterranean straitjacket. For days ...read more

The Devout Priest Was Caught In A Flood One Day, ...  PRO

Contributed by Simon Rundell on Jan 19, 2001

The devout priest was caught in a flood one day, and he climbed onto the roof of his Vicarage and as the water started lapping up over the roof he prayed “Lord, deliver me from this flood”. The water continued to rise and a policeman in a rowing boat passed: “Can I help you Vicar?” “No thanks, the ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Love, Prayer Answered, Examples Of Faith

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

One Of My Favorite Comedies Is "Groundhog Day", A ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 23, 2001

One of my favorite comedies is "Groundhog Day", a make-believe story about a weather man, Phil Conners who has a bad attitude, even worse manners, and a razor tongue. He was was reporting on Groundhog Day from a small town he cared little about. The fuss the folks were paying to a groudhog he ...read more

Tags: Faith, Leadership General, Workplace Integrity

Denomination: Independent/Bible

One New Year’s Day, In The Tournament Of ...  PRO

Contributed by William Jewett on Nov 2, 2000

One New Year’s Day, in the Tournament of Roses parade, a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas. The amusing thing was this float represented the Standard Oil Company. With its vast oil resources, its truck ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18

Tags: Misconceptions, Holy Spirit General, God's Omnipotence

Denomination: *other

A Pastor Was Visiting A Family One Day. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Feb 27, 2001

A pastor was visiting a family one day. He knocked on the door but no one answered it. He knocked again and again, but still no answer. He thought he heard someone inside but they just wouldn’t answer the door. Finally he wrote a note and slipped it under the door. It was Rev.3:20: “Behold I ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13, Revelation 3:20

Tags: Argue, Fight, Dealing With Conflicts, Sin

Denomination: Wesleyan

One Day I Was Seeking To Emphasize To A Christian ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 23, 2001

One day I was seeking to emphasize to a Christian Brother the intimacy of this union. We happened to be drinking tea together, so I took a lump of sugar and stirred it into my tea. A couple of minutes later I asked, “Can you tell me where the sugar is now, and where’s the tea?” “No,” he said, ...read more

Tags: Discipleship, Parable General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Do You Do All Day?  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on May 4, 2001

WHAT DO YOU DO ALL DAY? One afternoon a man came home from work to find total mayhem in his house. His three children were outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife’s car was open, as was the ...read more

Tags: Children

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational