In Sermon Illustrations: "One Line Sermons"

Unforgettable Bombs - All We Can Do Is Pray?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Sep 30, 2019

Elmer Bendiner, a crewmember in a World War II B-17 bomber, the Tondalayo, was barraged by flak from Nazi antiaircraft guns. That was not unusual, but on this particular occasion, the gas tanks were hit. Later Elmer reflected on the miracle of a 20 mm shell piercing the fuel tank without touching ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-11, James 5:15, Psalm 34:15

Tags: Prayer, Power In Prayer, Intersession, Watchman Prayer

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

You're Not Home Yet!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 25, 2023

An old missionary couple had been working in Africa for years, and they were returning to New York City to retire. They had no pension; their health was broken; they were defeated, discouraged, and afraid. They discovered they were booked on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Missionaries, Heaven, Faithfulness, Spiritual Fruit, Rewards, Fruit Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[068]. A Message From A Poem – Established Now And Changed

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 28, 2025

[068]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – ESTABLISHED NOW AND CHANGED This poem is made up of couplets and each couplet is a contrast. What we were, to what God has made us to become. For example, in the first stanza, a member of the world system, but now, a member of the Body of Christ. The last two ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:25

Tags: Poetry, Poem, Established, Changed, Rhyming Couplets  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Healing The Wounds Of War: The Kim Phuc Story

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 4, 2010

HEALING THE WOUNDS OF WAR: THE KIM PHUC STORY Probably one of the most well-known pictures to come out of the Vietnam War was Nick Ut’s Pulitzer Prize-winning photo (show picture) of Phan Thi Kim Phuc (pronounced "fuke"). On June 8, 1972, a napalm bomb was dropped on her village, and Kim, who was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

The Valley Of the Shadow Of Death

Contributed by Rev Purvi Satvedi on Oct 27, 2023

An experience Peter Marshall, the great Scottish preacher, related during his ministry: On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, Peter Marshall preached to the regiment of midshipmen in the Naval Academy at Annapolis. A strange feeling which he couldn’t shake off led him to change his announced topic ...read more

Tags: Death, Funeral, Valley

Denomination: Brethren

Woman Asked, ’if You Had It To Do All Over ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on May 17, 2001

Woman asked, ’If you had it to do all over again would you have children? ...read more

Tags: Children, Parenting, Mother's Day

In The Cartoon "Peanuts" Linus Says Of His ...  PRO

Contributed by Darren Ethier on Mar 22, 2002

In the cartoon "Peanuts" Linus says of his security blanket "Only one yard of outing flannel stands ...read more

Tags: Guilt

Denomination: Pentecostal

Nicky Gumbel Says: "The Man Blamed The Woman, ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on Oct 7, 2002

Nicky Gumbel says: “The man blamed the woman, the woman blamed the serpent, and the serpent ...read more

Tags: Marriage General, Satan, Sin Fall Of Man

Denomination: *other

In The Book To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 25, 2007

In the book To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee writes, "The one thing that doesn’t abide by ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Parents Are Always Trying To Teach Their ...

Contributed by Bill Burress on May 16, 2008

Parents are always trying to teach their children by by example. Then when one child hits another they smack the ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Norman Schwarzkopf Called Leadership A Potent ...

Contributed by Dean O'bryan on Jul 21, 2008

Norman Schwarzkopf called leadership a potent combination of strategy and character. But, he said -- if you have ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Baptist

Norman Schwarzkopf Called Leadership A Potent ...

Contributed by Dean O'bryan on Jul 23, 2008

Norman Schwarzkopf called leadership a potent combination of strategy and character. But, then he said -- if you ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Baptist

Paul Wants Us To Walk In The Finished Work Of ...

Contributed by Angel Caballero on Jun 5, 2009

Paul wants us to walk in the finished work of Jesus. There is already a path where God wants us ...read more

Tags: Power, Victory

Denomination: Church Of God

Any Pie à La Mode Is My Kind Of Pie

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 3, 2021

Choices are a very important part of our everyday life. I am what I am today because of choices I made yesterday. I would like to blame someone else, but the truth of the matter is, I am what I am because of my choices. I must confess that there are a lot of bad choices I have made throughout my ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Marriage, Choices

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Can Never Have Too Much Ice Cream

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 30, 2021

It was one of those hectic weeks that flew by, and I didn’t know it until the end of the week. Friday night at supper time, it was one of those sneaky crashes. But, unfortunately, all the energy during the week had been pushing both of us forward, and we had no options but to keep plowing ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 56:11

Tags: Greed, Discipline

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Marquis De Lafayette Was A French General And ...  PRO

Contributed by Damien Spikereit on Nov 3, 2000

- Marquis de Lafayette was a French general and politician who helped George Washington in the American Revolution. After the war was over, he returned to France and resumed his life as a farmer of many estates. In 1783, the harvest was a terrible one, and there were many who suffered as a ...read more

Scripture: John 4:35-42

Tags: Giving General, Christian Love, Compassion

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Minister Friend Of Mine Received A Christmas ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 14, 2001

A minister friend of mine received a Christmas card with a note in it from a lady in his congregation. He said she was very complimentary about his preaching, & compared him with Billy Graham. She finished by writing, "I think you are one of the really great preachers of all time." Later that ...read more

Tags: Emotions, Humility, Temptation Pride

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Name Stradivarius Is Synonymous With Fine ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hodges on Jun 16, 2001

The name Stradivarius is synonymous with fine violins. This is true because Antonius Stradivarius insisted that no instrument constructed in his shop be sold until it was as near perfection as human care and skill could make it. Stradivarius said, "God needs violins to send His music into the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:28

Tags: Workplace Integrity, Love Of The Disciples, Peace

Denomination: Baptist

Those Of You Who Are Sports Fans Probably ...  PRO

Contributed by Edward Frey on Aug 8, 2001

Those of you who are sports fans probably remember the opening monologue to the TV sports broadcast, “Wide, Wide, World of Sports.” The opening shots depicted athletes from all kinds of sports. As the footage rolled on, so came those immortal words: “The thrill of victory and the agony of ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Lutheran

Warning Signs  PRO

Contributed by Guy Caley on Jan 20, 2002

WARNING SIGNS At an intersection, the green light changes to yellow; At the theater the house lights flash; In the Battalion Tactical Operations Center a Warning Order comes down from Brigade; At the airport terminal the boarding call comes over the intercom; At a railroad crossing the lights ...read more

Tags: Second Coming, Repentance, Warning

Denomination: Assembly Of God