In Sermon Illustrations: "Opportunity"

There Is A Story Of An 8 Year Old Boy Who Was ...

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on Dec 13, 2007

There is a story of an 8 year old boy who was learning in school how plants grow, he was intrigued how a tiny seed can germinate in the ground and later burst through the ground, that week he attended a funeral where the pastor talked about the final resurrection of our bodies. Several days ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Real Treasure  PRO

Contributed by Richard Goble on Dec 30, 2007

Real Treasure An old farmer who was about to die called his two sons to his bedside and said, "My boys, my farm and the fields are yours in equal shares. I leave you a little ready money but the bulk of my wealth is hidden somewhere in the ground, not more than eighteen inches from the surface. I ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

An Old Scotsman Operated A Little Rowboat For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 2, 2008

An old Scotsman operated a little rowboat for transporting passengers. One day a passenger noticed that the old man had carved on one oar the word “faith” and on the other oar the word “works.” Curiosity led him to ask the meaning of this. The old man, being a well balanced Christian and glad of ...read more

Scripture: James 2:17, James 2:20, Hebrews 11:6, Titus 1:16, Titus 3:8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faith, Works

Charles Simeon Devoted The Hours From Four Till ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

Charles Simeon devoted the hours from four till eight in the morning to God. John Wesley spent two hours daily in prayer. He began at four in the morning. Of him, one who knew him well wrote: "He thought prayer to be more his business than anything else." Martin Luther said: "If I fail to spend ...read more

Tags: Worship General

When Dr. Stephen Olford Was Pastor Of The ...

Contributed by Tony Klinedinst on Mar 16, 2009

ILLUS: When Dr. Stephen Olford was pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in New York City he had the opportunity of leading his brother who had been an agnostic most of his life to the Lord, as he lay in the hospital desperately ill. One day Dr. Olford was called to come to the hospital quickly and ...read more

Tags: Sin Hurtful To God

Denomination: Baptist

: A Bank President Came To His Pastor ...

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Mar 31, 2009

Illus.: A bank president came to his pastor concerned about one of his teller’s soul. He asked his pastor to talk to him, but the pastor said, “It would be better if you would do that. He would look upon my visit as a professional task.” “All right,” said the banker, “but, will you go with me?” ...read more

Tags: Testimony, Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Wesleyan

It's Like The Work Done On Various Television ...

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Sep 25, 2009

It’s like the work done on various Television programmes. Take one run down house or barn crying out for restoration, or a few rooms of a house in desperate need of decoration, or the Vicarage kitchen in need of a refit! Jesus takes us as we are, however run-down, how ever messy our lives might be, ...read more

Tags: Restoration

Denomination: Anglican

Community Stores Refuse Kind Acts Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 9, 2009

Community Stores Refuse Kind Acts of Service The story is told of a minister who was organizing opportunities for people in his church to do small acts of kindness as a demonstration of Christ’s love in the community. 1. He phoned several neighborhood grocery stores and Laundromats and asked for ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:13-14

Tags: Servanthood

Patience In Waiting

Contributed by Sean Harder on Dec 4, 2009

PATIENCE IN WAITING Here’s one I am sure you can relate to. You’re in a hurry to get somewhere and your wife or girlfriend, or kids don’t share your sense of urgency. There you are waiting at the door or in the car for them to get ready to go. Now what are you experiencing inside? Are you ...read more

God's Only 'forgotten' Son

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 24, 2011

GOD'S ONLY 'FORGOTTEN' SON There's a true story told about a revival that was held in a small town. The crowd had dispersed, when a woman came down front and asked to speak with the preacher. She cried uncontrollably as she explained to the minister that she wanted to become a Christian, but she ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: God's Love

The Croquet Lesson

Contributed by Scott Spencer on Oct 16, 2011

THE CROQUET LESSON Some missionaries in the Philippines set up a croquet game in their front yard. Several of their Agta Negrito neighbors became interested and wanted to join the fun. The missionaries explained the game and started them out, each with a mallet and ball. As the game progressed, ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Chronic Frustrations

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Nov 18, 2014

CHRONIC FRUSTRATION Have you heard the story of a majestic eagle that lived in the safety of the high cliffs, and often flew to great lofty heights. He could dive at great speeds. HE OFTEN FELT HE WAS INVINCIBLE, NOTHING COULD TAKE HIM DOWN. A hunter studied the eagle day after day, and prepared ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 4:5

Tags: Hurting Self, No Weapon

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Staring At The Great Stone Face

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 2, 2023

Perhaps you remember Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story about the great stone face. A little lad lived in a village where there was a mountain with a rock formation which they called the great stone face. The people had a legend that someday someone would come to the village who would look like the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4, Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Glory, Jesus, Worship, Vision, Focus, Looking To Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mother — Job Description  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 2, 2005

MOTHER - Job Description POSITION TITLE : Mom, Mama, Mommy, Mother JOB DESCRIPTION : Candidates must be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:1-31

Tags: Parenting, Mother's Day

Reports The Denver Post: "Like Many Sheep ...  PRO

Contributed by David Selleck on Nov 17, 2005

Reports the DENVER POST: "Like many sheep ranchers in the West, Lexy Fowler has tried just about everything to stop crafty coyotes from killing her sheep. She has used odor sprays, electric fences, and ’scare-coyotes.’ She has slept with her lambs during the summer and has placed battery-operated ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Methodist

New Rules Barna Research Group Has Identified The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 6, 2006

New Rules Barna Research Group has identified the following New Rules for the next generation. Some will encourage you, others will cause alarm. 1. Personal relationships count. Institutions don’t. 2. The process is more important than the product. 3. Aggressively pursue diversity among ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?

A Wealthy Man Before Leaving On An Extended ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kilson on May 6, 2006

A wealthy man before leaving on an extended vacation said to a contractor, "While I am away, I want you to build me a fine new home according to these plans. Be sure you work with extreme care, and use the best of everything. Tell me the cost as soon as you have it and I’ll send you a check." ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Tags: Heaven, Foundation, Dishonesty, Eternity, Building  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Phil Connors Is A Self-Centered Weather Reporter ...

Contributed by Timothy Smith on May 9, 2006

Phil Connors is a self-centered weather reporter who is experiencing one heck of a day. In fact, he’s reliving this one day over and over again, the same day repeating itself it’s - Groundhog day. Every day is exactly the same in the way it unfolds. Phil knows everything that’s going to happen ...read more

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: Christian Church

A Pastor Told Me His Testimony One Day When We ...

Contributed by Don Jones on Nov 6, 2006

A pastor told me his testimony one day when we both had some time to share. He told me that coming to Christ was absolutely wonderful. The weight of the world was lifted off his shoulders. The worry that had consumed him was gone. He was definitely a changed man on the inside. He and his 4 ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

My Accident

Contributed by Scott Epperson on Nov 11, 2006

My Accident My life was normal and unexpecting of tragedy when the bumper of a LTD came crashing into my back I had no time to repent like I always figured I would if I would have died it would have been at a moment that I was angry and frustrated and I can't say that I was as comfortable in my ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal