In Sermon Illustrations: "Our Substitute"

The High Cost Of Low Living

Contributed by Larry Grant on Nov 8, 2025

Judges 16:15 "THE HIGH COST OF LOW LIVING" November 9, 2025 There is an old preacher story of a large carnival that came into a country town every two years. And people from miles around would bring their children to see all the colors and sights and sounds. But there was a particular ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:15

Tags: Lifestyle, Lessons, Losses

Denomination: Baptist

Work With It!" Romans 12: 1-8: Key Verse(S): 6 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 10, 2004

“Work With It!” Romans 12: 1-8: Key verse(s): 6 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” “All things being equal!” Where that may be the rallying cry of today’s philosophical democratically-driven culture, it wasn’t the impetus for justice in the Brunner household as I was ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-8, Mark 1:21-28

Tags: Family, Parenting

Denomination: Lutheran

The Hidden Mud And Leaves!" Ephesians 6:10-17 ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 14, 2004

“The Hidden Mud and Leaves!” Ephesians 6:10-17 Key verse(s): 10: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” We moved to Beech Springs valley some sixteen summers ago now. We had been looking for a place that could afford us peace, quiet and some room for our growing family to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-17

Tags: Enemy, Doubt, Battle, Strong, Stand  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

An Image Better Than Adam's!" Isaiah 59:1-8 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 27, 2005

“An Image Better Than Adam’s!” Isaiah 59:1-8 Key verse(s): 1-2:“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear.” Oh if we could but live one ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 59:1-8

Tags: Sin Separates From God, Soul Immortal

Denomination: Lutheran

Green Thumb Versus Black And Blue Thumb

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 16, 2021

If you came to our parsonage, you would discover all over our property, plants and flowers. Just don’t ask me to identify what they are. I can tell a plant from a flower, but that’s as far as it goes with me. That is not true with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. She gets all the credit for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tags: Unity, Differences

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Touch My Coffee And You Die

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 16, 2024

Recently, illegitimate aliens of the worst kind have invaded our house illegally. It came to a head just the other day when we were sitting down to lunch, and The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage had a lovely bowl of tomato soup. I forgot what I was eating because all the attention went to her ...read more

Scripture: James 3:5

Tags: Fire, Pest

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Don’t Knock On The Door If You Like Breathing

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 23, 2024

I’m unsure if this is a new phenomenon or I’m just starting to catch up on the culture. I know I have a lot to catch up on, and I’m slowly doing it. Lately, there’s been a lot of activity at our front door. That’s not to diminish the activity at the back porch door. That activity has to do with a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:8

Tags: Trust, Confidence, Scams

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Thanksgiving Without Martha  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 17, 2002

THANKSGIVING WITHOUT MARTHA Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. I’m telling you in advance, so don’t act surprised. Since Ms. Stewart won’t be coming, I’ve made a few small changes: Our sidewalk will not be lined with homemade, paper bag luminaries. After a trial run, it ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving

A Fair Piece To Go!" Zechariah 12:10-14 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 16, 2005

“A Fair Piece to Go!” Zechariah 12:10-14 Key verse(s) 10:“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.” Restlessness! When we were children it was not unusual for us to be restless. In fact, it was that restlessness that often got ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 12:10-14

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, Holy Spirit In Believers, Cleansing

Denomination: Lutheran

God's Algebra!" Romans 8:9-17 Key Verse(S) ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 25, 2005

“God’s Algebra!” Romans 8:9-17 Key verse(s) 16:“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” One of the unchangeable and mysterious laws of mathematics is that whenever you multiply a positive number by a negative number you will always get a negative number. I ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:9-17

Tags: Wait, Promises Of God, God's Love, God's Omniscience, Perseverance, Patience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Words In The Spirit

Contributed by D. Marie Hamilton on Apr 16, 2011

WORDS IN THE SPIRIT When I was asked to be the preacher for the North Little Rock Ministerial Alliance Community Thanksgiving Service, I was floored. I didn't think that anybody thought that much about me. I was honored by the gesture, but the moment I said "yes," my nerves got the best of me. I ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: Methodist

The Cross Made The Difference

Contributed by David Simpson on Apr 20, 2020

I (David Simpson) grew up as part of the spiritual family of Hardwick Christian Church. Along with my parents and sisters, I learned about Jesus and Bible there. I don’t ever remember a Sunday throughout my childhood and into my teen years when I was not in that church building and doing life with ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:5, John 3:16

Tags: Communion, Good Friday, Cross, Lord's Supper, Blood Of Jesus, Cross Of Jesus, Sacrifice Of Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Church

The True Story Of Denise And Diane

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 31, 2023

The Story of Denise and Diane One Sunday morning many years ago, as I pastored in Massachusetts, a lady attended our church for the first time. At the end of the service, at the time of the invitation, she came to the altar. I noticed that one of our ladies prayed with her. After the service, as I ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 18:1-2, 2 Kings 20:1-6, Luke 16:1-2, James 4:14, Proverbs 27:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Holy Spirit, Heaven, Obedience, Life, Mysterious Ways Of God, Preparation, The Gospel, Cancer, New Years, Preparing For Death, Ready To God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

[096]. A Message From A Poem – From Earth To Heaven

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 3, 2025

[096]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FROM EARTH TO HEAVEN This poem is one of rhyming couplets and the theme is “now on earth, but looking towards being in heaven with the Lord.” Do you love the world? Well my answer is yes and no. I absolutely love the world, that is, the creation in the world. ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:2-3, Hebrews 6:19, Romans 3:11-18, Psalm 8:3, Psalm 19:1-3  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Creation, Glory, Heaven, Hope, Poem, The World, Christian Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[163]. A Message From A Poem – Joy For Sorrow - Care In Hurt

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 14, 2025

[163]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JOY FOR SORROW - CARE IN HURT The title of this poem has two contrasts – sorrow turning to joy, and hurt adopting care. This poem was written 27 years ago and since that time much has changed in the world for the followers of the Lord. Persecution has increased ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5-6, 2 Corinthians 6:4-5

Tags: Hurting One, South Africa, The Holy Spirit, Martyred, Suffering Christians, World Press, Comforr, Joy, Africa, Sorrow, Iran, Sudan, Nigeria, Lord, Persecution, Evil, Comfort  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[317]. A Message From A Poem - Transition In Time And Eternity

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 20, 2026

[317]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - TRANSITION IN TIME AND ETERNITY This poem’s title means the lifespan we have from childhood, through the years until old age, then after that lies eternity. There is a physical life and a spiritual life. The physical life we know but hardly anyone knows the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:2, Matthew 7:13-14, Psalm 10:4, Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Hell, Death, Eternity, Baby, Heaven, Afterlife, Salvation, Atheism, Transition, Enter, Narrow Gate, Forgiveness Of Sins, Growing Older, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sometimes Sharing Christ Takes Interesting ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 3, 2003

Sometimes sharing Christ takes interesting forms. For months I left the church well into the late night hours. Periodically I would see a man huddled on the corner of our property. At first I feared the man. You see our neighborhood is rough and we have many homeless individuals that roam the ...read more

Scripture: John 4:36

Tags: Evangelism How To

Patsy Clairmont In Her Book "Under His Wings" ...  PRO

Contributed by John Hamby on Aug 11, 2003

Patsy Clairmont in her book “Under His Wings” tells a moving story of the reality of dealing with grief. “We buried my friend’s 26 year old son last week. An accidental gunshot took Jeff’s life. We have more questions than answers. We are offended at people who have all the answers and no ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Baptist

The Philosophy For Dog Obedience Training Has ...  PRO

Contributed by Peter Schmidt on Nov 20, 2003

The philosophy for dog obedience training has changed quite a bit in the last few decades. It used to be that many dog obedience schools operated by teaching the dog, “you better obey me, because I’m your master. And if you don’t obey me, bad things will happen.” And plenty of dogs were trained ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 5:7-9

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Lutheran

Note: This Was The Introduction To A Sermon On ...  PRO

Contributed by Anthony Seel on Feb 5, 2006

Note: this was the introduction to a sermon on Elisha’s healing miracle in the cited chapter, and Jesus’ healing miracles in Mark 1:29-39. Title: The CSI Effect- A crime scene investigator from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was dusting for fingerprints in a home that had been ...read more

Tags: Miracles Of Jesus

Denomination: Lutheran