In Sermon Illustrations: "Overcoming Challenges"

From Candle To Sunlight

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 16, 2024

Imagine human wisdom as a candle. It provides light, yes, but it's limited – flickering and weak, barely illuminating the surrounding darkness. Now, picture God's wisdom as the sun. Vast, powerful, and bright, it floods our path with clarity and insight, making what was once obscure and ...read more

Scripture: James 1:5

Tags: Boundless, Limitation, Human Wisdom, Wisdom, Power, Divine, Insight  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Story Of Isaac ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

THE STORY OF ISAAC WATTS A young boy complained to his father that most of the church hymns were boring and old-fashioned, with tiresome words that meant little to his generation. His father challenged him with these words: "If you think you can write better hymns, why don’t you?" The boy ...read more

Scripture: John 4:23-24

Tags: Worship General

Sinking Ships

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on Apr 10, 2015

Let me share with you two stories that happened within two years of each other in the second decade of the Twentieth Century. The first you will know. On April 15, 1912, on which the Titanic plunged 12,000 feet to the Atlantic floor, some two hours and forty minutes after an iceberg tore a ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:18

Tags: Fear, Non-Anxious Presence, Ohana

Denomination: Anglican

We Were On Shipboard," Relates A Captain's ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Sep 11, 2003

"We were on shipboard," relates a captain’s wife, "lying in a Southern harbor. We were obliged, first to make our way ashore. The waves were rolling heavily. I became frightened at the thought of attempting it, when one came to me, saying, ’Do not be afraid: I will take care of you.’ "He bore a ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, God's Omniscience

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thank God, Not Everyone Lets The Negatives Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jun 19, 2004

Thank God, not everyone lets the negatives of life keep them from accomplishing what God wants them to do. On June 18, 1999 Gary and Gloria Sloan, Southern Baptist missionaries, who had been on the field of Mexico only six months, were enjoying a birthday celebration for their daughter, Carla, at ...read more

Tags: Examples Of Faith

Denomination: Baptist

A Real Heroine  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 26, 2004

A REAL HEROINE As you walk down the red carpet, a frenzied mob swarms around you, demanding your autograph. The reporters are snapping your picture, nearly blinding you. Every ten feet, a television crew stops you for an interview. Have you just become the hottest newest star? No, you’re at ...read more

Scripture: John 15:14

Tags: Ruth, Christian Disciplines, Endurance

It Was January 30, 1994 And Super Bowl Xxviii ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

It was January 30, 1994 and Super Bowl XXVIII was being played out at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The NFC champion Dallas Cowboys had just defeated the AFC champion Buffalo Bills, 30–13. Dallas scored 24 unanswered points in the second half, and Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith was named the ...read more

Tags: Humility

A Thanks Offering For Heaven  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

A Thanks Offering For Heaven Philippians 3:20 says, "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:20

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Spiritual Health Checks

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Spiritual Health Checks (Hungry for God's Word) A healthy Christian will not find his strength or determine his weakness in the size of the church he attends. Healthy Christians gain strength to overcome the flesh, the world, and the devil by what is written in Acts 2:42, "They devoted ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ever-Flowing Stream Of Grace

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Ever-flowing Stream Of Grace Isaiah 40:28-31 says, "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:28-31, Isaiah 9:6

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Your Dead-Level Best

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

YOUR DEAD-LEVEL BEST Some years ago in Northwestern University, near Chicago, a rescue crew was organized. Their purpose was the rescue of the drowning on the lake. One day the news came that a magnificent vessel was wrecked just off the shore. The young men hurried at once to the scene of the ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

2 Corinthians 7:1,

Contributed by Tim Adams on Dec 1, 2009

2 Corinthians 7:1,“Let us cleanse ourselves” - that means we would do a good job if we were just as fond of straightening our own selves out as we are to find the faults of others. It is God’s Holy Spirit that will do the work but we must enter in to an active cooperation with God on this matter. ...read more

Tags: Sin Exposed

Denomination: Baptist

Staying In The Shallow End

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 28, 2011

STAYING IN THE SHALLOW END He stays at the shallow end of the pool for a long time, refusing invitations to come out into the deeper water, even with his dad. But after a long time considering it, my grandson Zion Brave Bennett thrusts himself into the pool, swimming underwater and then ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Crashing Through  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 9, 2011

CRASHING THROUGH At three years old, Mike Mays was accidentally blinded by a chemical explosion when he and his 4-year-old sister were playing in the garage. He lived his entire life until he was well into his forties before having his eyesight was restored by a pioneering ophthalmologist. But ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:9-10

Tags: Endurance

High On Their Huddles

Contributed by John Hamby on Apr 25, 2011

HIGH ON THEIR HUDDLES One of my favorite preachers is Dr. Tony Evans in Dallas. Some years ago I heard him give the following description of the purpose of the church service. He said, "In football they have a huddle, the goal of the huddle is to give you thirty seconds to call the play; that is ...read more

Tags: Church Practices

Denomination: Baptist

And It Came To Pass...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2011

AND IT CAME TO PASS... "The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me." -- Martin Luther During a Sunday class the question was asked, "In your time of discouragement, what is your favourite Scripture?" A young man said, "The Lord is my ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12

Tags: Bible Influence, It Came To Pass

Evolution Is The Problem - And The Solution?

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 19, 2023

Gov Pritzker (Illinois) gave the 2023 Commencement Address at North Eastern University "… Whenever we see someone who doesn't look like us, or sound like us, or act like us or love like us, or live like us - the first thought that crosses almost everyone's brain is rooted in either ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 3:23, Galatians 5:22-23, Psalm 139:14, Romans 7:21-25, Genesis 1:27, Genesis 3:17-19  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit, Evolution, Compassion, Salvation, Kindness, Education, Humanity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

He Was A Stranger And I Took Him In  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 23, 2002

He Was A Stranger and I Took him In The story is told of a Kansan who owned a general store. He was a well-intending man who made a habit of offering a verse of Scripture whenever anyone purchased something from him. The group of people who sat around the store in this rural area enjoyed the ...read more

Tags: Gifts General, Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Jean-Claude Killy Made The French National ...

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

When Jean-Claude Killy made the French national ski team in the early 1960s, he was prepared to work harder than anyone else to be the best. At the crack of dawn he would run up the slopes with his skis on, an unbelievably grueling activity. In the evening he would lift weights, run ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Endurance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The United States Of America, Our National ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Feb 19, 2003

In the United States of America, our national symbol is an eagle---the Bald Eagle to be exact. Anyone can look at an eagle and be amazed at its beauty as well as its character. But, what is it that makes eagles so majestic and awesome in their character? It is the way that they are taught to rise ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: United Methodist