In Sermon Illustrations: "Pain And Suffering"

Loss

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Aug 9, 2019

Have you ever had a time in your life when you suffered drastic income loss? In 1995 I had a dream job, I had an office that was 30 foot by 40 foot with my own private bath, no boss on 2nd and 3rd shift and the pay was great, not bad for a blue-collar worker. We based our lifestyle on my wages, and ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:25-27

Tags: Loss, Recovert

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Night Before Cassie Bernal Was Murdered At Columbine

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 6, 2022

On Tuesday April 20, 1999, Cassie Bernal was in the Columbine Colorado high school library reading her Bible when the two students burst in carrying guns. According to one of the witnesses, her friend Josh, one of the killers pointed his gun at Cassie and asked, "Do you believe in ...read more

Tags: Faith, Death, Persecution, Heaven, Satan, Testimony, Terrorism, High School, Last Words, Martyrs, Columbine  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Victorious Living

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 13, 2023

2 weeks ago as I sat in the office of my lawyer, he showed me a photocopy of a handwritten letter from Abraham Lincoln that was written to my lawyer’s great-great uncle. The uncle happened to be the president of the University of Pennsylvania at that time. He was involved in writing a pamphlet on ...read more

Scripture: John 16:19-22

Tags: Victory, Hard Times

Denomination: Baptist

The Joy Of Hearing Your Name

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Apr 26, 2023

This week is the National Football League Draft, a day that thousands of young men have been anticipating for years. I love to watch as the player hears his name called. The smiles. The hugs. Going to the platform and being congratulated by the commissioner. And then donning the jersey and cap of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18

Tags: Heaven, Reward

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Give Thanks

Contributed by Jonathan Meade on Nov 18, 2023

At 16, a mission to Honduras with my father was an eye-opening experience that left an incredible mark on my soul. I found myself in a foreign land, surrounded by poverty and heart wrenching realities that I had never encountered before. One particular night, our bus pulled into a dimly lit gas ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Tags: Thanksgiving, Missions, Gratitude

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Baby's Hug  PRO

Contributed by Warren Lamb on Nov 11, 2006

A Baby’s Hug We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a highchair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed glee and said, "Hi." He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The First Billionaire  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

The First Billionaire The very first person to reach the status of billionaire was a man who knew how to set goals and follow through. At the age of 23, he had become a millionaire, by the age of 50 a billionaire. Every decision, attitude, and relationship was tailored to create his personal power ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-14

Tags: Giving General

Hugging The Enemy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 6, 2003

HUGGING THE ENEMY Barbara Brown Taylor tells the story of her nephew Will’s first birthday party. The family was gathered around for the usual traditions of birthdays, the cake. And the presents. Will let them know how pleased he was by doing his new dance-a slow twirling movement that he had ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope, Compassion, Peace

The Life Of Andrew Urshan Is Remarkable To Say ...  PRO

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Sep 17, 2004

The life of Andrew Urshan is remarkable to say the least. There is a biography of him available from the Pentecostal Publishing House that every one ought to read. He wrote that his own disappointments had turned into being God’s appointments. There came a song from his own hand that was ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Pentecostal

Bishop Ryle Points Out That Jesus, Through The ...

Contributed by Ray Mckendry on Mar 12, 2007

Bishop Ryle points out that Jesus, through the Holy Spirit and the ministry of the faithful church, would “raise up a standard of morality and purity and knowledge of which formerly men had no conception.” (Ryle, ibid. p. 159) This was seen in the days immediately following the birth of the early ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Angels

Denomination: Baptist

Favorite Child

Contributed by Matthew Sickling on May 14, 2007

Erma Bombeck. She writes: "Every mother has a favorite child. She cannot help it. She is only human. I have mine--the child for whom I feel a special closeness, with whom I share a love that no one else could possibly understand. My favorite child is the one who was too sick to eat ice cream at ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

When I Was In The Media, I Spent A Week In ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

When I was in the media, I spent a week in Culion, Palawan. In fact, it was a holy week. Yes, that’s part of Palawan. But I don’t think you would like to go there. Culion was a leper colony. That’s where we quarantine or exile people afflicted with leprosy or Hansen’s disease in the past. When I ...read more

Tags: Faith, Bread, Servant, Second Coming, Slave, God's Provision  (view more)  (view less)

Today We Are All Rushing About Working For That ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Today we are all rushing about working for that next pay raise. But what is that pay raise really going to profit us? We often can’t see the big picture for striving for something greater. Maybe we should have the attitude of this father. The young man was feeling very proud of himself. As a ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Perhaps Some Of You Know The Story Of Isobel ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 10, 2007

Perhaps some of you know the story of Isobel Kuhn. She was a popular author and missionary to China, was married to John, a man just as strong willed and stubborn as she was. The two had many conflicts. John, for example, had a cook in China to whom he was devoted but whom Isobel couldn’t stand. ...read more

Denomination: Other

I Go Home, Daddy

Contributed by Chris Surber on Dec 22, 2008

"I Go Home, Daddy." Christ offers the lasting hope and promise of a new and lasting home. My three-year-old son Sebastian is a wonderful little boy. My children’s antics and lives provide me with a wealth of sermon illustrations and stories. Not long ago, Sebastian had to go through some ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Christian Church

My Eldest Daughter, Julia Is A Customer Service ...

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Aug 1, 2009

My eldest daughter, Julia is a customer service agent for a cell phone company. While Julia receives calls from customers who are complaining and unhappy about a lot of things, Janine, who works at a dairy bar, gets all the happy people! I don’t need to tell you how unreasonable and sometimes ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Salvation Army

Run With Endurance  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2009

RUN WITH ENDURANCE Unlike most competitions however, running the race in spiritual terms is not to try to be first, but to be faithful and finish! The Christian race is not a competitive event to see who comes in first, but an endurance run to see who finishes faithfully. It’s like the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2, Hebrews 12:2-3, Matthew 1:16-25

Tags: Endurance

Here Be Dragons. Here Is God.

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 27, 2009

"HERE BE DRAGONS. HERE IS GOD." 2 Timothy 3:1-7 Matt. 8:23-26; 16:24-26 John 16:33 Psalm 107:23-30 We all remember Hurricane Katrina and the damage it inflicted on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. It’s only a memory now, but it left terrible devastation and painful memories that still remain. The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 107:23-30

Tags: Fear And Worry

X As Head Of The Iraqi Olympic Committee, Uday ...

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Dec 28, 2009

„X As head of the Iraqi Olympic Committee, Uday oversaw the imprisonment and torture of Iraqi athletes who were deemed not to have performed to expectations. According to widespread reports, torturers beat and caned the soles of the football players’ feet -- inflicting intense pain without leaving ...read more

Tags: Sin Exposed

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

God's Will And The Tablecloth

Contributed by John Perry on Apr 8, 2010

GOD'S WILL AND THE TABLECLOTH It happened in 1948, just a few days before Christmas. A flash flood ravaged a small town, leaving a gaping hole in the wall of an old church building--right behind the pulpit. The young pastor knew there was no time to fix the damage and decided to make the best of ...read more

Tags: God's Sovereign Will

Denomination: Pentecostal