In Sermon Illustrations: "Pain And Suffering"

A Man Came Back From A Weekend Retreat Experience ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Apr 28, 2010

A man came back from a weekend retreat experience and, when a friend asked him how it was, he said, "I died!" The friend asked him what he meant. "You see," the man answered, "I went to this thing not knowing what to expect. But in the process of that long weekend, I discovered that I had spent ...read more

Tags: Change

Denomination: Pentecostal

We Need Christ In Good Times And Bad

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2011

WE NEED CHRIST IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD Presbyterian minister of the 19th century, J. R. Miller, once wrote that "We need Christ just as much in our bright, prosperous, exalted hours as in the days of darkness, adversity, and depression. We are quite in danger of thinking that religion is only for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22

Tags: Jesus Christ

Mother's Arms

Contributed by Eugene Morell on Feb 24, 2012

MOTHER'S ARMS There was a teenager who didn’t want to be seen in public with her mother, because her mother’s arms were terribly disfigured. One day when her mother took her shopping and reached out her hand, a clerk looked horrified. Later, crying, the girl told her how embarrassed she was. ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Avoid ...

Contributed by Joe Bertone on Aug 1, 2012

AVOID TRAGEDY David Bloom, Today show co-host on weekends, died on April 6, 2003, while covering Operation Iraqi Freedom. Ironically, Bloom did not die from injuries sustained in conflict, but rather of a pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary emboli occur among those who sit for long periods of time, and ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:7

Tags: Tragedy, Ignorance, Counsel, Precautions, Parable Ten Virgins  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Gravedigger's Cough

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Nov 29, 2012

English writer F.W. Boreham tells a story about an old gravedigger who had a terrible cough. A visitor to the cemetery expressed sympathy to the old man and his cough. The gravedigger motioned to the graves around him and said, “There’s plenty here who would be glad of my cough.” His point being ...read more

Tags: Conscience, Death And Life

Denomination: Baptist

The Simplicity Of The Gospel

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Jan 31, 2022

How does the thief on the cross fit into your theology? I think many times we complicate the issue of getting into heaven. What is required? Let's think about the the thief on the cross. No baptism, no communion, no confirmation, no speaking in tongues, no mission trip, no volunteerism, and ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Gospel, Cross

Denomination: Baptist

Semper Fi - Forever Faithful

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 12, 2023

One of the most tragic events during the Reagan Presidency was the Sunday morning terrorist bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, in which hundreds of Americans were killed or wounded as they slept. Many of us can still recall the terrible scenes as the dazed survivors worked to dig out their ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Holy Spirit, Commitment, Faithfulness, Fruit Of The Spirit, Works Of The Flesh, Spirit Filled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Assurance

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 13, 2023

Have you ever been in a store and see a child that has gotten separated from his parents? The fear is very evident on the child's face as well as the parents’ face. It's a horrible feeling when the child turns around and can't find his parents. They frantically look through every ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:15-22

Tags: Assurance, God's Plan

Denomination: Baptist

Six Ways To Be A Modern Day Barnabas

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 2, 2023

Below are six ways to encourage someone. When was the last time you encouraged someone in any of the following ways? Have you ignored some gentle promptings by the Spirit to encourage someone? Perhaps today you might ask God to whom you might send a note or make a call? Yes, dear brother or ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:36

Tags: Encouragement, Barnabas, Serving, Ministry To Others, Volunteers, Fellowship, Support, Giving  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Don't Give Up—the Case Of Mrs. Ruth Ertel

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

DON’T GIVE UP--THE CASE OF MRS. RUTH ERTEL In 1965 a divorced mother of two, found a classified ad offering a restaurant for sale. She mortgaged her house to purchase the restaurant, the original Chris’s steakhouse. In 1976 a fire forced her to relocate. Under the original purchase agreement, the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5

Tags: Endurance

Encouragement From A Friend

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 29, 2012

ENCOURAGEMENT FROM A FRIEND There are times when you will be pushed out or pushed aside. You can be on the right road and still find yourself in a situation that is so severe that you cannot survive it on your own. Mark it down: You are not exempt from times of suffering, rejection, or ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Tags: Friendship General

Reprove An Erring Brother, Do Not Reproach Him

Contributed by James Dina on Oct 7, 2020

REPROVE AN ERRING BROTHER, DO NOT REPROACH HIM Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, reprove a wise man and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning." (Proverbs 9:8-9) We should have respect ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:8

Tags: Correct In Love, Reprove

Denomination: Pentecostal

Are You Ready To Meet The Lord?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 22, 2024

Text: Proverbs 29:1, KJV: 1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. Thrift and second-hand stores are good places to find items like Bibles and other Christian material—no offense to bookstores, of course. One day I was searching for ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:1

Tags: Thrift Shops, Death, Salvation, Ready To Meet God

Denomination: Baptist

[218]. A Message From A Poem - Poem Of Contrasts

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 3, 2025

[218]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - POEM OF CONTRASTS This poem came to me when I was thinking about the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb of God” This is the One, strong, royal, who is the Overcomer. {Revelation 5:5 One of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping. Behold, THE LION THAT IS FROM ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:5, John 1:29, 2 Corinthians 12:10

Tags: Poem Of Contrasts, Victor, Victim, Man Of Sorrows, Subject, Contrasts, Christian Poems, Shepherd, Lamb, Advocate, Lion, King, Judge, Lord, Servant  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Skater Michelle Kwan Was 13, The Junior ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 29, 2001

When skater Michelle Kwan was 13, the junior skater went behind her coach Frank Carroll¡¦s back, submitted her application for senior competition for the next Olympics, and prepared herself for a spot on the team. Kwan then pleaded with her coach to allow her to compete with skaters older than her, ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Discipleship, Endurance

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Dr. Barnhouse Used This Illustration To Portray ...  PRO

Contributed by Lynell Friesen on May 24, 2001

Dr. Barnhouse used this illustration to portray this simple truth to his congregation and I would like to share it with you. A young man, suffering from amnesia, lived a new life amid his old surroundings; he could remember nothing that had happened before he fell off a haywagon. As he fell, ...read more

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation, Sin Fall Of Man

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Are Fathers Necessary?, Citation: Charles ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Jun 15, 2001

[Are Fathers Necessary?, Citation: Charles Colson, How Now Shall We Live (Tyndale, 1999)] In How Now Shall We Live, Chuck Colson notes the disturbing realities that plague children who grow up without a father: Children in single-parent families are five times more likely to be poor, and half the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:12-14

Tags: God With Us, Family, Father's Day, Divorce

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Was Not One Of His Fans Personally, But For ...  PRO

Contributed by R. Darrel Davis on Apr 27, 2002

I was not one of his fans personally, but for many NASCAR fans, the death of racing legend Dale Earhardt at the 2001 Daytona 500 is still fresh in their minds. On the final lap of the race, he crashed into the wall at a speed of around 180 miles per hour after being tapped from behind. I remember ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:3

Tags: God's Forgiveness, God's Judgment, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

Peter  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2002

Peter Among many other saints, the blessed apostle Peter was condemned to death, and crucified, as some do write, at Rome; albeit some others, and not without cause, do doubt thereof. Hegesippus saith that Nero sought matter against Peter to put him to death; which, when the people perceived, they ...read more

Tags: People In The Gospel, Disciples, Apostles Peter