In Sermon Illustrations: "Parable Widow" showing 261-280 of 700

The World Famous Polish Piano Maestro, Ignace ...  PRO

Contributed by Rick Bartosik on May 23, 2001

The world famous Polish piano maestro, Ignace Paderewski, had been invited to appear at one of the great music centers of New York. It was a very formal evening with everyone wearing tuxedos and evening gowns. In the audience was a lady who brought her little boy along for the concert. She thought ...read more

Tags: Parable Talents, God's Omnipotence, Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Famous Actor Was An After Dinner Speaker At A ...  PRO

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jul 9, 2001

A famous actor was an after dinner speaker at a big function and when he stood up to speak, he invited his audience to choose a poem for him to recite. There was a long silence until a retired clergyman raised his hand and asked for Psalm 23. The actor was slightly taken back, but agreed to do ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-7

Tags: Parable Lost Sheep, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Anglican

I Read The Story This Week, Of A Woman Who Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Terry Rolen on Dec 11, 2001

I read the story this week, of a woman who was shamed and brought closer to God by someone the world would over look. “We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and ...read more

Tags: Parable General, Kingdom Of God, Children

Denomination: Church Of God

Sweet Grace  PRO

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jan 2, 2002

SWEET GRACE My new favorite movie is "Chocolat", about a little French village in 1959 that is governed by "tranquilité". In this town, you knew what was expected of you and where your place was. If you happened to forget, someone would remind you. They trusted in the wisdom of ages past, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8

Tags: Parable General, Grace, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Lutheran

A Humble Memorial  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2002

A HUMBLE MEMORIAL In 1884 a young man died, and after the funeral his grieving parents decided to establish a memorial to him. With that in mind they met with Charles Eliot, president of Harvard University. Eliot received the unpretentious couple into his office and asked what he could do. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7, Genesis 1:1

Tags: Emotions, Parable Great Banquet, Humility

Hide Not Your Talents, They For Use Were Made. ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What’s a sundial in the ...read more

Tags: Gifts General, Parable Talents, Workplace

By Heaven We Understand A State Of Happiness ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God, Heaven, Parable General

The Need For Ease  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Apr 4, 2002

THE NEED FOR EASE The following are actual responses from comment cards given to the staff members at Bridger Wilderness Area in 1996: Trails need to be wider so people can walk while holding hands. Trails need to be reconstructed. Please avoid building trails that go uphill. Too many bugs and ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Kingdom Of God, Parable General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It Beats Hell!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 6, 2002

IT BEATS HELL! It is said that Abe Mulky, who became the Texas Evangelist, went to an old-fashioned revival and was under deep conviction. He went home and said to his wife, "Mandy, what shall I do? I am lost. I am miserable. But you know we have gained our possessions crookedly and if I get ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Tags: Parable Lazarus, Jesus Teachings, Hell

Hard Times For Hell  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 6, 2002

HARD TIMES FOR HELL Hell, it would seem, has fallen on rather lean times. It used to be that the vast majority of Christians, regardless of denominational affiliation, believed that Hell was a real place where the wicked and the impenitent go when they died. The very thought of the pains and ...read more

Tags: Hell, Parable Lazarus, Second Coming

Comfortable In Hell  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 6, 2002

COMFORTABLE IN HELL Jeff Strite tells this story about his Dad. My Dad was what was known as "a rounder." A man’s man. Hard worker, hard fighter, and a hard player of baseball and basketball. He was attractive to women and he loved to go out and dance. Now, it’s not that dad was a stranger ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Tags: Hell, Jesus Teachings, Parable Lazarus

Finding The Kingdom Of God  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2002

FINDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD "In ’A Confession,’ Leo Tolstoy relates how the drive toward goodness that moved him as a boy was erased by his experiences in society. Later in life, after overwhelming success as a writer, he nevertheless sank into a psychological paralysis brought on by his vision of ...read more

Tags: Supernatural, Parable General, Kingdom Of God

The Lost Sheep—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 25, 2004

THE LOST SHEEP- COMMUNION MEDITATION Have you heard the story of Shrek, the merino sheep that had evaded capture and shearing for 6 years? When he was finally discovered in his high mountain cave of New Zealand by musterer Ann Scanlan, he was almost unrecognizable as a sheep. The first thing his ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10, 1 Peter 2:24-25

Tags: Lord's Supper, Parable Lost Sheep

Just A Mite Confused  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 12, 2004

JUST A MITE CONFUSED Daniel Boone explored the great wilderness of Tennessee and Kentucky. It was Boone who marked the wilderness road that brought settlers into the new land. He often wandered over vast areas of forest, living off the land and dodging arrows. Once he was asked if he had ever bee ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Tags: Parable Lost Sheep, Evangelism The Lost

Looking For The Lost  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 12, 2004

LOOKING FOR THE LOST The boss of a big company needed to call one of his employees about an urgent problem with one of the main computers. He dialed the employee’s home telephone number and was greeted with a child’s whispered, "Hello?" Feeling put out at the inconvenience of having to talk to a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-31, Luke 15:1-31, Luke 15:1-31

Tags: Parable Lost Sheep, Evangelism The Lost

Lost In America  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 12, 2004

LOST IN AMERICA According to the North American Mission Board Research Division, there are 192 million lost people in America today and that number is growing by almost 2 million ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-31, Luke 15:1-15

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, Parable Lost Sheep

Finding Detroit  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 12, 2004

FINDING DETROIT Mary Brumbaugh’s husband, an airline pilot, often has difficulty locating items around the house. One day he asked Mary where the salt was. Annoyed, she responded, "How on earth can you find Detroit at night in a blizzard, but you can’t find the salt in your own kitchen?" "Well, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-31

Tags: Parable Lost Coin, Evangelism The Lost

No Contest  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 28, 2004

NO CONTEST When we get to heaven, there will be no contest to see who was the most deserving of God’s grace because no one deserves it. There will only be one contest in heaven. When we look back and see what we were before, when we see the pit from which he rescued us, when we recall how ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16, Galatians 2:20-21, Matthew 20:1-16

Tags: Promises Of God, Parable Vineyard, Grace

Wanted: Movers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 28, 2004

WANTED: MOVERS Suppose that one of the local businessmen had purchased a new building and was planning to move all of his stock into the new store. He placed an ad in the paper offering $100.00 per day to anyone who would come to help him make the move. The first workers were there early on the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Tags: Grace, Parable Vineyard, Promises Of God

An Invitation (And A Rejection Form)  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2004

AN INVITATION (AND A REJECTION FORM) Dearest (your name), You are cordially invited to come and enjoy the delicious banquet of my salvation. Serving will begin at My House and will continue for eternity. I’d love for you to come and get to know Me personally–and join my Family. This feast is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:12-24

Tags: Grace, Salvation, Parable Great Banquet