In Sermon Illustrations: "Parental Sayings"

They Sent Me Here To Finish

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 5, 2011

THEY SENT ME HERE TO FINISH During the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, the last runner to finish the marathon was an athlete from Tanzania. He'd had a difficult race, to say the least: he's stumbled at one point and ended up bruised, bloodied--and with a broken leg! But he didn't quit. Even ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Good God, Good News

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 3, 2011

GOOD GOD, GOOD NEWS Promoting his recent book "Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived", Rob Bell asked these questions: "How could that God (who condemns people to eternal punishment) ever be good? How could that ever be good news?" Well, let’s ask the ...read more

Tags: Hell

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Christian Is Like A Diamond

Contributed by Colin Bain on Dec 1, 2011

THE CHRISTIAN IS LIKE A DIAMOND The difference between a lump of coal and a perfect diamond is simply that although they are both carbon, and although they are both crystal-like in structure, the lump of coal is dark and dirty, while the perfect diamond lets the let shine through. The diamond is ...read more

Tags: Righteousness

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Ramblings Of An Old Woman  PRO

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 21, 2011

THE RAMBLINGS OF AN OLD WOMAN I often worked for a lady doing yard work in her over-sized yard. She not only paid me, but also fed me, washed my clothes, and befriended me. One day, we were eating a meal together she had cooked. The TV was on, and I was focused on the program. She talked to me, ...read more

Tags: Listen, Friendship General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Access Of A Son

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Dec 25, 2011

THE ACCESS OF A SON Dale was one of my childhood friends. His dad ran the projectors in one of the local movie theatres. If I went to that theatre without Dale I paid full admission and had to sit on the main floor with everyone else. If I went with Dale, I got in free and got to sit up in the ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Problem With Being Deceased

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 13, 2012

THE PROBLEM WITH BEING DECEASED ABC News reported a strange story this week: Arthur Livingston, of Prosperity, S.C., may feel prosperous and alive, but his credit report says, "File not scored because subject is deceased." That's because Livingston's bank, Bank of America, has been reporting him ...read more

Tags: Born Again

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Beautiful Feet?

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Mar 14, 2012

BEAUTIFUL FEET? The Bible says, in Romans 10:15, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace..." (NKJV). I don't know about you, but when I think about beautiful things, feet don't rank very high on my list. Feet are sweaty and stinky. Did you know that your feet have ...read more

Tags: People In The Gospel

Denomination: Christian Church

John Piper On Minimizing Doctrine

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2012

JOHN PIPER ON MINIMIZING DOCTRINE I think John Piper put it best in his book, Contending For Our All. He wrote: "To the emerging church that would like to minimize doctrine, Athanasius would say, 'Our young people in Alexandria die for doctrine about Christ. What do your young people die for?' ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:9

Tags: Doctrine

Marriage Takes Hard Work

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Aug 28, 2012

MARRIAGE TAKES HARD WORK Good marriages are designed in heaven, but they are made on earth. And it takes hard work. It reminds me of the pastor of a big city church who ran an ad for a caretaker/housekeeper. The next day, a well-dressed young man appeared at the pastor's door. But before he ...read more

Tags: Marriage Struggle

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Asterisk

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 12, 2013

THE ASTERISK When we read the word anyone in the invitation of Jesus we can’t help but think there must be an asterisk next to it. Even if there wasn’t one when Jesus spoke these words, it seems that over the years the church has put an asterisk next to his invitation. The sign out front of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:27-31

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Paradise And Heaven

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 11, 2015

Paradise originates from the Persian language which means a beautiful garden but the ideal paradise is the King’s garden. Kings had beautiful gardens with exotic animals you wouldn’t see in that part of the world. It had flowing water and trees and was a place of serenity or peace. And when someone ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-43

Tags: Heaven, Paradise

Denomination: Methodist

I Was Driving Home One Sunday From Trinity Of...

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

I was driving home one Sunday from Trinity of Gentilly, where I was serving. I was on Napolean headed toward the river and had just passed Pascale Manales when I saw Covenant Presbyterian Church at the corner of St. Charles Ave. I then had a vision of younger families in the Uptown and Garden ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:1-10

Tags: Holy Spirit, God's Guidance, Visions

Denomination: Methodist

From A Caterpillar To A Butterfly

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Nov 6, 2015

From a Caterpillar to a Butterfly And say Christian are you presently in a God-designed “cocoon” of suffering? Unaware to others, are you in wise God’s “simulated” (He can create em’) conditions resembling a stifling cocoon? Remember, He is transforming you from an ugly Caterpillar into a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-4

Tags: Ruler, Saviour, Butterfly, Caterpillar, Prime Minister  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: *other

What Made America Great, Donald Trump?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 23, 2016

WHAT MADE AMERICA GREAT, DONALD TRUMP? Donald Trump says that he wants to make America great again. If he does, he should listen to the words of French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, who visited America in 1831, said, "I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:34

Tags: America, Memorial Day, Righteousness, July 4th

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Letters To The Pastor From Kids

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 18, 2017

LETTERS TO THE PASTOR FROM KIDS: Dear Pastor, I would like to go to heaven someday because I know my brother won’t be there. Stephen. Age 8 Dear Pastor, I know God loves everybody but He never met my sister. Yours sincerely, Arnold. Age 7 Dear Pastor, I think a lot more ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-4

Tags: Kids, Pastors, Funny Questions

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Conscience

Contributed by Shine Thomas on Aug 2, 2017

In 1984, Avianca Airlines, Spanish airline 707, had a crash, hit a mountain. They went into the rubble, everybody died, the plane is all over the place. Finally, they found little black box which has the cockpit recorder on it so they can get the dialogue that’s going on in the cockpit just before ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:15

Tags: Conscience, Clean Conscience, Pure Conscience

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Touched By A Five Year Old

Contributed by John Gullick on Aug 15, 2017

On July 27th In Indiana a policeman, Lieut Aaron Allen was shot by a man he was trying to help. He was killed and he had a five year old son. Not long after police including the police chief drove cars 1- 2 hours down highway 31 in Indiana and arrived in a town with their sirens going. They ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:15-19

Tags: Thankfulness, Love

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Memorial Day - Never Forget The Cost Of Freedom

Contributed by David Simpson on May 24, 2018

Needless to say, protecting our freedom has come at a great cost. President Franklin Roosevelt said: “Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.” Our Lord Jesus Christ knew that we all have trouble remembering things, even important ...read more

Tags: The Lords Supper, Freedom, Memorial Day

Denomination: Christian Church

Grace Is A Free Gift

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Aug 2, 2018

Main Idea: If you pay for a free gift, it is no longer free. Verse: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV). Illustration: Once there was a husband who gave a beautiful ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Faith, Grace, Salvation

Denomination: Charismatic

The Sermon On The Mount Quote By Oswald Chambers

Contributed by Matthew Redder on Sep 25, 2018

The impossibly difficult instructions found in the sermon on the mount have often troubled me. When I think about loving enemies, turning the other cheek, giving to the poor, storing up treasures in heaven, etc... I often feel like there's NO WAY I can be successful in the correctives Jesus ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15, Matthew 4:23

Tags: Disciples, Jesus Christ, New Creation, Devotional, Sermon On The Mount, Love Your Enemies, Oswald Chambers, Sermon, My Utmost For His Highest  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational