In Sermon Illustrations: "Parents"

Trust Is A Learned Behavior  PRO

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Nov 20, 2004

TRUST IS A LEARNED BEHAVIOR. Susie is one of the most trustworthy people I know; I trust her with my life. Imagine she is in a long line at the bank. The individual behind her is holding $1,000 cash with a completed deposit ticket. This person is obviously anxious and in a hurry, so Susie ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-13, Isaiah 32:17

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Message Has Been About A Couple Of Prophets ...  PRO

Contributed by Toby Powers on Dec 29, 2005

The message has been about a couple of prophets who fell by the wayside, but I want to tell you of a man that finished the race: Dave and Nikki McDonald were missionaries to Iraq. They were shot in pieces by mortar fire and AK-47’s while in Iraq working on a water-purification project and sharing ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Baptist

A Minister Brought Home A 12-Year-Old Boy Named ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A minister brought home a 12-year-old boy named Roger. His parents had died from a drug overdose. There was no one to care for Roger, so this couple decided they’d just raise him as if he were one of their own sons. At first it was quite difficult for Roger to adjust to his new home--an environment ...read more

Tags: Revival

Last Week At The Soup Supper We Heard A Story ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Last week at the Soup Supper we heard a story from Rudy Kuyten about his missionary work in Japan. Rudy told about a woman who was sold by her parents when she was a young lady to be a geisha, which is basically a prostitute in Japan. She went through life being beaten and abused by men. She was ...read more

Tags: Anger

A Number Of Years Ago, Gladys And I Were At A ...

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Jul 24, 2007

A number of years ago, Gladys and I were at a church where we worked, usually without help, trying to bring in the children and youth of the community. We would pick up and teach children on Tuesday afternoons. We picked up and taught youth on Wednesday afternoons, and then had prayer meeting on ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Offer Up Your Gift — Antonio Stradivarius  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Aug 30, 2007

Offer up Your Gift - Antonio Stradivarius A young boy Antonio loves music, but his voice was high and squeaky, and so he did not make the tryouts for the Cremona Boy’s Choir. When he took violin lessons, the neighbours persuaded his parents to make him stop. Yet Antonio still wanted to make ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Dr. Pierce Harris Was The Long Time Pastor Of ...

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Oct 10, 2007

Dr. Pierce Harris was the long time pastor of First United Methodist Church in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Harris spoke one day at the state penitentiary. He was introduced to the prisoners by one of the inmates. In his introduction, the inmate said, “I want to tell you a story about two boys. • They ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Secret Garden Is A Fascinating Children's ...

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Jun 20, 2009

The Secret Garden is a fascinating children’s classic. It is the story of a British child, Mary Lennox, who lived in India but is orphaned because of her parents’ death due to a cholera breakout. They send her to England to live with her only surviving relative, her uncle who is still mourning the ...read more

Tags: Love For God, Love God

Denomination: Salvation Army

What's Valuable

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 11, 2009

WHAT'S VALUABLE Helen Frankenthaler’s The Bay is an abstract painting on display in the Detroit Institute of Arts. It’s valuable. This work of art is worth about 1.5 million dollars. Or I should say it used to be worth 1.5 million dollars, until a 12 year old boy on a field trip decided to put his ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

More Time Later...?

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Sep 2, 2009

MORE TIME LATER...? When I returned from my trip to Europe, back in 1982, I remember a conversation I had with an high school classmate. He asked me if I heard about Vick, another classmate of ours. Vick was one of my old partying buddies from before I accepted Christ. His parents were good ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Methodist

A Father Insures The Safety Of His Son In A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

A Father Insures the Safety of His Son in a Blizzard A little boy was eagerly looking forward to the birthday party of a friend who lived only a few blocks away. When the day finally arrived, a blizzard made the sidewalks and roads nearly impassable. The lad’s father, sensing the danger, hesitated ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:18

Tags: Servanthood

Why Circumcision? Why Not A Tattoo On The Arm Or ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Apr 10, 2010

WHY CIRCUMCISION? Why not a tattoo on the arm or something similar? Circumcision was a hidden sign. It seems to me it has something to do with the promise of Abraham having many descendants, being fruitful and multiplying. The sign reaffirms God's promise right at the very place where the sexual ...read more

Tags: Marriage Faithfulness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When I Was A Boy We Had Access To Numerous ...

Contributed by John D Jones on May 2, 2010

When I was a boy we had access to numerous motorbikes and go-carts. My father refused to buy us any kind of motorised vehicles because he did not want us to get injured. But most of our friends and family had some sort of motorbike. As youths, the parents always set the governor really low. This ...read more

Tags: Power

Denomination: Baptist

Jack Was An Impressionable 15 Year-Old. He ...

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Oct 16, 2010

Jack was an impressionable 15 year-old. He attended the local Presbyterian Church with his family since he was a baby. He studied for confirmation and was confirmed taking his place in the congregation. He attended youth group meetings and sat in church every Sunday. His 16th birthday was fast ...read more

Tags: Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Power And "King Of The Hill"

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Jun 17, 2011

POWER AND "KING OF THE HILL" When I was a kid, we used to play a game called "King of the Hill." Everyone would get together and choose some place to be the "hill." Sometimes we were lucky enough to have a dirt mound to play on, but not very often. It might be a bed or a sofa, unless, of course, ...read more

Tags: Power

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Servant And The Child

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 12, 2011

THE SERVANT AND THE CHILD Think about the differences between a servant and a child: The servant is accepted and appreciated on the basis of what he does, the child on the basis of who he is. The servant starts the day anxious and worried, wondering if his work will really please his master. ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Smile Is All We Need

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Apr 26, 2008

A SMILE IS ALL WE NEED When the famous Canadian 20th Century Pentecostal missionary, Jonathan Goforth, was 16 and still living at home with his parents on the farm, his father bought a second farm. He asked Jonathan to look after a huge field on that second farm and get it ready for harvest. ...read more

Tags: Love For God

Denomination: Anglican

...

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on Jun 4, 2008

Illustration: Gumball Show students an ordinary gumball, explaining that there’s an art to fitting into the world—especially a world with gum. We can chew gum, blow bubbles with it, even use it as a sticky adhesive if we’re desperate. But unwise people make a mess of gum, like the little girl ...read more

Tags: Wisdom

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In His Book, The Externally Focused Church, Rick ...

Contributed by Dr. George Calhoun on Oct 20, 2008

In his book, The Externally Focused Church, Rick Rusaw shares the story of Tom Maharius, the least likely person to make an impact on any community, let alone New York City. A casualty of the 60’s hippie movement, and heavily involved in drugs use, Maharias’s downward spiral came to an abrupt end ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Baptist

Ministry Area Profile 2006 -- Compass ...

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 16, 2009

Ministry Area Profile 2006 -- Compass Report 10/24/2006 Estimated 2006 households likely to be primarily concerned with: The Basics: Maintaining personal health – 42.6% Hopes and Dreams: 1) Achieving long-term financial security – 56.8% 2) Finding time for recreation/leisure – 31.7% 3) Other ...read more

Tags: Worldliness

Denomination: Baptist