In Sermon Illustrations: "Pastor Humor"

Be Careful What You Smile About

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 20, 2021

Dr. James L. Snyder I am a student of smileology and have been just about all my life. If you can't smile at something, it's not worth thinking about. Of course, certain things in life are serious, but not that many. Too many people take everything seriously and ruin their life. These are ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-5

Tags: Humor, Facebook, Lockedout

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Seeing Can Be Rather Expensive

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 3, 2021

As I get older, and my goal is to get as old as I can, I begin to realize some of the things I haven't noticed in my life. You know how it is; things creep up little by little, and then all of a sudden, there it is. That happened to me recently with my eyes. Since I was in the ninth grade (I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:1

Tags: Sight, Humor, Blessings

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I May Be A Knucklehead, But I'm Not Insane

Contributed by James Snyder on May 15, 2021

Nobody is perfect except maybe the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage comes close. I've never caught her in some imperfection, or if I had, nobody would know it from me. There is such an obsession today for people to be perfect. And, of course, their definition of perfect is what they are. ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Humor, Family, Agreement

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Temptation Is Oh So Tempting

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 7, 2021

At the beginning of the week, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage informed me that she and some of her friends would be going thrift store shopping on Thursday. I nodded my head and smiled, not knowing where she was going with this. “Now,” she said, “you will have to take care of your lunch. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Temptations, Yielding, Humor

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Are You Ready For Fall?

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 11, 2021

With such a tumultuous summer, I’m glad we are now beginning the fall season. There for a while, I didn’t think it was going to come. But, contrary to my negativity, it has arrived, and I’m delighted. Summer wasn’t quite the way summers have been in the past. My family didn’t have many ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1

Tags: Humor, Blessings, Seasons

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Ready Or Not, Here I Quit

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 18, 2021

I do not quit easily. When I start a project, I like to work until it's finished. I hate to quit before something is completed. One thing I have learned through the years is not to start something unless I have the time and resources to finish it. How many projects I started in the past and ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Quitting, Agreement, Humor

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Who’s The Clown Now?

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 5, 2022

As a young person, I was fascinated with clowns. My first encounter was at a circus I attended with my family. The main character in the circus was the clown. When I first saw those clowns, I was scared almost to death. I've never seen anything as scary as those circus clowns. That began my ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-20

Tags: Humor, Clowns, Circus

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

As Luck Would Have It

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 17, 2022

Quite frankly, I do not believe in luck in any degree. Once in a while, I will say it, but I don't believe it. Luck has no place in my wallet. Sometimes things happen that you can't plan for, which turns out to be rather good. Luck has nothing to do with it. This past week my ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:6

Tags: Humor, Luck, Choice

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Nothing Like A Mystery To Calm My Nerves

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 11, 2023

Nothing calms me down more than a mystery when I have a busy week. The other afternoon I got caught up and faced some rather stressful situations. The remedy to all of this would be to watch one of those mystery movies. One was playing that afternoon, so I decided to rearrange my schedule, enjoy ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Humor, Mystery, Rest

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Born Between 1930 To 1970?

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 12, 2024

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO WERE BORN IN THE 1930's, 1940's, 1950's, 1960's and 1970's! First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes. Then ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 31:6, Isaiah 41:10, Joshua 1:9

Tags: Humor, Risks, Reflecting

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Has A Good Sense Of Humour

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

The Lord has a good sense of humour. In 1992, I was working as a patent attorney in a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company called Sandoz. I had been asked to fill out a form, in which Sandoz had asked me where I would be prepared to go and live - if the company wanted to send me abroad to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:10

Tags: True Story, Humor

Denomination: Anglican

I Remembered A Story Pastor Dan Rhodes Told Me. ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 23, 2000

I remembered a story Pastor Dan Rhodes told me. Dan is the pastor of two rural churches in Colorado and stays busy. Like most pastors, he has plenty to do, but by being the pastor of two churches, he has twice the committee meetings, and twice the worship services. As Dan tells the story, his ...read more

Tags: Marriage Obligations, Parenting, Workplace Balance

Denomination: Baptist

I Heard Of One Pastor Who Spoke Up And Said, ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jan 30, 2001

I heard of one Pastor who spoke up and said, ‘Bro. Brown would you please stand and ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-23

Tags: Unity, Communication General, Christian Love, One

How Do You Feel About People? A Pastor Arranged ...  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Feb 2, 2001

How do you feel about people? A pastor arranged for a gathering of the women’s auxiliary. It was to be a garden party on the church lawn, under the old oak. At the last moment, the morning of the party, Mrs. Preacher discovered she left Sister Hissyfit off the invitation list. The parson ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-21

Tags: Forgiveness General, Forgiveness For Others, Prayer Answered, Grace

Denomination: United Methodist

Dale Hays Tells Of A Haitian Pastor Who Told His ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on Sep 24, 2001

Dale Hays tells of a Haitian pastor who told his congregation this gruesome parable: A certain man wanted to sell his house for $2,000. Another man wanted very badly to buy it, but because he was poor, he couldn’t afford the full price. After much bargaining, the owner agreed to sell the house for ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Sin Deceptive, Holiness

Denomination: Baptist

Pastor, I Have A Besetting Sin, And I Want Your ...  PRO

Contributed by Clark Frailey on May 3, 2002

Pastor, I have a besetting sin, and I want your help. I come to church on Sunday and can’t help thinking I’m the prettiest girl in the congregation. I know I ought not think that, but I can’t help it. I want you to help me with it." The pastor replied, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:3-5

Tags: Humility, Temptation Pride, Help

Denomination: Baptist

Did You Hear About The Pastor Has A Great Message ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Oct 31, 2002

Did you hear about the Pastor has a great message on humility…but was waiting for a bigger ...read more

Tags: Humility, Leadership General

Denomination: Baptist

Upon Leaving Church One Morning, Our Pastor Asked ...

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Dec 24, 2003

Upon leaving church one morning, our Pastor asked our 4 year old son "if the Devil ever tells him to do bad things"? He ...read more

Tags: Temptation General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I've Been A Pastor A Long Time, And I've ...  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Sep 27, 2004

I’ve been a pastor a long time, and I’ve encouraged a multitude of folks to get regular about worshipping. But I’ve also been told a similar multitude of times, Preacher, you don’t have to go to church to worship. Now, I would say that that is true; I am also certain that if you say you believe ...read more

Tags: Worship Purpose, Worship Definition

Denomination: United Methodist

When I Pastored In Ca I Served On 2 Commissions. ...

Contributed by Ric Feeney on Dec 29, 2004

When I pastored in CA I served on 2 commissions. One of them was the board for a home for unwed mothers willing to give their children up for adoption, rather than abort them. In gathering research for a presentation, the board received a letter of encouragement from then Cardinal John O’Connor ...read more

Tags: Abortion

Denomination: Brethren