In Sermon Illustrations: "Pastors Appreciation Day"

The Obedience Of Gladys Aylward

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Jan 23, 2013

THE OBEDIENCE OF GLADYS AYLWARD Gladys Aylward, missionary to China, during the 1930s as a young woman she left her home in England and sailed to China. Here she opened a home for orphaned children who'd been left to starve or wander the streets. When the Japanese invaded China, Gladys was forced ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Denomination: Brethren

The Recycled ...

Contributed by Ken Pell on Mar 23, 2013

THE RECYCLED ORCHESTRA In December of last year (2012) NPR told the story of a poor community in Paraguay has formed an amazing orchestra that plays instruments created from recycled trash. The young musicians in a slum that's built on a landfill. More than 1500 tons of trash gets dumped into the ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Nazarene

The Two-Headed Lamb

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 7, 2014

THE TWO-HEADED LAMB Dr. H.A. Ironside once shared a story that was the clearest illustration of the Gospel I have ever heard. He said that he was visiting in South Texas and had the opportunity to visit a sheep ranch. While he was there, he spotted what he thought to be a two-headed lamb. He ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Tags: Atonement, Heaven, Gospel, Cross

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He Will Never, Never, Never Leave Me!  PRO

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 7, 2014

HE WILL NEVER, NEVER, NEVER LEAVE ME! Written by Dr. Larry Petton Hebrews 13:5 is a rare verse. It has been simply translated by many as, "He will never leave you or forsake you." That is good English, but it is not good Greek in this instance. This verse contains an unusual triple negative. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5

Tags: Fear, Trinity, Loneliness, Presence Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Stone From The Old West

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 11, 2014

THE PRECIOUS STONE NO ONE SAW Back when the Old West was being settled, pioneers flocked across the country to California and Oregon. In one particular spot on the Eastern slopes of the Rockies there was a large, dirt covered rock protruding in the middle of the trail. Wagon wheels were broken on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46

Tags: Jesus Christ, Capstone, Rejecting Christ, Jesus Is Cornerstone

Trust God He Knows The Future!

Contributed by Roger Whipp on Dec 29, 2014

Testimony: When I was in the Police one of my note books containing vital evidence went missing. I started to panic as in the UK any verbal evidence written down must be shown, if requested in it’s original form at court. The small voice of God prompted me to look in the confidential waste sack. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:1-10

Tags: Trust God, God Knows The Future

Denomination: *other

Commitment

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

Dave Hood tells the story of training to run a 5K run. Every time his wife and he would go running on their favorite trail, they’d walk a little faster, and with a little more gusto. One day, a half mile in and a young lady came at them sprinting towards them. They jumped out of the way so she ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14

Tags: Commitment, Spiritual Growth, Running The Race

Denomination: Methodist

Little Gifts

Contributed by Gerald Manning on Dec 14, 2015

The man was quite obviously hard pressed by life .. his clothing was a bit tattered, he hadn’t shaved for several days, his face was gaunt, his eyes vacant. He was hungry, no doubt, and all I had in my pocket was a quarter. I knew that it wouldn’t buy much, but perhaps it was a start, and I ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-44

Tags: Offering, Giving, Small Gifts, Poor People

Denomination: Nazarene

Buying The Stereo

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 11, 2017

BUYING THE STEREO Philippians 4:11 I had an interesting experience buying a stereo as a teenager. I dreamed of getting one for Christmas when I was 19. I knew it would make me happy. I could hear the music playing and see myself swaying. I really needed it. But, Christmas came and went and I ...read more

Tags: Happiness, Being Content

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Mr. Incredible, Jesus, And The Pharisees

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Jun 1, 2018

In the movie The Incredibles, there is a scene where ex-Super Hero Bob Parr, aka Mr. Incredible, has a confrontation with his boss. Mr. Incredible has been forcibly retired from the hero business for years, and is working at an insurance company. He is doing a good job, but too good of a job. He ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:1-6

Tags: Healing, Sabbath, Sabbath Controversy, Healing By Jesus

Denomination: Lutheran

The Container Is Defiled

Contributed by David Goering on Aug 24, 2018

Your family and one of your best friends families has decided to go camping, but you forgot to bring a container for water, on your way to the campsite your friend sees a container in the ditch he stops and picks it up, it has a skull and crossbones on the outside of the container, it says poison ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:6, Romans 10:3-4

Tags: Deceitful Heart, Wicked Heart, Righteousness, Jesus Christ, Filthy Rags, Self Righteousness, Evil Heart, Defiled Heart  (view more)  (view less)

Small Things

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 1, 2019

LITTLE THINGS: THE BIBLE TEACHES US TO NOT DESPISE THE DAYS OF SMALL THINGS. Zech. 4:10. In October 10, 1871, it had been a season of dryness. Little rain in sometime. The little buildings were small little WOODEN buildings. A little couple named Patrick and Catherine O’Leary lived in their little ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 4:10

Tags: Small, Reach Higher

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Astray

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 23, 2019

Astray They sing, Farther along we'll understand. Oh, how I wish I'd been a holy man, But I wandered so far astray Now all I can see is Judgment Day. I fell on my knees and begged for Your grace, Then turned around and spat in Your face. I walked along in my foolish will, Now I fear ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:14

Tags: Sin, Repentance, Backsliding

Denomination: Baptist

Thanksgiving Joke

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 20, 2019

A lady purchased a parrot whose previous owner had taught him profanity and decided that she would reform him. The parrot learned a number of Christian words and Bible verses to replace the cuss words. However, the owner caught him cussing one day and grabbed him and said, "I'll teach ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving, Turkey, Jokes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Joy Vs. Happiness

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Dec 15, 2019

Joy (used in "Joy Born at Christmas" sermon - 12/11/2019) From Isaiah 35:8-10 (verses below) Someone once said, “The difference beween happiness and joy is that happiness comes from happenings and joy comes from Jesus.” A few years ago Michael Bublé wrote a song that became very ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 35:8-10, Philippians 4:4

Tags: Christmas, Advent, Joy

Denomination: Baptist

Can You See It?

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 24, 2021

We are surrounded by things we can’t see, so are they real? It was really windy here this week. Did you see it? Of course not! We can’t see the wind. I saw the trees moving. I heard the wind chimes on the porch. I felt it on my skin. I never saw it… so is the wind real? Last week, during ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:35

Tags: Light, Demons, Wind, Invisible, Gravity, Physics  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

June 30 To July 4, 1870 Natchez Vs Robert E. Lee ...

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Jun 11, 2007

June 30 to July 4, 1870 Natchez vs Robert E. Lee Steamboat Race Two different captains raced from Natchez, Mississippi to St. Louis, MO. On the boat called the Natchez they carried cargo and passengers. It was actually the faster of the two steamboats. On the other boat, called the Robert E. ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Flame In The Marathon Tower In Each Olympic ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The flame in the Marathon Tower in each Olympic stadium is the most recognized symbol of the Olympics, dating back to the Games of ancient Greece, when athletes competed in a relay race, passing a torch from one to another until the last runner, in a long procession of runners, would sprint to the ...read more

Tags: Faith

In "The Encourager," Charles Mylander Writes: ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In "The Encourager," Charles Mylander writes: "Sunrise was dawning when Los Angeles motorcycle police officer Bob Vernon saw a red pickup truck speed through a stop sign. This guy must be late to work, he thought to himself. He turned on his emergency lights and radioed that he was in pursuit. The ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:13

Tags: God's Omnipotence

Cecil B. Demille Told This Wonderful Experience: ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

CECIL B. DEMILLE told this wonderful experience: "Many years ago I was commissioned by David Belasco to write a play, ’The Return of Peter Grimm.’ The play was being written for David Warfield, and the story hinged upon the continuation of life after death. "I got the inspiration for that story ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection