In Sermon Illustrations: "Paying Attention"

I Love The Story About The Mom & Dad With A Son ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Apr 17, 2001

I love the story about the mom & dad with a son who was a freshman in college. He blew off his freshman year. He wasn’t very responsible, didn’t make good grades, squandered his money, & finally came back home. His parents told him, “If you go back to school you’ll have to pay your own ...read more

Tags: Children, Parenting

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When Abraham Lincoln Was A Boy He Husked Corn For ...  PRO

Contributed by Jonathan Lucas on May 11, 2001

When Abraham Lincoln was a boy he husked corn for three days to pay for a second-hand copy of “The Life of Washington.” After he had read the book he said, “I don’t always intend to delve, grub, shuck corn, split rails, and the like.” “What do you want to be now?” asked Mrs. Crawford. “I’ll be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9

Tags: Workplace Evangelism, Peace, Leadership General

Denomination: Pentecostal

Although He Wasn't The First To Use Ether As An ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 20, 2005

Although he wasn’t the first to use ether as an anesthetic, Boston dentist William Morton was credited with this discovery after using ether for a tooth extraction in the mid-1840s. But Morton had done so at the recommendation of Boston chemist Charles Jackson, who also claimed part of the credit. ...read more

Tags: Disciples

A Priest And A Rabbi Are Discussing The Pros And ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 30, 2005

“A priest and a rabbi are discussing the pros and cons of their various religions, and inevitably the discussion turns to repentance. The rabbi explains Yom Kippur, the solemn Day of Atonement, a day of fasting and penitence, while the priest tells him all about Lent, and its 40 days of ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Show Me The Mommy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2005

SHOW ME THE MOMMY One of the latest reality shows in South Africa is called "Show me the Mommy." An eligible bachelor gets to go out with 3 moms and choose which daughter he wants to date based on his opinion of the mother. Which mom would have raised the most enjoyable girl to date? Moms, ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 3:1-6

Tags: Parenting, Mother's Day

During The 1992 Summer Olympics, All U.s. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

During the 1992 Summer Olympics, all U.S. athletes were required to wear Reebok warm-up suits at the awards ceremony. Charles Barkley of the U.S. basketball "Dream Team" anticipated the probability that his team would win the gold medal. He said, "Us Nike guys are loyal to Nike because they pay us ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence

Savings Crisis

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

SAVINGS CRISIS Christian investment expert Hakeem Webb says many households are caught in a mindset that has them spending income they need to be saving, to keep up with the rising cost of their accustomed lifestyle. The Commerce Department reports Americans’ ’06 personal savings rate (disposable ...read more

Tags: Money

Albums Dying

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

ALBUMS DYING Last year, digital singles outsold plastic CDs for the first time. So far in '07, sales of digital songs have risen 54%, to roughly 189 million units, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Digital album sales are rising at a slightly faster pace, but buyers of digital music are purchasing ...read more

Tags: Technology

Bold Book Marketing Ploy? In The Package-Goods ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

Bold Book Marketing Ploy? In the package-goods world, offering free samples is usually a slam-dunk: Customers fall in love with the freebie and then turn into paying customers. But in the world of book publishing, the news that Harper Collins will give away free electronic versions of ...read more

Tags: Internet

Nearly 70% Of U.s. Churches Provide Direct ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

Nearly 70% of U.S. churches provide direct health services and 65% provide educational health programs, according to the National Council of Churches (NCC) USA Congregational Health Survey. Only 6.4% offer no programs of any kind in health care ministries. The congregations surveyed have an average ...read more

Tags: Church Practices

The Rapid Decline In Housing Prices Is ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 14, 2008

The rapid decline in housing prices is distorting the normal workings of the U.S. labor market. Mobility opens up job opportunities, allowing workers to go where they are most needed. When housing is not an obstacle, more than 5 million working adults, nearly 4% of the nation’s workforce relocate ...read more

Tags: Workplace

Rosanna P. Smith Said, After Picking Up Our ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on May 20, 2008

Rosanna P. Smith said, After picking up our three-year-old on her first day of nursery school, my husband left the following message on my voice mail at work: "Hi, honey. The good news is that Amanda got through her first day at school. The bad news is the teacher wants to meet with us. "The good ...read more

Tags: Mother's Day

Denomination: Pentecostal

He's No ...

Contributed by Loyd Taylor on Oct 29, 2008

HE’S NO STRANGER He’s the wisest man in the church There’s nothing he can’t do If you turn down your ministry He’ll be there to do it for you. He’s also a very faithful member And shows up right on time If you don’t honor your commitment He’ll cover you every time. He’s obviously very ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-21

Tags: Servanthood, Serving Others

Denomination: Baptist

This Week On The Today Show (November 2009) There ...

Contributed by Bob Marcaurelle on Dec 7, 2009

This week on the Today Show (November 2009) there was a young mother whose face had been disfigured in a plane crash and she was in the midst of many needed operations. Her little girl was asked how it all affected her and she said, “Mommy is nicer now.” This mother had received the blessing nobody ...read more

Tags: Suffering Joy In

Denomination: Baptist

A Good Example To This Though Is Our Sign ...

Contributed by Steve Smith on Jan 23, 2010

A good example to this though is our sign project. We know that based on our regular offerings that we could not afford the gorgeous sign out front. But we also know that in order for God to be able to change the hearts of others, we must 1st get them into church. The sign gives us a means to ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices

Denomination: Baptist

Grace The Free Gift

Contributed by Pastor Norman Bailey, Overseer on Aug 11, 2018

If you went to work everyday and did the job that was required of you, you could demand a paycheck. You can go to your supervisor, and payroll to find out what is going on because you earned the pay that you worked so hard for. We can never work so hard to demand that God save us from sin. It was ...read more

Tags: Grace Gift, Love Life

Denomination: Pentecostal

Easter, Easter

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Mar 11, 2023

Is Easter just a holiday, with dyed eggs and yummy candy? Is it a time when children play and all dress so fine and dandy? Is Easter when adults find some much-needed relaxation? Is it a break from their work to enjoy a short vacation? Or does Easter remind us how Christ died our debt to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-10

Tags: Holiday, The First Day Of The Week, Easter, Resurrection, Calvary  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Salt Of The Earth  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Salt of the Earth Matthew 5:13 says to Christians, "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Our Lord is telling His disciples that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who I Am Makes A Difference

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Oct 29, 2008

WHO I AM MAKES A DIFFERENCE A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her high school seniors for the difference they made in her life. Then she presented each of them with a Blue Ribbon imprinted with gold letters, which read, "Who I Am Makes a Difference."™ Afterwards the teacher gave each ...read more

Tags: Blessing

Denomination: Pentecostal

How Can Salvation Be Free While Following Christ Demands Everything?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 31, 2022

I am often asked, "How can salvation be free, but, yet, Jesus said that we cannot by His disciple unless we forsake everything for Him?" (Luke 14). Let me explain the answer to this question in a story. Once there was a man who collected and traded in pearls. He had a fine collection ...read more

Tags: Grace, Commitment, Salvation, Discipleship, Obedience, Count The Cost  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational