In Sermon Illustrations: "People Cause Problems"

The Oprah Winfrey Show

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Aug 19, 2008

Ranai Carlton said: During Sunday school I was trying to teach the children that we all need God’s forgiveness. After the Bible story I asked on of the girls, "Lisa, when is a time you might need God’s forgiveness?" Her blank stare prompted a response from my son. "It’s okay, Lisa. You don’t have ...read more

Tags: Confession Of Sin

Denomination: Pentecostal

Mercy Is A Fascinating Thing. Let's Try To ...

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Mar 28, 2010

Mercy is a fascinating thing. Let's try to understand it better. I want you to remember a time when a friend or someone close to you avoided you, shrugged you off for some reason. Now imagine that person being in all kinds of trouble or having a lot of problems because of a bad choice that included ...read more

Tags: Mercy

Denomination: Salvation Army

In The 2012 Democratic National Convention, The ...

Contributed by Rick Boyne on Oct 9, 2012

In the 2012 Democratic National Convention, the Party removed the word “God” from their entire platform. Realizing that it created an image problem, there was a motion to return the word “God” to their narrative. The moderator asked for a verbal vote. Those who witnessed the event saw three verbal ...read more

Tags: Apostasy

Denomination: Baptist

I Will Give You Two Apples  PRO

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 29, 2014

I WILL GIVE YOU TWO APPLES An atheist and a little boy in his neighborhood were talking one day about God, church and faith. Finally, the old neighbor said to the little boy, "Son, I don’t see how there could be a God in this world with all of the problems we have. I will give you an apple if you ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 19:1-5

Tags: Faith, Apologetics, Atheism, Unbelief

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Worth Of Someone You Love

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Mar 3, 2025

My niece was going through a bit of a hard time, so I decided to send her a tiny bit of money to help. I included it in a nice card thanking her for solving a big problem for me recently. The money wasn’t as much as I would like to have sent I thought, as I was writing a note to include. I ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:8, John 13:34, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Tags: Love, Debt, Helping Others, Needy

Denomination: Charismatic

Dave Fredrick's -- From The Vineyard - 30-Second ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 29, 2011

Dave Fredrick's -- From the Vineyard - 30-Second Healing Prayer Exercise Welcome! We are going to begin by taking a little time to pray for physical healing. If you are here for the first time, I promise you, it looks nothing like TV! No one is going to yell at you, push you, or anything else ...read more

Tags: Prayer How To

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Broken Hearts Not Broken Glass!" Proverbs 19:1 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 18, 2005

“Broken Hearts Not Broken Glass!” Proverbs 19:1 Key verse(s) 1:“Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.” It’s time to rise up and take a christian stand! Christians are being persecuted worldwide. There is no doubt of this even in the minds of the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 19:1

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Peace

Denomination: Lutheran

Admirer Or Follower?  PRO

Contributed by Ty Tamasaka on Jul 19, 2011

ADMIRER OR FOLLOWER? Recently I heard that in Scotland, a voluntary survey was given to law enforcement officers of their religious affiliations. That may not sound very interesting, but what caught my attention was that 8 of the officers claimed their religious affiliation to be "Jedi". I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Other

Unsung Heroes: The Man Who Fed A Hundred Men

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 24, 2020

Introduction: A number of miracles took place in the Old Testament. In 2 Kings 4 alone, there are at least three such miracles mentioned: the pot of oil that kept flowing until all the vessels in town were full and the time, maybe just before this, when Elisha found some meal then used it to cure ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:42-44

Tags: First Fruits, Elisha, Unsung Heroes

Denomination: Baptist

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

Are You Conected To The Power Source?

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 25, 2025

A missionary named Herbert Jackson ... was a given car when he arrived on ... the mission field. It had one problem... it would not start ... without a push. After pondering his problem, ... he devised a plan. He went to the local school near his home, ... and received permission to take a few ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:13, Ephesians 3:16, 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 John 4:4

Tags: Power, Force, Overflow, Connected, Beliver, Missionary, Spirit, Holy Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Satan's Worldwide Convention  PRO

Contributed by James Harrington on Sep 20, 2004

Satan’s worldwide convention: Satan called a worldwide convention. In his opening address to his devils, he said, “We can’t keep Christians from going to church. We can’t keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can’t keep them from forming an intimate, abiding relationship ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:15-24, 1 Corinthians 7:35

Tags: Feelings, Emotions, Temptation General, Temptation Resisting

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Behind Every Big Dream  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 2, 2004

BEHIND EVERY BIG DREAM Charles Swindoll shares this story in an issue of Leadership magazine: “On May 24, 1965, a thirteen-and-a half-foot boat quietly slipped out of the marina at Falmouth, Massachusetts for Falmouth, England. It would be the smallest craft ever to make the voyage. Its name? ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:1-31

Tags: Leadership General, Marriage Obligations

A Bruise Is Better Than A Bite!" 1 Samuel 1:1-8 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 13, 2005

“A Bruise Is Better than A Bite!” 1 Samuel 1:1-8 Key verse(s): 8:“Elkanah here husband would say to her, ‘Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?’” “Constructive criticism is when I criticize you. Destructive criticism is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:1-8, John 12:4-8, John 12:4-8

Tags: Emotions, Criticism

Denomination: Lutheran

The Spirit Within Us  PRO

Contributed by Wayne Major on Oct 14, 2001

THE SPIRIT WITHIN US I was driving one day when I saw a hitchhiker by the side of the road, loaded down with a couple of large carrying bags. Now, I make it a practice normally not to pick up hitchhikers, which may in itself be a refusal to hear the cry of those needy of transportation. But in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Tags: Leadership General, Mercy

Denomination: Methodist

Maya Angelou, A Great Contemporary American Poet, ...

Contributed by James Westmoreland on Aug 27, 2005

Maya Angelou, a great contemporary American poet, writes about how she dealt with slavery and prejudice in her moving poem entitled, "Still I Rise." Her words could well have been written by Joseph, who had been made a slave in Egypt. Can we face our own difficulties with this kind of confidence ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Disciples Of Christ

Perspectives

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

PERSPECTIVES It is because of some of the unique properties of water, a substance that makes up 75% of the earth and even makes up a large portion of your body, that life is even possible. Because ice floats, the oceans and rivers and lakes can continue to keep all of the living things in the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-3

Tags: Family

On Nimrod

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 16, 2012

ON NIMROD Josephus wrote: "Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and contempt of God. He was the grandson of Ham, the son of Noah, a bold man, and of great strength of hand. He persuaded them not to ascribe it to God, as if it were through his means they were happy, but to believe ...read more

Tags: Apostasy

Denomination: Independent/Bible

There Are Six Varieties Of Wounds That A Person ...  PRO

Contributed by Bill Lobbs on Nov 4, 2000

There are six varieties of wounds that a person can receive in their body. Abrasive wound - Where the skin is scraped off. This can result from stumbling or by carrying a rough object or by a glancing blow Confused wound - caused by a heavy blow. Incised wound - produced by a knife or spear or ...read more

Tags: Crucifixion, Cross

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Lighthouse Keeper Who Worked On A Rocky ...  PRO

Contributed by Darren Ethier on May 9, 2002

A lighthouse keeper who worked on a rocky stretch of coastline received oil once a month to keep his light burning. Not begin far from a village, he had frequent guests. One night a woman needed oil to keep her family warm. Another night a father needed oil for his lamp. Then another needed oil to ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Pentecostal