In Sermon Illustrations: "People Cause Problems"

Created To Be Used  PRO

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Feb 23, 2010

CREATED TO BE USED In his book The Pursuit of Excellence, Ted Engstrom wrote these words: "I was cleaning out a desk drawer when I found a flashlight I hadn't used in over a year. I flipped the switch, but wasn't surprised when it gave no light. I unscrewed it and shoot it to get the batteries ...read more

Tags: Talent, Wise, Action

Denomination: Pentecostal

Facing The Truth: Beverly Sills

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Apr 26, 2010

fACING THE TRUTH: BEVERLY SILLS Confession is admission of something; it is an act of disclosure. Here's a story in the Ladies’ Home Journal as once quoted in The Reader’s Digest: Being general director of the New York opera took a toll on Beverly Sills; she ballooned into obesity. "It made me ...read more

Tags: Confession Of Sin

Denomination: Salvation Army

Just ...

Contributed by Tony Abram on May 1, 2010

JUST REMEMBER... The next time you feel like God can’t use you, just remember... NOAH was a drunk.... ABRAHAM was too old... ISAAC was a daydreamer.... JACOB was a liar... LEAH was ugly... JOSEPH was abused... MOSES had a stuttering problem... GIDEON was afraid... SAMPSON had long hair, and was a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-10

Tags: Worry, Useful To The Lord

William Doherty On How Marriages End Up Down ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 29, 2010

William Doherty on How Marriages End Up Down River William Doherty begins his book Take Back Your Marriage with a powerfully true illustration. His office is located in St. Paul, Minnesota, not far from the farthest point north on the Mississippi River. He describes the river’s powerful but silent ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Tags: Marriage Struggle

Hard Places Cannot Be Mended

Contributed by Sean Harder on Sep 30, 2010

HARD PLACES CANNOT BE MENDED How many of you have read the Pilgrim’s Progress? This is a classic allegory of the Christian journey. The main character, Christian, is on a journey from the city of Destruction to the Celestial City, and along the way him and all the other pilgrims come across ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

How To Be A Servant  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2011

HOW TO BE A SERVANT You need to answer a very important question this morning. Are you more interested in being served or being a servant? A first grade teacher asked her students, "What do you do to help at home?" One little girl said, "I dry the dishes." One of the boys said, "I sweep the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

Tags: Servanthood

Master Your Emotions

Contributed by Perry Greene on Dec 26, 2012

Master Your Emotions John Maxwell relates the story of Bobby Jones, a legendary golfer who won a major tournament at twenty-one. By age twenty-eight, he had already won the grand slam and retired. Jones had an uncle who said that by the time he was fourteen, Bobby was probably already the best ...read more

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Trouble Telescope  PRO

Contributed by Perry Greene on May 8, 2013

THE TROUBLE TELESCOPE Most of you have seen the wonderful images from the Hubble Space Telescope. From the far reaches of space, we're able to see God's most breathtaking creations. Do you remember that in the beginning the Hubble Space Telescope was not the wonderful machine that it is today. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:12

Tags: Self

Denomination: Independent/Bible

It’s Only A White Collar Crime?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 16, 2018

C.S. Lewis died in 1963, but a comment in one of his writings speaks directly to the current opioid crisis. Lewis wrote: “The greatest evil is not now done in those sordid ‘dens of crime’ that Dickens loved to paint. It is not done even in concentration camps and labour camps. In those we see its ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: White Collar, Opioid, Sin, Excuses, Business  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Go Back

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Feb 20, 2021

Several years ago, Karen and I was up in the Ruidoso area; and I decided to try a short cut that I thought I knew about. The problem was, the road turned into a very rough dirt road; and the further we went, the worse the road became. We came upon a farmer’s house and land; and there was a ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:8-9

Tags: Freedom, Forward

Denomination: Baptist

First-Time Fathers Are A Hoot!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 8, 2024

One day shortly after the birth of their new baby, the mother had to go out to do some errands. So, the proud new papa stayed home to watch his wonderful new son. Soon after the mother left, the baby started to cry. The father did everything he could think of to do but the baby wouldn’t stop ...read more

Tags: Dad, Children, Parents, Training, Fathers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It's Time To Change The Diaper!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 12, 2024

One day shortly after the birth of their new baby, the mother had to go out to do some errands. So, the proud papa stayed home to watch his wonderful new son. Soon after the mother left, the baby started to cry. The father did everything he could think of to do but the baby wouldn’t stop crying. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Salvation, Transformation, New Life, New Birth, New Creation, Changes, Trusting Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blindness

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 22, 2025

Aero Condor was experiencing money problems in Peru and needed to cut back expenses. So, rumor had it they hired two blind pilots. Story soon spread about these pilots, but no one believed it. So one day the plane was loaded and up came the two pilots, with dark glasses and walking sticks. The ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:10, Matthew 15:14, Matthew 23:16-19, Matthew 23:24-26, Luke 6:39, John 9:39-41, John 12:40, Romans 2:19, 2 Corinthians 4:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Blind, Spiritual Blindness, Hard Hearts, Not Understanding, Lack Of Discernment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Who Do You Play For? Tjbts

Contributed by Blake Henson on Jun 6, 2023

Who Do You Play For? shows a player that is wearing a certain jersey but appears to be playing for the other team because he is doing everything to help the other team win. This is to make you examine your actions do they truly say you are a Christian? URL: https://youtu.be/xLEEMrkpspY SUMMARY In ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:11

Tags: Salvation, Actions

Love Is A Decision - Is A Book I'd Strongly ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jul 23, 2002

Love Is A Decision - is a book I’d strongly recommend - the second chapter in this book is on honor.....let me share a brief excerpt from that chapter to nail home this point about honor. Gary Smalley is Christian family counselor and the author of the book ...one day years ago when he came ...read more

Tags: Marriage Obligations, Marriage Commitment

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Some Questions To Think About This New Year  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 23, 2002

SOME QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT THIS NEW YEAR There is a lot to consider when planning our New Year's resolutions. Have you considered this: A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk I have a workstation... Can atheists get insurance for acts of God? ...read more

Tags: Questions, New Year's Day, Giving Yourself

Running Home To Mama!" Matthew 5:25-26 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 1, 2005

“Running Home to Mama!” Matthew 5:25-26 Key verse(s): 25:“‘Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking your to court.’” There is a point of departure where disagreement becomes conflict. It’s that point of departure that is most critical in the process of making friends or ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:25-26

Tags: Character

Denomination: Lutheran

A Mouse Looked Through The Crack In The Wall To ...  PRO

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Mar 20, 2007

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. "What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap. Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning. "There is a mousetrap in the house! There ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Mouse Story

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A Mouse Story. A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. "What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap. Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning. "There is a mousetrap in ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

It Was The 1925 World Series. The Washington ...

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Jul 23, 2007

It was the 1925 World Series. The Washington Senators were playing the Pittsburgh Pirates. The game was close. Finally, Goose Gosling of the Washington Senators came to the plate. The ball was pitched. Strike 1! The catcher threw the ball back to the pitcher. Goose readied himself again. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist