In Sermon Illustrations: "Personal Story"

Buddy Is What History Has Called A "Yellow Dog ...

Contributed by Keith Broyles on Nov 24, 2008

Buddy is what history has called a “Yellow Dog Democrat.” He would never disagree with that statement. He never has had anything good to say about any Republican that has ever held office. In fact the word “Republican” is almost always uttered with an expletive of one form or another. If a ...read more

Tags: Politics

Denomination: Methodist

There Was Once A Preacher Who Was Traveling ...

Contributed by Jay Winters on Apr 2, 2009

There was once a preacher who was traveling between cities. He had lived in cities all of his life. He could tell you how to find a good parking spot, what neighborhoods to avoid within the city, and how to avoid traffic by using the backstreets. He was a smart guy with plenty of personality, ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices

Denomination: Lutheran

The Bible Challenge

Contributed by Dennis Selfridge on Jul 25, 2009

THE BIBLE CHALLENGE During a question and answer session at a recent speaking engagement, a university student asked, "Why do you believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God?" What is so special, so unique about the Bible that Christians believe it is literally the inspired word of God? ...read more

Tags: Apologetics The Bible

Denomination: Wesleyan

Relay Team Wins Race By Yelling

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 27, 2009

Relay Team Wins Race by Yelling "Stop" during Final Baton Pass I ran track in High School and my thing was running the sprints, 100, 200, hurdles, relays and such. In my Junior year the School hired a new track coach. At every practice this coach would give a short talk on strategy and tactics for ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1

Tags: Sports, Finishing The Race

Car Trouble Opens An Opportunity To Be A Good ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 26, 2010

Car Trouble Opens an Opportunity to be a Good Samaritan This was written by a Metro Denver Hospice Physician: I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and splutter and die. I barely managed to coast, cruising, into a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:29-37

Tags: Compassion, Angels Unaware

History And Purpose Of Memorial ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 29, 2010

History and Purpose of Memorial Day We set aside time in America each year to remember some of the important dates of our history. Tomorrow is one of those days: Memorial Day. On May 30, 1868, our country observed the first day memorializing those who had fallen in battle during the Civil War. It ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Tags: Holidays Civic

The Hunger And The Hunt

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Nov 13, 2010

THE HUNGER AND THE HUNT "She was not beautiful but her eyes were magnificient. They were piercing and caught the light as jade shards and occasionally as she passed into shadows you could catch glimses of the hunger betrayed in the depths of their opalescent gaze. As the inquisitive marvelled at ...read more

Tags: Desire

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Words In The Spirit

Contributed by D. Marie Hamilton on Apr 16, 2011

WORDS IN THE SPIRIT When I was asked to be the preacher for the North Little Rock Ministerial Alliance Community Thanksgiving Service, I was floored. I didn't think that anybody thought that much about me. I was honored by the gesture, but the moment I said "yes," my nerves got the best of me. I ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: Methodist

Four Chaplains

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Dec 6, 2011

FOUR CHAPLAINS It was the evening of Feb. 2, 1943, and the U.S. Army Transport Ship Dorchester was crowded to capacity. Hans J. Danielsen, the ship's captain, was concerned and cautious. He knew they were in dangerous waters; German U-boats were constantly prowling these vital sea lanes, ...read more

Tags: Examples Of Faith

Denomination: Lutheran

Guardrails

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 30, 2012

GUARDRAILS A guardrail is actually a system designed to keep vehicles from straying into dangerous or off-limit areas. Now, nobody pays attention to guardrails unless you need one. There are all different kinds of guardrails, but guardrails are that invisible part of our driving experience. We’re ...read more

Scripture: Acts 24:15-16

Tags: Conscience

Peanut Butter Theology

Contributed by Todd Catteau on May 27, 2015

I don’t like peanut butter. Some people get very upset when I tell them that. It’s nothing personal. It’s not a character flaw. I just don’t like it. I don’t even like the smell of it. My mother told me I ate a lot of peanut butter when I was young, so maybe I just reached my limit. My two ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:12

Tags: Generosity, Golden Rule, Thoughtfulness, Sympathize

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Say, "Yes"

Contributed by Tim Smith on Sep 25, 2016

Bob Goff tells of his love for playing practical jokes on his buddies. His friend Doug made the mistake of telling him where he was celebrating his 10th wedding anniversary and the penthouse suite he had prepaid for. A few days later, he and his wife checked into the hotel as Doug and his wife. ...read more

Scripture: Esther 4:1-16

Tags: Risk, Risk Taking, Say Yes To God

Denomination: Methodist

Hearing And Making Good Choices

Contributed by Tim Baker on Jan 20, 2018

I remember so clearly my storm chase on May 13th 2009 of the Kirksville Missouri tornado. My chase started with spotting my first tornado near Novinger Missouri, where I played tag with it several times, getting some nice video clips of it, until finally it approached the city limits wrapped in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:26-27, James 1:22-24

Tags: Choices, Hear And Obey, Obedience, Action, Disbelief, Decision Making, Ignore, Doers Of The Word  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Cross Made The Difference

Contributed by David Simpson on Apr 20, 2020

I (David Simpson) grew up as part of the spiritual family of Hardwick Christian Church. Along with my parents and sisters, I learned about Jesus and Bible there. I don’t ever remember a Sunday throughout my childhood and into my teen years when I was not in that church building and doing life with ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:5, John 3:16

Tags: Communion, Good Friday, Cross, Lord's Supper, Blood Of Jesus, Cross Of Jesus, Sacrifice Of Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Church

Post-It Note Christianity

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Jul 6, 2021

I’m a minister and, for the most part, the people I’m around know that. But in the church I serve we don’t wear any special clerical clothing, so on occasion I find myself in conversations with people who don’t know I’m a minister. That can create some interesting situations. I golf occasionally ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:3

Tags: Faithfulness, Sincerity, Faith, Commitment, Dedication  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Misapplied Scriptures: The "Mizpah” Moment

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Sep 17, 2023

Full disclosure: Sermon Central has accepted and posted a complete message on this text and context called “Jacob-His Mizpah Moment”. This illustration is not an abbreviated form of that message, only a brief attempt to post some highlights. In addition, this verse/passage was featured back in the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 31:49

Tags: Jacob, Mizpah, Laban

Denomination: Baptist

Two Days After Christmas

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Dec 19, 2024

It’s two days after Christmas. The celebrations are over. The presents have been put up. Another Christmas in the books. Christmas 2024 will now take its place among all the Christmases passed. I wonder what Mary was thinking two days after the first Christmas. It’s been quite a ride. How could she ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 1:18-24, Hebrews 4:14-16, Philippians 2:1-16

Tags: Manger, Birth, Joseph, Census, Catteau, Mary, Christmas, Bethlehem  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[262]. A Poem Message – The Election Will Spell Even More Wickedness

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 13, 2026

[262]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE ELECTION WILL SPELL EVEN MORE WICKEDNESS In democratic societies people elect their national rulers, but what do you do when these rulers are all corrupt? How can you vote for them? I know some Christians have a battle with this. Some just refuse to vote. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:28, 2 Timothy 3:13, Genesis 12:3

Tags: Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, The United States, National Election, Evil, Politics, Wickedness, Elections, Betrayed, Bad To Worse  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[268]. A Message From A Poem – The Great White Throne

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 20, 2026

[268]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE GREAT WHITE THRONE This poem came about through a series I did in middle to late 2025 on The Great White Throne, and The Judgement seat of Christ. For each of those studies I wrote a matching poem. That study for the Great White Throne is here on ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 20:11-15, John 3:36, Matthew 25:41

Tags: Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Gehenna, Judgment, Great White Throne, The Lake Of Fire  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Easter Parable: Edith Easter  PRO

Contributed by Harvie Neatherlin on Jun 17, 2003

AN EASTER PARABLE: EDITH EASTER Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas. She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-7

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of, Easter Resurrection, Cross, Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational