In Sermon Illustrations: "Personal Story"

Charles Stanley On The Difference Between ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 26, 2010

Charles Stanley on the Difference Between Decision and Commitment Charles Stanley says in his book, Confronting Casual Christianity, in answer to that question, “because these couples made a decision but did not make a commitment. Every person who married made a decision! They stood before the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:4

Tags: Commitment, Marriage Commitment

Grits And Grace

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 10, 2012

GRITS AND GRACE How blessed is the person whose sin God does not take into account. Even if you don’t deserve it; God provides for you. True story. Two pastors were on their way to Atlanta, Georgia for a large Christian men’s gathering. One of them had never been in the south before. After ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:6-11

Tags: Grace

Two Boys

Contributed by Ray Mckendry on Mar 12, 2019

Two Boys Two young boys are playing happily in the garden and are great companions for some time, but then something bad happens. One boy gets ill and is stunted and is never the same again, while the other one grows to full and healthy mature manhood even though he suffers far more than his sick ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:15, Ephesians 2:16

Tags: Reconciliation, Jesus' Cross

Denomination: Baptist

The First Billionaire  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

The First Billionaire The very first person to reach the status of billionaire was a man who knew how to set goals and follow through. At the age of 23, he had become a millionaire, by the age of 50 a billionaire. Every decision, attitude, and relationship was tailored to create his personal power ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-14

Tags: Giving General

What We Can Learn From The "Lesser Knowns"

Contributed by Tom Mccrossan on Jan 21, 2004

What We Can Learn From the "Lesser Knowns" The media makes note of the well-known celebrities who die, and this year there is quite a long, sad list: John Ritter. Fred Rogers. Johnny Cash. June Carter Cash. Bob Hope. David Brinkley. Gregory Peck. Katharine Hepburn. Buddy Hackett. Buddy Ebsen. But ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Funerals Christian, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Riding The Hallelujah Train To The End

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 16, 2021

We had a long, hard week with problems and difficulties that took time to solve, if they even were solved. It is quite interesting to me that when I solve one problem, two other problems appear. I think they’re all waiting in line. In particular, one day was rather difficult and zapped both of us ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:20

Tags: Politics, Happy, Hallelujah

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

When Jesus Says The Holy Spirit Would Convict The ...  PRO

Contributed by Peter Schmidt on Nov 13, 2003

When Jesus says the Holy Spirit would convict the world of guilt in regard to sin. What this simply means is what we went through in Bible class this morning: when we compare ourselves to God’s Law and see how we measure up, we don’t like what we see. It’s like we are looking into a mirror, and ...read more

Tags: Sin Wages Of, Sin Exposed

Denomination: Lutheran

How To Get To Heaven  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2009

HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN In 1997 there was survey taken by U. S. News and World Report, "Who do you think is mostly likely to get into heaven?" Mother Teresa had a 79%, Oprah Winfrey 66%, Michael Jordon 65%, Colin Powell 61%, Dennis Rodman 28% and O. J. Simpson 19%. The person completing the survey ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-3

Tags: Heaven

A Praying Mother

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on May 12, 2025

Has your life been impacted by a sacrificial mother who would never give up? Never underestimate the power of a praying mother. Born in 1669, Susanna Wesley raised up two of Christianity’s most gifted leaders, John and Charles Wesley. Daily, as a mother, Susanna prayed, “Dear God, guide me. Make ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28, 1 Samuel 1:10-16

Tags: Prayer, Mother, Susanna Wesley

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Preservation Of His People Through Two Dreams

Contributed by Richard Tow on Aug 1, 2022

The amazing story is told by the historian Josephus.xxxviii When Alexander began his campaign against Phoenicia, he sent messengers to Juddua, the high priest in Jerusalem, “demanding aid from the Jews and the payment of the tribute which they used to pay to the King of Persia.”xxxix Not wanting to ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 9:1-8, Romans 8:28, 1 Peter 5:7

Tags: Faith, Protection, Jerusalem, Obedience, Favor, Deliverance, Dream, Alexander The Great  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

While Research In The Early '90s Provided ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

While research in the early '90s provided evidence that one's personality could predict job performance, numerous potential problems are associated with use of personality testing. Five former editors of Personal Psychology reviewed 7,000 manuscripts and they found there is very low validity of ...read more

Tags: Workplace Integrity

Patience Makes It Happen  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Nov 10, 2002

PATIENCE MAKES IT HAPPEN "The history books are full of stories of gifted persons whose talents were overlooked by a procession of people until someone believed in them. To name a few ... "Einstein was four years old before he could speak and seven before he could read". Einstein became one of ...read more

Tags: Compassion, Peace, Helpless

Denomination: United Methodist

We Sing When We Face ...

Contributed by Thomas Cash on Jan 11, 2010

We sing when we face death. Lavena (Beanie) Peters was dying of liver cancer. I was at the hospital with her family, essentially on a deathwatch. Beanie’s pain was excruciating, and the pain medicine kept her in a nearly unconscious state. Others left the room for a moment; only Harriet her ...read more

Tags: Singing Praise, Death Nearness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Imaginary Jesus

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 17, 2011

IMAGINARY JESUS Matt Mikalatos has written a fictional story entitled, "Imaginary Jesus." In that story the main character encounters a wide variety of people who claim to be Jesus, but who actually represent our diverse and ever-changing depictions of who we want Jesus to be and the roles we want ...read more

Tags: Doctrine

Denomination: Methodist

What Are You Feeding On?  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 9, 2014

WHAT ARE YOU FEEDING ON? I really enjoy visiting Yellowstone. In fact, one of these days, when Jesus comes back, I've got dubs on Yellowstone! Come and visit me for a while! Once when I was visiting the greatest national park in America, I heard a story about bears that was amazing. In the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:1-13, Exodus 12:1-51

Tags: Sanctification, Lamb Of God, Spiritual Growth, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Admission Of Guilt

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on May 14, 2023

There once was a governor of the state of Texas who received an invitation to speak at one of the penitentiaries in that state. He spoke to the assembled prisoners and afterwards said that he would be around for a while to listen to anything any of the convicts might wish to tell him. He could take ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-26

Tags: Confession, Testimony, Guilt, Pardon

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Triangle Of Hurt

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 18, 2019

THE TRIANGLE? IT TAKES 3 PEOPLE TO HURT YOU. THE PERSON THAT SAID IT. THE PERSON THAT HEARD IT AND PASSED IT ON… AND YOU TO ACCEPT IT. Did you crucify a person today? Did you murder someone with your words? Did you destroy some ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:12, Colossians 3:2

Tags: Hurt, Words

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Making History—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 1, 2002

MAKING HISTORY--COMMUNION MEDITATION The author Circian writes: “Nathan Hale was a young man who had every prospect for a happy and fulfilling life. He was very well educated for his day—a Yale graduate in an era when very few went to college. Although there are many contemporary accounts ...read more

Tags: Cross Agony, Lordship Of Christ, Lord's Supper

Charles H. Townes, Who Won A Nobel Prize For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

Charles H. Townes, who won a Nobel Prize for his work in laser technology, opened a talk with a disclaimer: "It’s like the beaver told the rabbit as they stared up at the immense wall of the Hoover Dam: ’No, I didn’t actually build it myself. But it was based on an idea of mine.’" We are often ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Tags: Humility

Think How Many Temptations You And I Face In An ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Mar 26, 2001

Think how many temptations you and I face in an ordinary day. Staying in bed late - the temptation to laziness. Growling at the breakfast table - the temptation to unkindness. Arguing over who should change the baby this time - the temptation to selfishness. Starting work 10 minutes late - the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:13-15

Tags: Lies, Temptation General, Sin Exposed, Sin General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ