In Sermon Illustrations: "Philippians 4:4-19"

Is This A Christmas Present Or What?

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 21, 2019

One great blessing of Christmas is presents. Of course, at my age, I am not too interested in what I am getting but rather what I am giving. I cannot think of one thing I really would want. I got everything I need even though some of it may be old and outdated. As long as it works, I'm happy ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6

Tags: Christmas, Holiday

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Hold That Thought!

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 23, 2020

One church where I served as pastor has a ping-pong table in the fellowship hall, and sometimes a younger member or two asked me to join them in a game. Now, I was old enough to be their grandfather but that doesn’t stop them from asking! I did appreciate the fact that these youngsters, aged around ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8

Tags: Children, Thoughts, Fun And Games

Denomination: Baptist

Shortest Job Ever

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 13, 2020

And the record for the world’s shortest job is… “I got hired for a corporate job. I had my first day and it seemed to be going well and then I, and the rest of my department, got called in for a surprise meeting. Turns out we were all getting ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:14-15, Philippians 4:13

Tags: Hard To Get A Job, Hard To Keep A Job

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Dealing With Stress

Contributed by Richard Tow on Oct 19, 2020

When I was a kid, we raised chicken for our food. At first, we only had a few in a large pen. It was a fairly natural environment for them with lots of grass to scratch around in for insects and seeds. Those chickens were very healthy in that environment. Then we dramatically increased their ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6, Jeremiah 2:13, 1 Peter 5:7

Tags: Healing, Sin, Addiction, Habits

Denomination: Charismatic

3 Feet From My Miracle?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 18, 2021

Napoleon Hill in Think and Grow Rich talked about a gold miner that was three feet from finding gold. The story says a young man dug and dug and never found gold. The Colorado gold mine was a big frustration so after many months he quit. The first minner that quit was only three feet from striking ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13

Tags: Almost, Quitters

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Be Careful What You Smile About

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 20, 2021

Dr. James L. Snyder I am a student of smileology and have been just about all my life. If you can't smile at something, it's not worth thinking about. Of course, certain things in life are serious, but not that many. Too many people take everything seriously and ruin their life. These are ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-5

Tags: Humor, Facebook, Lockedout

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Something Seems To Be Missing

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 10, 2021

Did you ever have a week when it felt like something was missing, but you didn't quite know what it was? I had that kind of a week this past week. It felt like something was missing, and I could not figure out what it was. The past week was typical in many regards. Everything seemed to be ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:9

Tags: Missing, Filling, Empty

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Wanted

Contributed by Sylvester Fergusson on Jun 22, 2021

It was spring, but it was summer I wanted, The warm days, and the great outdoors. It was summer, but it was fall I wanted, The colorful leaves, and the cool, dry air. It was fall, but it was winter I wanted, The beautiful snow, and the joy of the holiday season. It was winter, but it was spring I ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:19

Tags: Faith, Contentment, Discontentment, Coveteousness

Denomination: Adventist

The World's Most Unwanted Ship

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jul 2, 2021

The Pellicano is the world's most unwanted ship. Since 1986 she has been the hobo of the high seas. No one wants her. Sri Lanka doesn't. Bermuda doesn't. The Dominican Republic turned her away. So did the Netherlands, the Antilles, and Honduras. The problem is not the boat. Though ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:5, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Philippians 4:8

Tags: Guilt, Pessimism, Deceit, Sin, Anxiety, Transformation, Bitterness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

I Can't... The Giant Defines Me?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Aug 26, 2021

Jeremiah 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? FACE YOUR UNCONQUERABLE LIMITATIONS. YOU CAN BE AN AGENT OF CHANGE IF YOU WANT TO… From 1886 to 1954 track and field had HIT THE WALL, SPLAT… SPLATTING IS A TERM IN LONG DISTANCE RUNNING. ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:27, Philippians 4:13

Tags: Opportunities, I Can't

Denomination: Assembly Of God

All Your Strength

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Illustration: One day a small boy was trying to lift a heavy stone, but he couldn’t budge it. His father, passing by, stopped to watch his efforts. Finally he said to his son: “Are you using all your strength?’ “Yes, I am,” the boy cried, exasperated. “No,” the father said calmly, “You’re not. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13

Tags: God Brings Purpose

We Often Lose Our Joy  PRO

Contributed by Brian Harvison on Apr 5, 2008

We often lose our joy Well I brought some joy with me this morning Joy detergent, Almond Joy, Joystick What happens when you run out of Joy? You have an empty bottle, all you have left is Almond, and you video game doesn’t work. Life just isn’t as good when you run out of joy Maybe you are here ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4

Denomination: Baptist

Einstein And Emmy  PRO

Contributed by Joe La Rue on Apr 28, 2008

EINSTEIN AND EMMY When Einstein fled Nazi Germany, he came to America and bought an old two-story house within walking distance of Princeton University. There he entertained some of the most distinguished people of his day and discussed with them issues as far ranging as physics to human rights. ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-4, Philippians 4:6-7, Isaiah 40:1-5, 2 Kings 20:1-5, Matthew 13:1-9, Matthew 25:1-13, Matthew 24:32-44, Romans 8:20-39, Romans 12:1-2, John 12:23-26  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Children, Welcome, Gift, Funeral, Follow, Persistence, Deny, Share, Prayer General  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Apathy Club  PRO

Contributed by Dean O'bryan on Aug 25, 2008

The Apathy Club Did you hear about the college students who wanted to form a new organization on their campus? They called it the "Apathy Club"? Their "Apathy Club" wasn't going to be like any other student group. Where most organizations have a purpose or goal -- or some common interest to unify ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:10-19

Tags: Path, Promise, Apathy, Performance, Commitment To Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Not My Job  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

NOT MY JOB The names in this story have been changed out of respect for their privacy. Julie W told her family's story in a magazine article. [My daughter], Allison, came home for the weekend. She opened the door, didn't speak, and dropped her duffel bag. Smudges of mascara circled her eyes. I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 15:20, Philippians 4:6-7, 2 Corinthians 10:1-18

Tags: Addiction

Heroes Who Can't Swim

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

HEROES WHO CAN'T SWIM Paul Harvey tells the story of Ray Blankenship preparing his breakfast and gazing out the window, when he saw a small girl being swept along in the rain-flooded drainage ditch beside his Andover, Ohio, home. Blankenship knew that farther downstream, the ditch disappeared with ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Kidnapped

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Aug 8, 2022

It was December 5 - and I was turning 50 years old. My wife and I went out for dinner with some close friends. During dinner I was informed that we were staying at a hotel by the airport tonight because we had to catch a flight in the morning. Surprise! Happy birthday! Fred, we are taking you on ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1, John 14:1-17, Philippians 4:6-7

Tags: Peace, Birthday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Does It Mean To Have Joy?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 2, 2023

Joy is God’s gift to believers. Paul speaks of more than just a mood. This is a deep confidence that was rooted in God’s sovereign control of the universe, His on unchanging divine promises and eternal spiritual realities including the assurance of ultimate victory for those in ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-22, Philippians 4:4

Tags: Spirit Filled Life, Happiness, Joy, Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Perfect Portrait Of Peace

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 2, 2023

Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-23, John 14:27, Philippians 4:7

Tags: Spirit Filled Life, Peace, Presence Of God, Fruit Of The Spirit, Trials, Problems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Losing Someone Or Something Is Very Heartbreaking

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Oct 17, 2023

In the midst of an unforgiving tempest, a cataclysmic convergence of nature's wrath struck with an unforgiving fury. Banda Aceh, Indonesia, and the remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands found themselves entangled in the merciless grip of a relentless tsunami. At that fateful moment, I stood as the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:1-4, Isaiah 41:10, Galatians 6:2, Matthew 25:35-36, Luke 15:11-32, Psalm 107:28-30, Philippians 4:6-7  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Love, Tsunami Survival Tale, Banda Aceh, Andaman, Nicobar, Heartbreaking, Church, Earthquake, Care, Indonesia, Panicking, Islands  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational