In Sermon Illustrations: "Phone A Friend"

You Are Familiar With Albrecht Durer's Famous ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Sep 5, 2002

"You are familiar with Albrecht Durer’s famous painting "The Praying Hands," but do you know the story behind it? The painting was inspired by the sacrificial, loving acts of a friend. Durer and an older friend were struggling to make a go as artists. Recognizing Durer’s talent, the older man took ...read more

Tags: Faith, Friendship New Friends, Prayer Adoration

Denomination: United Methodist

There Are Some People That We Might Consider To ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Feb 10, 2003

There are some people that we might consider to be a freak because of their disfigured appearance. Consider the story of John Merrick who was known more by his disfigured appearance and labeled as the "Elephant man". "John Merrick was born in Leicester, England in 1862. He suffered from a severe ...read more

Tags: Friendship New Friends, Forgiveness General, Compassion

Denomination: United Methodist

I Just Cried With Her

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Feb 23, 2024

I Just Cried With Her A little girl came home and told her mom that her best friend's grandma had died over the weekend. Her mom said, "That's so sad." The little girl said, "Yes it was Mommy. She just sat in her chair and cried and cried." ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:24

Tags: Friendship, Tears, Friends, Burdens, Children, Compassion  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Cuckoo Birds Live In Cuckoo Clocks, Right?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 12, 2024

One day they had a contestant o WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE who made it all the way to the last question. Her name was Debra. Debra has made it to the final plateau. If she answered the next question correctly, she would win $1,000,000. If she answered incorrectly, she would pocket only the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Tags: Clocks, Birds, Pastor's Wives, Sermon Introductions, Pastor Jokes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Greg Slayton Is The Ceo Of Clickaction.com. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Oct 12, 2001

Greg Slayton is the CEO of ClickAction.com. He says, in the busy dot.com world in which he now succeeds, he is exhausted by the frantic pace. This is how he describes where it has left him in relationship with others: "The sense of isolation is a curse. It is ...read more

Tags: Disappointment, Church Small Groups, Friendship New Friends

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Animals Can Do Some Pretty Amazing Things  PRO

Contributed by Ray Navarro on Dec 7, 2001

Animals can do some pretty amazing things. For example, what happened one day in the state of Maryland. Believe it or not, this is a true story. The Atlantic Ocean converts into many rivers and streams that paint the state of Maryland much like a leaf of a palm tree that extends in many ...read more

Tags: Friendship New Friends, Church Small Groups, Compassion

Denomination: Adventist

Serving As A Missionary In Western Siberia, ...  PRO

Contributed by Gerald Cornelius on Apr 9, 2002

Serving as a missionary in Western Siberia, Russia, I had the privilege of sharing the gospel to 150 students in a Technical School in Chelyabinsk. The students were attentive but dubious. One young man asked a question that many were thinking. Nickolai said, "For seventy years we have lived under ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To, Friendship New Friends, Great Commission

Denomination: Baptist

Christian Author Max Lucado Says, "We Aren't ...  PRO

Contributed by Aaron Burgess on Oct 7, 2002

Christian author Max Lucado says, “We aren’t good enough to judge. Can the hungry accuse the beggar? Can the sick mock the ill? Can the blind judge the deaf?” In the same way, can the sinner condemn the sinner? Absolutely not! He goes on to say, “Be careful! The Peter who denies Jesus at ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43

Tags: God's Judgment, Friendship New Friends, Christian Love

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Recently There Was An Article In The September 19 ...  PRO

Contributed by Roger Nix on Jan 11, 2003

Recently there was an article in the September 19 edition of the Washington Times entitled Aboard Flight 564. It reads: As it was at most US Airports, last Saturday was the first near normal day at Denver International since the terrorist attacks. On United Flight 564, the door had just been ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups, Family, Friendship New Friends

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lesson Of The Good Samaritan

Contributed by Darian Hybl on Aug 21, 2013

Recently I read an article that convicted me of my ‘blind spots’ where I have not wanted to ‘cross the road’ or enter deeper into relationship. Alex Early penned an article entitled, “A Pastor Walked into a Gay Bar And…” At first I avoided the article because I thought this article was more a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:23-37

Tags: God As Judge, Real Friend, Parable Good Samaritan

Denomination: Lutheran

Be An Encourager, Fathers Day - My Relationship With My Son

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 25, 2025

God the Father ... Loves His Children ... and He is also quick to .... encourage His children. (Long Pause) And ... I learned that ... the hard way. As a father ... you want the best for your children ... you want them to succeed. To succeed ... at everything they do. Kristin ... our first ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:9, Ephesians 4:29, Romans 8:38-39, Romans 5:8

Tags: Prayer, Encouragement, Friend, Encourage, Father, Children, Son  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

I Read Recently About A Woman Who Was Driving ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Feb 1, 2001

I read recently about a woman who was driving from Alberta, Canada to the Yukon. She didn’t know that you never travel that way alone, especially in a rundown Honda, Civic. So she set off on a road usually reserved for four wheel drive trucks. Eventually she found herself in a truck stop. Two ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups, God's Provision, Friendship New Friends

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Florencio Varela, Argentina Is One Of The Poorest ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Waddell on Mar 5, 2001

Florencio Varela, Argentina is one of the poorest townships of the greater Buenos Aires, metropolitan area. The streets are unpaved and strewn with garbage and sleeping dogs. I approached the home of Raul, a young man who had attended our services a couple of times. I was nervious. I had heard of ...read more

Tags: Friendship New Friends, Evangelism How To, Sharing Your Faith

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Louis Mcburney, In An Article For Leadership ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Oct 12, 2001

Louis McBurney, in an article for Leadership Journal, said there are four reasons people reject accountability. 1) I fear rejection, 2) I feel embarrassed, 3) I resent control by ...read more

Tags: Friendship New Friends, Leadership General, Church Small Groups

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Must Hang Together, Gentlemen...else, We Shall ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

We must hang together, gentlemen...else, we shall most assuredly hang ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Church Small Groups, Friendship New Friends

A Pastor Saw Robert Schuller's Tv Program "Hour ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Feb 11, 2002

“A pastor saw Robert Schuller’s TV program “Hour of Power.” One of the things that impressed him the most during the program was watching everyone turning around to shake hands with and greet other worshippers seated near them. The pastor felt that his church was a bit stuffy and could use a bit of ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Friendship New Friends, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Church Of God

Hello, My Name Is ...

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Feb 23, 2024

Hello, My Name is ... “The witness of Lazarus.” We are not sure that Lazarus ever spoke, I am sure he did, but the Bible doesn’t record it. I certainly would have loved to have heard him share his testimony, maybe something like this. “Hello, my name is Lazarus, and I am truly honored to speak to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15, Mark 16:15, Jeremiah 1:7-8, Acts 1:8, Romans 10:9-17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Witness, Friendship, Testimony, Witnessing, Lifestyle, Friend Sunday, Evangelism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Some Things Seem Too Good To Be True

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 21, 2020

Recently I discovered something. The more I try to keep up with the latest trend, the further behind I get. I am not a complete technical idiot, but I'm not too far off. The only thing I can say about me is that I at least try. The best example of all of this has to do with my cell phone. Is ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Good, Cellphone

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Welcome And Do-Si-Do, Citation: Cartoonist Sandy ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 17, 2001

[Welcome and Do-Si-Do, Citation: Cartoonist Sandy Silverthorne in Leadership, Vol. 11, no. 4]. "And now here’s the point in our service where I’d like you all to rise, turn to the person on your right, shake hands, turn ...read more

Tags: Friendship New Friends, Church Small Groups, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[004]. Message From A Poem - A Memorial To Kent Harrison

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 19, 2024

[004]. MESSAGE FROM A POEM - A MEMORIAL TO KENT HARRISON This was written after Kent’s death in Townsville maybe in April 2005. We had known him since early Mt Isa days, then later when he moved to Charters Towers and then to Townsville. Kent suffered a few massive strokes but battled on after ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1, 2 Samuel 1:17, 2 Samuel 1:26

Tags: Death, Compassion, Friend, Memorial, Tribute, Prayer Warrior, A Christian Death  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational