In Sermon Illustrations: "Pilates Wife"

One Mountain Too Many

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

ONE MOUNTAIN TOO MANY "No one has the right to an activity that can cause so much suffering and pain to others just so they can do something fun." Those are the words of Karl Purnell who lost his 28 year-old son Chris to an avalanche when Chris was ice-climbing in Canada. You can hear and maybe ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 12:29-31

Tags: Idolatry

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

This Old House

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 2, 2023

This old house once knew my children This old house once knew my wife This old house was home and comfort As we fought the storms of life This old house once rang with laughter This old house knew many shouts Now it trembles in the darkness When the lightning walks about Ain't gonna need this ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Tags: Body, Temple Of God, New Body, Songs, Resurrection, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sharing Love

Contributed by Rob Roy on May 22, 2024

In Irving Illinois a group purchased the old school building and made it into a long term alcohol recovery program. Some of those started coming to worship at the Irving church, two had met there, Matt and Kim, I and not using their real names. My favorite wife, Lisa and I got to know them, ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-19, Mark 12:30-31

Tags: Service, Hope, Blessings

It’s Difficult To Find Beauty In Death. ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Jun 18, 2001

It’s difficult to find beauty in death. It’s even more difficult to find beauty in a death camp. Especially Auschwitz. Four million Jews died there in World War II. A half-ton of human hair is still preserved. The showers that sprayed poison gas still stand. But for all the ugly memories of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8

Tags: Joy, Christian Disciplines, Cross Agony

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Remember Well When The Holy Spirit Helped Me ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Willis on Nov 29, 2006

I remember well when the Holy Spirit helped me come to a conviction that I was a sinner and needed a Savior. I was a young adult of 20, married, and the father of one child at the time. I had been running with the boys and come to the place of desiring a divorce from my wife. Also, I was doing ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-19, John 3:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Baptism Of Ivan The Great Tsar Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 8, 2009

Baptism of Ivan the Great Tsar of Russia Ivan the Great was Tsar of Russia during the Fifteenth Century. He brought together the warring tribes into one vast empire. As a fighting man he was courageous. As a general he was brilliant. He drove out the Tartars, establishing peace across the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:21

Tags: Baptism

The Teddy Bear Of Jesus

Contributed by John Telgren on Feb 11, 2017

I put my son to bed, and went through the routine. "I love you, I love mommy, I love your brothers, etc." Then he stopped, looked up at me, and asked, "What about my Teddy, don't you love my Teddy?" I looked over at a tattered, dingy, stuffed animal that was on it's last leg quite literally. I ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:25-32

Tags: Church, Bride Of Christ, Church Appreciation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Dave Barry - Excerpt From "The Pain Of ...

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Dec 31, 2007

Dave Barry - Excerpt from “The Pain of Childbirth”: The key to avoiding drugs, according to the natural-childbirth people, is for the woman to breathe deeply. Really. The theory is that if she breathes deeply, she’ll get all relaxed and won’t notice that she’s in a hospital delivery room wearing ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Excuses, Excuses

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Excuses, Excuses In Luke 14:16 - 24, Jesus teaches using the "Parable of the Great Banquet." In it, Jesus shares about a man who was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. It was the custom then, as it is today, to send out invitations to such a special event quite a long ...read more

Tags: Arrogance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Was God A God Of Love In The Old Testament?

Contributed by Coz Von on Aug 27, 2017

The Davinci code will tell you that Jesus was married Mary. is it so? NO, NO, AND - mil times NO – NOT! But I want to show you that God did get married. Blasphemy, you say, NOT SO, It’s irreverent, sacrilegious – and not true But He really did! Hear me out. Long, long ago in a land far far away ...read more

Tags: Love, Hosea, Love Story, Long Suffering, Peace, Hope, Care, Hate, Kindness, Gomer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Have Pain, It Doesn't Have Me!" Matthew ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 25, 2005

“I Have Pain, It Doesn’t Have Me!” Matthew 24:1-13 Key verse(s) 13:“‘. . . but he who stands firm to the end, will be saved.’” Tolerance for pain. Some of us have more than others and I doubt there is any among us with unlimited ability to bear pain. To observe the many and varied reactions to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:1-13

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Endurance

Denomination: Lutheran

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

Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall, Stop Laughing

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 19, 2022

As old as I am, and I expect to get as old as possible, I have noticed that I see things differently than I did a few years ago. I’m not sure if my vision has changed or my perspective. But one thing is certain; something has changed. A lot of things are very aggravating in my life. When I think I ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 5:21

Tags: Mirror, Perception

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

My Oh My What A Nice Slice Of Pie

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 13, 2022

Whenever things go better than you can imagine, it is always a red flag to pay attention because something is wrong. I don’t always catch it, and I have paid the price. One day this past week, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and our daughters and granddaughters planned a girl’s day. I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:4

Tags: Together, Sharing

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

See Cookie Will Sneak

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 29, 2022

For more years than I care to remember, I have been on a diligent pursuit, and I won’t stop until I reach my goal. My quest is to find a cookie I don’t like. Throughout the years, I have eaten every cookie I could find and loved them all. My biggest obstacle in this pursuit is The Gracious ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:38

Tags: Temptation, Humor

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

What’s The Harm With A Little Treat?

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 23, 2023

The last month has been crazy for me and The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. Every month has its crazy element, but this past month beats them all. First, my main computer crashed, and I lost a lot of stuff. Second, we had a hurricane that came through; fortunately, it was only thunder, rain ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 28:13

Tags: Truth, Decisions

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Having A Brain Can Be A Problem

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 6, 2024

I have been showing people a picture of my brain for almost a month now. I’ve been having a lot of fun doing it and teasing people by saying, “I have proof that I have a brain.” In the beginning, I just believed that having a brain would be a wonderful experience for me. Little did I know that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:12

Tags: Brain, Problems

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Another Week On My Own

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 22, 2025

Several weeks ago, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage informed me she would be in St. Augustine with our daughter and granddaughter for spring break. As always, I really didn’t properly process this information. I get so busy with other things that there are some things I can’t process. It ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Sin, Temptation, Cheating

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

In 1864, One Of America’s Great Poets, ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Haines on Dec 8, 2000

In 1864, one of America’s great poets, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, wrote the poem which became the well-known carol, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. When I first heard this song, I wondered, “Why does he suddenly shift from joy at hearing the Christmas bells into such deep despair?” It starts ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20, Habakkuk 1:2

Tags: Peace, Love Of Christ, Christmas

Denomination: Wesleyan