In Sermon Illustrations: "Plan"

There Is Story That Probably Was Not Real But ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Feb 11, 2008

There is story that probably was not real but like any parable simply conveys a deeper sense of truth (stories often do that which is probably why Jesus used so many stories to talk about the kingdom). In this story an elderly woman has learned that she has an inoperable, terminal illness. She ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

Camel Ride Up Mount Sinai

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Apr 29, 2008

CAMEL RIDE UP MOUNT SINAI It is 3:00 in the morning and we are waiting with other pilgrims on the back side of Saint Catherine’s Monastery at the base of mount Sinai. It is a moonless night, pitch black beyond the small light we huddle around. I wonder if I dressed warm enough, I am surprised it ...read more

Tags: Moses

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Old Rugged Cross

Contributed by Brian Harvison on May 29, 2008

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS In 1913 George Bennard was struggling with a problem that caused him much suffering. His mind went back again and again to Christ’s anguish on the cross. This was the heart of the Gospel! The cross he pictured was no gold-covered icon. It was a rough, splintery thing, stained ...read more

Tags: Cross

Denomination: Baptist

Healing, God's Way

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 26, 2008

Healing, God's Way Healing takes time, patience and determination to persevere through the long process of healing. It’s not easy, but it is the reality of the healing process. Personal Illustration: My own experience with the healing process of my right knee. About two years ago I had a total ...read more

Tags: Pride

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Very Cold Winter

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

A VERY COLD WINTER It was autumn, and the Indians on the remote reservation asked their new Chief if the winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was an Indian Chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets. When he looked at the sky, he couldn't tell what the weather was ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience

8 Reasons You Should Not Expect An ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

8 REASONS YOU SHOULD NOT EXPECT AN INHERITANCE I read an article in the New York Times recently that should sober anyone who is planning on receiving an inheritance. It was titled, “8 Reasons You Should Not Expect an Inheritance.” 1. People live longer and people who live longer spend more of ...read more

Tags: Money

In The Movie Unforgiven, Clint Eastwood Plays ...

Contributed by Bret Toman on May 20, 2010

In the movie Unforgiven, Clint Eastwood plays the part of an aging gunfighter who lost his taste for killing many years before. He and his old partner, played by Morgan Freeman, are lured by the rumor of a bounty of gold being offered for the arrest of some cowboys who had disfigured a young ...read more

Tags: Depravity, Sin General

Denomination: Baptist

Can't Stop Crying  PRO

Contributed by Charles Jones on Dec 16, 2010

CAN'T STOP CRYING Consider this there was a story about a little boy who would not stop crying. No matter what his mother did, he would always cry. So one day this lady next door after hearing the baby cry thought she knew the answer to the problem and assured the mother that she could stop her ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Pentecostal

Tozer: God's Tools

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 21, 2011

TOZER: GOD'S TOOLS A.W. Tozer once talked about God's tools: "The HAMMER is a useful tool. But the nail, if it had feeling and intelligence, could present another side of the story. For the nail knows the hammer only as an opponent a brutal, merciless enemy who lives to pound it into submission, ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 51:20-24

Tags: Discipleship

Slaves To Our Words  PRO

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Mar 15, 2011

SLAVES TO OUR WORDS Noted statesman Sir Winston Churchill once said: "We are masters of the unsaid words, but slaves of those we let slip out." Churchill's words echo those penned by King Solomon almost three millennia ago. We're all guilty from time to time; I know I am. There's been times ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:22-28

Tags: Wisdom

Denomination: Lutheran

A Blow To A Priceless Jewel

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 28, 2011

A BLOW TO A PRICELESS JEWEL Many years ago, there was found in an African mine the most magnificent diamond in the world’s history. It was presented to the king of England to blaze in his crown or state. The king sent it to Amsterdam to be cut. It was put into the hands of an expert lapidary: a ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-8

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

What Comes Out Of Your Mouth  PRO

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Apr 10, 2011

WHAT COMES OUT OF YOUR MOUTH How carefully do you monitor what goes into your mouth, compared to what comes out of it? For example, do you follow a low-fat diet? Do you obsessively track the grams of fat going into your body? Do you watch the number of calories that you consume? Do you avoid ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:14-23

Tags: Relationships, Tongue

Denomination: Baptist

Hymn Story: O Love That Will Not Let Me Go By ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 6, 2011

HYMN STORY: O LOVE THAT WILL NOT LET ME GO BY GEORGE MATHESON George Matheson was only fifteen when he was told that he was losing what little eyesight he had. Instead of giving up, Matheson immediately continued with his plans to enroll in the University of Glasgow, and his determination lead to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39

Tags: God's Love

You're Beautiful To God  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2011

YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL TO GOD R.C. Buckner, a big, bold and brash man, lived about 100 years ago in Texas. This imposing figure had a very tender heart for children, starting Buckner's Children's Homes all across the state. The children affectionately called him "Papa Buckner" and would run up to him ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13

Tags: Compassion

Billy Graham's Arena Dreams

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Feb 7, 2012

BILLY GRAHAM'S ARENA DREAMS Billy Graham, in his book "Nearing Home: Life, Faith, and Finishing Well" (pp. 2-3, Thomas Nelson) writes: I have remained a baseball fan, not necessarily of one team over another but of the game itself--the teamwork, the strategy, and the challenge of defeating the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Dreams

Denomination: Baptist

Finish Strong

Contributed by Jeffrey Rowe on Dec 29, 2012

In 2 Tim 4:7 Paul said that death was like finishing the race. Like crossing the finish line. That all of life is really about one thing – finishing well. Accomplishing the dreams and goals that God has for your life. I ran cross country in high school. We’d go out to these golf courses and ...read more

Tags: Death, Running The Race

Denomination: Holiness

The Final Play Of The Game  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 7, 2013

THE FINAL PLAY OF THE GAME It's never too late to trust Jesus. Oops, I need to qualify that. There IS a time when it's too late to trust Jesus. If you die without putting your faith in Jesus, then it's too late. Someone observed about the thief on the cross that there is one deathbed conversion in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:39-43

Tags: Becoming A Christian, Salvation

The Power Of Doubling

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 19, 2021

COME HOME PRODIGAL! COME HOME! COME IN HOPE! COME IN JOY! GOD HAS A BONUS FOR HIS CHILDREN. Zechariah 9:12 Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; By faith we are prisoners, prisoners that are filled with a hope out ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 9:12

Tags: Double, Blessings

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Unheeded Warnings

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 10, 2021

WHAT CAN POOR PLANNING DO? UNHEEDED WARNINGS… NOT READY? UNEXPECTED? THE GREAT MOLASSES TSUNAMI? What are you expecting at 12:40 PM in the afternoon? Children were playing. Those that worked the night shift were sleeping. Let us understand what SORGHUM MOLASSES really is… Molasses is something ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:4, Jeremiah 20:9

Tags: Warning, Evidence

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Pardoned Fugitive

Contributed by Roger Byrd on Jul 17, 2021

He was an unlikely criminal. In the difficult days after World War I, many veterans like Robert Elliot Burns had taken to “riding the rails” in search of work. A native of New Jersey, Burns had found the times very trying so when a friend told him of a job, he immediately agreed. The problem was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28

Tags: Pardon, Historical

Denomination: Baptist