In Sermon Illustrations: "Positive Thinking"

A Preacher One Day Was Preaching On Perfection ...

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Jul 4, 2007

A preacher one day was preaching on perfection and he asked the congregation, "Does anybody here claim to be or even claim to know another person beside Jesus Christ who is perfect?" To his surprise a man in the back stood up. The preacher said, "Sir, you can’t actually be standing up claiming to ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Roger Staubach Who Led The Dallas Cowboys To The ...

Contributed by Jimmy Dillon on Nov 1, 2007

Roger Staubach who led the Dallas Cowboys to the Super Bowl in 71’ & 78’ admitted that his position as a quarterback who didn’t call his own signals was a source of trial for him. Coach Landry sent in every play. He told Roger when to pass, when to run and only in emergency situations could he ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Young Man Who Had Been Invited To A Dinner ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 8, 2007

A young man who had been invited to a dinner given by the South African statesman John Cecil Rhodes arrived by train and had to go directly to Rhodes’s house in his travel-stained clothes. To the young guest’s horror, he found a room full of people in full evening dress. Soon Rhodes appeared, ...read more

Denomination: Other

What A Crazy World We Live In

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 26, 2022

Driving home from an appointment across town, my wife and I encountered some crazy driver weaving in and out on the road in front of us. The fact that there was not an accident was somewhat surprising. “What,” The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage exclaimed, “is wrong with people?” Looking at ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tags: Family, Crazy

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

What Is Your God?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2002

WHAT IS YOUR GOD? "Whatever you love most, serve most, seek out most, give to the most, worship the most, and care about the most is your god. Your “god” can be your career, your bank account, the way you look, a particular position or degree, influence, power, or physical pleasure. It ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:16-22, Luke 10:38-42

Tags: Idolatry, Materialism, World

In Our Southern Baptist Convention We Pass ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Wood on Jun 5, 2002

In our Southern Baptist Convention we pass resolutions every year. A resolution is a position statement, on certain moral and ethical issues that arise. One of the things that the Southern Baptist Convention did a few years ago was to pass a resolution about Jesus being the only way to salvation. ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6

Tags: Universalism, Apologetics Jesus, Apologetics The Bible

Denomination: Baptist

A Genuine Free Spirit  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2002

A Genuine Free Spirit It took just a few hours for budget carrier Spirit Airlines to give away 13,400 free tickets on 90 flights to 14 cities - every seat for an entire day. The catch? That day is Sept. 11. Like most airlines, Miramar, Fla.-based Spirit had found few willing to fly on the first ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry, Endurance

There Was A Manager Of A Minor League Baseball ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 26, 2002

There was a manager of a minor league baseball team who was so disgusted with his center fielder’s performance that he ordered him to the dugout and assumed the position himself. The first ball that came into center field took a bad hop and hit the manager in the mouth. The next one was a high fly ...read more

We Thought You Said...  PRO

Contributed by Tom Doubt on Jul 15, 2003

WE THOUGHT YOU SAID... The kids had talked Mom into getting a hamster They promised to take care of their pet, whom they named “Danny.” Within two months, though, Mom was taking care of Danny. One day Mom decided enough was enough; Danny would be given to a new owner. She called the kids ...read more

Tags: Dad, Children, Fatherhood, Fathers Day, Parenting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

I Was Reading A Few Days Ago Of A Young Man Who, ...

Contributed by Manuel Amparo on May 10, 2006

I was reading a few days ago of a young man who, in applying for a position, handed to his prospective employer a recommendation from a minister. The business man handed back the recommendation with the question, “Haven’t you something from some one who knows you on week days?” Too many look ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

For Example, I Know A Young Lady, Sixty Years Of ...

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Jan 27, 2007

For example, I know a young lady, sixty years of age, who was diagnosed with cancer 4 months ago. This was a shock to her at first, but then her attitude was upbeat. She did what the doctor told her to do. She took her chemo treatments. During this time, there was a smile on her face and ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

John Ortberg Said He Recently Saw An Actual, ...

Contributed by Sean Harder on Jun 25, 2009

John Ortberg said He recently saw an actual, academic, peer-reviewed journal called Journal of Happiness Studies. "Positive psychology" is the big new trend looking for how people can be happy. One theme that keeps cropping up is the happiness paradox which says: "the more directly one aims to ...read more

Tags: Happiness

When You Pray, Do You Seek His Face Or His ...

Contributed by Johnny Creasong on Aug 28, 2009

When you pray, do you seek His Face or His Arm? In some of our prayers, if we are honest to God, we will find that rather than seeking His Face we are simply seeking His Arm. We pray because we find ourselves in a position where we need His Strength. We believe that “…nothing is impossible with ...read more

Tags: Prayer, Prayer General

Denomination: Church Of God

Finishing The Race Together

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 8, 2009

FINISHING THE RACE TOGETHER Several years ago, five handicapped finalists gathered at the starting line for the Special Olympics. They had all trained hard for this day. Hearts were pounding. And each one wanted to win. The starter’s gun discharged and the athletes exploded from their crouched ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Charismatic

Your Pain In My Heart

Contributed by Bob Marcaurelle on Dec 7, 2009

YOUR PAIN IN MY HEART Until we walk where others walk, we usually don’t care much about what they are going through. This is why so many people who experience tragedy, start support groups to help others like themselves. Until we hurt we are not much help. We are like the Queen, who, when told ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Baptist

Because You Are Mine

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jan 4, 2010

BECAUSE YOU ARE MINE Perhaps you remember the farm family who, many years ago, lived in dire poverty. One Christmas someone sent them their first mirror. The teen-aged boy saw himself for the first time. He said to his mother: "Mom, look how ugly I am. How can you love me when you see how dirty ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Generosity

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on Oct 21, 2010

You all probably remember the photos that Eve [our former children’s worker] brought back from Zambia of bags of grain lying in church as people had brought a true tithe, ten per cent of their crop to give to God. People in Africa have very little and yet are very generous. In this country ...read more

Tags: Stewardship

Denomination: Anglican

The Ruling Caste

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 21, 2011

THE RULING CASTE On one of my trips to India, as I was walking around a market place, I came face to face with some proud Brahmans who consider themselves better than anyone, and they will not allow anyone touch them because they belong to the ruling caste. I asked if I could take their picture. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:14-23

Tags: God The Father

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Joseph Is A Type Of Christ

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 27, 2014

Unforgiveness is a cancer to our souls that carries many curses. However, somehow Joseph was able to overcome that cancer and forgive his brothers when he had the chance to take their lives (Genesis 49-50). His act of forgiveness is a foreshadowing of how Christ forgave his enemies from the Cross ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:15-20

Tags: Typology, Patriarchs Joseph

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Music Abuse

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2008

MUSIC ABUSE The Univ. of Pittsburgh School of Medicine analyzed the lyrics of the top 279 songs of 2005. Nearly 80% of rap songs contained references to illicit drugs, alcohol or tobacco, followed by country (37%), R&B (20%), rock (14%) and pop (9%). When combined, 42% of all songs had some ...read more

Tags: Culture