In Sermon Illustrations: "possibilities"

Something For Nothing?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 13, 2020

Several years ago, I had to make an urgent flight across the country. Because the only airport with those kinds of connections was a good ways away, I took advantage of a shuttle service. Considering the cost of fuel and parking alone, I figured I could get a ride from the northern terminal all ...read more

Scripture: John 6:25-27

Tags: Greed, Motive Or Motivation

Denomination: Baptist

Shemaiah, A Man Of God

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 21, 2020

Text: 1 Kings 12:22, KJV: But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 23 Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying, 24 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 12:22-24

Tags: Man Of God, Men Of God, Shemaiah

Denomination: Baptist

The Grace Of God

Contributed by James Dina on Oct 25, 2020

THE GRACE OF GOD "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which [was bestowed] upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15:10) Grace can be defined as the love and mercy given ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:10

Tags: Grace, Grace Of God, Unmerited Favor

Denomination: Pentecostal

Unsung Heroes—barzillai The Gileadite, Part 1

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 2, 2020

Introduction: Barzillai is one of many in the Bible who is mentioned only a few times, but his deeds more than make up for any lack of coverage. When David fled for his life during Absalom’s revolt (2 Samuel 15-18), he eventually crossed the Jordan River. Barzillai and some other people met the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 17:26-29

Tags: David, Barzillai, Gilead, Mahanaim

Denomination: Baptist

Unsung Heroines-Pilate’s Wife

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 4, 2022

Introduction: Some women can be unsung heroines even if they were not believers at the time. Such a woman is the wife of Pontius Pilate, the Roman official overseeing Israel at the time. Text, Matthew 27:19, KJV: 19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:19

Tags: Pilate's Wife, Dreams, Unsung Heroines

Denomination: Baptist

Story Number One  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 13, 2003

STORY NUMBER ONE Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn’t famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder. Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was his lawyer for a good ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Sully And Second Nature

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 30, 2011

"SULLY" AND SECOND NATURE Thursday, January 15, 2009, was another ordinary day in New York City. Or so it seemed. But by that evening people were talking of a miracle. They may have been right. But the full explanation is, if anything, even more interesting and exciting. And it strikes just the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit

That’s Why Doctors Call Us Patients

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 17, 2021

For the past month I have been engaging with my eye doctor. I've had two cataracts removed which isn't a serious thing in itself. But what goes into this surgery is what baffles me. I've often wondered why doctors call us patients. I have figured out that the doctors are not patient, ...read more

Scripture: James 5:7

Tags: Surgery, Relationship

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Green Thumb Versus Black And Blue Thumb

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 16, 2021

If you came to our parsonage, you would discover all over our property, plants and flowers. Just don’t ask me to identify what they are. I can tell a plant from a flower, but that’s as far as it goes with me. That is not true with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. She gets all the credit for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tags: Unity, Differences

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

When Is It Okay To Be Snarly?

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 6, 2022

Normally, whatever normal means, I don’t get agitated by many things. I can keep my cool under the most bizarre circumstances. Nothing gets under my skin, and I can take everything with a grin. I can’t remember the last time I lost my temper and got mad. I’ve been married for over 50 years, so I ...read more

Scripture: John 8:44

Tags: Humor, Telemarketers, Snarly, Aggitation

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Ravi Zacharias Tells In One Of His Books About A ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Henes on Jun 21, 2001

Ravi Zacharias tells in one of his books about a trip he made to Vietnam in 1971 to travel the country and preach. Wherever he traveled for a month in Vietnam a Vietnamese man who translated for him accompanied him. They were both young, and they saw many things that shocked them, things neither ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, God In The Hardships, God's Provision

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Healing Fool  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Feb 14, 2002

A HEALING FOOL The Gospels depict Jesus as having spent a surprising amount of time healing people… It is significant also that the Greek verb "sozo" was used in Jesus’ day to mean both to save and to heal, and "soter" could signify either savior or physician. Ever since the time of Jesus, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:29-39

Tags: Miracles Of Jesus, Prayer Answered, Gifts Healing

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Our Two Oldest Girls, Shannon And Sandi, ...  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Apr 3, 2002

When our two oldest girls, Shannon and Sandi, were in High School I was pretty certain that neither would live past their eighteenth birthday. If they didn’t kill each other there was a very good possibility I would. When they were little they were cute but in their teens they were always ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Unity

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Richest Man's Death  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 24, 2001

THE RICHEST MAN’S DEATH Carl was a very rich man who owned a great estate. One of his favorite pastimes was riding horseback through his valley, looking at everything he owned & congratulating himself on his great wealth. One day, as Carl was riding along, he came up over a hill & in the ...read more

Tags: Joy, Death Nearness, Death

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Something For Nothing?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 30, 2002

SOMETHING FOR NOTHING? Are you hoping for personal change this year? Are you planning to reach your goals by way of hard work or wishful thinking? Do your plans for growth in the New Year sound like this: From the Desk of: Don Genereaux Honorable Secretary of Agriculture Washington, ...read more

Tags: Government Handouts, Goals, Circumstance, Life, Plan  (view more)  (view less)

There Was A Family With One Little Daughter. ...  PRO

Contributed by Darren Ethier on May 9, 2002

There was a family with one little daughter. Mother and daughter were very faithful in church and Sunday School attendance…The father wasn’t interested and he made it plain it was okay for his wife and daughter, but not for him. He worked in a steel mill, a huge hulk of a man who had been a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:36-39, James 1:12

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation, Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Incredible Gift—communion Mediation  PRO

Contributed by Dawn Marie Turner on Apr 9, 2003

THE INCREDIBLE GIFT--COMMUNION MEDIATION Danny was born with no ears. He could hear all right, but he didn’t have ears like normal people. All his life, Danny endured ridicule and rejection because of his deformity. But he learned to live with it. Thankfully, he had loving parents and a strong ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, Rejection, Promises Of God, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When The Immanuel Baptist Church First Called ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Richards on Sep 2, 2004

When the Immanuel Baptist Church first called Pastor Waite he quickly made his way to each home. Letting people know that he wanted to know anything about the people that would be helpful in his ministry. It wasn’t long before the new pastor knew most of the church secrets. When it came to getting ...read more

Tags: Men And Women, Unity

Denomination: Baptist

I Know A Family That Is Very Wealthy And Well On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 8, 2004

I know a family that is very wealthy and well on its way toward embracing the principles that have just been laid out. This is a Roman Catholic family that has inherited a vast fortune. These people live just outside a Midwestern city and, as you might expect, make their home on a large estate ...read more

Linchpin For Disaster!" Romans 13: 8-14 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 10, 2004

“Linchpin for Disaster!” Romans 13: 8-14 Key verse(s): 13: “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.” In the recent heavy rains that struck the state this past spring, of chief concern ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:8-14

Tags: Emotions, Faith

Denomination: Lutheran