In Sermon Illustrations: "Power Of One"

Does God Exist? Barbers Don't ...

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Feb 18, 2009

Does God exist? Barbers Don’t Exist… This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen. It’s an explanation other people will understand. Does God exist? A man went to a barber shop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, ...read more

Tags: Apologetics God

Denomination: Pentecostal

What It Means To Die To Self

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 6, 2022

Self denial becomes a life pattern. Now what does it mean as a Christian?  Here are some practical things.   When you are not forgiven, or neglected, or purposely set aside, and you sting and hurt with the insult or oversight, but your heart is happy and you’re ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Tags: Discipleship, Self Denial, Following Jesus, Dying To Self

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Twice Mine

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 22, 2022

A little boy made a sailboat by his own hands and took it out to the lake and sailed it by himself. But, sadly, a strong wind came over the lake and took the little sailboat away from the boy to the other side of the lake. The little boy looked and looked for his boat but could not find it. He ...read more

Tags: Salvation, Gospel, Redemption, Born Again, Redeemed, Second Birth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sowing And Reaping

Contributed by Paul Robinson on Mar 20, 2023

It was my Senior year of high school, and I wanted to have a good date for the upcoming Junior Senior Banquet (a Christian version of the prom). Her name was Jenny. She was the pastor's daughter, and she was cute. When I finally got up the nerve to ask her, she readily said Yes! I was so ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-8

Tags: Humor, Sowing, Reaping, Personal Story

Denomination: Baptist

What Have They Done For You Lately

Contributed by Brian Harvison on Oct 4, 2023

I heard an illustration from Pastor Tony Evans that I altered some to fit us here in Arkansas • We love our Razorbacks, we make time for our Razorbacks • Especially Razorback football • Me and my wife love football • But, have you ever thought about how much time we devote to football? • The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-11

Tags: Razorbacks, Ask, Seek, Knock

Denomination: Baptist

Run The Race

Contributed by James Chandler on Apr 18, 2024

Run the Race ”Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2

Tags: Perseverance, Hope

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Anti-Semitism Meets Its Match

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 1, 2024

It was a sweltering August day when all three Cohen brothers entered the posh Dearborn, Michigan, offices of Henry Ford, the car maker, "Mr. Ford," announced Norman Cohen, the eldest of the three. "We have a remarkable invention that will revolutionize the automobile industry." ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 23:4-8, 1 Corinthians 5:7, Romans 11:11-32

Tags: Israel, Hatred, Anti Semitism, Israel's Future

Denomination: Independent/Bible

[199]. A Message From A Poem – On Stony Shores

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 13, 2025

[199]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – ON STONY SHORES This is a short poem and I do not wish to add to it. I live close to the beach and the rainforest. Some beaches in the tropics here have a lot of smooth rocks on them, basalt in origin from past volcanic activity. In the tropical rainforest you ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:7-8, Psalm 1:3

Tags: Planted By The Water, Rocky, Streams Of Water, Christian Poems, Tropical Rainforest, Stony, Waters Of Life, Stream, Refreshment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Flat Tire  PRO

Contributed by Normand Cote on May 16, 2001

Introduction: > A man was driving down a road and he almost didn’t see the old lady, > stranded on the side of the road. But even in the dim light of day, he > could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and > got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Compassion, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Adventist

He Could Have Turned Around  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2001

He could have turned around A 20-year-old man was arrested by the Omaha Police on the “suspicion of robbery and giving police false information,” which was one of many wrong turns for this young man. His first wrong turn was the desire to make some quick, easy money for whatever reason. His ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:14, Proverbs 29:6

Tags: Sin Wages Of, Sin Deceptive, Repentance

The Event Occurred Back In The Early 60's When ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Pace on Apr 11, 2002

The event occurred back in the early 60’s when Abortion was not a legal option. She was a young High School student. She met a boy that was everything that she dreamed of. She allowed him to have his way with her and she became pregnant. He told her that he had no desire to marry her and was going ...read more

Tags: Abortion

Denomination: Baptist

Only A Few Days Ago I Saw A Video Of The Bradford ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Holdcroft on Nov 8, 2003

Only a few days ago I saw a video of the Bradford City fire disaster, as part of a fire training exercise at work. I was eight years old when it happened, and had heard about it, but I had never seen the footage, that was captured live, by a shocked camera crew who just kept filming. On Saturday ...read more

Tags: Knowing God's Will, Doing God's Will

Denomination: Pentecostal

Before This Month Began To Prepare Our ...  PRO

Contributed by Kerry Kinchen on Nov 10, 2003

". . . before this month began to prepare our ground against seed-time. In the midst of April we began to set, the weather being then seasonable, which much encouraged us, giving us good hopes of after plenty: the setting season is good till the latter end of May. But it pleased God for our further ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday, Favor

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cymbala's Easter Story  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 31, 2005

CYMBALA'S EASTER STORY Jim Cymbala preaches at a church in the slums of New York. He tells the following story: It was Easter Sunday and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform, pulled down my tie and sat down and draped my feet over the edge. It was a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 18:15-18, Luke 23:32-34, 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, John 13:34-35, Matthew 25:34-45, Psalm 40:1-3, Ephesians 2:1-10, Colossians 1:1-11, Matthew 18:22-35, Matthew 22:1-14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Second Coming, New Year, Dignity, Body Of Christ, Supper, Work  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Inevitability Of Gradualness!" Hebrews ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 16, 2005

“The Inevitability of Gradualness!” Hebrews 13:20-22 Key verse(s): 21:“(He) equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and every. Amen.” “I was doing the right thing; but it seemed the harder I ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-30, Hebrews 13:20-22

Tags: Knowing God's Will, Doing God's Will

Denomination: Lutheran

The Bet — Anton Chekhov

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Sep 7, 2006

The Bet -- Anton Chekhov We live in a world that knows little about what’s truly valuable. People all around us are pursuing things that have no lasting value. That pursuit is ably treated by Anton Chekhov in his classic short story The Bet. This story gives us great insight into the value system ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:28-38, Matthew 8:5-13

Denomination: Pentecostal

Attitude Is Everything" By Francie Baltazar ...

Contributed by Shane Hargrave on Mar 31, 2009

"Attitude Is Everything" by Francie Baltazar Schwartz Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!" He was a unique manager ...read more

Tags: Attitude General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Purpose In Your Heart

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2009

PURPOSE IN YOUR HEART Wilma was born prematurely. This produced complications that resulted in her contracting double pneumonia (twice) and scarlet fever. But the worst was a bout with polio which left her with a crooked left leg and a foot twisted inward. Metal leg braces, stares from ...read more

Tags: Perseverance, Endurance

Man From Slums Of N.y. Converted And Ordained By ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2009

Man from Slums of N.Y. Converted and Ordained by Jim Cymbala Jim Cymbala preaches at a church in the slums of New York. He tells the following story: It was Easter Sunday and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform, pulled down my tie and sat down and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:10-13

Tags: Compassion

Jail-Time Repentance

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2012

JAIL-TIME REPENTANCE I want to share with you a small auto-biographical story that I believe illustrates the type of repentant heart needed to continue in getting rid of guilt. She had always been a good girl so finding herself in this place was unimaginable to her. How was she going to survive ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:10

Tags: Repentance