In Sermon Illustrations: "Present"

The Nature Of Unbelief

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Jan 21, 2009

The Nature of Unbelief In Ernest Hemmingway’s Green Hills of Africa, he hunts for sable. He shoots a large chestnut-colored cow, and then sees an immense black bull, which he shoots but badly. He finds the cow, but he and his team of trackers and porters search all day for the bull. The language ...read more

Tags: Unbelief

Denomination: Mennonite

Messiah Fed The Hungry  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

"MESSIAH" FED THE HUNGRY When Handel wrote "Messiah" he had gone from riches to rags. For 30 years he had entertained Lords and Ladies with his operas. But those days seemed long past. Creditors were at his door. He was depressed. He could not sleep and he was plagued by rheumatism. He feared he ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:6-8

Tags: Christmas Advent

A Study Released This January From The Barna ...

Contributed by Dillon Burroughs on Mar 9, 2009

A study released this January from the Barna organization revealed that 73% of today’s youth have been involved in some form of psychic or witchcraft related activity. The most popular of these activities includes playing with Ouija boards and the reading of witchcraft and Wicca related books. In ...read more

Tags: Supernatural

Denomination: Baptist

Basic Training

Contributed by John Telgren on Feb 11, 2017

I hated shining shoes in Basic Training. There were other things I would rather be doing instead of sitting on the floor with a brush and mounds of cotton balls stained with black Kiwi shoe polish! If our boots and dress shoes were not perfect we paid for it dearly! During one of our trips to the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Diligence, Diligently, Diligent

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Where's The Bagel?

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 6, 2019

On one occasion during my college days in Peterborough I was invited to the Dean of Students residence for a social gathering. Hoping to find food aplenty I was disappointed to see the large dining room table containing a lonely plate of bagels. I quickly grabbed one, but my first bite was more of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Tags: Faith, Mistakes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jingle Bells At A Funeral?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 22, 2022

Several years ago, a pretty well-known singing group made a monster mistake at a funeral service. This group traveled all around the USA singing and sharing Christ. One of the men in their home church back in Texas told them that he prayed for them, supported them greatly and loved to hear them ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9

Tags: Christmas, Communication, Confession, Confusion, Embarrassment, Funerals  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Joy Of Hearing Your Name

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Apr 26, 2023

This week is the National Football League Draft, a day that thousands of young men have been anticipating for years. I love to watch as the player hears his name called. The smiles. The hugs. Going to the platform and being congratulated by the commissioner. And then donning the jersey and cap of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18

Tags: Heaven, Reward

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Beyond Fiction

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 20, 2024

In a humorous yet thought-provoking comment, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson critiqued movies like 'Armageddon' and 'Moonfall' for violating more laws of physics per minute than any other movies. This observation serves as an interesting analogy for our spiritual lives. Much like ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Tags: Fiction, Physics, Gift Of God, Neil Degrasse Tyson, Eternal Consequences, Movie Analogies, Spiritual Life, Reality, Jesus Christ, Eternal Life, Disobedience, God's Law, Forgiveness, Sin, God, Salvation, Gift, Redemption, Faith, Death, Sacrifice, Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Called To Serve

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Dec 1, 2023

In 1884, a devastating famine struck India, claiming over 50 lakh lives. In the midst of despair, Christian organizations from America, driven by compassion, sailed to India to provide medical aid and sustenance. Dr. John, accompanied by his daughter Ida Scudder, arrived in Ranipet. The dire ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Tags: Service, Called

Denomination: Other

A History Of Halloween  PRO

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Oct 25, 2001

A HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN The Celtic festival of Samhain is probably the source of the present-day Halloween celebration. The Celts new year began on November first. A festival that began the previous evening honored Samhain, the Celtic lord of death. The celebration marked the beginning of the ...read more

Tags: Supernatural

Denomination: Baptist

Awl For The Good  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 25, 2002

AWL FOR THE GOOD In 1809, Simon Renee Braille and his wife Monique welcomed their fourth child into the world-- a lively boy named Louis. They lived in a small stone house near Paris where Braille was the local harness maker. Leather working tools are dangerous, so the toddler had been ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Tags: God's Omniscience, God In The Hardships, Grace

Mother's Day Gifts  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 25, 2002

MOTHER'S DAY GIFTS What NOT to Buy Your Wife: Although the only person a man usually shops for is his wife, the whole experience is a stressful one. Many a man has felt extreme frigid temperatures for a long period based on a poor present decision. As a veteran of these wars, I’m still not sure ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Mother's Day, Membership

When David Brainerd Took The Message Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Nov 16, 2002

When David Brainerd took the message of redemption to the North American Indians from 1743 to his death at age 29 just four years later, a revival broke out that impacted the Native American community. Baugh writes, "The revival had greatest impact when Brainerd emphasized the compassion of the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Revival

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Choosing Courage; Finding Peace  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 5, 2002

CHOOSING COURAGE; FINDING PEACE By Steve Goodier http://www.LifeSupportSystem.com "Do you know what my son James dreamed about last night?" a friend asked me. "He dreamed about YOU," she went on. "James told me this morning that in his dream he was being chased by King Kong. Then he met ...read more

Tags: Peace

The Significance Of Christmas To Americans  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 10, 2002

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRISTMAS TO AMERICANS The Barna Research Group poll, conducted for the Lutheran Hour Ministries found that: 37% of adults in the national survey (88% of whom identified themselves as Christian) said the birth of Jesus is the most important aspect of Christmas. More than ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Birth Of Jesus, Statistics

Hugging The Enemy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 6, 2003

HUGGING THE ENEMY Barbara Brown Taylor tells the story of her nephew Will’s first birthday party. The family was gathered around for the usual traditions of birthdays, the cake. And the presents. Will let them know how pleased he was by doing his new dance-a slow twirling movement that he had ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope, Compassion, Peace

George Beaverly Shea Has Sung Many Times A Song ...  PRO

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Sep 10, 2003

George Beaverly Shea has sung many times a song written by Rhea Miller. It was George’s mother who started the whole course of events when she left a copy of Miller’s song on the family piano in their home in New York City. Years later, George Beaverly Shea wrote: "Instead of practicing the hymn I ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Free Methodist

Many Here Have Heard Of A Man Named Bobby Knight. ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Thomas on Feb 10, 2004

Many here have heard of a man named Bobby Knight. He’s a famous college basketball coach. Bobby Knight is given to what commentaries on the Old Testament refer to as "ebullitions of wrath." Maybe you’ve seen some of Bobby’s ebullitions on display in television news clips: Coach Knight hurling a ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Christian Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Does Anyone Know What That Piece In The Middle Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Glenn Newton on May 3, 2005

Does anyone know what that piece in the middle of the washer is called? The part in the middle that moves back and forth and shakes the clothes back and forth? What is that called? I’m going to call it an Agitator…. What is the purpose of the Agitator? As far as I can tell, it sole purpose is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Nazarene

What Better Way To Show How Man Has Done This ...

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Sep 20, 2006

What better way to show how man has done this than to look at the two Voyager spacecraft, launched in 1977 and sent barreling towards the outer reaches of the solar system. On each ship is a gold-coated phonograph record, offering a message to extraterrestrial civilizations. This message includes ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan