In Sermon Illustrations: "Private Prayer"

Among My Absolute Favorite Films Is The Indiana ...

Contributed by Chris Surber on Jan 7, 2009

Among my absolute favorite films is the Indiana Jones saga staring Harrison Ford. If you have not seen the films, they are the story of Indiana Jones, a famed archeologist who goes on wild adventures in search of ancient lost artifacts, including the Ark of the Covenant in the first film and the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:4

Tags: Repentance

Denomination: Christian Church

Jack The Neighbor

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2009

JACK THE NEIGHBOR Someone in Elgin once had a neighbor named Jack. Jack was a tough man. He worked hard, he drank hard, he fought hard, and he was harsh and gruff in his manner. Most people were afraid of Jack. But this one neighbor got brave and said hello to him over the fence one day. He ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

No Record

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 28, 2009

"NO RECORD" Several years ago Bob Sheffield of the Navigators told a moving story picturing the essence of what it means to receive God’s forgiveness. Before he became a Christian, Bob played professional hockey in Canada. He was tough, loved to fight and found himself in jail one night after a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-22

Tags: Atonement

Carrying Us Back To Our Room

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Apr 7, 2010

CARRYING US BACK TO OUR ROOM In a home of which I know, a little boy, the only son, was ill with an incurable disease. Month after month, the mother had tenderly nursed him, read to him and played with him, hoping to keep him from the dreadful finality of the doctor's diagnosis...the little boy ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Empty Gift

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2011

THE EMPTY GIFT God offers us more than this world does, but most of us never take the time to see it. There was a 15-year old boy named Joey, whose mother died at birth. She was a severe alcoholic, and that had affected his pre-natal development. The result was that he was slightly ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Tags: Christmas

Airport Security And The Presence Of God

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 23, 2011

AIRPORT SECURITY AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD Airport inspections are more thorough than they used to be, and lines are longer. They also have X-ray machines for the checked baggage. Fortunately the standards aren't so stringent for that category, so you may arrive at the other end still owning a ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:2

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Lesson From A Damaged Lock

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 20, 2019

Moving from one place to another is always a challenge, no matter how many times you’ve gone through this “process”! My wife and I recently made a move and learned a strange, but interesting lesson—one that was valuable for us, too. As sometimes happens, there is too much stuff and not enough ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-20

Tags: Possessions, Worldly Goods, Theft

Denomination: Baptist

What Will Follow You When You're Gone?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 17, 2020

You make a choice of which will one you leave behind to others - Blessings or Curses. Jonathan Edwards, was a Puritan Preacher in the 1700s. He was one of the most respected preachers in his day. He attended Yale at the age of thirteen and later went on to become the president of Princeton ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Tags: Blessings, Curses, Generational Sins

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Forgiveness Is Not

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 31, 2021

WHAT FORGIVENESS IS NOT by Dr. Larry Petton (excerpt from my book, "I CAN'T FORGIVE"). Text: Ephesians chapter 4 Ruth Bell Graham described a successful marriage as the "union of two great forgivers." Forgiveness has been described as, “Me not hurting you, because you ...read more

Tags: Forgive Them, Father, Forgiveness, Bitterness, Unforgiveness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Deity Of Christ In Scripture

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 6, 2022

While Jesus was and is a man, He was and is also God. What does the Bible say? • He is omnipresent – Matt, 18:20; Matt. 28:20 • He is omnipotent – Matt. 28:18; Heb. 1:3 1. Over disease – Matt. 4:23 2. Over Satan – Heb. 2:14 3. Over demons – Matt. 8:16 4. Over men – John 17:2 5. ...read more

Tags: Virgin Birth, Deity Of Christ, Two Natures, Christmas, Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Price Has Been Paid For You

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Aug 28, 2024

The story is told of a young man who left the old country and sailed to America to make a new life in the new world. Before he left, his father pressed some money in his hand. It wasn't much, but it was all he had. He hoped it would tide the boy over until he found a job. His mother handed him ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:13-14

Tags: Good News, Barriers, Intimacy With God, Missing Out

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

[053]. A Message From A Poem – Daniel In The Lion’s Den

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 11, 2025

[053]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DANIEL IN THE LION’S DEN There used to be a chorus when I was young that went this way – Dare to be a Daniel; Dare to stand alone; Dare to have a purpose firm, And dare to make it known. The poem here this time is a very simple one just retelling the story of ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:19-22, Psalm 31:15, Acts 22:4, Acts 16:23

Tags: Delivered, Rescued, Daniel, Persecution, Poetry, Poem, Lions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[243]. A Message From A Poem – God’s Love Is Beyond Compare

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Dec 26, 2025

[243]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GOD’S LOVE IS BEYOND COMPARE I think this poem emerged from considering the letter to the church as Ephesus written by the Apostle John. The strategic verse there is this – {{Revelation 2:4 “but I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”}} ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:4, John 3:16, Romans 5:5, John 5:42

Tags: Christian Poems, Love, First Love, Comparison, The Love Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Standing ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2009

STANDING ALONE Richard Exley relates a story in his book, Deliver Me. He grew up in a very similar church as to what this one is now. In fact, the church that he is from, in years past, held the same convictions that we still hold today. In the past, you could not tell a difference between how ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:22

Tags: Temptation General, Temptation Resisting

The Parable Of The Good Muslims  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 14, 2002

THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD MUSLIMS It is difficult to imagine more bleak circumstances; the young mother and her small children, truck packed full of all of their belongings, were in process of moving from rural North Carolina to the mother’s childhood home in Connecticut. Life had taken a tragic ...read more

Tags: Parable Good Samaritan, Christian Love, Compassion

Some Thoughts On Forgiveness  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

SOME THOUGHTS ON FORGIVENESS Bernard Meltzer was a United States radio host for several decades. His advice call-in show was called "What's Your Problem?" Meltzer said, "When you forgive, you in no way change the past--but you sure do change the future." ------- Mark Twain had some sour thoughts ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:12

Tags: Forgiveness General

Ridgecrest Is A Large Baptist-Run Assembly ...  PRO

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 24, 2000

Ridgecrest is a large Baptist-run assembly ground, nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina. All summer long, every year, thousands of Christians come to Ridgecrest for training, inspiration, Bible study, and challenge. A few years ago, during a conference, people began to notice a man ...read more

Tags: Parable General, Graduation Gift, Compassion, Abortion, Car, Christian Disciplines, Everything, Father  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Bill Hybels Recalls A Time When Dr. Gilbert ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Feb 21, 2002

Bill Hybels recalls a time when Dr. Gilbert Bilezikian was speaking for a leadership conference at Willow Creek Community Church. He writes about it like this… “Dr. Bilezikian said there’s life-changing fellowship in biblically functioning community. That was a far cry from the childhood ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:17

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Community, Church Small Groups, Friendship General, Money  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Old Man And The Gulls  PRO

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Oct 25, 2002

THE OLD MAN AND THE GULLS It is gratitude that prompted an old man to visit an old broken pier on the eastern seacoast of Florida. Every Friday night, until his death in 1973, he would return, walking slowly and slightly stooped with a large bucket of shrimp. The sea gulls would flock to this old ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 16:11-18

Tags: Giving General, Thanksgiving Holiday, Joy

Denomination: Mennonite

Everyone Seemed Confident That The Ship Was All ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Nov 3, 2002

Everyone seemed confident that the ship was all right," recalled first-class passenger Henry Sleeper Harper. At last, however, the call came for all passengers to come up on deck wearing their life belts, and soon after midnight, Captain Smith directed crew members to ready the 16 wooden lifeboats ...read more

Tags: Great Commission, Sharing Your Faith, Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Baptist