In Sermon Illustrations: "Prodigal Son"

A Small Boy Who Was Not Quite Three Years Old ...

Contributed by Martin Wiles on Aug 30, 2010

A small boy who was not quite three years old skipped down an imposing corridor. The armed servicemen took no notice of him as he passed their posts. He passed several staff members who paid no attention to him. The guard outside the door the little boy wanted to enter made no attempt to stop him. ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Baptist

Eternity ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

Eternity Clothes Norma Lauby, of La Mesa, California, was browsing in the ladies’ department one day with her son who was just learning to read. Trying to read all the signs he could, he came upon one in the maternity department. “Look, Mom!” he said excitedly as he pointed at the sign. “They’re ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Tags: Salvation

Newspaper Misprints

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 27, 2010

NEWSPAPER MISPRINTS It does not take a lot to cause misunderstandings. Just listen to these misprints from local newspapers. From the Chichester Evening News: "Miss Hampshire ... is friendly, likeable, and easy to talk to. She has a fine, fair skin, which she admits ruefully comes out in freckles ...read more

Tags: Mistakes

Denomination: Brethren

A Young Man Had Finished His First Semester In ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 25, 2011

A young man had finished his first semester in college, and was spending the weekend at home. Somewhat bored with the old place, he was regaling his father with the wonders of his campus and the enlightened people there. After getting up a head of steam and warming up to his subject he said, "Why, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 11:2

Tags: Arrogance

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

Baptism Long Ago

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Apr 23, 2012

BAPTISM LONG AGO Centuries ago the circumstances of one's baptism would come on Easter eve at midnight. In the semidarkness, he or she would disrobe and descend into the waters to be immersed three times, in the name of the Father, then the Son, and finally the Holy Spirit. The newly baptized ...read more

Tags: Baptism

Stressed Santa

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jan 6, 2013

STRESSED OUT SANTA A shopping mall Santa Claus in California had a meltdown after refusing to cuddle a bawling toddler, calling the mother evil and ripping off his beard and costume in front of startled children. Kelly Fornatoro, 33, said she told Santa her 19 month old son, Brian, would stop ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Stress

Denomination: Methodist

Broken Heart

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 11, 2015

In Fox’s Book of Martyrs, there is the story of a 26 year old mother named Perpetua. The early church was growing dramatically and she came to faith in Jesus. The Roman government was trying to get her to renounce her faith but she refused. They threw her in prison. Her father came and begged her ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:33-38

Tags: Grief

Denomination: Methodist

In A Recent Book, Presidential Praise: Our Pr...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jul 30, 2015

In a recent book, Presidential Praise: Our Presidents and Their Hymns authors C. Edward Spann and Michael E. Williams Sr. note that the title of President George W. Bush’s autobiography, A Charge to Keep, was drawn from Charles Wesley’s hymn. 
The choice of this title is but one indication of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-2

Tags: Charge, Charged Up To Preach

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Little Piece On Jesus' Incredible Journey

Contributed by John Gullick on Mar 17, 2016

What season are you in. . Jesus had an incredible journey. He was born in dramatic circumstances surrounded by heavenly testimonies and worldly violence lived in a remote and often scorned village - grew up in anonymity a carpenters son and apprentice at thirty years of age he struck out in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-11

Tags: Jesus, Actions Of Jesus

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Where Adam Used To Live

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 18, 2017

Adam and his two sons, Cain and Abel, were out hunting one day when Adam turned and started staring at something beautiful afar off. It was the Garden of Eden. Then Adam broke down and starting weeping. The boys didn’t understand. Finally, Abel asked his father, "Dad, why are you crying over ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12

Tags: Marriage, Sin, Adam And Eve, Garden Of Eden

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Called

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 15, 2019

The Called are those who have been summoned by God. Called to salvation (Rom. 8:30) Called both Jews and Gentiles (1 Cor. 1:24) Called "with a holy calling" (2 Timothy 1:9) Called with a heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1) Called out of darkness into His marvelous light (1Pet. 2:9) Called to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:30

Tags: Election, Calling, God's Sovreignty

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pigs Don't Say Thanks!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 21, 2019

An old farmer who was a loyal, church-going Christian was spending the day in a large city. He entered a restaurant and sat down at the table near a group of young men from the city. When his meal was brought to the table, the farmer quietly bowed his head and said grace. One of the smart-aleck ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving, Prayer, Gratitude, Jokes, Meal Grace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The World Slept When Jesus Came.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 21, 2020

Ken Gire writes, “Where you would have expected angels, there were only flies. Where you would have expected heads of state, there were only donkeys, a few haltered cows, a nervous ball of sheep, a tethered camel, & a furtive scurry of curious mice. Except for Joseph, there was no one to share ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-12

Tags: Christmas, Christ, Bethlehem, Birth Of Christ, Mary And Joseph  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Adam & Eve

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 17, 2021

The story of Adam and Eve was being carefully explained in the children's Sunday School class. Following the story, the children were asked to draw some picture that would illustrate the story. Little Bobby was most interested and drew a picture of a car with three people in it. In the front ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Eve, Sin, Adam

Denomination: Methodist

Do You Believe Things About Christ Or Do You Believe On Christ?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 22, 2024

Herschel Ford once wrote, “There is a difference between believing something ABOUT Jesus and believing ON Him. We can believe that He is the Virgin-born Son of God, that He lived a sinless life, that He died on the cross, that He rose from the grave, that He is coming again—we can believe all ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25-34

Tags: Trust, Salvation, Assurance, Works, Faith, Grace, Believe  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Was Salome?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

By comparing Matt. 27:56 with John 19:25, it seems likely that Salome was sister to Mary (Jesus’ mother). “By inference from the other Gospel accounts, Salome is also identified with the mother of the sons of Zebedee (Mt. 27:56) and with the sister of Mary the mother of Jesus…. (John 19:25)… If ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:56, John 19:25, Mark 10:35-40

Tags: Jesus' Family, Mary's Sister, Jesus' Aunt, Salome

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Unwanted Items--The Unwanted Scroll

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 30, 2025

Introduction: Before the printing press was invented, all correspondence had to be written and copied by hand. Even in Old Testament times, there were scribes who made copies of various things. Needless to say, it would be a tragedy if these handwritten works were ever lost. It was even worse when ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 36:20-26

Tags: Jeremiah, Baruch, Roll Of A Book, Destroyed Writings

Denomination: Baptist

Where's God?  PRO

Contributed by Brent Williams on Jun 7, 2001

Where’s God? Two young lads had terrorized their neighborhood with their pranks and thefts. The parents didn’t know what to do and finally with the assistance of their minister, it was decided that the clergy would intervene and attempt to straighten out the boys. The parents needless to say were ...read more

Tags: Apologetics God, Parenting

Denomination: Baptist

There Once Was A Little Boy Who Wanted To Meet ...

Contributed by Clayton White on Nov 17, 2006

There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his backpack with cupcakes, several cans of root beer and started on his journey to meet God. When he had gone about three blocks, he saw an elderly woman sitting on a park bench ...read more

Denomination: Methodist