In Sermon Illustrations: "Proverbs 1:1-31:1"

Full Steam Ahead

Contributed by Paul Davidson on Jan 27, 2021

I used to work for a railroad. The engineer on a train has a huge responsibility to safely operate and move that train over sometimes difficult terrain and in all kinds of weather. When you have a train roughly a mile (or more) in length, hauling over 10,000 tons of freight, running in excess of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Fear, Trust, Trains

Denomination: Baptist

A Man Was Watching The News One Night When It ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Sutherlin on Jun 5, 2001

A man was watching the news one night when it was reported that a car was going the wrong direction on the freeway. The man knew his wife was on that freeway and became very concerned so called her on her cell phone. She answered and he said, "Dear, there’s one car going ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:12

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation, Universalism, Sermon On The Mount

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It Seems The Pastors Small Son Was Told By His ...  PRO

Contributed by Jon Sigler on Jun 20, 2001

It seems the pastors small son was told by his mother that he should wash his hands because there were germs living in all that dirt. He refused and complained: "Germs and Jesus! Germs and Jesus! ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Children

Denomination: Holiness

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 Deceptive, Sin Wages Of, Repentance

There Is Something Wrong When People Are Leaving ...  PRO

Contributed by Emile Wolfaardt on Jul 13, 2001

There is something wrong when people are leaving the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:12

Tags: Apologetics General, What Is Evangelism?, Unity

Denomination: *other

We Can Get Ourselves In Trouble Fast  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 4, 2001

We can get ourselves in Trouble Fast A burglar broke into a house one day. As he was stealing the valuables he heard a voice out of the darkness that said, "Jesus is watching you". He almost choked. He stoped and looked around and then he shook of his fear and went on stealing some more. ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 28:13-28

Tags: Sin Exposed, Sin General, Sin Punishment Of

Some Time Ago An 18-Year-Old Girl From Washington ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian Archer on Aug 16, 2001

Some time ago an 18-year-old girl from Washington state attended a worship service. For the first time in her life she heard the gospel message. The following Tuesday the members of the church received a letter from her. It read: Dear Church members: Last Sunday I attended your church, and I heard ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 24:11-12

Tags: Sharing Your Faith, Great Commission, Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Baptist

The Royal Palace In Tehran, Iran Has One Of The ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Aug 20, 2001

The royal palace in Tehran, Iran has one of the most beautiful entrances of all palaces in the world today. As one enters the royal palace the doomed ceilings, sidewalls, and columns seemed to be covered with diamonds. When the Royal Palace was planned, the architects sent an order to Paris for ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:1-4, Luke 14:7-14, Proverbs 25:6-7

Tags: Humility, God In The Hardships

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A. A Kentucky Mountaineer Fighting Overseas In ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 16, 2001

A. A Kentucky mountaineer fighting overseas in WW1 kept getting nagging letters from his wife back home. He was too busy fighting to write letters, even to his wife. At last, angered by his wife’s scolding letters, he sat down and wrote her: "Dear Nancy: I been a-gittin yore naggin letters all ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:9, Habakkuk 3:17-18

Tags: Christian Love, Marriage Obligations, Marriage, Polygamy

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Top 5 Signs Your Church Is Too Contemporary  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Nov 1, 2001

TOP 5 SIGNS YOUR CHURCH IS TOO CONTEMPORARY: 5. At the annual meeting, you play Survivor to elect new leaders 4. When asked what church things begin with "J", the youth in church shout "Java" before "Jesus" 3. When asked, "Who wrote the Bible?" most members say "Eugene Peterson" 2. To be ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:23

Tags: Church General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Imagine There Is A Bank That Credits Your Account ...  PRO

Contributed by Gary Macdonald on Nov 1, 2001

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400. Yes, every morning. However, it debits what is left over at the end of the day. Every evening, it deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every penny, of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 13:5

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Leadership General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Norman Cousins Was Diagnosed As Having An ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 13, 2001

Norman Cousins was diagnosed as having an incurable disease. He was bedridden & the doctors gave him no hope at all. So he decided on his own treatment. His family got a movie projector & rented all the Charlie Chaplin & Abbott & Costello movies that they could find - movies where you just sit ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22, Proverbs 17:21-22, John 20:24-29

Tags: Faith General, Supernatural, Joy

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sometimes Fear Of Punishment Motivates Better ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Dec 3, 2001

Sometimes fear of punishment motivates better than anything else. One mother decided she would put the fear of a speeding ticket in the speeding drivers going past a local elementary school. Every morning she would park her car in front of the elementary school and point her black hair dryer - ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:26-28

Tags: God's Omniscience, Fear And Worry

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Numbers Of The Bible  PRO

Contributed by Stephen Schwartz on Dec 17, 2001

Numbers of the Bible” One The number one is for God. We must begin with number one or we cannot have number two or any other number. Mathematically speaking we cannot get anywhere without the number one. We must begin with God. Two The number two is for man. Man as an individual. God made ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:21, Matthew 17:1-9

Tags: Future, God's Omniscience, Kingdom, Tomorrow

Denomination: Methodist

It Really Seems To Hurt  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 25, 2002

IT REALLY SEEMS TO HURT Philip Yancey tells about an African safari he was on where he saw an old momma giraffe taking care of her offspring. Shortly after he was born, she went over & kicked her offspring, & it looked like she was really hurting her baby. Then she did it again. Each time, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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, Church Small Groups, Community, Friendship General, Money  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Comforters  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Mar 24, 2002

COMFORTERS When I Was Diagnosed With Cancer: My first friend came and expressed his shock by saying, "I can’t believe that you have cancer. I always thought you were so active and healthy." He left and I felt alienated and somehow very different. My second friend came and brought me ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:17, Job 1:1

Tags: Christian Love, God In The Hardships

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Of All The Classical Spiritual Disciplines, ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on Apr 8, 2002

Of all the classical Spiritual Disciplines, service is the most conductive to the growth of humility. When we set out on a consciously chosen course of action that accents the good of other and is for the most part a hidden work, a deep change occurs in our spirit. Nothing disciplines the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 25:6-7

Tags: Servanthood, Pride, Christian Disciplines, Call Of The Disciples, Arrogance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: *other

My Name Is Gossip. I Have No Respect For ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 6, 2002

My name is Gossip. I have no respect for justice. I maim without killing. I break hearts and ruin lives. I am cunning and malicious and gather strength with age. The more I am quoted, the more I am believed. I flourish at every level of society. My victims are helpless. ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 11:13, Proverbs 16:28, Proverbs 18:8, Proverbs 20:19, Proverbs 26:20, Proverbs 26:22, Romans 1:28-30, 2 Corinthians 12:20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Gossip, Clique, Lies, Slander

I Sat Down And Looked Through Some Magazines This ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 24, 2002

I sat down and looked through some magazines this past week. I discovered that if I want to feel right, I need to get a NordicTrack. I don’t have a NordicTrack, just a membership down at the gym, so I suddenly realized that I didn’t feel as healthy as I thought I did. I then read that if I ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:12-13, Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 54:1-5, John 10:7-10

Tags: Contentment, Covet, Life's Seasons