In Sermon Illustrations: "Proverbs 4:20-28"

An Old Sin, A New Word  PRO

Contributed by James Botts on Aug 29, 2002

AN OLD SIN, A NEW WORD Have you noticed that people are more and more angry then ever before? Consider the following… One anger management firm stated that “one out of every five Americans has an anger management problem.” According to FBI statistics, there were 23,305 homicides in 1994 and the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:8, Proverbs 22:24, Proverbs 29:11, Ecclesiastes 7:9, Ephesians 4:26-27, James 1:20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Anger, Rage, Murder, Sin, Violence  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Mothers And May

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on May 9, 2023

Mothers and May There are many things I love about the magic month of May-- the beautiful budding flowers, the gorgeous life-giving weather, the celebration of Mother’s Day! There are many things I love about our having Mother’s Day-- a day of recognition, a time to offer commendation, to one ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6, Psalm 127:1-3, Proverbs 23:25, Luke 8:21, Genesis 3:20, Romans 13:7  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Honor, Mother's Day, Poetry

Denomination: Baptist

Today's Most Common Lie

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 3, 2024

What is the most common lie in the modern world? It is when we click a box on a computer screen acknowledging that, “I have read and agree to the Terms ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:19, Proverbs 12:22, Acts 5:3-4, Colossians 3:9, Psalm 63:11, Revelation 21:8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Untruthful, Lies, Liar, Truthful, Lying, Lie  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Flying Turtle

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 25, 2025

An ancient Indonesian parable tells of a turtle who flew through the air by biting hard on a stick that was carried by two geese. The turtle was enjoying his flight, but when he heard what the onlookers from the ground were saying, he became troubled. The onlookers were saying, "Aren’t those ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:18, James 4:10, Philippians 2:3, Proverbs 27:2, 1 Corinthians 4:7  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Humility, Gratitude, Pride, Restraint, Wisdom  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Charles A. Lindbergh Said, "We Actually Live ...

Contributed by Bruce Willis on Jan 5, 2007

Charles A. Lindbergh said, “We actually live today in our dreams of yesterday and living in these dreams, we dream again. A healthy church lives out of a healthy dream. But not all church dreams are created equal. Some congregational dreams are founded on hope and concern for others. Some begin ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-11, Joel 2:28-29, Proverbs 29:18

Denomination: Baptist

Edward Lindaman Said, "It Helps To Realize That ...

Contributed by Bruce Willis on Jan 5, 2007

Edward Lindaman said, “It helps to realize that everything that is now possible, was at one time impossible. In every case someone, somewhere, dared to dream, dared to imagine something a little better, a little ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-11, Proverbs 29:18, Joel 2:28-29

Denomination: Baptist

The Wisdom Of Babes  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Dec 16, 2002

THE WISDOM OF BABES Have you ever heard the phrase, “Out of the mouth of babes?” Certainly you have. It comes from the simple truth that sometimes it takes a child to reveal lasting wisdom. It seems foolish but it isn’t! For example: · Patrick, age 10, said, “Never trust a dog to watch your ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:12, Proverbs 4:1-27

Tags: Children, Advice, Maturity, Kids, Wisdom  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

An Angel Appeared At A Faculty Meeting And Told ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 10, 2003

An angel appeared at a faculty meeting and told the dean that in return for his unselfish service, he will be rewarded with his choice of wealth, wisdom, or beauty. Without hesitating, the dean selects wisdom. "It is done!" the angel said, and then disappeared into a cloud of smoke. All of the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:24, James 1:5, Matthew 7:24-26

Tags: Money

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Consider This Short Poem Entitled "Power Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Chris Hodges on Jul 28, 2003

Consider this short poem entitled “Power of Words:” A careless word may kindle strife A cruel word may wreak a life A bitter word may hate instill A brutal word may smite and kill A gracious word may smooth the way A joyous word ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:6-11, Proverbs 25:11, Psalm 145:8

Tags: Communication General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Love Of My Life  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 2, 2004

THE LOVE OF MY LIFE Rick Warren’s wife Kay has cancer. [He wrote "The Purpose Driven Life] Rick sends out a letter every week through his web site, and this is what a recent one said: “So many of you have asked about Kay’s progress in her treatment for cancer, so we wanted to give you an update. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-24, Proverbs 18:22, Ephesians 5:22-33

Tags: Perseverance, Marriage Commitment, Marriage General, Unity

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Number Of Years Ago, Dr. Waltke, A Seminary ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Richards on Sep 23, 2004

A number of years ago, Dr. Waltke, a seminary professor, & three pastors, one of which was Charles Swindol toured the mother church of the First Church of Christ Scientist in downtown Boston. The four were unknown to the elderly lady who was going to give them a tour. They didn’t tell her who they ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:1-16, Proverbs 3:27

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Baptist

A Newspaper Held A Competition To Find Out How ...  PRO

Contributed by W F on Sep 27, 2004

A newspaper held a competition to find out how people would describe friendship. The winning answer was, “A friend is someone who’s walking in when everyone else is walking out.” You and I have a friend that will do that, a friend who will stick closer than a brother. Jesus said, “Surely I am ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42, Proverbs 18:24, Luke 24:13-35

Tags: Friendship New Friends, Friendship General

Denomination: *other

Where Your Heart Is  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Jan 21, 2005

St Augustine wrote Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure. Where your treasure is, there is your heart. Where you heart is, there is your ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Proverbs 4:23

Tags: Gifts Giving

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: God In The Hardships, Humility

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Former Under Secretary Of The Interior John C. ...  PRO

Contributed by Tj Tipton on Mar 29, 2001

Former Under Secretary of the Interior John C. Whitaker is reminded of how easy it is to get an out-of-perspective feeling about one’s importance in government whenever he thinks of an 85-year-old woman who has lived her life in one spot in Nova Scotia. The population there swells to nine in summer ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-6, Proverbs 25:6-7

Tags: Temptation Pride, College, Daughter, Humility, Independence Day, Perspective  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

In A Few Days We Will Celebrate Memorial Day. It ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 21, 2007

IN A FEW DAYS WE WILL CELEBRATE MEMORIAL DAY. It was unofficially begun by women of the South during the Civil War when they placed flowers over the graves of the “men in gray.” In 1868, General John A. Logan, Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued an order officially ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:34, Matthew 26:20-75, Joshua 4:1-24

I Wanted To End By Recalling The Story Of A Man ...  PRO

Contributed by Cameron Smith on Aug 4, 2007

I wanted to end by recalling the story of a man named Horatio Spafford. In 1873, he and his family of 4 kids decided to go to London from New York to join the evangelistic movement in England. At the last minute, Horatio was delayed but sent his family by boat anyway. On November 2nd, the ship ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 20:11-15, Proverbs 3:3-5, Revelation 20:11-20

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Integrity Wins

Contributed by Robert Butler on Dec 18, 2019

On December 2, Basque athlete Iván Fernández Anaya was competing in a cross-country race in Burlada, Navarre. He was running second, some distance behind race leader Abel Mutai - bronze medalist in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the London Olympics. As they entered the finishing ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:15, Hosea 12:6, Matthew 12:18-20

Tags: Love, Compassion, Integrity, Justice

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Everything Fails, It’s Over

Contributed by James Snyder on May 9, 2020

During this time of seclusion, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly has spent some significant time binge-watching some of those Hallmark mystery movies. After a while, they all look alike, but my wife loves them, therefore, so do I. The other night as we were watching, one of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6, Job 2:9, Job 13:15

Tags: Attack, Humore

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

False Security

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Aug 1, 2020

Security is a big issue in the world. I propose that a society that can capriciously exterminate its unborn and blithely put down its elderly while protesting the execution of murderers is not of a healthy mindset to provide any reasonable semblance of security for the populace in between for at ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 6:17, Jeremiah 22:3, Leviticus 25:18-19

Tags: Blood, Safety, Abortion, Security, Society, Innocent, Euthansia  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist