In Sermon Illustrations: "Psalm 34 1 8 19 22"

Love: Needing Or Giving

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 26, 2023

“The typical example of Gift-love would be that love which moves a man to work and plan and save for the future well-being of his family which he may die without sharing or seeing; the second, Need-love, is that which sends a lonely and frightened child to its mother’s arms. And of course Divine ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:29-31, Luke 10:27, 1 John 4:7-8, Matthew 22:36-39

Tags: Love, Love Of God, Love Of Neighbor

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

From Stable To Table

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 11, 2023

From Stable to Table Down from the splendors of Heaven to the lowliness of a stable, Wrapped in swaddling clothes, God’s Lamb lay in a manger cradle. His destiny ordained, Heaven’s loss, mankind to save, through a cross. From the lowly stable, to sitting with his disciples around the table: Do ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:21, Galatians 4:4, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 1:14

Tags: Lord's Supper, Birth Of Christ, Christmas, Communion

Denomination: Baptist

Please Be My Guest

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Aug 29, 2024

My son and I visited Honduras several years ago, just before the pandemic. Compassion Canada workers escorted us to the home of a family that was receiving some of the funds we had raised for our sponsored children. The idea was to see how those gifts had been able to change dramatically the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:7, Matthew 25:38, Romans 12:13, 1 Corinthians 10:27

Tags: Guest, Hospitality, Receiving

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

[028] A Message From A Poem – Be Not Conformed To The World

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 15, 2025

[028] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BE NOT CONFORMED TO THE WORLD “If you don’t agree with us, you are not included.” “We will finance your new building but only if you add a night club.” This world is absolutely full of compromise. It happens in relationships (sexual pressure on a woman), in ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10, 1 Peter 1:14, Romans 12:1-2, Romans 10:17

Tags: Compromise, Poetry, Conform, Conformity, Conformed To His Death, Conformed To The World  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Sheep Who Went "moo"

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 22, 2025

A flock of sheep are grazing in a field, happily going "baa baa" to one another and discussing life as usual when suddenly they hear a "moo mooooooooooo!" They look around &see only sheep. They carry on grazing as before. "Moo moo!" One sheep can hear it all too ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:26-31, 1 Corinthians 9:19-22, Nehemiah 8:8, Acts 2:5-13

Tags: Language, Midrash, Reading, Paraphrasing, Translating  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

[081]. A Message From A Poem – Fiery Birth Of Life

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 12, 2025

[081]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FIERY BIRTH OF LIFE THIS POEM IS STRICTLY COPYRIGHT. IT MUST NOT BE ALTERED OR TAKEN. IF IT IS USED I WOULD APPRECIATE KNOWING THAT. The use in the Lord’s service is why I wrote it. I have had some of my efforts stolen and reproduced in other’s names. This has ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-13, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 53:4-5

Tags: Judgment, Fire, Bushfires, Forest Fires, Eucalypt, Eucalyptus Oil, Gidgee Tree, Tall Trees, New Life, Furnace, Poetry, Poem, Flames, Mountain Ash  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Discipline Of Prayer

Contributed by John Bright on Sep 24, 2025

We refer to many of the practices that aid in our ongoing sanctification as Spiritual Disciplines. These include prayer, Bible reading/study, tithing/generosity, fasting, silence, and worship. This is not a complete list. All Spiritual Disciplines have the same goal – increasing your intimacy ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7, John 15:4, Ephesians 6:18, Colossians 4:2

Tags: Prayer, Spiritual Disciplines, Richard Foster, Prayer Forms

Denomination: Methodist

The Mansion Builder

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 7, 2025

A story is told of a believer who arrived in heaven and was greeted by an angel who offered to show him his new home. They walked down golden streets lined with breathtaking mansions. Each home seemed larger and brighter than the one before—until they reached a small, simple cottage at the end of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21, Revelation 22:12, 1 Timothy 6:18-19, Luke 12:33-34

Tags: Eternity, Stewardship, Faithfulness, Generosity

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Mind Your Manners - Servant - President Calvin Coolidge Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 1, 2025

Have you ever dined at a fancy restaurant ... or at someone's home ... and felt a little ... uncomfortable? President Calvin Coolidge ... invited some friends from Vermont ... to dine with him ... at the White House. They were extremely ... nervous. And were concerned ... about the correct ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:7-14, Matthew 15:36, John 13:14, 1 Corinthians 11:27

Tags: Manners, Servant, Friends

Denomination: Anglican

[246]. A Message From A Poem – Soon The Lord Will Come For Me

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 2, 2026

[246]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – SOON THE LORD WILL COME FOR ME Lines here can be reversed to make 9-7-9-7. (Change “Soon” Line 3 to “When”) The chosen metre for this poem in a more unusual one 7-9-7-9 as it does not follow the usual convention of having the first line longer than the second line. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2, Titus 2:13, Revelation 4:1, 1 Corinthians 15:52-53

Tags: The Coming Of The Lord, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Rapture, Blessed Hope  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Peter Principle - I Will Change Your Name

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Jan 19, 2026

Back in the 60's ... a man named Laurence J. Peter ... visited several corporations ... and studied some of their management styles ... and characteristics. As a result, ... he came up with a maxim ... which was later named after him ... called ... "The Peter Principle." (Pause) I ...read more

Scripture: John 1:42, Acts 5:29, 1 Samuel 16:7, Philippians 4:13

Tags: Name, Heart, Peter, Change, New Creation, Principle  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Being Humble - Young Seminarian Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 24, 2026

A young seminarian ... was excited about preaching his very first sermon ... in the small church ... he grew up in. After three years in seminary, ... he felt adequately prepared, ... and when he was introduced to the congregation, ... he walked boldly ... to the pulpit, ...his head high, ... ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6, Matthew 6:16-21, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5

Tags: Pride, Boldness, Confidence, Embarrassed, Humble  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Ronald Regan Story - Embaressed And Humbled

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 24, 2026

Ronald Reagan, ... recalling an occasion when he was governor of California ... made a speech in Mexico City: He shared these words: "After I had finished speaking, ... I sat down ...to a rather unenthusiastic applause, ... and I was a little embarrassed. The speaker who followed me ... ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5, James 4:6, Matthew 6:1-6, Matthew 6:16-21

Tags: Humble, Embarrassed

Denomination: Anglican

Let Your Faith Be Known

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Mar 31, 2026

The apostles were scared to death when Jesus was being crucified. They were running, denying, hiding, scared. But after they saw with their own eyes that Jesus was now alive, they boldly went into the streets of Jerusalem preaching Jesus declaring the gospel. And all but John died as a martyrs ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1, Acts 10:42, Acts 26:22-23, Matthew 10:32-33

Tags: Witness, Faith, Confess, Testimony, Outspoken, Charlie Kirk, Frankie Muniz  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Scripture Tells Us That Everything That Exists ...

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 12, 2011

"Scripture tells us that everything that exists does not exist by chance but is willed by God and part of his plan, at whose center is the invitation to partake, in Christ, in the divine life. Creation is born of the Logos and indelibly bears the mark of the creative Reason which orders and directs ...read more

Tags: Evolution

Denomination: Catholic

Web Churches 83% Of Churches With Web Sites Say ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2006

Web Churches 83% of churches with Web sites say their use of the Internet has helped congregational life and 83% report e-mail communication from the church staff has helped ...read more

Tags: Church General

Ten Signs Of A Frustrated Mother  PRO

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 28, 2002

TEN SIGNS OF A FRUSTRATED MOTHER 1. Your children know how to read HTML code but can’t operate a vacuum cleaner. 2. Your children tell you that you said "yes" and you don’t even remember the question. 3. You go to the grocery store and find yourself having a good time. 4. Your husband asks how ...read more

Tags: Children, Mother's Day, Parenting

Denomination: Baptist

Amazing ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

Amazing Grace In every country, on every day, there is man trying to work his way into favor with God. Many years ago the Grand Rapids Press covered this story… "Conversation to Hindu Faith Is Tortuous." "A West German businessman has completed his conversion to the Hindu faith by piercing ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Jim Cymbala Discusses The Importance Of Prayer In ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 16, 2005

Jim Cymbala discusses the importance of prayer in his new book Break Through Prayer: He states, "Everywhere I travel, I keep hearing the defensive teaching that fervent prayer, heartfelt prayer is really overrated and not necessary today. Since God is love, some people reason, we just have to ...read more

Tags: Prayer Supplication, Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If Your Friend Jumped Off A Clift Would You?  PRO

Contributed by Dale Bird on Jan 7, 2006

IF YOUR FRIEND JUMPED OFF A CLIFT WOULD YOU? 450 Sheep Jump to Their Deaths By The Associated Press posted: 08 July 2005 11:22 am ET ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) _ First one sheep jumped to its death. Then stunned Turkish shepherds, who had left the herd to graze while they had breakfast, watched as ...read more

Tags: Temptation General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed