In Sermon Illustrations: "Questions"

Ben Hooper

Contributed by David Swanger on Jan 19, 2024

In Rising Above the Crowd, Brian Habour tells the story of Ben Hooper. When Ben was born in the foothills of East Tennessee, little boys and girls like Ben who were born to unwed mothers were ostracized and treated terribly. By the time he was three years old, the other children would scarcely play ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9

Tags: Christian, Encouragement

Jesus Our (Lawyer) Advocate

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Jun 10, 2024

I would like for you to picture a scene. There is a court room. The judge is seated behind the bench. The jury is in place. There are people watching the proceedings. There is someone on trial sitting before the judge. And that person is you! The charge against you is that you are a ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:1-2

Tags: Forgiveness, Advocate, Judgment Seat, Lawyer, Court Room  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[017] A Message From A Poem - Altogether Lovely One

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 21, 2024

[017] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - ALTOGETHER LOVELY ONE There are times when we feel our hearts going out in worship to our Lord. What is the difference between praise and worship? This is not a sermon so I won’t be answering that question here, but I hope you think on it and that it might warm ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:11, Isaiah 53:3-4, Psalm 150:1-3

Tags: Worship, Praise, Gold, Magi, Sorrow, Frankincense, Myrrh, Lovely One  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Warm Hands And Hot Pants

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Aug 8, 2024

Warm Hands and Hot Pants A Lesson Learned the Hot Way As a kid, I was always up for new adventures—especially if they involved tagging along with my dad to the country store on a brisk fall morning. The place smelled like fresh coffee, worn leather, and sweet pipe tobacco, and old-timers ...read more

Scripture: John 16:4, James 3:5, Ecclesiastes 7:25, 2 Timothy 3:7, Proverbs 13:16, Proverbs 12:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Father's Day, Wisdom, Wise, Experience, Fire, Nostalgia, Stupid, Lessons Of Life, Coutry Living, Country Boy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Embracing God's Grace

Contributed by Rev. Randy Barker on Apr 2, 2025

Title: Embracing God's Grace: A Message of Hope from the Churches of Christ in Christian Union Introduction: Dear Friend, We are delighted to share with you the message of God's grace and the transformative power of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In this gospel tract, we will ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8

Tags: Grace, Mercy

Denomination: *other

Exceeding Expectations

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Jun 25, 2025

Last Sunday I preached about heaven. I love preaching about heaven but I always feel like any description I give falls so far short of what it will actually be like. And I must admit, I have many questions. What exactly will it be like? What will we be doing? Will the bonds we've formed here ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Tags: Heaven, Expectations

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[344]. A Message From A Poem - Why, Lord, Why? The Lament For My Birds

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 1, 2026

[344]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WHY, LORD, WHY? THE LAMENT FOR MY BIRDS This poem is in blank verse because I just did not feel like any rhyme. It is written “as is”, just giving out my feeling. I very rarely write blank verse; I think maybe 2 or 3 times. The subject is about the terror of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1, Jonah 4:6, Romans 8:20-22

Tags: Compassion, Understanding, Lament, Sorrow, Cunning, Unfairness, Snakes, Finches, Brown Tree Snake, Boiga Irregularis, Evil Snake, Sly, Night Tiger, Snake Of Satan  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Would Like To Read You Something I Came Across ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on Sep 24, 2001

I would like to read you something I came across this week. It was written by a man named Tamim Ansary– who is an Afghani-American writer [ taken from Salon.com ]. I don’t generally like to read something of this length, but I think it is important for us to hear. [start quote] I’ve been hearing a ...read more

Tags: Stand Fast, World Religions

Denomination: Baptist

Bob Russell Shared That Several Months Before ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Demastus on Oct 22, 2001

*Bob Russell shared that several months before they moved into their new church building in 1998, their ministry staff met at the new site for a special staff meeting. Most of the building still wasn’t carpeted, and some of the rooms still had no drywall. They handed out hard hats, magic markers, ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-11

Tags: Bible Influence

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Preacher Once Wrote About An Incident In His ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 19, 2002

A preacher once wrote about an incident in his life: “I’d received a notice from my 13 year old son’s school announcing a meeting to preview the new course in sexuality. Parents could examine the curriculum and take part in an actual lesson presented exactly as it would be given to the students. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:3

Tags: Marriage Faithfulness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Give Me Liberty  PRO

Contributed by Michael Gibney on Aug 7, 2002

GIVE ME LIBERTY March 23, 1775. A man with his eternal perspective addressed the House of representatives and said, “ No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience, Independence Day

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thanksgiving Without Martha  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 17, 2002

THANKSGIVING WITHOUT MARTHA Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. I’m telling you in advance, so don’t act surprised. Since Ms. Stewart won’t be coming, I’ve made a few small changes: Our sidewalk will not be lined with homemade, paper bag luminaries. After a trial run, it ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving

Teach The Children  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 10, 2002

TEACH THE CHILDREN Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened... I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Christmas Eve

Michael Is The Kind Of Guy You Love To Hate. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 1, 2003

Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, “If I were any better, I would be twins!” If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was there telling the employee ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment, Character

From Chicago To Memphis  PRO

Contributed by Ray Pritchard on Aug 28, 2003

From Chicago to Memphis That’s always how it is in the life of faith. Many times you will be called to step out for God and you will be precisely where Abraham was—believing God but not knowing what the future holds. When I think of that principle, my mind goes back to a conversation I had ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-40

Tags: Examples Of Faith, Faith General

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Resurrection Of The Dead  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 26, 2003

The Resurrection of the Dead Avijah Powers felt moderately sure nobody would recognize him when he registered under an assumed name at the little inn. It was more than twenty years since he had left the town--a hard, reckless boy, running away from a good father and a devoted mother because he ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, James 1:9-11

Tags: Confession Of Sin, Repentance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dr. Frederic Loomis Faced The Most Difficult ...  PRO

Contributed by Tom Mccrossan on Jan 21, 2004

Dr. Frederic Loomis faced the most difficult decision a physician could ever make--whether to allow a deformed baby to live or die. He had only seconds to decide. Dr. Loomis had delivered hundreds of babies, but this one was different. The infant lay in a breech position, promising at best a ...read more

Tags: Abortion

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

My Name Is Vicki, And I Am Addicted. I Am Not ...  PRO

Contributed by Vicki Edwards on Apr 13, 2004

My name is Vicki, and I am addicted. I am not attempting at this time to recover, though I am growing more aware of my neediness daily. I’ll tell you of this obsession, which began in my childhood. My mother knew the same dependence, though I feel she is not as addicted as I am today. I wish she ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:8

Tags: Sharing My Testimony, Addiction

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Algebra!" Romans 8:9-17 Key Verse(S) ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 25, 2005

“God’s Algebra!” Romans 8:9-17 Key verse(s) 16:“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” One of the unchangeable and mysterious laws of mathematics is that whenever you multiply a positive number by a negative number you will always get a negative number. I ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:9-17

Tags: Wait, Promises Of God, God's Love, God's Omniscience, Perseverance, Patience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

May 31, 2005 "Our Semper Fi Brother!" Matthew ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 31, 2005

May 31, 2005 “Our Semper Fi Brother!” Matthew 9:18-26 Key verse(s) 22“Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter,’ he said, ‘your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed from that moment.” Nothing defines endurance better than a Marine. I have known a few Marines in my life; in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:18-22

Tags: Patience, Perseverance, Persistence, Doubt, Endurance, Faith General, Conquer, Brotherhood, Promised Land, Struggles, Victory  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran