In Sermon Illustrations: "Resting On Your Laurels"

I Love Bumper Sticker Theology. It May Not Always ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

I love bumper sticker theology. It may not always be the most sound theological statements, but they generally at least have the ability to make you think. The one in particular that I am thinking about said, "God is my Co-pilot." Do you remember the sticker? It took a great deal of heat. Perhaps ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Punctuating Advent  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

PUNCTUATING ADVENT You may have chuckled when I started this sermon by talking about the importance of punctuation. But prudent punctuation is no joke. In Russia, a period actually saved a man's life. The Czar had condemned the man to death and sent this telegram to the jailer: PARDON IMPOSSIBLE. ...read more

Tags: Christmas Advent

The Famous Architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2009

The famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, designed some unusual buildings. On a university campus in Florida stands a library designed by Wright with an extremely low ceiling, so low that if you are six feet tall and not careful, you keep bumping your head. A man who was having this trouble asked ...read more

Tags: Pride

What Good Are You?

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jan 12, 2009

"WHAT GOOD ARE YOU?" Hideyoshi, a Japanese warlord who ruled over Japan in the late 1500s, commissioned a colossal statue of Buddha for a shrine in Kyoto. It took 50,000 men five years to build, but the work had scarcely been completed when the earthquake of 1596 brought the roof of the shrine ...read more

Tags: Idolatry

Denomination: Baptist

Luis Palau, "Experiencing God's Forgiveness", ...

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 6, 2009

Luis Palau, "Experiencing God’s Forgiveness", Multnomah Press, 1984 ) A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death. "But I don’t ask for justice," the mother explained. "I ...read more

Tags: Mercy

Denomination: Baptist

Run To The Refuge

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

RUN TO THE REFUGE Bunker gear, over 1,000 degrees of heat, protection from fire scene elements, provides a refuge/safety for self... importance of ARFF truck...refuge, responsible for protection of firefighters, T3000 3,000 gal. of water, large truck, nozzles, discharge 1,000 gpm...truck was place ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 35:6-34

Tags: God In The Hardships

Mom, Why Do You Have White Hair???

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 5, 2022

One day, a little girl is sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly notices that her mother has several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast to her brunette hair. She looks at her mother and inquisitively asks: “Why are some of your hairs white, ...read more

Tags: Sermon Introductions, Aging, Humor, Mothers, Mother's Day, Grandmothers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Positive Attitude

Contributed by David Swanger on Jan 24, 2024

A beginning driver for an interstate trucking company, made several long tiring trips with an older driver. Though twice his age, this older man seemed to thrive on these long trips. After one such trip, as they sat drinking coffee, the younger man commented on how his partner looked as if he had ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:24

Tags: Choice, Attitude

No 'i' In The Lord's Prayer

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 11, 2024

No "I" in the Lord's Prayer You cannot pray the Lord's Prayer and even once say "I." You cannot pray the Lord's Prayer and even once say "My." Nor can you pray the Lord's Prayer and not pray for one another. And when you ask for daily ...read more

Tags: Brother, Prayer, Selfishness, Lord's Prayer, Self, Others, Daily Bread, One Another, Another  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sports Widow Gets Even

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 22, 2025

"'Cash, check or charge?' I asked, after folding items the woman wished to purchase.  As she fumbled for her wallet, I noticed a remote control for a television set in her purse. 'So, do you always carry your TV remote?' I asked. 'No,' she replied, 'but my ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:19

Tags: Marriage, Sports, Revenge, Getting Even, Sports Widow  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Count The Cost

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Jul 24, 2025

I want to tell yall a true story about counting the cost. This happened to a friend, who shall remain nameless to protect her dignity. My friend had been going through a lot and needed something therapeutic to do and so took up gardening. Growing your own food is always a good idea, right? The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:28, Luke 14:29, Luke 14:30

Tags: High, Count The Cost, Building, Cost, Adversity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Paul Harvey Told About A 3-Year-Old Boy Who Went ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 20, 2001

Paul Harvey told about a 3-year-old boy who went to the grocery store with his mother. Before they entered the grocery store she said to him, "Now you’re not going to get any chocolate chip cookies, so don’t even ask." She put him up in the cart & he sat in the little child’s seat while she ...read more

Tags: Prayer Supplication, Prayer Of Faith, God's Provision

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus The Explorer, Citation: D. James Kennedy, ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 3, 2001

[Jesus the Explorer, Citation: D. James Kennedy, "Message from an Empty Tomb," Preaching Today, Tape No. 66.] For many centuries the men and women in Europe looked out upon the western sea, what we call the Atlantic Ocean, and they saw the sun coruscating upon the glittering surface of the waters ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection, Miracles Of Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Doolittle Raider  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 23, 2001

THE DOOLITTLE RAIDER The entry for the May 8, 2000 Promise Keepers’ devotional guide, Men of Integrity, shared this story: After a daring and successful 1942 bombing raid over Japan, led by Jimmy Doolittle, Bombardier Jacob DeShazer was one of eight downed in Japanese-occupied China. The ...read more

Tags: Offering, God's Provision, Excitement, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Church Of God

Judge Not . . .  PRO

Contributed by Dru Ashwell on Dec 16, 2001

JUDGE NOT . . . A small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness to the stand in a trial -- a grand-motherly, elderly woman. He approached her and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know me?" She responded, "Why, yes, I do know you, Mr. Williams. I’ve known you since you were a young boy. And ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-6

Tags: Truth, Real People, Leadership General, Holiness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Because Of The Increase Of Wickedness, The Love ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Dec 25, 2001

"Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." - Matthew 24:12-13 On the night of March 29, 1848, Niagara Falls completely and mysteriously stopped flowing. The estimated 500,000 gallons of water that customarily rushed ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-16

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Is Saying That Wives, If You Really Want To ...  PRO

Contributed by Chad Wright on Apr 25, 2002

God is saying that wives, if you really want to serve Christ every day, then submit to your husbands in everything. Everything?! That goes against the grain of the American ideal of what a woman should be! It shouldn’t surprise us. The feminist movement in America goes against the very core of what ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:22, Ephesians 5:22-24

Tags: Marriage Obligations, Unity, Divorce

Denomination: Lutheran

A School Superintendent Told His Assistant ...  PRO

Contributed by Darren Ethier on May 21, 2002

A school superintendent told his assistant superintendent the following: "Next Thursday at 10:30am, Haley’s Comet will appear over this area. This is an event which occurs only once every 75 years. Call the school principals and have them assemble their teachers and classes on their athletic fields ...read more

Tags: Communication General

Denomination: Pentecostal

Peace Corp Volunteer Studies  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 9, 2002

PEACE CORP VOLUNTEER STUDIES Some years ago a study was conducted among Peace Corps volunteers. Researchers took a random sample of volunteers and split them into two roughly equal groups: those who completed their tour commitments and those who returned home early because of "problems of ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Father's Day, Children

Erick Clapton, Arguably The Greatest Living Rock ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2002

Erick Clapton, arguably the greatest living rock guitarist, wrote a heart wrenching song about the death of his four year old son (March 20, 1991). He fell from a 53rd-story window. Clapton took nine months off and when he returned his music had changed. The hardship had made his music softer, more ...read more

Tags: Death