In Sermon Illustrations: "Run Hard"

Several Years Ago I Read A Story Written By A...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 11, 2015

Several years ago I read a story written by a preacher in the Philippine Islands. One day he was passing a large church on Good Friday when he spotted many selling incense, candles, veils and rosaries. He also saw several small boys who were running about selling crosses. He heard them calling, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Take Up Your Cross, Carrying Your Cross, Message Of The Cross, Cheap Grace

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Soap And Water!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 28, 2019

A pastor and his wife were asked to dinner by one of his church members. He knew she was a bad housekeeper, but still agreed. When he sat down at the table, he noticed that the dishes were the dirtiest he had ever seen in his life. "Were these dishes washed?" he asked his hostess, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Tags: Humor, Pastors, Cleanliness, Dogs

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Are Free To...

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Mar 20, 2021

I was thinking about my niece who just got her 1st car. While my memory may be deteriorating, I remember how awesome it was to have my 1st car. While I loved that old car, it gave me an attitude that got me in trouble more than once. I began to think that I was grown, and I could do whatever I ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:13-26

Tags: Freedom, Live For Christ

Denomination: Baptist

Faith Is Resting My Whole Weight On God!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 23, 2023

When missionary John Paton was translating the Scripture for the South Sea islanders, he was unable to find a word in their vocabulary for the concept of believing, trusting, or having faith. He had no idea how he would convey that to them. One day while he was in his hut translating, a native came ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Faith, Revival, Faithfulness, Spiritual Fruit, Fruit Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No One Will Know

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 15, 2025

No one will know? A man works at a car factory… getting paid a fair wage for a fair day’s work. His job is to grease the u-joint on the drive train. He gets busy joking around with his co-workers. One car gets by him. He misses applying the grease. He knows it will fail inspection. So he puts a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:25

Tags: Knowledge, Small Things, No One

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Rocky And Spiritual Victory

Contributed by Jordon Leblanc on Aug 8, 2008

Rocky and Spiritual Victory When I think of training, my mind often wanders to almost every underdog movie from the 80's and early 90's. Maybe you know what I mean. Think of Rocky...any Rocky, really. Have you seen that movie? Yea, I thought so. If you're not familiar with the movies, let me ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Wesleyan

Leslie B. Flynn Told A Delightful Little Story ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Leslie B. Flynn told a delightful little story about how some children worked long and hard on their own little cardboard shack. It was to be a special spot - a clubhouse - where they could meet in solemn assembly or just laugh, play games, and fool around. As they thought long and hard about their ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will

The Throne Of Christmas

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 18, 2010

THE THRONE OF CHRISTMAS In the very centre of Christmas cheer, amidst the silver bells, coloured baubles and lights, enormous sparkling chandeliers, banners and wreathes and beside a gigantic Christmas tree, there in the middle of everything stands a huge throne that dominates the centre of the ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

They Get An "A," You Get An "A," What's Wrong ...

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Oct 20, 2011

THEY GET AN "A," YOU GET AN "A," WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT? On the first day of class the professor says, "I have this very complicated Math problem, the solution of which shall constitute your grade for the entire semester. I'm giving you the problem now so you can start working immediately if you ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Gossip: Opie's Newspaper

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 7, 2014

"Opie's Newspaper" is an episode on the Andy Griffith Show. Opie's friend, Howie, received a small printing press as a gift, and the boys decide to go into the newspaper business. They work hard and produce an initial issue of what they call the Mayberry Sun. The boys soon find that business is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:31-32

Tags: Gossip, Slander, Sins Of Tongue, Control Tongue

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Lake Moses Washington, Friday, May 24, 1985. 1:oo ...  PRO

Contributed by Kent Lenard on Nov 4, 2002

LAKE MOSES WASHINGTON, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1985. 1:OO AM I rolled and tossed in bed, feeling uneasy about our son John and his family who are missionaries in South Africa. PRAY! the command I sensed was urgent. Now I am wide awake sending passionate pleas to heaven. Please Lord, help John and ...read more

Tags: Prayer Supplication, Prayer General

Denomination: Baptist

Auto Body Repair Ministry--I Have A Friend Back ...

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Feb 9, 2010

- AUTO BODY REPAIR MINISTRY--I have a friend back home, Michael. Michael is without a doubt a man with a call from Jesus Christ into ministry. Michael ministry is owning and running an auto body repair shop. Running an auto body repair shop may sound like the farthest thing there is from a church, ...read more

Tags: Workplace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Are Some Interesting Facts About The Sisal ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Jun 7, 2001

There are some interesting facts about the sisal plant from which is made tough sisal twine. It grows in Yucatan, Mexico, in hard stony soil. Some Americans visited the area and decided that there might be good money to be made in growing it in richer soil under better conditions. So they started ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Baptist

They Are Kind Of Like The Excuses I Use For Not ...  PRO

Contributed by Sheila Crowe on Oct 11, 2002

They are kind of like the excuses I use for not attending sporting events. 1. Every time I went, they asked for money. 2. The people I sat next to didn’t seem friendly. 3. The seats were too hard and not comfortable at all. 4. I went to many games but the coach never came to ...read more

Tags: Church General

Denomination: United Methodist

Recently This Word—fellowship—has Been In The ...  PRO

Contributed by Galen Hackman on Mar 1, 2003

Recently this word—fellowship—has been in the headlines of our daily experience, thanks to the popular movie adaptations of J. R. R. Tolkin’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. In the first book and movie, entitled, Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien describes the camaraderie of a diverse group of ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Brethren

Sherlock Holmes And His Assistant Dr. Watson Are ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on Aug 3, 2003

Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson are camping. After enjoying a day of relaxation, they pitch their tent under the stars and go to sleep. Sometime in the middle of the night, Holmes wakes Watson. "Watson, look up at the stars and tell me what you deduce." Hoping to please his boss with ...read more

Tags: Truth

Denomination: Baptist

Without Me, You Can Do Nothing  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 18, 2004

WITHOUT ME, YOU CAN DO NOTHING A do-it-yourselfer who went into a hardware store early one morning and asked for a saw. The salesman took a chain saw from the shelf and commented that it was their “newest model, with the latest in technology, guaranteed to cut ten cords of firewood a day.” The ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-10, Acts 3:1-4

Tags: Jesus Teachings, Holy Spirit Attributes

At A Meeting Of The American Psychological ...  PRO

Contributed by Dana Visneskie on Apr 23, 2004

At a meeting of the American Psychological Association, Jack Lipton, a psychologist at Union College, and R. Scott Builione, a graduate student at Columbia University, presented their findings on how members of the various sections of 11 major symphony orchestra perceived each other. The ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Pentecostal

William Barclay Lists 6 Points On Which Early ...  PRO

Contributed by Adam Deibert on May 7, 2004

William Barclay lists 6 points on which early Christians were slandered. The practice of the Lord’s Supper, with its language about the body and blood of the Lord, was distorted so that the Christians were depicted as vicious cannibals. The great emphasis on love was turned into the slander ...read more

Tags: Misconceptions

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

This Reminds Me Of This Story (Alex Domokos Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Dec 1, 2004

This reminds me of this story (Alex Domokos of Winnipeg told in Readers Digest, Dec. 2004): My mother, a teacher, was having a hard time settling on a suitable role for one of her students in the Grade 3 Christmas pageant. Finally, she decided he should be the innkeeper, a role she felt he could ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Evangelical Free