In Sermon Illustrations: "Running From God"

I Shook Every Gift Under The Tree

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 18, 2026

Do you remember what it was like to be a kid at Christmas? For me it conjures up memories of pure excitement, seemingly always counting down to Christmas morning. Maybe you were staring at the tree, eyeing that one special gift, that one that was wrapped just right, the box the perfect size, and ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7, Romans 8:25

Tags: Hope, Anticipation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Letter To Santa  PRO

Contributed by Darren Ethier on May 21, 2002

A LETTER TO SANTA: Dear Santa Claus: You’ll probably be surprised to receive this letter from an adult. You may be even more surprised as you read it to find that the writer is neither a maiden aunt nor a disgruntled bachelor. I’m a young mother. It isn’t my intention, Santa, to hurt your ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Denomination: Pentecostal

Mom And The C.s.d.  PRO

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on May 20, 2008

MOM AND THE C.S.D. POEM TO MOM My son came home from school one day, With a smirk upon his face. He decided he was smart enough, To put me in my place. ’Guess what I learned in Civics Two, that’s taught by Mr. Wright? It’s all about the laws today, The ’Children’s Bill of Rights.’ It says I need ...read more

Tags: Children

Denomination: Pentecostal

All Because Of Angus

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 25, 2011

ALL BECAUSE OF ANGUS In Ernest Gordon’s true account of life in a World War II Japanese prison camp, Through the Valley of the Kwai, there is a story that never fails to move me. It is about a man who through giving it all away literally transformed a whole camp of soldiers. The man's name was ...read more

Scripture: John 15:13

Tags: Christian Witness

The Church Without Outreach

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2011

THE CHURCH WITHOUT OUTREACH Fred Craddock tells the story of his first church. It was a beautiful little white church on a hill in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The church was beautifully maintained. The pews had been hand-hewn from giant poplar trees that had grown nearby. Little kerosene lamps on the walls ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Angels In A Pickup Truck?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 16, 2020

There’s not much better than a great day on vacation, especially when the outside temperature is hot and your car’s A/C is cold! That was how it was on one recent summer day when I was visiting my home town. I had done some sight-seeing and was ready to head back to the motel room when I wondered ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 1:14

Tags: Angels, Assisting People

Denomination: Baptist

Why Palm Sunday Is Important

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Mar 26, 2024

In 1997 I traveled to Pittsburgh to attend a Promise Keepers Meeting at Three Rivers Stadium. Men from the Ashland Area Churches rented a bus and traveled there together. Promise Keepers was created to issue a calling to men to live up to their biblical responsibilities to be good Husbands, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11, Isaiah 50:5-7

Tags: Faith, Palm Sunday

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Leaving The City Of Regret

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 1, 2025

Leaving the City of Regret by Larry Harp I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet I found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip was going to be unpleasant, and I knew in advance that no real good would come of it. I'm talking about my annual "Guilt ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-16

Tags: Freedom, Regret

Denomination: Methodist

A Paradigm For Giving.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 24, 2024

A PARADIGM FOR GIVING. 2 Corinthians 8:9. This is the key verse in my sermon on 'The Grace of Giving' (2 Corinthians 8:7-15). The Apostle reminds the Corinthians of what they already know: “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” How that He was “rich” but made Himself “poor” that we ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:9

Tags: Grace, Giving

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Is Jesus Christ  PRO

Contributed by Michael Bird on Jan 15, 2002

To the artist He is the One Altogether Lovely. To the architect He is the Chief Cornerstone. To the astronomer He is the Sun of Righteousness. To the baker He is the Living Bread. To the banker He is the Hidden Treasure. To the biologist He is the Life. To the carpenter He is the Sure ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ, Jesus Teachings, Jesus Life, Divinity Of Christ, Trinity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Most Important Job  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 24, 2002

THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB One pastor, Thomas Elliff, decided to spend his entire morning in prayer – no coffee break, no telephone, no meetings – just prayer. He writes, “At noon I opened the door to my study. I discovered a stranger waiting to visit for just a moment. “Pastor,” he said, “You ...read more

This Preacher Got On The Bus To Go Downtown. ...  PRO

Contributed by John Beehler on Sep 24, 2002

This preacher got on the bus to go downtown. After sitting down, he noticed that the driver had given him a quarter too much in change. He wondered what he should do. After all, it’s only a quarter, he figured. By the time he reached his stop, he knew what he had to do. Telling the driver he had ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General, Sharing My Testimony, Holiness

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Any Of Us More Than Twenty-Five Years Old Can ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Any of us more than twenty-five years old can probably remember where we were when we first heard of President Kennedy’s assassination in 1963. British novelist David Lodge, in the introduction to one of his books, tells where he was--in a theater watching the performance of a satirical revue he ...read more

Tags: Worship Purpose, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Prison Chaplain Writes Of A Study In Which He ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 4, 2003

“A prison chaplain writes of a study in which he talked with twelve inmates in the penitentiary. He asked each “Why are you here?” The answers were instructive: “I was framed.” “They ganged up on me.” “It was a case of mistaken identity.” “The police had it in for me.” Not one said he was guilty of ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Denomination: United Methodist

Answered Prayers  PRO

Contributed by Chris Hodges on Jul 28, 2003

An unknown confederate soldier wrote: I asked God for strength that I might achieve I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey I asked for health that I might do greater things I was given infirmity that I might do better things I asked for riches that I might be happy I was given poverty ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-5, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Prayer Supplication

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

Anyone Who Knows The History Of The Adventist ...  PRO

Contributed by Adam Deibert on May 7, 2004

Anyone who knows the history of the Adventist church knows that our founders started out believing they knew when Jesus would return. As they studied the prophecies of the Word of God, they became convinced that His return was imminent. When it didn’t happen as expected – that day we mark as the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:6

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

There Are Many Ways To Address Problems. North ...  PRO

Contributed by Tom Doubt on May 17, 2004

There are many ways to address problems. North Dakota Indian tribe wisdom[sermon-fodder.com, 9-27-03]: If you discover you are riding a dead horse, dismount. We often expand this basic tribal wisdom in our church life and personal life. If we find ourselves on a dead horse, we simply change ...read more

Tags: Parable General

Denomination: Baptist

In One Scene Of The Popular Movie Robin Hood, The ...

Contributed by Richard Mcnair on Oct 27, 2004

In one scene of the popular movie Robin Hood, The Prince of Thieves, Kevin Costner as Robin comes to a young man taking aim at an archery target. Robin asks, "Can you shoot amid distractions?" Just before the boy releases the string, Robin pokes his ear with the feathers of an arrow. The boy’s ...read more

Tags: Temptation General

Denomination: Baptist

Our Daughter, Katie, Gave Me A Chris Rice Cd For ...

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Dec 24, 2005

*Our daughter, Katie, gave me a Chris Rice CD for Christmas in 2004... *It’s got a great Christmas song called Welcome to Our World... Fragile fingers sent to heal us... Tender brow prepared for thorn Tiny heart whose blood will save us... Unto us is born So, wrap our injured flesh around ...read more

Tags: Cross Agony

Denomination: Baptist