In Sermon Illustrations: "Samuel"

What Does God's Voice Sound Like?  PRO

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Feb 4, 2009

WHAT DOES GOD'S VOICE SOUND LIKE? Erwin McManus, a pastor in Los Angeles, tells a great story about recognizing God's voice. My son, Aaron, was five or six when he began asking me, "What does God's voice sound like?" I didn't know how to answer. A few years later, Aaron went off to his first ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-21

Tags: Hard Heart, Dealing With Conflicts

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Cheer Him, Boys!  PRO

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Feb 6, 2009

"Cheer Him, Boys!" There was a fire in the big city, and the firemen flung their ladders together, and went up in their brave fashion to the very topmost story to rescue the people that were trapped. One after another was rescued by the brave firemen. All had been rescued, it seemed, No! As the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:6

Tags: Encouragement, John Mark

Denomination: Christian Church

How To Be ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 27, 2009

HOW TO BE RENEWED William Hinson, Sr. retired pastor of First United Methodist Church in Houston, the largest church in American Methodism tells the story about a time when he was going to Columbia, South Carolina to preach in a revival. He had not slept well the night before and had gotten up ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:6

Tags: Restoration

Good God Almighty

Contributed by Louis Pantelis on May 21, 2009

GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY I am reminded of the story of the fellow that always fell asleep during the pastor’s sermon. The wife had decided to keep him awake - so she took a large hair pin with the intention of sticking him with it when he nodded off. Sure enough, right in the middle of the pastor’s ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 10:1-19

Tags: God The Father

Denomination: Church Of God

Getting Knocked Down? Humbly Walk  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2009

GETTING KNOCKED DOWN? HUMBLY WALK There was a woman who was going through some very difficult and trying circumstances. She was experiencing major distress in her marriage, her job was very unfulfilling and was causing her heartache. She became so distraught over her circumstances that she felt ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:1-25

Tags: Anxiety

Church Cake Cover-Up  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 19, 2009

CHURCH CAKE COVER-UP It was time for the annual cake sale at a Presbyterian church not much different than our own. Ms. Billings always made the most beautiful cakes...she was expected to make another one this year. However, Ms. Billings was a very busy woman with the time she spent with her ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:1-15

Tags: Hypocrisy, Cake

General Ulysses S. Grant's Loyal Friend, John A. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 1, 2009

General Ulysses S. Grant’s Loyal Friend, John A. Rawlins General Ulysses S. Grant, who commanded the Union soldiers for Lincoln, was such a disciplined hard man on his soldiers that few knew of his weakness for liquor. One of those who was keenly aware of Grant’s shortcoming was his faithful ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1-5

Tags: Friendship General

Anzac ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 27, 2010

ANZAC Day For those who do not know, ANZAC day is not the day to celebrate Australia’s victories, nor do we celebrate how great our country is. Rather we celebrate the sacrifice and loss of the young men and women who protect other people’s freedom. Australia has never been seriously attacked or ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 22:26-51

Tags: War

Which Horn?  PRO

Contributed by Gale Lambert on Aug 23, 2010

WHICH HORN? A young city boy went to the farm to spend time with his grandfather. While setting on the porch swing, the young lad noticed a cow behind the fence and asked grandfather, "What is that on the other side of the fence?" The grandfather replied, "A cow." "What is that on the cow’s ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:14

Tags: Animals

Denomination: Baptist

The Covenants

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 27, 2010

THE COVENANTS Eternal covenant, Heb 13:20—The redemptive covenant before time began, between the Father and the Son. By this covenant we have eternal redemption, an eternal peace from the ‘God of peace’, through the death and resurrection of the Son. Edenic covenant, Gen 1:26-28—The creative ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-16

Tags: Covenant

Denomination: Brethren

David's Extremes

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jul 19, 2011

DAVID'S EXTREMES David’s life story is an amazing story of the extremes one person can face in a lifetime: • Early years extremes: o From seclusion to fame o From being a nobody to a somebody. o From forgotten to living legend o From least to greatest o From the runt of the family to the most ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 19:1-8

Tags: David

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Attack Of Conscience

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 8, 2011

AN ATTACK OF CONSCIENCE This was the story in MYFOX Boston from Friday 15 April 2011 41 years after the murder of 15 year old John McCabe of Tewksbury, three suspects finally go before the judge. 60-year-old Walter Shelley, of Tewksbury, and 57-year-old Michael Ferreira of Salem. New Hampshire are ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 24:5-7

Tags: Conscience

Miracle Mandy

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Mar 5, 2012

MIRACLE MANDY The doctor told Marsha Mark and her husband they would never have biological children. In their disappointment, Marsha clung to a friend's words: "Somehow, God is going to use your struggle with infertility for his glory." Marsha began to pray for a glimpse of that glory. "I asked ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:1-20

Tags: Prayer Answered

Denomination: Baptist

Listening To God Compared To Listening To The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 4, 2012

LISTENING TO GOD COMPARED TO LISTENING TO THE DOCTOR We should treat prayer for what it is, a two way conversation with God, and learn to be quiet long enough for him to get a word in edge ways. Nicky Gumbel, in his book Questions of Life compares it to a visit to the doctor, he writes “Suppose I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:10

Tags: Prayer How To

Community: "A Part Of Me Loved War"

Contributed by Perry Greene on Dec 2, 2013

"A part of me loved war. Now, please understand, I am a peaceful man, fond of children and animals. And I believe that war should have no place in the affairs of men. But, the comradeship our platoon experienced in that war provides a moving and enduring memory in me. A comrade in war is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 6:1-13

Tags: Fellowship, Community, Support, Encouragement, Vietnam  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When God Says...what?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 14, 2014

A young preacher in Ft. Worth, Texas was trying to make an impression on a Pastor Search Team who had come to his church to hear him preach. The young man was preaching on the time in the Old Testament when God had enough with His disobedient people and finally said to them, "Ichabod!", which ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 4:21

Tags: Mistakes, Humor, Glory Of God, Sermon Bloopers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Pastor's Dream Of His Own Worship Service  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2014

A PASTOR’S DREAM OF HIS OWN WORSHIP SERVICE The story is told of a pastor of a large church who had a dream one night that really opened his eyes. He dreamed that he could see his own church worship service on Sunday morning. But there was something very strange happening. The choir was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7

Tags: Church, Worship, Devotion, Intimacy With God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bacon And Eggs

Contributed by Silas Eke on Feb 26, 2015

The story is told of the pig and the chicken that went to Church and heard the Pastor was going to do his birthday. Each offered to donate towards the birthday. The Chicken offered to donate eggs and asked the pig to give bacon so that the pastor would have a good breakfast. The pig looked at the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 24:24

Tags: Sacrificial Giving, Perfect Sacrifice

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Alone In A Dark Cave

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 14, 2019

Alone in the dark in the Cave Back in my teenage years we would go exploring caves. One day five of us went cave exploring, we only had two flashlights but being young , we thought that was enough. We were deep inside the cave and I decided to climb up a shelf, while the others waited and held the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 31:1-5

Tags: Fear, Trouble

Denomination: Pentecostal

Sins Will Find You ( Billy Bob)

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 18, 2019

Billy Bob –South Pittsburg My friend Billy Bob Johnson lived in South Pittsburg, Tennessee when he was a young whipper snapper. By our standards South Pittsburg Would be considered out in the sticks at that time, but they had a soda shop at the local drug store. That is where all the young ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:1-7

Tags: Punishment, Sins

Denomination: Pentecostal