In Sermon Illustrations: "Secret Service"

Longsuffering  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Longsuffering Galatians 5:22 tells us that longsuffering is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Greek word for longsuffering means, "patience, forbearing, perseverance, being constant, steadfast, and enduring." The practical application of this fruit is that God's Holy Spirit gives obedient ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22

Tags: Longsuffering, Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Salt Of The Earth  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Salt of the Earth Matthew 5:13 says to Christians, "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Our Lord is telling His disciples that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Red Glove

Contributed by Chester Harris on Dec 4, 2008

THE RED GLOVE It was one of those rare wintry days on the campus of Asbury Seminary with snow drifting over the sidewalks and students slipping and sliding, intentionally and without serious intent! I needed to mail a letter and decided to trek the extra distance to the Wilmore post office, rather ...read more

Tags: Christmas Eve

Denomination: Methodist

The Story Of This Song, Oh Holy Night, Began In ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 23, 2008

The story of this song, Oh Holy Night, began in the 1840’s in France when a Priest asked a poet named Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure to write a poem for Christmas Mass. Cappeau composed this poem while he was in a carriage on the road to France … and that he titled Cantique de Noel. Cappeau was ...read more

Tags: Music

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Messiah Sighting In Brooklyn

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 30, 2009

MESSIAH SIGHTING IN BROOKLYN In 1993 I saw a news report on T.V. it was about a "Messiah sighting" in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York. Twenty thousand Lubavitcher Hasidic Jews live in Crown Heights, and many of them believed the Messiah was dwelling among them in the person of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7

Tags: Jesus Christ

Taking A Grenade

Contributed by Rick Crandall on May 21, 2011

TAKING A GRENADE A week ago last Tuesday (04/08/08) the Medal of Honor was posthumously awarded to Navy Seal Michael Monsoor. Here is part of what President Bush said to Michael’s family and those gathered at the White House: "In September 2006, Michael laid down his life for his brothers in ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices

Denomination: Baptist

Steering By Mother's Light

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2011

STEERING BY MOTHER'S LIGHT To illustrate the great influence of a Godly mother, let me tell you the story of Susannah Prentice. This story goes back to 1950. Susannah and her husband, Miles, lived in a 2-story house located on the coast of Maine. Miles and Susannah had 2 sons and a daughter. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:5

Tags: Mother's Day

What Are You Doing, Lord? Amazing Grace

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 31, 2011

WHAT ARE YOU DOING, LORD? AMAZING GRACE A couple days ago I was commuting to the church from Boissevain where we were camping this week, and heard an interview with a young woman named Kristen James Anderson, ironically on the last day of our free satellite radio. She came from a great family, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:5

Tags: Grace

The Bible Thoroughly Equips

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Nov 4, 2012

THE BIBLE THOROUGHLY EQUIPS 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is God Breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training for righteousness, so the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." The Bible is the Word of God and is useful for thoroughly ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Bible Influence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Payment For The Parts

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 20, 2020

One of the worst things that could happen to anybody is a car accident. My oldest son had this happen recently. He was okay, just a few bruises, but the car was totaled. Not good. A day or so later, he and I went to the garage where the car had been towed. We took turns removing his personal ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Tags: Salvage, Accidents, Recycling

Denomination: Baptist

A Collector’s Item?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 23, 2020

Hard to believe, but I may have a collector’s item! In my own house! Now, before you start sending me “Can I see it?” types of emails, maybe I should explain just what this “collector’s item” really is. Really, it wasn’t that much of a collectible, even from a couple of years ago. It’s only ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-20, Colossians 3:2

Tags: Stewardship, Collector's Items

Denomination: Baptist

Paid In Full, Finally

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 10, 2020

It’s always a happy day when you make the final payment on a car loan or any other kind of loan! The money you’ve been sending somewhere else you can now send to another bill—oops—or savings account or wherever you feel led to put it. I know, there are some folks who are greatly excited if you ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Salvation, Payment For Sin, Blood Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

Failed Love

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Sep 15, 2020

Thomas Carlyle lived from 1795 to 1881. He was a Scot essayist and historian. During his lifetime, he became one of the world’s greatest writers. However, he was human, and humans make mistakes. On October 17, 1825, Carlyle married his secretary Jane Welsh. She was an intelligent, attractive, ...read more

Scripture: Song of Songs 7:1

Tags: Love, Marriage

Denomination: Baptist

Courage

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jul 2, 2021

Mary Slesser (1848-1915) when Mary was a teenager, she volunteered to help organize a mission in the slums of Scotland. Despite Mary's genuine and caring efforts, many of the people the mission was designed to help oppose the work because they felt it avoided the "real" needs of the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:6-14

Tags: Mission Work, Mary Slesser, Courage

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Godliness

Contributed by Marc Heatherington on Aug 5, 2021

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness . . 2 Peter 1:5-6 The Greek word for godliness is sometimes translated as piety. Both words have ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:6, 1 Timothy 2:2, 1 Timothy 2:10, 1 Timothy 3:16, 1 Timothy 6:3, 1 Timothy 6:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Godliness, Perseverance

Denomination: Baptist

The Miracle Of Eddie Rickenbacker

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 20, 2022

It is gratitude that prompted an old man to visit an old broken pier on the eastern seacoast of Florida. Every Friday night, until his death in 1973, he would return, walking slowly and slightly stooped with a large bucket of shrimp. The sea gulls would flock to this old man, and he would feed them ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Thanksgiving, Protection, Angels, Rescue, Miracles, Gratitude, God's Will, Deliverance, Providence  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Observation About A Billboard Worker

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 24, 2024

Text: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, KJV: 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. How many of you have seen anybody changing the ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, John 15:5

Tags: Assistance, Billboards, Clergy Appreciation Month

Denomination: Baptist

The First Ascent Of The Matterhorn In Switzerland

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on May 18, 2026

This is taken from a sermon I gave in Skillington near Grantham in Lincolnshire in England Charles Hudson was the Vicar of Skillington when he died on 14th July 1865 My interest comes from a former vicar here - Revd Charles Hudson (4th October 1828-14 July 1865). Charles was born in Park Street ...read more

Tags: Matterhorn, Charles Hudson

Denomination: Anglican

Let God Do The Watering!" Mark 4: 1-20: Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 4, 2004

“Let God Do the Watering!” Mark 4: 1-20: Key verse(s): 11-12 “He told them, ‘The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that “‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and every hearing but never understanding; ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:10-20

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Lutheran

Thank You Sir! May I Do Another?" Matthew 4:1-11 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 3, 2005

“Thank You Sir! May I Do Another?” Matthew 4:1-11 Key verse(s): 9-10:“Then the devil left him and angels came and attended him.” “Thank you sir! May I do another?” Crouching on the ground, the recruit seemed barely touched by the sergeant’s rough treatment. He was doing push-ups; and a lot of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Lutheran