In Sermon Illustrations: "Sense"

A Change In Hope

Contributed by Fred Schaeffer on Nov 20, 2008

A CHANGE IN HOPE Ben was diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of 16 years old. Hope is the one thing that kept his parents, Kevin and Laura moving forward. Hope is what kept them from giving up. His younger sister, Bethany, always kept her sights on the silver lining. He went through a series ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Don't Remember  PRO

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Dec 31, 2008

"I DON'T REMEMBER." Some will accept that they are going to heaven but not that they are forgiven while they still live on this earth. Bruce Larson tells the true story of a Catholic priest living in the Philippines, a much-loved man of God who once carried a secret burden of long-past sin buried ...read more

Tags: Inconsistency, Forgiveness General, Expectation

Denomination: Pentecostal

Pain And Regret: A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

PAIN AND REGRET: A GIFT? In 1999, Dr Paul Brand and Philip Yancey co-wrote a book called Pain: the Gift Nobody Wants. Dr Brand was born in India to missionary parents, and has spent most of his life caring for people with leprosy. One of Dr Brand’s greatest discoveries was that people with leprosy ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:19

Tags: Repentance

No Talking Him Into ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

NO TALKING HIM INTO IT One lady said: Rushing to work, I was driving too fast and as a result was pulled over by the highway patrol. The state trooper noticed that my shirt had the name of a local high school on it. "I teach math there," I explained. The trooper smiled, and said, "Okay, here’s a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Salvation

Kurt Cobain Ended His Life About 13 Years Ago ...

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 16, 2009

Kurt Cobain ended his life about 13 years ago (4/1994); filled with bitterness and anger. He was the founder and lead singer of the group "Nirvana." His violent suicide prompted a lot of questions. "Why? He had it all a great career, dedicated fans, plenty of money, a beautiful wife and a 19 month ...read more

Tags: Sin Bondage To

Denomination: Baptist

A Pastor's Dream Of His Own Worship Service  PRO

Contributed by Garris Hudson 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

The Spirit Of Fear

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 31, 2022

There was a lady who died in 1916 named Hetty Green. She has been called “America’s greatest miser.” When she died in 1916, her estate was valued at $100 million. But she was so miserly that she ate cold oatmeal in order to save the expense of heating the water. When her son had a severe leg ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-7

Tags: Fear, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Spirit Of Fear

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I'm Only A General, But He's A Son!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 30, 2022

Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. grew up under the shadow of a large man. His father was the hero of San Juan Hill and the President of the United States. The pressure to excel often caused him problems, but Teddy, Jr. went on to be a highly decorated Brigadier General during World War II, receiving the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:26-29

Tags: Children Of God, Authority, Sons, Mothers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hilarious Marriage Joke To Share!!!!!!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 8, 2024

There’s a very funny story going around like a virus about a man who went to his doctor after weeks of serious symptoms. The doctor examined him carefully, then called the patient’s wife into his office. The doctor told her, "Your husband is suffering from a rare form of anemia. The bad ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18-31

Tags: Marriage, Husbands, Wives, Death

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What’s Pete Got To Do With Anything?

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 20, 2021

If there's anybody that can be conned, it's Yours Truly. It's not so much that I'm stupid; I'm just naïve. I believe when somebody says something, they mean exactly what they say. So, if you can't swindle me, you might as well hang it up and get a real job. I must ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:12-13

Tags: Blame, Accusations

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

A Little Boy's Knots!" Revelations 19:11-17 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 15, 2005

“A Little Boy’s Knots!” Revelations 19:11-17 Key verse(s): 16:“On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KINGS OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” There’s something about being rescued this is so completely satisfying. A number of years ago (pre-cell phone days) I was driving along the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 19:11-17

Tags: God's Provision, God's Forgiveness, God Cares, Protector, Provider, Strengthen  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Have You Tasted Jesus?  PRO

Contributed by Jan Spencer on Mar 19, 2002

Have you tasted Jesus? One divinity school hosted an annual picnic, to which they invited one of the greatest minds to lecture in the theological education center. One year, the guest lecturer was a professor, who spoke for two and one-half hours "proving" that the resurrection of Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:8

Tags: Divinity Of Christ

Denomination: Pentecostal

Two Boys Grew Up Together. They Were Close ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Willis on Dec 29, 2006

Two boys grew up together. They were close friends as children, but as they entered their teen years their paths began to diverge and they ended up in very different places. Ernie was always in trouble. He began by shoplifting small things from stores and worked his way up to stealing cars. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 5:8-10, Romans 8:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Delivering Papers In The Rain

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Mar 23, 2009

DELIVERING PAPERS IN THE RAIN When I was ten, my mother and I somehow had gotten involved in a bible memory course. It was all through the mail, and we didn’t go to a church anywhere, even occasionally, but we would memorize ten verses a week. During the time, the materials gave some Scriptures ...read more

Tags: Doubt

Denomination: Church Of God

Weathering The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2009

WEATHERING THE STORMS Pastor Ron Ritchie once talked about a friend of his named Jack who called him one night many years ago. He sensed immediately that his heart was heavy with grief. A few months prior his wife Cindy had become pregnant for the first time after years of waiting on the Lord to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:10

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

The World Says, "If It Feels Good, Do ...

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Jan 16, 2010

The world says, “If it feels good, do it!” and “The ends justify the means.” As a result, we have to be extra alert. It reminds me of God’s message to Sardis in the Book of Revelation. God kept having to tell them to be alert and that must have poured salt into their wounds. You see Sardis was a ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will

Denomination: *other

Resisting The Temptation To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2010

Resisting the Temptation to Lie It’s the only thing we can do when we can’t see ahead – follow the Lord step-by-step. That means doing what we know HE wants us to do, even if it doesn’t always make sense to us. Jim George, in his book, God’s Man of Influence, talks about trying to sell a used ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Temptation Resisting

My Wife Loves Hgtv. (It Drives Me Nuts, But She ...

Contributed by Grant Sisson on Apr 17, 2010

My wife loves HGTV. (It drives me nuts, but she doesn’t watch football with me either.) But once in a while I will sit down with her and watch it. The other night there was a show about the HGTV “good guy” construction expert going into a home that was left supposedly 95% complete when a ...read more

Tags: Repentance

Lucado On Alcoholism

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 23, 2011

LUCADO ON ALCOHOLISM Max Lucado, one of America's great Christian leaders, found that out earlier in his ministry. He once said, "I come from a family of alcoholism. If there's anything about this DNA stuff, I've got it." For more than 20 years, drinking was not a major issue for Lucado, but about ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:1-5

Tags: Alcohol

Hope Of Maria

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jun 5, 2011

HOPE OF MARIA Hope weans God’s people from seeking and trusting this world. The story is told of Maria. She lived in a small town in southern Kentucky. She did not see or hear from her husband for years. Edward was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division during the Korean war and captured when the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:2-3

Tags: Pleasing God, God Brings Hope

Denomination: Nazarene