In Sermon Illustrations: "Series Why Should I"

Am I Still Your Child?

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Dec 6, 2011

AM I STILL YOUR CHILD? What if Lynne and I adopted a child and brought him/her into our home. That child might be so thankful that every day they might ask, "Can I mow the lawn today, can I do the dishes for you, do you need a foot massage?" That would be great, but it would break my heart to ...read more

Tags: Adoption

I Owe My Life Twice

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Dec 17, 2011

I OWE MY LIFE TWICE A wealthy English family once invited friends to spend some time at their beautiful estate. The happy occasion was almost plunged into a terrible tragedy on the first day. Because the children went swimming, and one of them got into deep water and started drowning. ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Brethren

What I Wouldn't Give...

Contributed by Scott Jensen on Mar 29, 2012

WHAT I WOULDN'T GIVE... When Oliver Wendell Holmes was still on the U.S. Supreme Court, he and Justice Louis Brandeis took walks every afternoon. On one of these occasions Holmes, then ninety-two, paused to gaze in frank admiration at a beautiful young girl who passed them. He even turned to look ...read more

Tags: Aging

Denomination: Lutheran

Tell Them I Am Coming

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Apr 7, 2012

TELL THEM I AM COMING I really liked the movies that were made about a decade ago regarding the life of Wyatt Earp. One was made starring Kevin Costner and the other with Kurt Russell. I remember a scene in the one with Kurt Russell where after one of his brothers ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Kyle Idleman: I Cheapened The Gospel  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 15, 2012

KYLE IDLEMAN: I CHEAPENED THE GOSPEL "Many of the fans turn to go home. I was struck by the fact that Jesus doesn't chase after them. He doesn't soften his message to make it more appealing. He doesn't send the disciples chasing after them with a creative handout inviting them to come back for a ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-69

Tags: Easter Palm Sunday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Don't Want To Be One!

Contributed by Christopher Gregas on Sep 8, 2012

I DON'T WANT TO BE ONE! There was a pastor that was giving a "children’s sermon" to all the young children. And as they sate before him, a bright-eyed three-year-old girl listened intently as he explained that God wanted them all to get along and love each other. "God wants us all to be one," he ...read more

Tags: Unity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Must Honor My Country

Contributed by Perry Greene on Nov 1, 2012

"I MUST HONOR MY COUNTRY." A foreign diplomat who often criticized American policy once observed a United States Marine perform the evening colors ceremony. The diplomat wrote about this simple but solemn ceremony in a letter to his home ministry. Quote: "During one of the past few days, I had ...read more

Tags: America

Denomination: Independent/Bible

She Thinks I'm Real!

Contributed by Davon Huss on Dec 24, 2012

A story is told of a family that went into a restaurant. The waitress walked up and, looking at the young boy, said: “What will it be?” The boy eagerly shouted back: “I’ll take a hamburger, French fries, and a chocolate shake.” The mother immediately interrupted: “Oh, that’s not what he ...read more

Tags: Truth Of Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What I Saw At The Abortion Clinic

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 20, 2014

"What I Saw at the Abortion Clinic" by Richard Selzer. In this article he talks about witnessing a 19 week old fetus being aborted by an injection procedure no longer in use. He described the abortionist sliding the needle of the syringe into the woman's belly, and then, he writes, "I see ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:5

Tags: Abortion, Womb

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Will Give You Two Apples  PRO

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 29, 2014

I WILL GIVE YOU TWO APPLES An atheist and a little boy in his neighborhood were talking one day about God, church and faith. Finally, the old neighbor said to the little boy, "Son, I don’t see how there could be a God in this world with all of the problems we have. I will give you an apple if you ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 19:1-5

Tags: Faith, Apologetics, Atheism, Unbelief

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"I Love You, Daddy. Amen."

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 14, 2014

James Dobson tells of the time he was away on a business trip. While he was away, and his wife and 2 children were sitting down to eat, his wife turned to their two year old son Ryan and asked if he would like to pray before he and sister ate. The invitation startled the little boy, but he folded ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:4-5

Tags: Thanksgiving, Children, Fathers Day, Prayer Before Meals

If Only I Would Take Notes

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 26, 2022

As a writer, I always have a small notebook in my shirt pocket to take notes when I have an idea. I don’t have too many ideas, so I want to write down any I get so I don’t forget them. That has helped me out on many occasions. There is one exception. When The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Trust, Writer

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I’m Too Smart To Be Stupid.

Contributed by James Snyder on Jun 24, 2023

After being married for over 50 years, my wife, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, knows more about me than I know about myself. At least, that's the perception I get from her actions. It must be true when she says something about me, and I won't challenge her with anything she says. ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:15-16

Tags: Marriage, Relationship

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Aint The One Who Is Lost!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 12, 2023

A businessman was traveling through the country and stopped to ask a young boy for directions. "Son, I seem to be lost. Do you know how to get to next town?" The boy was eating an ice cream cone and slowly replied, "Nope." "Do you know far it is to the next ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, 1 John 5:1-13

Tags: Children, Salvation, Humor, Lost, Eternal Life, Saved, Plan Of Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rest In Peace Until I Come

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Aug 7, 2023

The wife ... of a man who had recently died ... assumed ... they were well off financially, ... so she gave him a very nice funeral ... and a fancy tombstone that read, ... Rest in Peace. However, ... when the estate was settled ... she was informed by their attorney ... that he had wasted all ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:9-10, Mark 2:23-28, Exodus 34:21, Matthew 11:28

Tags: Peace, Sabbath, Rest

Denomination: Anglican

General Macarthur Said, I Will Return!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 6, 2024

General Douglas MacArthur, during World War II, famously declared to the people of the Philippine Islands, “I shall return.” This resolute statement was made after he was ordered to leave the Philippines, which were under Japanese invasion. His promise echoed the determination of our Lord Jesus ...read more

Tags: Rapture, Signs, Return Of Christ, Promises, End Times, Prophecy, Second Coming, Last Days  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Singing When I Am Hurt?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jul 16, 2024

WHEN I AM HURT? GO FIGURE? I LOVE BIRDS. I LOVE TO WATCH BIRDS. EACH FAMILY OF BIRDS HAVE THEIR OWN DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS. In my limited study of birds I ran across WHAT IS CALLED ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SONG BIRDS. This SINGING BIRD is unique in many ways. This special little bird is ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 137:1-3

Tags: Hope, Sing, Song In The Night

Denomination: Assembly Of God

As If I Didn’t Already Know

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 12, 2024

I've been accused of many things throughout my life, but never having a great memory. It's not that I don't try to remember things; I can't remember things I'm supposed to remember. It has nothing to do with my age because it started as far back as I can remember. This ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:23-24

Tags: Memory, Relationship

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I'm Going For Help

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 28, 2025

An airliner was making its way from New York to San Francisco. Midway across the country, one of the engines caught fire. The captain came on the intercom and calmly reassured the passengers, > “Don’t worry. The fire will be out soon. This aircraft can fly just fine with three engines.” Not ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-2, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 28:20, John 14:27, Hebrews 13:5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faith, Trust, Sovereignty, Assurance, Providence  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

If I Had But One Sermon To Hear

Contributed by David Parks on Jun 16, 2021

IF I HAD BUT ONE SERMON TO HEAR In 1906 Charles Reynolds Brown was preaching in the San Francisco Bay area of California. That spring, on the Sunday generally designated as Easter, he and the other preachers of the region spoke to full houses. Years later, he mentioned that particular Sunday in his ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-14

Tags: Death, Decision, Judgment, Natural Disasters

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ