In Sermon Illustrations: "Sermon Opener"

Deer Are Creatures Of Consistency. This Species ...

Contributed by Paul Dietz on Sep 20, 2008

Deer are creatures of consistency. This species of the animal kingdom pretty well knows its territory. It knows where it can always find a good meal of a few apples, acorns or grain. As for finding a source for water, this creature always seems to know of most of the local streams, ponds or lake. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:1

Tags: Prayer Supplication

Denomination: *other

Redemption - His Twice

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 3, 2023

A little boy worked diligently to build a sailboat. He took it to the lake and pushed it in hoping it would sail. Sure, enough a wisp of breeze filled the little sail and it billowed and went rippling along the waves. Suddenly before the little boy knew it, the boat was out of his reach, even ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:28, 1 John 1:9, Isaiah 43:25, Ephesians 1:3-14, Matthew 1:21  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Salvation, Redemption, Price, Paid, Redeemed  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Ordinary Joe – An Unsung Hero

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 24, 2023

Ordinary Joe – An Unsung Hero There are many characters in the cast of the Christmas story that have gripped the Church’s imagination but there’s one that has rarely had a place in the spotlight. Joseph. There’s the Magi, exotic and somehow still gleaming in their silks after the long, dusty road ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:16-25, Matthew 2:14-21, Luke 1:27, Luke 3:23-30

Tags: Angel, Christmas, Angels, Joseph, Simeon, Genealogy, Mary And Joseph  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Motives For Meditation

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 25, 2024

Dietrich Bonhoeffer required his seminarians to give half an hour each morning to scripture meditation. Many of the students struggled with this task, so he wrote these instructions to help them understand the importance of meditation and to help them learn how to meditate on God’s Word. Why do I ...read more

Tags: Meditation, Quiet Time, Spiritual Discipline, Devotionals, Bible, Prayer, Word Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[006]. A Message From A Poem - A New Creation - From Death Unto Life

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 29, 2024

[006]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - A NEW CREATION - FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE This is an unusual poem that may not appeal to everyone, but it is based on emotions experienced by many who don’t know Jesus in their lives. The first, third and fifth stanzas are the viewpoint of one suffering in his/her ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:20, Ecclesiastes 12:8, Ecclesiastes 12:13

Tags: Solution, No Hope, No Satisfaction, Salvation, Miserable  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Be Careful What You Imitate

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Nov 17, 2024

In the late 1990s, aspiring actor and writer Johnny Knoxville had moved from Knoxville, Tennessee to Los Angeles, California, and landed work in commercials in order to support his wife and infant daughter. Among his ideas was one to produce an article that involved testing various self-defense ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:11, Ephesians 5:1-2

Tags: Imitate, Bad Examples, Good Examples, Johnny Knoxville

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

An Underground Missionary Of Sister Grace Chen's Story.

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Jan 8, 2025

Sister Grace worked as an underground missionary in a country where Christian activities were heavily monitored and restricted. She operated a small sewing business as her cover, which allowed her to build relationships with local women while secretly sharing the gospel. Despite facing constant ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:5-6, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, 1 John 4:19-21, John 13:34-35, Ephesians 5:1-2, John 14:31, John 5:19, Philippians 2:8, Hebrews 5:8-9, John 8:29, John 13:14-15, Philippians 2:3-7, Matthew 23:11-12, Mark 10:45, Philippians 2:5-8, Matthew 11:29, John 13:12-15, Matthew 14:29-31, Mark 11:22-24, Romans 1:17, Acts 10:38, Galatians 5:16, John 14:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Disciples, Church Members, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Power, Divine Love, Christian Living, Daily Christian Walk, Daily Christian Practice, Practical Theology, Biblical Ethics, Spiritual Seekers, Christ Like Character, Sacrificial Service, Personal Transformation, Biblical Obedience, Following Christ's Example, Humble Leadership, Christian Believers, Christian Service, Spiritual Disciplines, Biblical Faith, Spiritual Transformation, Christian Discipleship, Character Development  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Donkey That Spoke

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 24, 2025

My name? Oh, I’m Sassy—the braying donkey. Not the fastest, not the strongest… and definitely not the prettiest. But I’ve got a good heart — and a loud voice! (pause) Most days I carry my master, Balaam. He’s a prophet—important and proud. I don’t mind. I’m used to carrying heavy loads. But one ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:28-31, Psalm 32:8, Proverbs 16:9, John 10:27, 1 Corinthians 1:17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Obedience, Faithfulness, Courage, Voice, Listening  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Lost Donkeys That Found A King

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 24, 2025

The Lost Donkeys That Found a King My name? Oh, I’m Dusty—one of the donkeys that belonged to Kish, a farmer from the tribe of Benjamin. Life was simple for us: graze, walk, carry, rest, repeat. I never imagined I’d be part of something royal! But one morning, our fence gate swung open, and off ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:28-31, Genesis 22:3, 1 Samuel 9:3-20, Judges 15:15, Matthew 21:1-7  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Purpose, Faith, Service, Humility, Obedience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Ring In Witness Protection

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

Have you ever had one of those moments where, as the words are leaving your mouth, you know you're making a terrible mistake? I had one of those back in 2014. I had just started my first real job at an advertising agency, and I was so excited that I went straight from work and bought an ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:2-3, Isaiah 40:3

Tags: God's Timing, Waiting

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Id That Almost Wasn't Good Enough

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 18, 2026

The year we moved to Tennessee was an election year. Cassy and I went to go vote. We waited in line, got to the front, and I reached in my wallet without even thinking about the fact that we hadn't switched our driver's licenses over to Tennessee yet. They told us we needed a Tennessee ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:4, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Tags: Identity, Authority

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Listen To These Words Of A Taxicab Driver: ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 23, 2001

Listen to these words of a taxicab driver: Because I drive the night shift, my cab often becomes a moving confessional. Passengers climb in, sit behind me in total anonymity, & tell me about their lives. I encounter people whose lives amaze me, ennoble me, make me laugh & sometimes weep. But ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:3-5

Tags: Character

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

911 Or You!" Obadiah 1: 1-14 Key Verse(S): ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Dec 15, 2004

“911 or You!” Obadiah 1: 1-14 Key verse(s): 10-11: “Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed forever. On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates you were like one of them.” We ...read more

Scripture: Obadiah 1:1-14

Tags: Poverty

Denomination: Lutheran

Tiger Breath!" Matthew 6:9-13 Key Verse(S): ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 6, 2005

“Tiger Breath!” Matthew 6:9-13 Key verse(s): 13:“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” It has been foreordained that life is a temptation! Now that is a depressing thought if I ever heard one. Foreordained? That means that no matter what I do or how I do it, ultimately I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13, Matthew 4:1-11

Tags: Risk Of Sin, Release, Sin Separates From God, Sin Exposed

Denomination: Lutheran

Just As We Are!" Exodus 14:13-14 Key Verse(S) ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 29, 2005

“Just As We Are!” Exodus 14:13-14 Key verse(s) 14:“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Keeping a positive outlook on life is pretty hard when nothing much positive seems to be happening in your life. Let’s face it, when things are going bad, really bad, there is nothing worse ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:13-14

Tags: Disappointment

Denomination: Lutheran

Relentless For Justice  PRO

Contributed by Bishop Johnathan Hester on Sep 22, 2009

Relentless for Justice IN the parable of the widow and the unjust judge, we meet an extraordinary woman who refuses to accept her fate. She voices opposition to injustice without relenting. As a result of her persistence, even the unjust judge is prompted to act. If even an unjust judge can be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8, Luke 18:7-8

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation

Denomination: Apostolic

Wherever They Are I Will Find Them

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 12, 2022

Recently, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and her spouse took a short vacation that was long overdue. Vacations are very hard to organize and schedule when you have a busy life. But, thanks to the ingenuity of my wife, we were able to plan out a vacation. The motel we stay in is owned by ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:22

Tags: Thriftstore, Bargin

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

My Oh My What A Nice Slice Of Pie

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 13, 2022

Whenever things go better than you can imagine, it is always a red flag to pay attention because something is wrong. I don’t always catch it, and I have paid the price. One day this past week, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and our daughters and granddaughters planned a girl’s day. I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:4

Tags: Together, Sharing

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Another Jingle Bell Christmas In The Tree

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 23, 2023

It doesn't seem possible another Christmas has come and gone. They come and go so fast that I'm not sure I can keep up with all of this. Every year, our family has more people, which is never bad. One thing we do is gather as a family around the Christmas tree and enjoy a wonderful time of ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 32:23

Tags: Christmas, Jingle Bell

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Don’t Knock On The Door If You Like Breathing

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 23, 2024

I’m unsure if this is a new phenomenon or I’m just starting to catch up on the culture. I know I have a lot to catch up on, and I’m slowly doing it. Lately, there’s been a lot of activity at our front door. That’s not to diminish the activity at the back porch door. That activity has to do with a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:8

Tags: Trust, Confidence, Scams

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance