In Sermon Illustrations: "Sermon Opener"

The Persistence In Forgiveness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2008

The Persistence in Forgiveness After sixteen years as a missionary on the continent of Africa. David Livingstone returned Scotland to address the students at Glasgow University. His body had been ravaged by some 27 fevers that had overtaken him during his years of service. One arm hung useless at ...read more

Tags: Endurance

On A Cold Winter Evening A Man Suffered A Heart ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

On a cold winter evening a man suffered a heart attack and after being admitted to the hospital, the man asked the nurse to call his daughter. He explained, “You see, I live alone and she is the only family I have.” The nurse went to phone the daughter. The daughter was quite upset and shouted, ...read more

Tags: Love For God

Sandbar Faith

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

SANDBAR FAITH Have you ever stepped on ground that seemed unsteady, but you really had to go on, just to get where you were going? Just recently we took a trip up to the (northern part of South Korea) Hwacho'n area and then down to the Chuncho'n areas. We stopped at a nice restaurant where they ...read more

Tags: Faith

I Go Home, Daddy

Contributed by Chris Surber on Dec 22, 2008

"I Go Home, Daddy." Christ offers the lasting hope and promise of a new and lasting home. My three-year-old son Sebastian is a wonderful little boy. My children’s antics and lives provide me with a wealth of sermon illustrations and stories. Not long ago, Sebastian had to go through some ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Christian Church

Silent Night

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

SILENT NIGHT Europe in the early 1800s was a place of great war, turmoil and upheaval. Even after the Napoleonic Wars officially ended in 1815, it's effects continued to take their toll. The year 1816 was one in which national and municipal borders were divided, changed and reset. Areas, such as ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Heroes Who Can't Swim

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

HEROES WHO CAN'T SWIM Paul Harvey tells the story of Ray Blankenship preparing his breakfast and gazing out the window, when he saw a small girl being swept along in the rain-flooded drainage ditch beside his Andover, Ohio, home. Blankenship knew that farther downstream, the ditch disappeared with ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Without One Plea  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

WITHOUT ONE PLEA Charlotte Elliott was a sickly English woman who had developed a long history of refusing to do things she was asked to do because of her illness. Her brother, who was a pastor, had been particularly persistent in trying to get her out of herself, trying to get her involved in ...read more

Scripture: John 8:3-11, John 4:1-26

Tags: Healing, Brokenness, Trials And Difficulties, Used

Making An Impact Through Genuine Giving

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2008

MAKING AN IMPACT THROUGH GENUINE GIVING I received this e-mail from my best friend who pastors in Oklahoma. He received it from a member of his congregation. Andrew, I just wanted to let you know how excited I am about the changes in Christmas plans. I would love to be at the pampering night for ...read more

Tags: Christmas

In His Book Ghost Soldiers, Hampton Sides Tel...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

In his book Ghost Soldiers, Hampton Sides tells the story of a dramatic mission during World War II. On January 28th, 1945, 121 hand-selected Army Rangers slipped behind enemy lines in the Philippines in an attempt to rescue 513 American and British POW’s who had spent three years in a hellish ...read more

Scripture: John 8:36

Tags: Christian Liberty

God Restores Banged-Up ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2009

GOD RESTORES BANGED-UP PEOPLE Gary Inrig’s story in his book, Quality Friendships: Years ago, one family had a son who was in the Korean War. They had not heard from him for 10 months and were very concerned. Time went on and the war ended. Finally their son called home. The mother was excited. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Tags: Restoration

The Gold Standard

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 10, 2009

THE GOLD STANDARD Leland was able to standardize Cadillac parts to precision standards. The development of these standards had such a profound impact that a member of the British Parliament, a wealthy lord named Sir Thomas Dewar, gave the company an award for standardization of parts. Having ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: *other

They Sent Me To Finish  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 12, 2009

THEY SENT ME TO FINISH With all the pomp and prestige that the Chinese government went to in order to put their best foot forward, there was one person who they honored who stood out. He is now in his seventies, but China brought him to Bejing as an honored guest. Why? The odd thing is that John ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:24

Tags: Endurance

One Last Story: Years, Ago, An Executive From A ...

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Mar 11, 2009

One last story: years, ago, an executive from a soap company and a famous pastor were walking down the street together. They were to attend a meeting where they were going to be honored by their city for their contributions. With a snide sort of smirk, the soap manufacturer off handedly said, ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Denomination: Lutheran

Your Dead-Level Best

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

YOUR DEAD-LEVEL BEST Some years ago in Northwestern University, near Chicago, a rescue crew was organized. Their purpose was the rescue of the drowning on the lake. One day the news came that a magnificent vessel was wrecked just off the shore. The young men hurried at once to the scene of the ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Qualifications For Ministry  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Mar 15, 2009

QUALIFICATIONS FOR MINISTRY What qualifies someone for a task? There is a story of the testing of a candidate for missions work: One snowy morning at 5:00 A.M., a missionary candidate rang the bell at a missionary examiner’s home. Ushered into the office, he sat three hours past his appointment ...read more

Tags: Humility, Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Other

Greeting The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

GREETING THE QUEEN Greeting Queen Elizabeth II’s visit in 2007 was quite a chore and challenge to the Americans. "Do people wear pants, dresses or business attire to meet the queen?" was a common question guests fortunate to be invited to meet the queen asked. Dinner attire was white tie and ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 19:11-16

Tags: Second Coming

The Concept Of Grace

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

There is a great article that illustrates the concept of grace written by Charles Stanley. It reads: One of my more memorable seminary professors had a practical way of illustrating to his students the concept of grace. At the end of his evangelism course, he would distribute the exam with the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

Freezing To Death Can Actually Make You Feel Warm...

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 22, 2024

The man huddled on the cabin floor was slowly freezing to death. It was high in the Rockies in southwestern Alberta, and outside a blizzard raged. John Elliott had logged miles that day through the deep snows of the mountain passes. As he checked for avalanches and as dusk and exhaustion overcame ...read more

Tags: Messengers, Dogs, Witnesses, Satan, Salvation, Rescue, Lost, Wake Up, Spiritual Death, Death, Sin, Deception  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Charlie's Thanksgiving List

Contributed by Perry Hancock on Nov 22, 2022

Charlie’s Thanksgiving List The pastor at the downtown men’s shelter was ready to begin the Thanksgiving service. Everyone was ready for him to begin and finish since the service was before the meal. After a few hymns were sung, it was time for the pastor’s Thanksgiving sermon. This year he had ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:2

Tags: Thanksgiving, God's Blessings

Denomination: Baptist

How To Receive The Lord's Righteousness - A Terrific Trade

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 29, 2025

This is David's message to us in Psalm 37:5-6, where he tells us to trust in the Lord. David said, "Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday." *How is the Lord ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:1-11, 2 Corinthians 5:21

Tags: Horrible Times, Shelter, God's Peace, Rest, Hardships, Cares, Cast Your Cares, Evil, Trust, Suffering, Trusting God, Righteousness, Rejoice, Pain, Peace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist