In Sermon Illustrations: "Sermon Preparation"

A Pastor In Disguise

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 9, 2013

A Pastor in Disguise A few years ago at a Methodist Church in North Wales, as worshippers arrived at the church, they were distressed to see a dirty, drunk, smelly homeless man on the front steps. They didn't realize this bum was actually their pastor, Derek Rigby, who had disguised himself as a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Tags: Compassion, Homeless

Go To God €" He Is The Source Of Our Goodness On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

Go to God – he is the source of our goodness on this earth. Matthew 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Story: This story about Hudson Taylor – a well known ...read more

Tags: Missions

As Long As God Is Awake  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2009

AS LONG AS GOD IS AWAKE A mother and her little four-year-old daughter were preparing to retire for the night. The child was afraid of the night. The child was afraid of the dark, and the mother, alone with the child, felt fearful also. When the light was out, the child caught a glimpse of the ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:9, Joshua 1:6-9

Tags: Fear And Worry

The Slightest Wish  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 18, 2012

THE SLIGHTEST WISH During the War Between the States, General Lee one day sent word to Stonewall Jackson that the next time he rode in the direction of headquarters the Commander-in-Chief would be glad to see him on a matter of no great importance. General Jackson received the message and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:46-49

Tags: Obedience

He Never Went Fishing

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

He never went fishing Let me close with this thought. I was reading on the Internet last week. Once, a man got ready to go fishing. He assembled everything you need to be a good fisherman. He bought poles, and nets, and bait, and a boat. He got very well prepared. And he knew how to fish. But he ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

Great Opportunities Come To All, But Many Do ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Great opportunities come to all, but many do not know they have met them. The only preparation to take advantage of them ...read more

Tags: Opportunity

Our Greatest Obligation To Our Children Is To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Our greatest obligation to our children is to prepare them to understand and to deal effectively with the world in which they will live and not with the ...read more

Tags: Parenting

A Preacher Extols A King Instead Of The King Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 10, 2009

A preacher extols a king instead of the King of kings There was a preacher in 19th century Scandinavia who, in the vestry one Sunday morning, heard that the King would be present at worship. Understandably rattled he ditched his well prepared sermon and spoke on and on about the Christian virtues ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-20

Tags: Worldliness

Come Anyway (No Excuse Sunday)

Contributed by Roberta Karchner on Nov 7, 2020

To make it possible for everyone to attend church this Sunday, we are going to have a special "No Excuse Sunday": • We will provide pillows to nap for those who need the extra sleep on Sunday morning. • We will have extra cushions for those who feel that our pews are too hard. ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:18

Tags: Commitment, Faithfulness, Attendance, Sunday Morning

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Less Than 1/3 Of American Women Are Studying In A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 3, 2006

Less than 1/3 of American women are studying in a field that will prepare them for work in science, engineering, or information technology. ...read more

Tags: Women

Either You Have To Face Up To It And Tell ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Either you have to face up to it and tell yourself you're not going to be 18 all your life, or be prepared for a terrible ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

If I Am To Speak Ten Minutes, I Need A Week For ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation. If fifteen minutes, three days. If half an hour, ...read more

Tags: Communication Speech

The Educator Becomes Gods Mind At Work To Help ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"The educator becomes Gods mind at work to help grow the best possible plants in Gods garden. He exists to prepare the soil, to sow the ...read more

Tags: Learning

We Live In An Age When To Be Young And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

We live in an age when to be young and indifferent can no longer be synonymous. We must prepare for the coming hour. The claims of the Future are represented by suffering ...read more

Tags: Children

Gumption

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 14, 2019

GUMPTION A Hard-working farmer Toils to prepare his fields and sows GOOD SEED, He then reaps a great Harvest--- A lazy Bum don’t prepare and lets weed seeds take over, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-10

Tags: Laziness, Gumption

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Avoidance Of Death

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 2, 2011

THE AVOIDANCE OF DEATH I read a great book called The Art of Dying, by Christianity Today editor Rob Moll. In the forward, by Lauren Winner, we read: "We no longer allow people to say that they are dying – rather, they are “battling” an illness. Far from encouraging the perilously ill to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:23

Tags: Death Nearness

Before Performing A Baptism, The Pastor ...

Contributed by Scott Jensen on Oct 8, 2008

Before performing a baptism, the pastor approached the young father and said solemnly, "Baptism is a serious step. Are you prepared for it?" "I think so," the man replied. "My wife has made appetizers and we have a caterer coming to provide plenty of cookies and cakes for all of our guests." "I ...read more

Tags: Baptism

Denomination: Lutheran

An Optimist Believes We Live In The Best Of All ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 23, 2001

An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears this is true. The tire is only flat on the bottom. Winners see risk as opportunity. They see the rewards of success in advance. They do not fear the penalties of failure. The winning individual knows that bad luck is ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fewer Than Two-Thirds Of High School Students ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Fewer than two-thirds of high school students believe that their school did a good job challenging them academically or preparing them for ...read more

Tags: Children

Freedom Is An Indivisible Word. If We Want To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Freedom is an indivisible word. If we want to enjoy it, and fight for it, we must be prepared to extend it to everyone, whether they are rich or poor, whether they agree with us ...read more

Tags: Political Freedom