In Sermon Illustrations: "Sharing Good Things"

Faith In The Colombian Jungle

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Aug 10, 2011

FAITH IN THE COLOMBIAN JUNGLE A man named Bruce Olson went to Colombia many years ago as a missionary to the headhunters in the far southern jungle, near the border with Brazil. The book that tells his story is Bruchko, the name the Indians called him since they couldn't wrap their tongues around ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Microscope And The Bible  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2011

THE MICROSCOPE AND THE BIBLE Many years ago, while on a visit to America, a wealthy Chinese businessman was fascinated by a powerful microscope. Looking through its lens to study crystals and the petals of flowers, he was amazed at their beauty and detail. So he decided to purchase one of these ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14

Tags: Bible Truth

Abraham Lincoln: Malice Toward None

Contributed by Michael Mcbrien on Jan 10, 2012

ABRAHAM LINCOLN: MALICE TOWARD NONE Abraham Lincoln, America's most beloved president, was anything but beloved while he was in office. The South hated him. The anti-war activists hated him. Democrats hated him, calling him a widow-maker. The media ridiculed his eyes, looks, and body, calling him ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Baptist

The Unexpected Christmas

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 19, 2012

THE UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS When I was in seventh grade, like so many youth at that age, music became a huge part of my life. I was awakened to the sounds of music of Elton John’s Greatest Hits, SuperTramp's Breakfast in America and Led Zeppelin 2. So my hope and dream was to build a stereo system ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Methodist

Skydiving Sacrifice

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 28, 2012

SKYDIVING SACRIFICE The strength of sacrifice; in May 2002 Robert Bonadies and his fellow instructor Jim Olko were preparing to skydive, along with a novice - Cindy Hyland, in Connecticut. The jump was to be from 12000 ft, falling at 120 mph, which would take just 68 seconds with no parachute. ...read more

Scripture: John 15:12-14

Tags: Heroism

Henry Ford: The Bang On The Table  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Nov 26, 2012

HENRY FORD: THE BANG ON THE TABLE In 1896, Henry Ford attended a company event where Thomas Edison (the great inventor) was the guest of honour. His friend introduced him to Edison as "the man trying to make a car that runs on gasoline." Edison asked young Henry Ford a host of questions and when ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Already Approved

Contributed by Bret Toman on Mar 14, 2013

ALREADY APPROVED I remember trying to get approved for our first mortgage. There were a number of difficulties and it was very frustrating both for me, and I'm sure for our agent. But after all the sweat and tears we got approval and consequently the offer on the house we wanted was accepted. Some ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Baptist

Self-Denial At The Threat Of Death  PRO

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jun 15, 2013

"Faith Helped Woman Confront British Terrorists" Remember a few weeks ago when the British soldier was beheaded in broad daylight outside his barracks? The Telegraph, a British paper, reported that a mother and Cub Scout leader, Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, age 48, confronted the terrorists immediately ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-25, 2 Kings 5:1-14

Tags: Self Denial, Dying To Self

Denomination: Nazarene

Smell The Rain

Contributed by Dr. David Hallum on Sep 10, 2015

When my daughter Cynthia was a little girl, we lived in Odessa, TX. We made one of the pilgrimages that we did from time to time to see my wife, Rosemary’s family. Rosemary’s brother, Michael was in town at the time from the Navy. Now in West Texas, rain is a beautiful thing. We got one of ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-10

Tags: Disciples, Aroma, Smell, Pleasant

Denomination: Baptist

Leadership

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Mar 1, 2016

I remember hearing a story about a famous film producer. As a child, he had a fight with another boy and lost. While his mother was bathing his black eye, he told her how it was entirely the fault of the other boy. It was the other boy who had started the fight, he claimed. His mother said ...read more

Scripture: John 13:2-17

Tags: God Is Love, Giving In Love, Jesus Leadership

Denomination: Baptist

Five Facts About Valleys

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 17, 2017

God designs valleys for His sheep to grow and sometimes He has to "make us lie down" there to teach us how to trust Him. Here are 5 facts about valleys we need to remember: 1. Valleys are INEVITABLE. Jesus promised valleys would come in this world (John 16:33). 2. Valleys are UNPREDICTABLE. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-4

Tags: Character, Tests, Trials, Valleys Of Life

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Almost

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 15, 2019

Almost Story It started out with a low rumbling; then there was the sound of the explosion. It seemed like the whole world was rocking and reeling under the blow of Mother Nature. The sky was filled with smoke as dark as a midnight; the ashes from the eruption were falling like snow in a winter ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:17

Tags: Almost, Delay

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Happy Meal

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Sep 19, 2020

The McDonalds “Happy Meal” might be the most famous meal in all the world. It's a meal for a kid that’s served at McDonalds restaurants that promises to make them happy – at least for a few fleeting minutes! In the mid-1970s, a MacDonald’s restaurant in Guatemala offered a hamburger, small ...read more

Tags: Peace, Happiness, Joy, Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Three Feet Away

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Dec 14, 2020

During the gold rush, a man from Ohio traveled to California. It had taken him months to get there. He had to get a claim and register it and buy tools before he could start mining. The Ohioan had been mining for months. Finally after all the hard work and finding nothing quit his claim. He was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8

Tags: Don't Give Up, Success Isn't Far Away

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Putting God First

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Mar 18, 2022

I woke up this one morning recently around 7am which is fairly late for me, still very tired, and about 10 minutes into reading the Word trying to drink my coffee to wake up, I knew I would not be able to stay awake through all my prayers at that level of fatigue. But I was trying to make sure in ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:16, Psalm 63:1

Tags: Word Of God, Priorities, God First, Seek God Early

Denomination: Charismatic

London Businessman Lindsay Clegg Told The Story ...

Contributed by Bob Soulliere on May 5, 2007

London businessman Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash all over the place. As he showed a prospective buyer the property, he took pains to ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

We Live In A Culture That Breeds Dissatisfaction. ...

Contributed by Chris Edmondson on May 26, 2007

We live in a culture that breeds dissatisfaction. Henri Nouwen wrote a wonderful book entitled The Return of the Prodigal Son. It is a top 10. He made this statement. Many consumeristic economies stay afloat my manipulating the low self esteem of their consumers. By creating spiritual ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

On September 3, 1939, Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

On September 3, 1939, Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse was traveling by train through Europe on the way to preach in Belfast, Ireland. Hitler was unleashing his fury. There were wars and rumors of more wars. Britain’s prime minister was ready to declare war. Everything was tense. What was next? Troops ...read more

Tags: Gifts Encouragement

Repentance Is Not Just Limited To Us Being Shown ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Repentance is not just limited to us being shown we are sinners and that we need God’s forgiveness In verse nine we get a hint that repentance will produce fruit in our lives Gordon Liddy who for most of his life ignored God, was once one of the highest ranking public servants in the US ...read more

Tags: Repentance

The Million Dollar Brain

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The Million Dollar Brain There’s a story about a wealthy man who was terminally ill. The doctor said, "There’s only one thing that will save you. A brain transplant. It’s an experimental operation. And it’s very expensive." The wealthy guy said, "Money is no object. Can you get me a brain?" The ...read more

Tags: Giving General