In Sermon Illustrations: "Shining Face"

Coming In Last

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Aug 27, 2008

Coming in Last Discouragement cramps our momentum; the heat-stroke of opposition can drain our stamina and motivation. Running into obstacles that drive our faces in the asphalt of reality make it hard to get back up. Our stories are not unlike Felicians Hopfner-Hibb's or Simon Whitfield's. Last ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Salvation Army

Be Successful—serve God

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 27, 2008

BE SUCCESSFUL--SERVE GOD Our commitment in the service of Lord in very important in building the body of Christ. And I challenge you to commit your life in the ministry: Confidently, wholeheartedly and absolutely for the glory of God. In Yorkshire, England, during the early 1800s, two sons were ...read more

Tags: Endurance

There Was Once A Young Boy Who Went To Spend The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2008

There was once a young boy who went to spend the week with his grandfather on the farm. While walking around he noticed the chickens, they were scratching and playing around. The little lad said, "They ain't got it." Next he saw a colt in the field playing and kicking up its heels to which he ...read more

Tags: Joy

Anchor During Life's Storms  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 7, 2009

ANCHOR DURING LIFE'S STORMS In October of 1991, a storm stronger than any in recorded history hit the coast off of Gloucester, Massachusetts. This storm created an almost apocalyptic situation in the Atlantic Ocean, where boats encountered waves of 100 feet - the equivalent of a ten story building ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:21-36

Tags: Hardship Of Life

A Year Or So Ago, On The Cover Of The New York ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Feb 25, 2009

A year or so ago, on the cover of the New York “Herald Tribune” Sunday magazine, I saw a picture of the Statue of Liberty taken from a helicopter. It showed the top of the statue’s head. I was amazed to see the detail there. The sculptor had done a painstaking job with the lady’s coiffure, yet he ...read more

Tags: Workplace Integrity

Denomination: Pentecostal

Remembering Our Heavenly Connection

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 19, 2024

In one of the YouTube videos, Neil deGrasse Tyson shares his observation that humans, unlike most animals, sleep on their backs, naturally facing the sky. This position may have fostered a deep connection with the heavens. However, from a Christian perspective, this curiosity and upward gaze might ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:16-18

Tags: Celestial Connection, Spiritual, Genesis, Creation, Adam And Eve, Remembrance, Night Sky  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Unconditional Love In Marriage-Tertullian

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Sep 15, 2024

If the marriage is healthy, unconditional love moves the spouses to forgive each other and help one another overcome ingrained habits and difficult behavioural patterns. Church Father Tertullian wrote of this sort of marriage, “How beautiful, then, the marriage of two Christians, two who are one ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:38, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Tags: Love, Marriage, One Flesh, Unconditional Love

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

While Waiting To Pick Up A Friend At The Airport ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on May 15, 2001

While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport I had one of those life-changing experiences that you hear other people talk about. This one occurred a mere 2 feet away from me. Straining to locate my friend among the passengers deplaning through the jet way, I noticed a man coming toward me ...read more

Tags: Romantic Love, Marriage Commitment

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Leaning Over A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 28, 2012

LEANING OVER A CLIFF Writer Parker Palmer tells of his first experience on an Outward Bound course in his book, The Active Life. He says, "I took the course in my early forties, and in the middle of that course I was asked to confront the thing I had fears about since I had first heard about ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

Tags: Trust

Fear Of Aging

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what happened.” - Jennifer Yane As you grow older, what’s inside you doesn’t change but your body changes, and it’s confusing to look in the mirror. If you live your life as though you are a perpetual image contestant, your age is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:3-4

Tags: Aging, Serving, Inner Beauty

Denomination: Charismatic

[295]. A Message From A Poem – Love/Serve One Another As I Have Loved You

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 23, 2026

[295]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – LOVE/SERVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU I wrote half this poem waiting in the waiting rooms of the hearing/ hearing aid place then finished it at home. When I wrote this poem a couple of days ago I began with the idea of the appearance of peace as what we see ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:2, Galatians 5:13, Galatians 6:7-8

Tags: Hurting People, Serve, One Another, Inner Turmoil, Christian Poems, Hurting Inside, Hurt, Comfort, Gossip, Blame  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Anonymous Story Which I Have Read Several ...  PRO

Contributed by Bo Dunford on Jan 25, 2006

An anonymous story which I have read several times is a supreme example of sacrifice! * It has challenged me and blessed my life and I’d like to pass it on to you to close this message. B) In a very large city there was a little newspaper boy, whose name was Johnny! * Early one chilly spring ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

The Lion Was Proud Of His Mastery Of The Animal ...  PRO

Contributed by Bart Leger on Mar 15, 2001

The lion was proud of his mastery of the animal kingdom. One day he decided to make sure all the other animals knew he was the king of the jungle. He was so confident that he by-passed the smaller animals and went straight to the bear. "Who is the king of the jungle?" the lion asked. The bear ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Tags: Emotions, Humility, Temptation Pride

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Revealing Exchange Was Recently Captured On The ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 9, 2001

A revealing exchange was recently captured on the Fox News Channel. Bill O’Reilly, host of the O"Reilly Factor, was interviewing Dan Rather, long time anchorman at CBS. O’Reilly: I want to ask you flat out… Do you think Bill Clinton’s an honest man? Rather: Yes, I think he’s an honest man. ...read more

Tags: Faith, Leadership General, Truth

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Some Time Ago An 18-Year-Old Girl From Washington ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian Archer on Aug 16, 2001

Some time ago an 18-year-old girl from Washington state attended a worship service. For the first time in her life she heard the gospel message. The following Tuesday the members of the church received a letter from her. It read: Dear Church members: Last Sunday I attended your church, and I heard ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 24:11-12

Tags: Sharing Your Faith, Great Commission, Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Baptist

On April 21st, In The Year 1519, The Spanish ...  PRO

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Aug 19, 2001

On April 21st, in the year 1519, the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez sailed into the harbor of Vera Cruz, Mexico. He brought with him only about 600 men, and yet over the next two years his vastly outnumbered forces were able to defeat Montezuma and all the warriors of the Aztec empire, making ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Commitment To Christ, Endurance

Denomination: Baptist

Max Lucado, In His Book, "Applause From ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 9, 2001

ILL. Max Lucado, in his book, "Applause from Heaven," tells about flying home after having been gone for more than a week of speaking engagements. He says, "I know that my wife & our two daughters will be waiting at the airport for me. And as I walk down the long corridor & round the bend & into ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, Heaven

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Mark Of Suffering  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 31, 2002

THE MARK OF SUFFERING In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it? I have entered many Buddhist temples in different Asian countries and stood respectfully before the statue of the Buddha, his legs crossed, arms folded, eyes closed, the ghost of a smile playing ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:25-29, Colossians 1:24-29

Tags: Compassion, Cross, Crucifixion

She Was Crazy. Everyone Knew It Because She Had ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 15, 2002

She was crazy. Everyone knew it because she had the habit of talking to herself in public and it was known that she believed she even talked to Jesus - and was spoken back to. A new preacher came to town and, hearing of the crazy woman, thought that he might be able to make her face reality. ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

She Was Crazy. Everyone Knew It Because She Had ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 18, 2002

She was crazy. Everyone knew it because she had the habit of talking to herself in public and it was known that she believed she even talked to Jesus - and was spoken back to. A new preacher came to town and, hearing of the crazy woman, thought that he might be able to make her face reality. ...read more

Tags: God's Forgiveness, God The Father, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ