In Sermon Illustrations: "Show Off"

Being A Professional 24 7

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 22, 2021

Athletes strive for excellence and continual improvement. Disciples of Christ must take the same attitude. Hockey star Matthew Barzal of the New York Islanders comments on doing and being your best: Whether that's having short hair and clean facial hair throughout the regular season or ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Hebrews 12:1-3, 1 Corinthians 3:12

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit, Worship, Commitment, Discipleship, Excellence  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Disappointment

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

One blogger wrote: “Today, I was at work, nonchalantly spinning my keys around my finger when they flew off and hit a glass cabinet. Broken glass showered passing customers. I don't think I'll have a job to go to tomorrow.” Or how about this one: “Today, I went to my parents' place to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-31

Tags: Happenings, Life, Mistakes, Disappointment, Surprises  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Ask The Coach! (10.27.05--Making It!--Joshua ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 25, 2005

Ask the Coach! (10.27.05--Making It!--Joshua 9:14-15) I grew up in a time and place of heroes. Mostly my heroes were TV cowboys like Roy Rogers or the Cisco Kid. In those days there was something common to nearly every TV show--the hero had someone else standing beside him. Roy had Dale, his wife; ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 9:14-15

Tags: Character, Peace

Denomination: Lutheran

Unsung Heroines-Peter’s Mother-In-Law

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 14, 2022

Introduction: She’s only mentioned once, but in three of the Gospels. Look what happened to this lady after she received healing from Jesus! Text: Here are the texts from each of the Gospels where this event is mentioned: Matthew 8:14-15, KJV: 14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:14-15, Mark 1:29-31, Luke 4:38-39

Tags: Healings, Ministering, Unsung Heroines

Denomination: Baptist

When You're Dealing With Something As Valuable ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 26, 2007

When you’re dealing with something as valuable and as complex and as truly amazing as a human life, even small degrees matter. All Satan needs to do is tap you a few degrees off course and you end up lost. That’s why I’m so narrow-minded about the Bible. If Susan ever lets me learn to fly, I’ll be ...read more

What Someone Has Called The Pleasure Explosion ...  PRO

Contributed by James O. Davis on Oct 28, 2003

What someone has called the pleasure explosion has overtaken us so that in the United States alone the pleasure business has been growing at an average rate of 6 billion dollars a year since 1965. Thrills and chills are available on demand. Popular amusement parks offer themes and thrills of all ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:35-37

Tags: Entertainment, Television And Movies

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Value Of A Pearl  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 4, 2004

THE VALUE OF A PEARL Pearls were perceived in the first century in much the same way we view diamonds today. They were the most valuable gem in the world at that time. If you owned a pearl, you owned a fortune. And there was a good reason for it. Pearl hunting involved immense danger. The fine ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:45-46, Matthew 13:44-46

Tags: Parable General, Kingdom Of God

Sinatra's Fear And Worry

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 13, 2010

SINATRA’S FEAR AND WORRY Frank Sinatra’s daughter, Tina Sinatra, recalls her father’s unceasing drive to succeed and make money, even when his health was at risk: His health was in tatters and his life mired in financial wrangles, but my father refused to stop giving concerts. "I’ve just got to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Tags: Fear And Worry

Public Opinion

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

PUBLIC OPINION Some of you may have seen the joke that circulated this week on e-mail that tries to explain why Moses and the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years. The punch line of the e-mail read, "Even then, men would not stop for directions." While this may not really explain ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Credit And Savings ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 10, 2009

CREDIT AND SAVINGS CRISIS A man decides he’s going to pay off his credit card. He owes $7,500 and believes God does not want him to be in debt, so he decides he’ll cut up the card and pay off the $7,500 by making the minimum monthly payment until it’s gone. Your question -- how long do you think ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 2:7

Tags: Money, Love Of God Or Money

World Trade Center Hero

Contributed by Tim Smith on Sep 25, 2016

Matt Chandler tells the story of Dave Karnes. When the World Trade Center tumbled to the ground on that dreadfully dark day, more than 3000 people lost their lives. But a few who were buried beneath the rubble miraculously survived. Two of these were Will Jimeno and John McLoughlin, a pair of Port ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Tags: Evangelism, 911, Incarnation Of Jesus, Saving Others

Denomination: Methodist

God's Tattoo

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Nov 2, 2016

God’s Tattoo Isaiah 49: 8-16 When my grandson Isaiah was three years old he had a problem of wondering off and hiding. One day my daughter Maeghan and my wife Becky where shopping at a local mall and of course, he slipped off. All of a sudden they realized he was missing. They panicked, running ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 49:8-16

Tags: God's Love, God's Longing, God's Love For Us

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Seeking God

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Aug 6, 2023

“Seeking God” Isaiah 55: 1-9 08/06/23 When my grandson Isaiah was three years old, he had a problem of wandering off and hiding. One day my daughter Maeghan and my wife Becky were shopping at a local mall and of course, he slipped off. All of a sudden, they realized he was missing. They ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-9, Luke 11:9, Jeremiah 29:13, Deuteronomy 4:29-31

Tags: Seeking God, Obeying God

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

We've All Read And Heard These Bible Verses About ...  PRO

Contributed by Frank Gallagher on Nov 26, 2000

We’ve all read and heard these Bible verses about the shepherds before, taught by pastors and Sunday School teachers at Christmas time. We can even hear these verses on TV each year if we watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Charlie Brown spends the show as so many people do today, looking in all ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8

Tags: Birth Of Jesus, Christmas, Patient, Wait

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Not The Only Light!  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 22, 2000

NOT THE ONLY LIGHT! On July 06, 2000, Hugh Downs the guest host on the Larry King Live Show lead a round table discussion on the questions, "Who is Jesus? And why is there such a fascination with that question now?" Among his guests was Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, Dean of Oxford L’chaim Society. During ...read more

Tags: Apologetics Jesus, Lordship Of Christ, World Religions

Denomination: Baptist

Tony Crawford Was A Police Officer In The Dallas ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Mar 13, 2001

Tony Crawford was a police officer in the Dallas Police Department. He was shot by two teenagers & was left paralyzed from the waist down. Finally, the trials were completed, & the last assailant was found guilty & sent to prison. But there was a really tender scene pictured in the newspaper ...read more

Tags: God The Father, Forgiveness For Others, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Gem Dealer Was Strolling The Aisles At The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 21, 2001

A gem dealer was strolling the aisles at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show when he noticed a blue-violet stone the size and shape of a potato. He looked it over, then, as calmly as possible, asked the vendor, "You want $15 for this?" The seller, realizing the rock wasn’t as pretty as others in the ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience, Promises Of God

There Was A Wealthy Man Who Was Shopping With ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Leiter on Nov 8, 2001

There was a wealthy man who was shopping with this 16 year-old son. His son saw a new computer system and showed his dad. The wealthy man said, “Why son, that costs $2,000?” The son said, “Yeah dad, but we’ve got the money.” To which the dad says, “We? Who said anything about we having ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Deity, Money, God's Provision

Denomination: Vineyard

A Close Call  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 8, 2002

A CLOSE CALL Edward Steichen, who eventually became one of the world’s most renowned photographers, almost gave up on the day he shot his first pictures. At 16, young Steichen bought a camera and took 50 photos. Only one turned out -- a portrait of his sister at the piano. Edward’s father thought ...read more

It Has Been Said That "There Are None So Blind As ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 20, 2002

It has been said that “there are none so blind as those who refuse to see”. The Morning of the day of the battle of Waterloo, Napoleon was conferring with his general, planning the tactics of the day. After telling him what the infantry should do, he said, “And by tonight Wellington will be in our ...read more

Tags: Humility, Emotions

Denomination: United Methodist