In Sermon Illustrations: "Small Problems"

Servanthood & Father Damien

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Aug 4, 2022

When visiting the Hawaiian Island many tourists will visit the island of Molokai. It has quiet charm, gentle breezes and a soft surf. Father Damien came to the island for a different reason. He came to help people die. He came there because leprosy came there first. No one knows how ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-4, Mark 10:42-45

Tags: Evangelism, Servanthood

Denomination: Lutheran

Patience With Others

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 22, 2024

"Einstein was four years old before he could speak and seven before he could read". Einstein became one of the greatest physicists who ever lived. "Isaac Newton did poorly in grade school." Newton, like Einstein was one of the smartest people of his day as a scientist. "A ...read more

Tags: Patience, Kindness, Time, Maturing, Waiting On The Lord, Teaching, Endurance, Discipleship, Leadership, Suffering  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Dad I Didnt Know

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on May 27, 2024

He loved my mother dearly. Mom often told me so As she filled me in on things about The dad I didn’t know. He never knew a stranger, and Kind deeds he’d always show; His smile revealed the caring of The dad I didn’t know. His death came unexpectedly The day his heart let go; We children all felt ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-11, Ephesians 6:1-4, Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 27:16, Proverbs 20:20, Romans 13:7  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Dads, Precious Memories, Honor, Dad, Children, Parents, Father's Day, Memories  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

My Daddy Is The Pilot And He's Taking Me Home!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 10, 2024

• “A pastor was on a long flight home which started very peaceful but ran into an incredible storm; first the seat belt sign came on, then the announcer said we will not be able to serve the meal at this time, a severe storm is ahead of us. Then all the sudden the storm broke; the plane was in the ...read more

Tags: Faith, Heaven, Trust, Journey, Home, Heavenly Father  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Little Girl's Prayer  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Oct 15, 2001

A LITTLE GIRL’S PRAYER One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do she died, leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity ...read more

Scripture: James 5:17, Hosea 6:2

Tags: Faith, Prayer Answered, Prayer, Prayer General

Denomination: Lutheran

The Eating Thing  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Hamilton on Sep 29, 2002

The Eating thing Let me share with you a fairly personal issue that I’m working through that has caused me to ask this question about loving God. Last year – in fact for a number of years now I have been aware that I have been struggling with an addiction. As soon as I say the word it arouses ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:8

Tags: Addiction

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Just As We Are!" Exodus 14:13-14 Key Verse(S) ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 29, 2005

“Just As We Are!” Exodus 14:13-14 Key verse(s) 14:“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Keeping a positive outlook on life is pretty hard when nothing much positive seems to be happening in your life. Let’s face it, when things are going bad, really bad, there is nothing worse ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:13-14

Tags: Disappointment

Denomination: Lutheran

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

The Spirit Of Power That We Receive Is Not Like ...  PRO

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Oct 28, 2007

The Spirit of Power that we receive is not like the human power that we recognize as strong. It’s a power unlike anything we can do on our own. A young man growing up in the wrong part of Houston became a bully. He would get in fights in school, in the neighborhood, and began mugging people to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:49, Matthew 28:19-20, Matthew 28:19, Luke 9:57-67, Zechariah 4:6, Psalm 33:16-18  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Friend, Friendship

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Don't Underestimate An Act Of Love

Contributed by Billy Noel on May 18, 2009

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE AN ACT OF LOVE One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Christian Church

Unintentionally Humorous Texts: Micah’s Misfortunes, Part 1

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 7, 2024

Introduction: The days of Israel’s judges, before Samuel and the kingdom, were known as ‘seesaw days”: Israel alternated between being true to the God of Israel, then abandoning Him to worship the idols of other nations. Israel would be oppressed, and then cry out to their God for help, but then ...read more

Scripture: Judges 17:1-6

Tags: Micah, Ephraim, Idols, Teraphim

Denomination: Baptist

Can You Eat Too Many Cookies At Christmas?

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 27, 2025

Can You Eat Too Many Cookies at Christmas? Dr. James L. Snyder Christmas was over, and the house began to quiet down in a good way. Don’t get me wrong, I love the noise when all the family is together. It is a good feeling to be with your family during this wonderful holiday season. I love the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 16:8-10

Tags: Cookies, Christmas

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Since The Bible And The Ten Commandments Have ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Since the Bible and the Ten Commandments have been taken out of our schools in the last 40+ years, we now have epidemic problems with teen pregnancy and Sexual diseases; epidemic drug and alcoholic problems, and violence in our schools to such an extent that we have never seen in the history of our ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Tags: Paul, Year, Reference, Oldest Person

What’s Pete Got To Do With Anything?

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 20, 2021

If there's anybody that can be conned, it's Yours Truly. It's not so much that I'm stupid; I'm just naïve. I believe when somebody says something, they mean exactly what they say. So, if you can't swindle me, you might as well hang it up and get a real job. I must ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:12-13

Tags: Blame, Accusations

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

What Did She Just Say?

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 22, 2022

To be honest, I don't always hear what I'm supposed to hear. I do have ears, but sometimes they are not working in such a way as to benefit me. Often, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage will talk to me about something, and then at the end of that, she will ask me a question of which I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 133:1

Tags: Listening, Relationship

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Story Is Told Of A Wonderful, Elderly, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 12, 2001

The story is told of a wonderful, elderly, christian lady. She had very little money and lived in a rundown house, but she was always praising the Lord. Her only problem was with the old man who lived next door. He was always trying to prove to her that there was no God. One day, as the old man ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:1-22

Tags: Prayer Supplication, Satan, Praise, God's Provision, Good, Bad  (view more)  (view less)

When Someone Becomes Really Great At What They ...  PRO

Contributed by Justin Meek on Jun 6, 2001

When someone becomes really great at what they do, it almost always because they spent years dedicating themselves to it. Pete Rose didn’t just wake up one day as a great ball player, he dedicated his life to being a great ball player. Tori Murden didn’t just hop into a boat one day out of the blue ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Christian Disciplines, Discipleship

Denomination: Baptist

D. On March 13, 1998 From Associated Press- ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 3, 2001

D. On March 13, 1998 from Associated Press- Milton Garland is 102 years old. He is America’s oldest known worker. He’s worked for the same Pennsylvania engineering firm since 1920. He thinks life and work are just about the same thing. "I don’t think age has anything to do with your desire to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:16

Tags: Workplace, Finding Fulfillment

Garbed As A Peasant  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Mar 18, 2002

GARBED AS A PEASANT Soren Kierkegaard, the Danish theologian, told a story about a certain kingdom wherein there was a handsome prince, searching for a woman worthy enough to be his wife and become queen of the land. One day while running an errand for his father he passed through a poor village. ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Humanity Of Christ, Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Living Unaware Of Our Vast Fortune  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2002

Living Unaware of Our Vast Fortune Come with me into West Texas during the Depression. Mr. Ira Yates was like many other ranchers and farmers. He had a lot of land, and a lot of debt. Mr. Yates wasn’t able to make enough on his ranching operation to pay the principal and interest on the mortgage, ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God