In Sermon Illustrations: "Small Things"

Discipleship Calls For Wholehearted Commitment To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 31, 2009

Discipleship Calls for Wholehearted Commitment to Christ “I have seen the most horrible things, but I have met people who are still full of faith in spite of what they have endured.” That was the opening statement to a gathering of leaders and supporters of Samaritan’s Purse, the organization led ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Tags: Missions

Years Ago, I Spent A Couple Of Years At Purdue ...

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 14, 2012

Years ago, I spent a couple of years at Purdue University and some of the classes I took were in Philosophy. In one of those classes, the professor (who was an atheist) stood up in front of the class and said “Jesus didn’t die on the cross, and I can prove it.” His proof? He said that when a ...read more

Tags: Crucifixion

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Go With The Flow  PRO

Contributed by Hal Seed on Feb 12, 2008

6. YOU TRUST HIM WITH WHATEVER IS TROUBLING YOU. Anybody having anything trouble you these days? It’s probably part of God’s sense of humor that I went on a whale-watching trip this week, the week we start learning about Jonah. PICTURE OF WHALE TALE I’ve been on whale-watching tours only twice ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:18-19

Tags: Authority

Denomination: Baptist

Go With The Flow

Contributed by Hal Seed on Feb 12, 2008

6. YOU TRUST HIM WITH WHATEVER IS TROUBLING YOU. Anybody having anything trouble you these days? It’s probably part of God’s sense of humor that I went on a whale-watching trip this week, the week we start learning about Jonah. PICTURE OF WHALE TALE I’ve been on whale-watching tours only twice ...read more

Tags: Gratitude

Denomination: Baptist

The Rich Fool

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Nov 22, 2008

THE RICH FOOL Ortberg writes (and I have abridged it and translated it into proper English) Once upon a time in the Silicon Valley, there lived a very important man.He routinely logged in 12-14 hours a day work and sometimes at weekends. He went to the Harvard School of Management, where he got ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21

Tags: Fool, Use Of Time

Denomination: Anglican

Some Thoughts On Forgiveness  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

SOME THOUGHTS ON FORGIVENESS Bernard Meltzer was a United States radio host for several decades. His advice call-in show was called "What's Your Problem?" Meltzer said, "When you forgive, you in no way change the past--but you sure do change the future." ------- Mark Twain had some sour thoughts ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:12

Tags: Forgiveness General

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

Unsung Heroines-The Widow Of Zarephath

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 4, 2022

Introduction: this widow woman probably wasn’t even an Israelite but she believed the words of Elijah, the prophet of the LORD, God of Israel. She received much more than she gave Elijah! Text: 1 Kings 17:8-16, KJV: 8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:8-16

Tags: Widow Of Zarephath, Elijah, Unsung Heroines

Denomination: Baptist

Making Decisions Is The Hardest Part Of My Life

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 3, 2024

If it were not for decisions, my life would be perfect. After all these years, I still wrestle with decision-making. I admit that I often don’t make good decisions. I'm not sure, so don't repeat this, but I think The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage knows this and uses it to her ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Decisions, Choices

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Where Do All My Nasal Fluids Come From?

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 5, 2024

I am finally, in what I think is the last phase of my recent health confusion. My nose is dripping, and I think I use at least one box of tissues daily. I did not know I had so much of this in my body, and I am not exactly sure where it came from. When I was young, I remember having a bad case of ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:4-5

Tags: Overcome, Victory, Sneeze

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Finishing Well

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

John Baker was too short and too slight to be a runner for his high school track team but he loved to run. His best friend was tall and lanky and had the perfect build to be a runner but wanted nothing to do with the sport. So John went to the track coach to convince him to let John on the team ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24

Tags: Finish, Running The Race, Overcoming, Ending Well

Denomination: Methodist

The Runaway Elephant

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 23, 2025

When I was about five years old, my family lived in a far-away country called Burma—a warm, green land filled with rice fields, parrots, and elephants that helped people pull heavy logs out of the forest. Burma even has towns with funny names like Maymyo and Meowmya—names that sound as if cats ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:11-12, Psalm 121:7-8, Isaiah 41:10, Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Protection, Trust, Angels, Courage

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Kurt Cobain Died About 8 Years Ago. I Remember ...  PRO

Contributed by Scott Weber on Mar 23, 2001

Kurt Cobain died about 8 years ago. I remember the day I picked up the newspaper and read about it. He was the founder and lead singer of the rock group "Nirvana." His death was a suicide. He took a shotgun, pointed it to his head, and killed himself. The newspaper was filled with the words of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7-11

Tags: Hope, God Brings Purpose, God Brings Hope, Meaning, Self-Control  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Evolution Of Mothers  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2002

THE EVOLUTION OF MOTHERS Being a parent changes everything. But being a parent also changes with each baby. Here are some of the ways having a second and third child is different from having the first. Your Clothes 1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your doctor confirms ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:5-10

Tags: Parenting, Mother's Day, Influence, Children

On Our Trip Home From Orlando After The ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Pace on Apr 11, 2002

On our trip home from Orlando after the conference that I attended, we got to meet a lady who shared one of the most powerful testimonies that I have ever heard. Because that week’s Bible Study was on the subject that I am preaching on today she shared her testimony and I think it fits so well… Let ...read more

Tags: Abortion

Denomination: Baptist

Why Do People Wear Masks?  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 12, 2002

Why do people wear masks? Several years ago, I had a nightmare, it was terrible. For many days my spirit was greatly troubled. In a dream, I saw one of my most serious workers at church dying a terrible death. As my church worker was dying, I saw a battle going against my member. I was ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:14-17, Hebrews 12:17

Tags: Rejection, Forgiveness For Others, Faithful, Affliction, Anger  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Crowd Jumps To Its Feet. Many Clench Tissues ...  PRO

Contributed by Everette Pafford on Apr 15, 2002

The crowd jumps to its feet. Many clench tissues or wipe tears on their sleeves. The applause is thunderous, intermingled with cheers and praise to God. Who would have guessed a developmentally challenged teen could invoke such a response? For my son, Christopher Kline, from Madison ...read more

Tags: Jesus Teachings, Children

Denomination: Pentecostal

Football Practice Was Over, And Denny Was Sore ...  PRO

Contributed by Lynn Floyd on Apr 26, 2002

Football practice was over, and Denny was sore from head to toe. Slowly he climbed the graffiti-laden stairway of the aging apartment building. Suddenly, his mother’s chilling screams pierced the cold, still air. He had heard the sound many times before. Still, a sickening knot formed in Denny’s ...read more

Tags: Children

Denomination: Baptist

For Everyone—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Troy Mason on Aug 23, 2002

FOR EVERYONE-COMMUNION MEDITATION James W. Moore of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Houston tells a story about one of his minister friends. His name is Tom and he does a fascinating thing each month. Even though he has an extremely busy schedule he still makes the time each month to go down ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:24-25, Luke 22:19

Tags: Lord's Supper, Reverence, Worth, Communion, Church Practices  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Bishop Lindsey's Story  PRO

Contributed by Sheila Crowe on Sep 26, 2002

Bishop Lindsey’s Story I recently had the opportunity to hear our Bishop, Lindsey Davis, speak. He is an avid golfer, so much so in fact that when we went to Augusta for the North Ga Conference meeting they gave him a green jacket – I’m not sure why – I’m kidding I do know the significance of a ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Sharing Your Faith, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: United Methodist