In Sermon Illustrations: "Smile"

John D. Rockefeller's Transformation

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 14, 2012

JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER’S TRANSFORMATION John D. Rockefeller, Sr., was strong and husky when he was a youth. He early determined to earn money and drove himself to the limit. At age 33, he earned his first million dollars. At age 43, he controlled the biggest company in the world. At age 53, he was ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Tags: Giving General

A Boost For Not Boasting!!!

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Oct 21, 2016

A Boost for not Boasting!!! Probably you have heard this story before but here it goes again...a tale involving a frog prone to self-boasting and his two crane friends who planned to “live happily together ever after” inhabiting as they were a pond overflowing with rich flora and fauna but that ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 9:23-24

Tags: Power, Prudence, Boasting In Christ

Denomination: *other

Dont Be A Cookie Thief

Contributed by Flor Beloria on Dec 12, 2017

The Cookie Thief by Valerie Cox A woman was waiting at an airport one night, with several long hours before her flight. She hunted for a book in the airport shops, bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop. She was engrossed in her book but happened to see, that the man sitting beside her, ...read more

Tags: Presumption, Love Of God, Thief Cookie, Thankfulness, Gratitude  (view more)  (view less)

The Auctioneer And The Old Violin

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 20, 2020

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer Thought it scarcely worth his while To waste much time on the old violin, But held it up with a smile. ‘What am I bidden, good folks,’ he cried, ‘Who’ll start the bidding for me? A dollar, a dollar,’ then ‘Two; Only two? Two dollars, and who’ll make it ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, John 3:1-7

Tags: New Birth, Jesus, Salvation, Cross, Redemption, Change, Transformation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Touch Of The Master's Hand

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

The Touch of the Masters Hand Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin, but held it up with a smile; "What am I bidden, good folks," he cried, "Who'll start the bidding for me?" "A dollar, a ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:16-17

Tags: Salvation, New Creation In Christ, The Master, Anointing Of The Spirit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living Or Dead

Contributed by Max Furman on Dec 24, 2021

On Easter Sunday, religious leaders and the disciples had all witnessed the same event. However, both saw something differently. A few years ago, I was getting ready to leave the house for a run and as my wife and I talked, I learned that she was soon going to run an errand. Jokingly, I told her ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:8-11

Tags: Easter, Resurrection

Remember The Duck! (Stop Living In Bondage To Satan)

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2022

A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot made by his grandfather. He practiced trying to hit a tin can, but he could never hit it. As he walked across the yard, he saw Grandma’s pet duck. On an impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck fell dead. The ...read more

Tags: Spiritual Warfare, Confession, Covering Sin, Delieverance, Forgiveness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Does Mom Get Done During The Day?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 28, 2022

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the yard. The door of his wifes car and front door to the house were open and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:1-31

Tags: Honoring Moms, Child Rearing, Mother, Toddlers, Housework, Domestic, Stress At Home, Wife, Mom, Appreciation, Mothers Day  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Anti-Semitic Henry Ford

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 3, 2022

It was a sweltering August day in 1937 when the Cohen brothers entered the posh Dearborn, Michigan, offices of Henry Ford, the car maker. "Mr. Ford," announced Norman Cohen, the eldest of the three. "We have a remarkable invention that will revolutionize the automobile ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Tags: Love, Introduction, Friendliness, Joke, Antisemitism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Marathon

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Oct 17, 2022

On Sunday, October 16, 2022 my daughter, aged 25, ran her first marathon – the Toronto Waterfront marathon. Though I’m currently living 3000 kms away in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada – I was there at the race to cheer her on. I was not prepared for the emotional intensity of the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Philippians 3:14

Tags: Salvation, Perseverance, Gospel, Discipleship, The Cross  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Shall Know The Truth - But First It Might Make You Miserable!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 12, 2024

A police officer pulls over a speeding car. The officer says, ‘I clocked you at 80 miles per hour, sir.’ The driver says, ‘Oh my, officer I had it on cruise control at 60; perhaps your radar gun needs calibrating.’ Not looking up from her knitting the wife says, ‘Now don’t be silly dear, you ...read more

Scripture: John 17:17, John 14:6, Ephesians 4:15

Tags: Marriage, Truth, Honesty, Ten Commandments, Lying, Husbands, Wives, Drinking, Police Officers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Norman Vincent Peale On Spreading Love

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Mar 16, 2013

Norman Vincent Peale wrote this: "Ralston Young carries bags for a living but his real job is living the spirit of Christ as a porter in one of the world's greatest railway stations. One day he was asked to take a little old lady to her train. She was in a wheel chair so he took her down on the ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Anglican

No Jacket Required  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 27, 2004

NO JACKET REQUIRED I shook my head in disbelief. This couldn’t be the right place. After all, I couldn’t possibly be welcome here. I had been given an invitation several times, by several different people, and had finally decided to see what this place was all about. But, this just couldn’t be ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Hell Freezes Over  PRO

Contributed by Robert Rust on Mar 2, 2001

HELL FREEZES OVER A rough and gruff man from Massachusetts who didn’t live a very good life died and went to hell. The devil really wanted to punish him, so he put him to work breaking up rocks with a sledgehammer. To make it worse he cranked up the temperature and the humidity. After a couple ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25-26

Tags: Hell, Lively, Sports, Second Coming

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The First Billionaire  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

The First Billionaire The very first person to reach the status of billionaire was a man who knew how to set goals and follow through. At the age of 23, he had become a millionaire, by the age of 50 a billionaire. Every decision, attitude, and relationship was tailored to create his personal power ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-14

Tags: Giving General

Here Are Some Examples Of Some Mothers And What ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on May 9, 2002

Here are some examples of some mothers and what they could have SAID: MONA LISA’S MOTHER: "After all that money your father and I spent on braces, Mona, that’s the biggest smile you can give us?" HUMPTY DUMPTY’S MOTHER: "Humpty, if I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a hundred times not to sit on ...read more

Tags: Mother's Day, Parenting

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Zig Ziglar On Politicians  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 2, 2002

Zig Ziglar On Politicians A "politician" has been described as a genius who can open the door of your car with one hand, help you in with the other, and still have one hand left to pat you on the back and ask for your vote. Yes, as the saying goes, at one time in America we told political jokes ...read more

Tags: Political Freedom

Keep It Between The Lines  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Aug 29, 2002

Keep It Between The Lines. He was a sitting beside me in the passenger seat. As I looked through the window at the quiet little street. He was a smiling so proud as he gave me the key. But inside I knew he was as nervous as me. I said “Daddy, oh Daddy are you sure I know how? Are you sure that I ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Children

Denomination: United Methodist

Choosing Courage; Finding Peace  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 5, 2002

CHOOSING COURAGE; FINDING PEACE By Steve Goodier http://www.LifeSupportSystem.com "Do you know what my son James dreamed about last night?" a friend asked me. "He dreamed about YOU," she went on. "James told me this morning that in his dream he was being chased by King Kong. Then he met ...read more

Tags: Peace