In Sermon Illustrations: "Smile"

A Better Plan

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jul 8, 2007

Illustration: A Better Plan When in college Robert J , Morgan came across a poem written by a teenage girl looking for a husband. It was written as a prayer, and this is what she said: Dear God, I pray all unafraid / As girls are wont to be I do not want a handsome man / But make him, Lord, like ...read more

Denomination: Other

Breaking In Baby By Dave Berry

Contributed by C Jordan on Jan 5, 2008

ILLUSTRATION: BREAKING IN BABY BY DAVE BERRY: • There is a parallel between physical growth and the spiritual growth of a Christian. We have a son who began as a baby and has successfully reached the age of three without becoming an axe murderer, as far as we know. Thus we are eminently qualified ...read more

Denomination: *other

Let There Be Peace  PRO

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on May 16, 2008

LET THERE BE PEACE "Those kids will drive you crazy!" That's what the old man's friends told him when he bought the small, well kept house just down the street from the local junior high school. Contrary to their warnings though, the man's first few weeks in his new house went without a ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Coin, Lost, Lost Coin

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mom's Apron

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Aug 22, 2023

As I looked through the old photo album, my eyes fixed upon a picture of Mom in her blue Sunday dress wearing a soiled, yellow apron. I smiled as, in my mind, I returned. It seemed like just yesterday, For I had left on it my small handprints— From playing in Carolina red clay. Mom had called ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:2, Ephesians 6:1-3, Ruth 3:5-6, Proverbs 1:8-9, 1 Samuel 1:26-28, Titus 2:3-5, Song of Songs 8:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Aprons, Examples, Memory, Mother's Day, Mom, Mothers, Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

"a Candle In The Window: Embracing Hope This Advent"

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Dec 22, 2024

As the evening wore on and the fire crackled gently in the hearth, Old Thomas gathered his family close, the soft glow of the candle illuminating their faces. It was a time for connection, reflection, and the cherished rituals of Advent that had been passed down through generations. “Now, let’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-6

Tags: Love, Hope

Denomination: Methodist

[203]. A Message From A Poem - On The Eve Of Trial

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 17, 2025

[203]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - ON THE EVE OF TRIAL This poem was written at the airport when I had to go away for a very unjust hearing before a wicked, unjust Commissioner/Judge, and the whole setup was so evil. If you ever feel the dragon’s breath then you will know what I mean. I don’t wish ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13, John 16:33

Tags: Unjust, Trials, Trepidation, Peace, Overcome, Tribulation, Control, Trial, Injustice, World, Fear, Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Refugee For Thanksgiving  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 17, 2002

A REFUGEE FOR THANKSGIVING In her book entitled "It’s Not in the Ministry Manual," Mary Ann Cejka relates a time when her students welcomed a refugee for Thanksgiving dinner one year. The following is an excerpt from this story: , taken from the Fernando did not look like what I thought a ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday, Joy, Compassion

Vernon And Joey

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Oct 13, 2012

It is fitting that we begin with a true story involving three main characters: an elderly man nearing death, a kindhearted woman in robust health, and a deceased boy very much alive. Five months earlier, physicians had diagnosed sixty-five-year-old Vernon Samuels with terminal lung cancer. They ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:3-4

Tags: Death

Denomination: Baptist

In My Humble Opinion

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 29, 2020

It was a busy week last week. I was chasing my tail so much, I thought I would actually catch it. What I would do after I caught it is beyond my imagination. However, I was quite busy, and then the mail came. Whenever the mail comes, I’m always expecting “the check.” Rarely do I get it, but my ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5

Tags: Humility, Opinion

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

And Then It Was Silent No More

Contributed by James Snyder on May 23, 2020

During this time of exclusive lockdown, I and the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage have grown accustomed to silence. Don't get me wrong here. I do not object to noise as long as it's the right kind of noise. However, I do have a good warm feeling about silence. What was that song? ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:13

Tags: Books, Silence, Noise

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

If Only My Fishing Rod Could Talk

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 5, 2020

It has been a busy week, more so than any other week. Just when I thought I was caught up, something else presented itself without my permission. That seems to be what life is all about. I remember my father telling me when I complained to him how busy my life was and how my employer wanted me to ...read more

Scripture: John 8:32

Tags: Humor, Fishing

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

A Musical Concert Or Aggravating Noise?

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 12, 2020

To say the least, and I usually do, this summer has been quite a journey for the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and myself. I can't remember a summer equal to the one we just went through. The fact that we got through it is amazing. We have been staying at home more often than usual, but ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Music, Humor

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

All In Due Time, So She Says

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 17, 2020

For several weeks, or has it been years, I’ve been waiting for an important package to come through the mail. I don’t know why they call it snail mail because I have seen snails crawl faster. With all our technology today, you would think that mail could come in on a particular schedule, and ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Tags: Time, Humor, Patience

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Red Isn’t Always The Red I See

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 2, 2021

It is not that I am colorblind; I just am color indifferent. Red and blue and yellow are all the same to me. This, on many occasions, has challenged the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, who is very meticulous when it comes to describing anything or anyone. In remodeling my office at the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:12

Tags: Christmas, Humor, Gifts

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

A Divided House Makes A Happy Home

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 6, 2021

Never has our world been more divided than today. Politics, religion, sports and on and on I could go. For the most part, so many people think being divided is a negative thing. And for many people it is. However, after being married to the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage for almost 50 years, I ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Divided Home, Happy Home, Pastor Cave

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Ain’t 16 Anymore

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 24, 2021

I’ve had so many birthdays in my life that I really don’t know how old I am. All I know is that I’m one year older than I was last year. I would not be able to remember when my life began if it wasn’t for paperwork.. To many people, numbers are very important, but in my opinion, a number is just a ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Birthday, Growing, Responsibity

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Are You Ready For Fall?

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 11, 2021

With such a tumultuous summer, I’m glad we are now beginning the fall season. There for a while, I didn’t think it was going to come. But, contrary to my negativity, it has arrived, and I’m delighted. Summer wasn’t quite the way summers have been in the past. My family didn’t have many ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1

Tags: Humor, Blessings, Seasons

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

One Mouth Too Many Words

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 5, 2022

I read somewhere where the average woman speaks 20,000 words a day, and the average man speaks 7,000 words a day. I’m not sure if that’s true because I never believe everything I read, particularly on my computer, unless I write it. If this is true, who came up with it and how did they get to this ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:27-28

Tags: Speak, Silence, Worde

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

It Never Dawned On Me Until

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 20, 2022

I must confess I am too poor to pay attention at this time in my life. I hope one day I will win the lottery and be able to afford to pay attention. But, of course, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage says that you can’t win a lottery unless you play the lottery. Well, I don’t play the lottery. ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Attention, Listening

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Sir Forgets-A-Lot To The Rescue

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 17, 2022

Contrary to the idea that the older you get, the more you forget, it has never been my experience. I have forgotten things for as long as I can remember. I even forget things that never actually happened. It runs in our family, though it came to me legitimately down through the generations. A nut ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 8:12

Tags: Blessing, Forgetting

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance