In Sermon Illustrations: "Special Olympic"

Someone Tells About The Lady Who Walked Into A ...  PRO

Contributed by Dana Chau on Sep 3, 2001

Someone tells about the lady who walked into a hat store to buy a hat for a special night out on the town. She wanted something original, so she chose an emerald-colored ribbon and asked the weaver to make her a hat immediately. Within fifteen minutes, he made the most beautiful hat she had ever ...read more

Tags: Creation, Human Worth

Denomination: *other

Bill O'donovan, An Sim Missionary To The Kagoro ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Nov 28, 2001

Bill O’Donovan, an SIM missionary to the Kagoro Bible College in Nigeria told his students that he had discovered a special medicine that would drastically reduce fights between husbands and wives. All of the students eagerly looked forward to the day when the missionary would bring the medicine ...read more

Tags: Jesus Teachings, Marriage General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

B. The Story Of The Origin Of The Christmas ...  PRO

Contributed by Bobby Mcdaniel on Dec 27, 2003

b. The story of the origin of the Christmas crèche rests with St. Francis of Assisi. St. Bonaventure tells the story like this. In the year 1223, St. Francis, a deacon, was visiting the town of Grecio to celebrate Christmas. Grecio was a small town built on a mountainside overlooking a beautiful ...read more

Tags: Christmas

There Is Nothing Like A Father's Blessing And ...

Contributed by David Hill on Jul 8, 2004

There is nothing like a father’s blessing and love. One day I was at work when out of nowhere my father pulled up to the job in a brand new candy apple red truck. It was the bomb. He got out and said nothing. Of course I’m thinking to myself he bought a new truck. As he started to leave, he got ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God, God The Father

Denomination: Baptist

It Was 103°f In Hell Creek, South Dakota, One ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

It was 103°F in Hell Creek, South Dakota, one day in September 1993. Dinosaur hunter Michael Hammer was amazed at what he saw. Sticking out of the ground were the remains of a Thescelosaurus, a plant-eating dinosaur. The skeleton was almost complete. Hammer says he knew right away that it was "very ...read more

Tags: Faith General

How Would Your Church Respond If Your Young ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

How would your church respond if your young people were approached by an organized cult? One night at a church skating party, a group of teenagers were "befriended" by several men who asked about their spiritual lives. The teenagers were given an invitation to join them for a series of special ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:29-30

Tags: Paul

When I Was Associate Pastor In Canton, I Was ...

Contributed by Keith Broyles on Oct 4, 2007

When I was associate pastor in Canton, I was often fascinated watching people at First Monday. There was a place on the First Monday grounds called the unreserved section. Most of us would call the vendors at this particular part of the grounds “junk dealers.” There were people who went to First ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

A Woman Was Visiting Some People Who Lived On A ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Dec 6, 2007

A woman was visiting some people who lived on a farm, and she noticed a pig limping in the backyard with a wooden leg. She asked the farmer, "What happened to the pig?" The farmer said, "Oh, Betsy is a wonderful pig. One night the house caught fire and she oinked so loud she woke us and we got the ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Average Cost Of Rehabilitating A Seal ...  PRO

Contributed by Roger Nelmes on Jan 29, 2008

1. The average cost of rehabilitating a seal after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska was $80,000. At a special ceremony, two of the most expensively saved animals were released back into the wild amid cheers and applause from onlookers. A minute later they were both eaten by a killer ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Pentecostal

In A Market-Driven Age We Are Accustomed To ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Aug 23, 2008

“In a market-driven age we are accustomed to think of every church having a special niche, of every visitor as a prospective customer, and every aspect of worship designed to satisfy the consumers. Paul was reminding the Galatians that the gospel was not a product to be peddled on the marketplace ...read more

Tags: Preaching

Denomination: Other

Honor Of Death

Contributed by Mark Eberly on May 27, 2009

HONOR OF DEATH I have had the privilege to be with several people and their families when they have breathed their last breath. It is an incredible privilege to be present for those who make the transition into God’s kingdom. I also count it a privilege and honor to visit with people and their ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Church Of God

Christ's Protective Armor

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 19, 2009

CHRIST'S PROTECTIVE ARMOR In 1934, King Alexander of Yugoslavia landed in France for an official visit. Before he left his warship, he dressed in the full uniform of an admiral of the navy. Finding that the uniform’s tunic did not fit easily over his bulletproof vest, he took the vest off. ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Can't Say I Have Ever Felt Afraid Of God, But I ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 28, 2009

I can’t say I have ever felt afraid of God, but I have felt the awe of His presence, and I have been overcome by a sense of His majesty. I remember standing out on a mound of earth out on a property and looking up at the stars. Away from the city, the stars seem so much brighter, and I cried out to ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On Anger

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jul 7, 2010

ON ANGER "As a clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of angry men, I’ve seen many of my patients lose jobs, wives, and opportunities because they were simply not able to handle the normal frustrations and disappointments in life. They argue, they insult, and they sulk. They come to ...read more

Tags: Anger

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Makes Jerusalem So Great?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 8, 2010

WHAT MAKES JERUSALEM SO GREAT? "Archaeologists and historians have long wondered why Jerusalem should have been established where it was, and why it should have become great. It enjoys none of the physical features which favored the advancement and prosperity of other important cities in the ...read more

Tags: Israel

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Are You Planting The Right Seed?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2011

ARE YOU PLANTING THE RIGHT SEED? Some time ago "Reader’s Digest" told the story about a company who mailed out some special advertising business post cards with a mustard seed glued to it with the following caption that went something like this: "If you have faith as small as this mustard seed in ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:16-34

Tags: Kingdom Of God

Jaymalis Davis Was Highlighted In The ...

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 21, 2012

Jaymalis Davis was highlighted in the Times-Picayne series entitled, “Louisiana Incarcerated.” He lives in central city surround by drugs, crime and unemployment. His mother is crack addicted and largely absent from his home and his father, who was in and out of jail for drugs and car theft and ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Methodist

They Won't Let Me In, Either!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2014

THEY WON’T LET ME IN, EITHER! Years ago in the Deep South, a Baptist church was struggling over whether or not to allow a black gentleman to join their church. He had been their janitor for years and decided he wanted to be part of the church family. A special vote of the congregation was called ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:1-20

Tags: Church, Racism, Presence Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Living Memorial

Contributed by James Chandler on May 29, 2018

When our children were young, we took a vacation to Washington D.C. We saw the many different memorials. The highlight of our trip was Arlington National Cemetery. It was quite a moment standing there with my wife and children watching the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier. ...read more

Tags: Sacrifice, Memorial, Empty Tomb

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Two Weeks Ago There Were About A Hundred ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Nov 22, 2000

Two weeks ago there were about a hundred protesters picketing the Second Baptist Church of Houston, Texas. This was a group of Hindus who were upset that the Southern Baptist Convention was encouraging its churches like Second Baptist, which incidentally has over 10,000 members, to make a special ...read more

Tags: World Religions, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Baptist