In Sermon Illustrations: "Spring Cleaning"

The Story Is Told Of A Shoplifter Who Writes To ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Feb 4, 2005

"The story is told of a shoplifter who writes to a department store and says, "I’ve just become a Christian, and I can’t sleep at night because I feel guilty. So here’s $100 that I owe you." "Then he signs his name, and in a little postscript at the bottom he adds, "If I still can’t ...read more

Tags: Sin Bondage To, Sin Separates From God

Denomination: United Methodist

A Jewish Banker Gives This Witness Of The Power ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Dec 19, 2000

A Jewish banker gives this witness of the power of God through Christ to change lives. He says, "A few years ago I was sent to a place in Puerto Rico to make some studies for the bank. It was the worst, the dirties city imaginable Two years later I returned and it was completely changed. ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope, Faith

Denomination: Lutheran

In The Motion Picture, Marvin’s Room, There ...  PRO

Contributed by W Pittendreigh on Feb 22, 2001

In the motion picture, Marvin’s Room, there are two sisters who have been estranged for many years. When one of them is diagnosed with cancer, the other sister arrives to help take care of her. In one of the final scenes of the movie, the two sisters are talking about their lives, and the one ...read more

Tags: Love, Christian Love, Compassion

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Los Angeles Times Carried An Article In 1995 ...  PRO

Contributed by Jerry Falwell on Mar 27, 2002

The Los Angeles Times carried an article in 1995 with the title, “Things My Mother Told Me” that suggested: 1. Mind your manners and always write “thank you” notes. 2. Brush your hair. 3. Appearance matters. 4. Never marry a man in order to change him. 5. Stand up straight and clean your ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Mother's Day

Denomination: Baptist

There Was A "One-Hour Dry Cleaners," On The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There was a "One-Hour Dry Cleaners," on the other side of town, so a man drove out of his way to drop off a suit. After filling out the tag, he told the clerk, "I need this in an hour." She said, "I can’t get this back to you until Thursday." "I thought you did dry cleaning in an hour?" "No," she ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Obedience  PRO

Contributed by Warren Lamb on Aug 19, 2007

Obedience I used to have problems getting my son to clean his room. I would insist that he, “Do it now,” and he would always agree to do so, but then he wouldn’t follow through – at least, not right way. After high school, he joined the Marine Corps, which is where he is now. When he and I were ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Her ...

Contributed by Bill Butsko on May 9, 2008

“Her Day” She cooked the breakfast first of all, Washed the cups and plates, Dressed the children and made sure Stockings all were mates. Combed their hair and made their beds, Sent them out to play. Gathered up their motley toys, Put some books away. Dusted chairs and mopped the stairs, Ironed ...read more

Tags: Mothers

Denomination: Christian Church

There Was A Man Who Used To Have Problems Getting ...

Contributed by Todd Brock on Nov 13, 2008

There was a man who used to have problems getting his son to clean his room. He would insist that his son, “Do it now,” and he would always agree to do so, but then he wouldn’t follow through – at least, not right way. After high school, the son joined the Marine Corps. When he and his dad were ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Denomination: Baptist

Forgive Us Our Christmases

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2008

FORGIVE US OUR CHRISTMASES Have you ever stopped to watch the Christmas rush go by? Christmas struggles are humorous because they touch at the very center of where we live. A little girl was pushing the limits of her mother's very last nerve. Mom was nearing the end of a hectic season of ...read more

Tags: Christmas

The Ruling Caste

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 21, 2011

THE RULING CASTE On one of my trips to India, as I was walking around a market place, I came face to face with some proud Brahmans who consider themselves better than anyone, and they will not allow anyone touch them because they belong to the ruling caste. I asked if I could take their picture. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:14-23

Tags: God The Father

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Has Something Better For You

Contributed by Ken Pell on Mar 10, 2013

GOD HAS SOMETHING BETTER FOR YOU A daddy took his little girl to the park one Saturday afternoon. She was about 4 and was having such a good time in the sun and the presence of her daddy. The ice cream vendor came by and daddy bought her an ice cream cone. Then he noticed that his little girl had ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Nazarene

Betting On Goliath  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 2, 2013

BETTING ON GOLIATH Death was handled differently in the ancient world. An archaeologist was digging in the Negev Desert in Israel and came upon a casket containing a mummy. After examining it, he called the curator of a prestigious natural history museum. "I've just discovered a 3,000 year old ...read more

Tags: David

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Kathy Bates Was In The Movie "Fried Green ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Simms on Sep 27, 2004

Kathy Bates was in the movie “Fried Green Tomatoes”, but is probably best remembered for her role as an obsessed fan in Misery that won her an Oscar. In Misery Bates plays a nurse who encounters her favorite author at an accident scene in a remote location in Colorado during a fierce snowstorm. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-11

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Baptist

About 6am On A Wed Morning James Lawson Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeffrey Stewart on Oct 21, 2000

About 6am on a Wed morning James Lawson of Running Springs, CA left home to apply for a new job. An hour later his 36 yr old wife, Pasty left for her 5th grade teaching job down the mountain with her 2 children, 5 yr old Susan and 2 yr old Jerry. Unfortunately they never got that far. 81/2 hours ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Christian Disciplines, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

Benjamin Franklin Learned That Plaster Sown In ...  PRO

Contributed by David Dewitt on Apr 1, 2001

Benjamin Franklin learned that plaster sown in the fields would make things grow. He told his neighbors, but they did not believe him and they argued with him trying to prove that plaster could be of no use at all to grass or grain. After a little while he allowed the matter to drop and said ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience

Denomination: Church Of God

The Laymen

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Jul 24, 2007

Leave it to the ministers, And soon the church will die; Leave it to the women folk, And some will pass it by; For the church is all that lifts us From the coarse and selfish mob, And the church that is to prosper Needs the laymen on the job. Now a layman has his business, And a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Affectionate Writing Can Reduce Cholesterol

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2008

Affectionate Writing Can Reduce Cholesterol According to new research, writing down affectionate thoughts about close friends and family can reduce your cholesterol levels. Floyd et al. (2007) randomly assigned participants to one of two groups: one experimental and one control. The experimental ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

During The American Revolution, Farmers Who ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

During the American Revolution, farmers who joined the Continental Army during the spring and summer went AWOL in the fall and winter. They were known as "summer soldiers". They signed up with the Army after their crops were planted, they fought the British over the summer, but then returned home ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Winning On The Wrong Horse

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jan 10, 2009

WINNING ON THE WRONG HORSE In Kentucky there were two farmers who owned racing stables – and these men were great rivals. One spring, both of them entered a horse in a local steeplechase. One of the farmers hired a professional jockey, thinking that this might just give him an edge. The race ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Anglican

Believing Isn't Just Seeing

Contributed by Dennis Marquardt on Oct 18, 2000

BELIEVING ISN'T JUST SEEING A student wrote on a physics exam that he did not believe in the atom, so he did not write a paper on it like instructed. The professor called him up and asked him why he didn’t believe in atoms. The student’s response was, "I have never seen one, and no one else has ...read more

Tags: Doubt

Denomination: Assembly Of God