In Sermon Illustrations: "Spring Cleaning"

Get Up Stronger

Contributed by Bret Toman on Jan 3, 2011

GET UP STRONGER By the beginning of the nineteenth century, about three million African slaves had been transported to the Americas on British ships. People being stolen from their homes, ripped from their families, robbed of their dignity, transported on ships 3 decks deep, squalid conditions, ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Baptist

Hope Of Maria

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jun 5, 2011

HOPE OF MARIA Hope weans God’s people from seeking and trusting this world. The story is told of Maria. She lived in a small town in southern Kentucky. She did not see or hear from her husband for years. Edward was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division during the Korean war and captured when the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:2-3

Tags: Pleasing God, God Brings Hope

Denomination: Nazarene

Our Lives Are Like A...

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Jun 14, 2011

OUR LIVES ARE LIKE A... Listen to what the Bible compares our lives to, and as you do, notice that the central theme of each comparison is the idea of the BREVITY of our lives upon this earth: * First, our lives are compared to A VAPOR (James 4:1) - Think about the vapor from a teapot. It is ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Baptist

Loving Neighbour

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Feb 29, 2016

A Little Pointer on Keeping a Balance Here’s a little bonus tip that I’ve found helpful to keep my wits about me as I live next to these wild Vikings we call sinners, pagans, and wacko unbelievers while keeping my vertical relationship with God strong. It’s called “whimsical holiness,” which is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:34

Tags: Witnessing Tools, Loving Neighbor

Denomination: Baptist

The Ugliest Suit Ever

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 11, 2018

Note: this story is told from my perspective - Jim Butcher of Madison WV. When I was at Southern Seminary in Louisville, there were a few days in the spring when they offered official photos. It was a professional photographer with a nice backdrop and the prices were reasonable. The seminary ...read more

Tags: Change, Transformation, Appearances

Denomination: Baptist

Moved By Grace

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 20, 2023

The word itself... grace... has become trite and debased through misuse and overuse. It does not move us the way it moved our early Christian ancestors. In some European countries, certain high ecclesiastical officials are still called, Your Grace. Sportswriters spoke of Michael Jordan's easy ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:17

Tags: Grace, Lacking In Grace, Scandal Of Grace

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Imagine The Following: It's A Wednesday Night And ...  PRO

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Mar 3, 2008

Imagine the following: It’s a Wednesday night and you are at a church meeting when somebody runs in from the parking lot and says, "Turn on a radio, turn on a radio." And while the church listens, an announcement is made: "Two women are lying in a hospital dying from a mystery flu." Within hours it ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sucked In, Washed Up, And Blown Over  PRO

Contributed by Mark Beaird on Nov 2, 2000

SUCKED IN, WASHED UP, AND BLOWN OVER Chippie the parakeet never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over. The problems began when Chippie’s owner decided to clean Chippie’s cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, God Brings Hope, Faith, Know, Intimacy, Hope, Relationships  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Too Late In A Terrible Way  PRO

Contributed by Scott Weber on Mar 23, 2001

TOO LATE IN A TERRIBLE WAY You can’t read the article that appeared in the Atlanta Journal, June 5, 1997 without some remorse and sympathy for Clarence Jackson. "The clock struck midnight, and Clarence Jackson didn’t turn into a millionaire." Jackson, who is 24, works in a small cleaning ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Perhaps You Read The Email That Made The Rounds ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

Perhaps you read the email that made the rounds the week of Sept of 11th. It was called “What a Difference a Day Makes." It is particularly appropriate during our national holiday of Thanksgiving: On Monday, we e-mailed jokes. On Tuesday, we did not. On Monday, we were fussing about praying in ...read more

Tags: Joy, Thanksgiving Holiday

The Truth About Romance—according To Kids  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 1, 2002

THE TRUTH ABOUT ROMANCE--ACCORDING TO KIDS How Does a Person Decide Who to Marry? "You flip a nickel, and heads means you stay with him and tails means you try the next one." Kally, age 9 "You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like if you like sports, she should like it that you ...read more

Tags: Love, Romance, Choice

I Am Thankful For…  PRO

Contributed by Troy Mason on Aug 23, 2002

I am Thankful for......... ....the taxes I pay ....because it means I’m employed. ....the clothes that fit a little too snug ....because it means I have enough to eat. ....my shadow who watches me work ....because it means I am out in the sunshine. ....a lawn that needs mowing, windows ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday, Peace

Denomination: Baptist

There Is A Remarkable Prison In Brazil. For Over ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jul 19, 2004

There is a remarkable prison in Brazil. For over twenty years the government has allowed two Christians to run the prison. The prison is called “Humaita” and it runs on Christian principles. All the work is done by the prisoners, except that which is required by two full-time staff. Families ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Christian Disciplines, Peace

Denomination: Pentecostal

One Evening Mother Was Busy Fixing Supper. Her ...  PRO

Contributed by Martin Kim on Oct 5, 2004

One evening mother was busy fixing supper. Her little boy came up to her and gave her a piece of paper. She dries her hands on her apron and reads. For cutting the grass: $5.00 For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00 For going to the store for you: $.50 Baby-sitting my kid brother while ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: Adventist

In His Book "Winning With People" Author John ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Simms on Feb 6, 2005

In his book “Winning With People” author John Maxwell tells this story, “Three sons left home to make their fortunes and did very well. One day, the three competitive brothers got back together to discuss the gifts that they were giving their elderly mother. The first said, “I built a big house ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

Denomination: Baptist

My Heart Was Touched This Week By Some Breaking ...  PRO

Contributed by Bob Hunter on Feb 24, 2005

My heart was touched this week by some breaking news from the musical world of heavy metal. The headline reads: Korn guitarist leaving to follow Jesus. "Popular heavy metal band, Korn, has parted ways with guitarist and founding member, Brian, "Head" Welch who has chosen Jesus Christ as his ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9

Tags: Repentance, Confession Of Sin

Denomination: Holiness

A Woman Came To An Elder Of A Congregation In ...

Contributed by Ray Searan on Feb 13, 2006

A woman came to an elder of a congregation in Lubbock, Texas asking if he would study the Bible with her. He gladly studied with her, which resulted in the woman’s salvation. Curiously the elder asked the woman what PROMPTED her to come in and study the Bible. She told the elder over a year ago her ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Mike Yaconneli Talks About Eric. "I'll Never ...

Contributed by David Selleck on Oct 26, 2006

Mike Yaconneli talks about Eric. “I’ll never forget the day Eric, a recovering alcoholic, stood up in our church during announcements. Eric’s lifelong battle with alcohol had been mostly unsuccessful. He had been in and our of jail, and his drinking was taking its toll on his marriage. ‘I need ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Christmas Season  PRO

Contributed by Steve Smith on Dec 4, 2006

ILL: Christmas Season Listen to this parody of the Christmas season that I read this past week: "And there were in the same country children keeping watch over there stockings by the fireplace. And lo! And was said unto them `Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that is for ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Baptist

I Recently Read An Article Entitled The "The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 26, 2007

I recently read an article entitled the “The Seven Ages of the Married Cold,” this article revealed the reactions of a husband to his wife’s colds during their first seven years of marriage: First Year: “Sugar dumpling, I’m really worried about my baby girl. You’ve got a bad sniffle and there’s no ...read more