In Sermon Illustrations: "Start Right"

Mothers

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 13, 2020

Mothers are so wonderful and all are different and all are the same. Loving, caring, sacrifice and dedication to Children and family. Mother’s Day was started when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Everyone doesn’t have a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:31

Tags: Mothers Day, Mothers

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Prepared

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Nov 5, 2020

Almost every Sunday morning I begin my sermon with a cute or funny story. This morning I start with a sad story. Bob and Betty were 2 of my dearest friends in Indiana. A strong, loving example of what a married couple should be. However, this couple was always at least 15 minutes late for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Tags: Faithfulness, Preparedness, Prepared

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Mardi Gras Miracle

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Apr 17, 2021

“The Mardi Gras Miracle.” On Fat Tuesday of 1994 I was on my way to a meeting at Normal Presbyterian Church. I was listening to a basketball game. Kentucky was playing LSU at LSU and Kentucky was down 16 points at half time. I was concerned but to make things worse LSU started the second half ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Tags: Doubt, Doubting Thomas

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Things You Will Never Hear In Most Churches!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 20, 2022

THINGS YOU WILL NEVER HEAR IN MOST CHURCHES! "Hey! It’s my turn to sit on the front pew!" "I was so excited, I never even noticed your sermon went over time 25 minutes!" "Personally, I find witnessing much more enjoyable than golf." "I volunteer to be the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:14

Tags: Murmuring, Pastors, Laziness, Church Members, Church, Complaining, Division, Gossip  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Hound Of Heaven

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 2, 2023

In his book The Call, author Os Guinness writes: We cannot find God without God. We cannot reach God without God. We cannot satisfy God without God—which is another way of saying that our seeking will always fall short unless God’s grace initiates the search and unless God’s call draws us to Him ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-9, Titus 3:5

Tags: Works, Sovereignty Of God, Salvation, Grace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cast The First Stone

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 6, 2024

Marilyn Helleberg told about being a teenager at church camp. She said an ugly rumor got started there about two of the counselors and it quickly became the talk of the camp. The next day, at Morning Prayer, the minister read the story of the adulterous woman. He spoke of Jesus telling the crowd ...read more

Tags: Division, Confession, Criticism, Gossip, Forgiveness, Tongue, Mouth, Love, Judging, Words  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God With Us

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Dec 2, 2024

I started out by describing a song that I had been singing all week long. (I used Leaning on the Everlasting Arms but you can use any song). I spent about 5 - 7 minutes giving all the details of the song. The author, the beat, where it is used at, who sung the song, etc. I keep the title ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:23, Philippians 2:5-11

Tags: Emmanuel, Immanuel, God With Us

Denomination: Church Of God

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

Recently, I Sat Down With A Young Man Who Was ...

Contributed by Hal Seed on Oct 3, 2008

Recently, I sat down with a young man who was having a tough time with the way he was thinking about life. “I hate this world,” he said. “I don’t like being with people. I don’t trust very many people. I don’t respect America. I think Americans are all self-indulgent materialists.” And then he ...read more

Tags: Revelation

Denomination: Baptist

Is This A Christmas Present Or What?

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 21, 2019

One great blessing of Christmas is presents. Of course, at my age, I am not too interested in what I am getting but rather what I am giving. I cannot think of one thing I really would want. I got everything I need even though some of it may be old and outdated. As long as it works, I'm happy ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6

Tags: Christmas, Holiday

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Didn’t Do It My Way

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 23, 2021

I don’t think I’ve learned very much during my life. I just bounce from day to day and take what comes. The one thing I did learn as I look back is, for the most part, I didn’t do it my way. Remember Frank Sinatra and his song, “I Did It My Way?” I would have liked to ask him, how’s that been ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:21

Tags: Surrender, Aggression

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

As I Have Attended Secular Schools I Have Seen ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 6, 2009

As I have attended secular schools I have seen the dark force – discriminate, attack, intimidate and belittle Christian students. These students are marked by the force just because they are Christian. They are targeted just because they have a Christian and Biblical value system. I have seen with ...read more

Tags: School

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Conflict Of Character

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

THE CONFLICT OF CHARACTER “You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.” - James D. Miles As she poured hot coffee into his mug early that morning, she noticed the guard’s countenance was more contemplative than usual. He was a man with ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:9

Tags: Honesty, Christlike Character, Truth, Integrity

Denomination: Charismatic

Flag Folding & The Meaning Of Each Fold!  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 9, 2002

Flag Folding & The Meaning of Each Fold! Unknown I guess this settles the "One Nation Under God" debate once and for all. Do you know that at military funerals, the 21 gun salute stands for the sum of the numbers in the year 1776? Have you ever noticed the honor guard pays meticulous attention ...read more

Tags: Funeral, Appearance, Motives, Holidays Civic

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Most Action Movies I Have Seen Have Some Aspect ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 8, 2010

Most action movies I have seen have some aspect of revenge in their storyline. And I must admit it, when the bad guy finally gets killed, I find myself agreeing with the hero as he says “The guy was a jerk and deserved everything he got!” Am I the only one? Some friends of mine were driving me ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Baptism: Clothed In Christ  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 1, 2012

BAPTISM: CLOTHED IN CHRIST Just this last week we baptized a 9-year-old boy into Christ. His name is J.J. J.J. knew all the answers to the questions I posed to him, but his father was concerned that his young son viewed baptism as a "magic act" that would make all kinds of marvelous changes ...read more

Tags: Baptism

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Extraordinary Or Ordinary?

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2012

EXTRAORDINARY OR ORDINARY? God is not looking for extraordinary people. God is looking for ordinary people who will trust God in an extraordinary way. Morton Kondracke is known as a no-nonsense, independent-thinking journalist who, in addition to writing, appears on shows like The McLaughlin ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-15

Tags: Trust

The Orphan Train

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Dec 15, 2016

THE ORPHAN TRAIN In the history of the westward migration in the United States, part of the story has been largely passed over. From 1850 to 1930, tens of thousands of those who populated the west were orphans--children from eastern cities who were without parents because of disease or the death ...read more

Scripture: John 14:18

Tags: Adoption, Rebirth, Orphan, Train

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God And Truth Relieve Agony  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Dec 13, 2001

GOD AND TRUTH RELIEVE AGONY Lloyd John Ogilvie, chaplain of the United States Senate, recalls: Senator Max Cleland, who lost both of his legs and his right hand in Vietnam, came to the Bible study withdrawn and tired. Another senator said, "Max, are you all right?" "Not really," he said. "I’ve ...read more

Tags: Descriptions Of God, Prayer Answered, God In The Hardships

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Was Burdened To Pray One Day. So When I Got ...

Contributed by Harold Wanton on Apr 30, 2005

I was burdened to pray one day. So when I got home from work my wife who usually would be home, was not home. So I to my room to pray and God led me to pray for a baby in our family. As I prayed ferverently in the spirit, I did not know why, but I prayed for about an hour. When I finished praying ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Romans 8:26-27

Tags: Prayer In The Spirit, Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Apostolic