In Sermon Illustrations: "Start Right"

Perseverance And Poise In The Midst Of Pain--The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

PERSEVERANCE AND POISE IN THE MIDST OF PAIN--THE EXAMPLE OF KERRI STRUG When the Olympic Games were in Atlanta, Georgia, the whole world knew the name and fame of young Kerri Strug. Kerri became the key to the American women’s gymnastic team receiving the gold medal. If she could ace her turn to ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Tags: Endurance

Roger Williams: Worship As A "Religious Fix"

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jul 1, 2012

ROGER WILLIAMS: WORSHIP AS A "RELIGIOUS FIX" Roger Williams was thumbing through a magazine on a short flight from Sacramento to San Diego. He had taken his seat when two well-dressed, attractive 20-something-year-old women sat down next to him. Their conversation competed with his attention to ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Methodist

The Majesty Of God

Contributed by David Simpson on Jan 18, 2013

Just how can we comprehend the Majesty of God? By removing thoughts that limit the greatness, the Majesty of God. We need to show the majesty of God in our words and actions every day and start letting people know where we stand. It is not with great trumpets - or magnificent choirs - but it is ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 71:19, Psalm 33:8

Tags: Outreach, Blessing, Majesty Of God, Workplace Evangelism

Denomination: Christian Church

There Was A Little Canadian Bird Who Decided Not ...

Contributed by Sylvester Fergusson on Jan 26, 2013

There was a little Canadian bird who decided not to fly south for the winter. "If other animals can stay," he reasoned, "why can't I?" Against the better advice of his elders, the little bird stubbornly decided to stay. Very soon, however, he realized his mistake. The ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 16:8

Tags: Preparation, Procrastination, Temptation Pride, Presumptiousness

Denomination: Adventist

Remove The Hate — Be Pure  PRO

Contributed by Ken Pell on Mar 30, 2013

REMOVE THE HATE -- BE PURE "And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood (Hebrews 13:2)." Three years ago, Chris Simpson led a white pride march. Two years ago, he abandoned the white supremacist movement. This past April (2012), he was ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:2

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Nazarene

Offering Story

Contributed by Gerald Manning on Nov 23, 2015

Words of Offering: A rich, but cynical businessman said to one of his staff, "Show me a truly unselfish act and I will give you a $100 bill." The staffer, said, "OK, walk with me at the lunch hour." They went to that part of town where there were lots of street people. The staffer said, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7

Tags: Offering, Giving, Generosity

Denomination: Nazarene

The Deadly Hand

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 7, 2019

It was the nearly dark as James entered the room , over in the corner a poker game was getting ready to start. James joined in the poker game looking to beat the other players out of their hard-earned money. In this worldly realm it was just another poker game, with only money at stake, but in ...read more

Scripture: James 1:5

Tags: Sin, Temptation

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Story Of Adoption From India

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 24, 2019

In Bihar, India there is a man named Augustine Jubakumar. He leads a missions called Gospel Echoing Missionary Society. (Gems). In 2015 I had the privilege to visit India and teach in several bible schools and preach in several churches. GEMS includes schools, orphanages, bible schools, a hospital ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:4-7

Tags: Love, Salvation, Adoption

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lego Theology

Contributed by Davon Huss on Nov 23, 2019

Matt Proctor- Several years ago, two of my nephews accompanied their mom on a visit to a friend’s house. Ben was 8, Brian was 6. Their mother’s friend was a very neat lady- a place for everything and everything in its place. Though childless, she did have a few toys and handed Ben and Brian a ...read more

Tags: Church, Relationships, Synergy

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Never Surrender

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Aug 28, 2020

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. When the 101st Airborne was surrounded in WWII the Germans asked them to surrender. General Anthony McAuliffe replied, "Nuts!" The Germans tried to figure what that meant and while they ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:29

Tags: Ministry, Victory, Surrender, Defeat, Calling  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Give God A Blank Check!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

I read once about a family that put their elderly grandmother on a plane for her first flight. She wasn’t too sure about this mode of transportation, but she grudgingly went along with it. When she returned, some of the family members couldn’t help playfully asking, “Grannie, did the plane hold you ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Faith, Commitment, Trust, Will Of God, Believing God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Not What Was Expected

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Mar 16, 2022

Integrity is when something is the same all the way through. Pure gold is gold and only gold, all the way through. 14kt gold is less than pure, but other metals give it a hardness that allows more uses such as making beautiful jewelry from it. The bible calls the condition of being one thing ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:21, James 3:11, James 3:12, James 3:13, Matthew 23:27, Matthew 23:28  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Integrity, Hypocrisy, Tongue

Denomination: Charismatic

Stop Pushing Your Car And Step On The Gas!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 6, 2022

The Argentine evangelist, Santiago Garaballe, once gave an illustration of a man who bought a new car. He had never owned a car in his life. The car came with a powerful engine under the hood. What if the man then spent the rest of his life pushing it around! Come on family let's go for a ride! ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Tags: Holy Spirit, Resurrection, Victory, Flesh, Defeat, Spirit Filled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Cheapest Way To Park A Rolls Royce!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 26, 2023

In Mattew 25, Jesus taught the Parable of the Talents to His disciples. The parable shows the value of investing wisely by those who took their talent and multiplied it through wise negotiation. The one who buried his talent and did not invest was scolded by the Lord. Here is a funny ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Talents, Investing, Saving Money, Parables, Business, Kingdom Of God, Money Management  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Tragedy On The Drawbridge

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 12, 2023

A man had the duty to raise a drawbridge to allow the steamboats to pass on the river below and to lower it again for trains to cross over on land. One day, this man's son visited him, desiring to watch his father at work. Quite curious, as most boys are, he peeked into a trapdoor that was ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, Romans 5:8

Tags: Salvation, Gospel, Cross, Calvary, Blood Of Jesus, Death Of Christ, Evangelism, Easter, Crucifixion  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Generosity

Contributed by Anitha Jabastion on Aug 17, 2024

There was once a wealthy woman who was known for her miserly ways. Each time she gave to the offering at church, she only dropped a few coins into the box. One night, she had a vivid dream. In her dream, she passed away and was taken up to heaven. As she arrived, she was amazed to see many grand ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, Matthew 6:19-21

Tags: Giving, Generosity

Please Be My Guest

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Aug 29, 2024

My son and I visited Honduras several years ago, just before the pandemic. Compassion Canada workers escorted us to the home of a family that was receiving some of the funds we had raised for our sponsored children. The idea was to see how those gifts had been able to change dramatically the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:7, Matthew 25:38, Romans 12:13, 1 Corinthians 10:27

Tags: Guest, Hospitality, Receiving

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Finish The Race

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 11, 2025

“John Stephen Akhwari is an Olympic legend. Representing his country, Tanzania, he was a favorite to win the marathon at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Well-rested. Ready. His expectations were high. The Olympic marathon began in the afternoon of October 20, 1968. John Stephen Akhwari ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:1-3, 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Tags: Integrity, Finish Well, Cloud Of Witnesses, Run The Race

Denomination: Methodist

There Was A Man Who Lived Up In Upstate New York ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on May 22, 2001

There was a man who lived up in upstate New York and he was getting tired of the cold weather, so he decided to go to Florida. His wife was on a business trip at the time so he called her to let her know what he was doing and to tell her not to go back to New York but to meet him in ...read more

Tags: Communication General, Truth

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You See, Tv Evangelists Have A Reputation For ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jun 18, 2001

You see, TV evangelists have a reputation for exploiting people financially. Now, this is not universally true, but that doesn’t matter. BECAUSE - the media has so stereotyped TV evangelists – as always having their hands out (stealing for little widow ladies), that we desperately want to ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Reputation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ