In Sermon Illustrations: "Start Right"

Beware Of The Conversationalist Who Adds In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Beware of the conversationalist who adds in other words. He is ...read more

Tags: Communication General

If Youre Going To Try Cross-Country Skiing, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"If youre going to try cross-country skiing, start ...read more

Tags: Human Body

In A Movie Classic - National Lampoon's Vacation ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Apr 30, 2004

In a movie classic - National Lampoon’s Vacation - Chevy Chase - otherwise known as Clark Griswold - leads his family across the country to their dream vacation at Wally World. Along the way, Clark gets lost several times. One time happened to be in St. Louis. After several wrong turns, the ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Lutheran

Author Mark Mittelberg Tells About A Man Named ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Jan 21, 2008

-Author Mark Mittelberg tells about a man named Jim who wanted to do things God’s way. Jim had a passion for God, a love for people, and a burden to share the message of God’s forgiveness with people who had not heard. The big question for Jim was, “How can I get unchurched people who are so ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Let Me Share With You The Story Of A Lesser Known ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

Let me share with you the story of a lesser known man, Rev. John Perkins. According to Philip Yancey in his book "Soul Survivor", John Perkins, a black minister in the South "lived through the worst nightmares of the civil rights movement"(Philip Yancey, Soul Survivor, p 31). Perkins started a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43, Matthew 13:14-40

Tags: Hatred

Vacation: Willing To Follow

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 11, 2008

VACATION: WILLING TO FOLLOW In a movie classic - National Lampoon's Vacation - Chevy Chase - otherwise known as Clark Griswold - leads his family across the country to their dream vacation at Wally World. Along the way, Clark gets lost several times. One time happened to be in St. Louis. As time ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

World Of Words

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 7, 2009

WORLD OF WORDS We live in a world of words. Words are all about us, words on TV, words on the radio, spoken words by family and friends, words printed in newspapers, books, on computers, and words on the Internet. The world of words have turned us into a people who have been overwhelmed, ...read more

Tags: Communication General

Power Of Forgiveness

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 10, 2025

Our sins, transgressions, and iniquities can manifest in our physical bodies. In Matthew 9:2, Jesus tells a paralyzed man, "Your sins are forgiven. Take up your bed and go." He got up! In 30+ years of ministry, I have seen plenty of folks receive healing from physical problems caused ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:2, Ephesians 4:32

Tags: Forgiveness, Healing

Denomination: Methodist

The Muscle Memory Of The Violin

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

From 5th grade through high school graduation, I played the violin. I was serious about it, participating in all-region orchestras, competitions, all of that. My senior recital was performing the Bach Double Concerto with one of my best friends. Here's the thing about playing a string ...read more

Scripture: John 21:3, Romans 7:15

Tags: Spiritual Drift, Sanctification

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On Courage  PRO

Contributed by N A on Feb 2, 2008

CLOSING STORY: “On Courage” Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at Stanford Hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liza who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her five-year-old brother, who had ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-16, Luke 13:9-13

Tags: Communion, Courage, Biblical Love

Denomination: *other

Don't Change Me  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 27, 2002

DON'T CHANGE ME Elie Wiesel, the eloquent Jewish author, once told this story: “A just man comes to Sodom hoping to save the city. He pickets. What else can he do? He goes from street to street, from marketplace to marketplace, shouting, ‘Men and women, repent. What you are doing is wrong. It will ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Growth In Christ, New Year's Day

An Older Couple Had Trouble Remembering Common, ...  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Sep 2, 2003

An older couple had trouble remembering common, day-to-day things. They both decided that they would write down requests the other had, and so try to avoid forgetting. One evening the wife asked if the husband would like anything. He replied, “Yes. I’d like a large ice-cream sundae with chocolate ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:1, Exodus 12:1, 1 Corinthians 11:24, 1 Corinthians 11:24, Exodus 12:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Christian Values

Denomination: Baptist

A Few Years Ago I Received An Excellent E-Mail ...

Contributed by Tim Richards on Sep 23, 2004

A few years ago I received an excellent e-mail that illustrates the very point the passage makes here. You can’t be right with God aside from accepting what Christ has done for you. In the story a man dies and goes to heaven. St. Peter meets him at he Pearly Gates and says, "Here’s how it works. ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Baptist

A Little Girl's Alphabet ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 10, 2010

A Little Girl’s Alphabet Prayer A father walked by his daughter’s bedroom door which was cracked just enough so that he could see that she was kneeling beside her bed in prayer. Interested to find out what subjects a child would bring before God, he paused and listened. He was puzzled though to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1-4

Tags: Prayer How To

Parental Influence On Children Compared To Sunday ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 8, 2010

Parental Influence On Children Compared To Sunday School It is well known that crabs and small shellfish of the same class walk in the “sideways” fashion. Once upon a time, the other fishes resolved to teach these mistaken fellow inhabitants of the deep the proper mode of locomotion, namely, to go ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Tags: Parenting

No Shortcuts

Contributed by Brad Henry on Aug 26, 2011

NO SHORTCUTS Now that the New Year is right around the corner there are those infomercials that tout great fitness. It seems that each year the machines get weirder. Hang upside down, spin 360 degrees then throw up. That loses about 5 lbs. Then there are those that bend you like a pretzel while ...read more

Tags: Change

Kory Wilcoxon- Gary, Who Was In His 50s, Was ...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 25, 2016

Kory Wilcoxon- Gary, who was in his 50s, was mentally disabled, and had the mental capacity of a six- or seven-year-old. He also had one of the worst singing voices I’ve ever heard. His singing was slurred and never close to the right key. And he didn’t have the social development to recognize his ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 95:1-2

Tags: Singing, Make A Joyful Noise

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Praying The Alphabet!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 12, 2022

A father walked by his daughter’s bedroom door which was cracked just enough so that he could see that she was kneeling beside her bed in prayer. Interested to find out what subjects a child would bring before God, he paused and listened. He was puzzled though to hear her reciting the alphabet: ...read more

Tags: Prayer, Humor, Lord's Prayer, Jokes, Needs, Children  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He Had A Gun To His Head When He Called My Office...

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 7, 2022

When I was pastoring in Texas, an unknown man called our church office and asked for the Senior Pastor. The call was transferred to me and I quickly discovered that I had a frantic man on the line whom I didn’t know. He told me how horrible his life was and how he couldn’t stand living in “hell ...read more

Tags: Desperation, Jesus, Salvation, Rescue, Witnessing, Suicide  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In One Of The Churches I Served After Seminary, ...

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on May 12, 2008

In one of the churches I served after seminary, Granny Parker summed up what I sense is God’s way of helping us along in the church. Granny is home with Jesus now. In this world she wasn’t very impressive; she only completed about 5th grade in school. But she had a heart for God and a PhD when ...read more

Tags: Pastors

Denomination: United Methodist