In Sermon Illustrations: "Starting The Year"

The Story Of Open Table

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 21, 2012

THE STORY OF OPEN TABLE Open Table started with a chance encounter with a homeless man named Ernie who simply asked a youth group serving him a meal if he could come worship at their church. The adult youth workers were moved to agree to come the very next day to bring Ernie to their church ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

What Is Our Tradition?

Contributed by Perry Greene on May 20, 2013

WHAT IS OUR TRADITION? It is said that during a service at an old synagogue in Eastern Europe, when the Shema prayer was said, half the congregants stood up and half remained sitting. The half that was seated started yelling at those standing to sit down, and the ones standing yelled at the ones ...read more

Tags: Pentecost, Tradition

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Wrong Reasons For Study Of Bible

Contributed by Tony Abram on Jan 21, 2018

At the village church in Kalonovka, Russia, attendance at Sunday school picked up after the priest started handing out candy to the peasant children. One of the most faithful was a pug-nosed, lad who recited his Scriptures with proper piety, pocketed his reward, then fled into the fields to munch ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-3

Tags: Holy, Sanctification

The Bible. God's Manual For Life

Contributed by Jesse Crooks on Mar 10, 2020

The Bible God’s manual for living Joshua 1:8 Psalm 119: 11 Last year we finally traded vans. We drive one until it falls apart in the road. Our van would no longer go in reverse, and it would have been too expensive to replace the transmission. The new one didn’t have the owner’s manual, ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:8, Psalm 119:11

Tags: Bible, Manuel

Love Tore Down The ...

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Sep 19, 2008

Love Tore Down The Wall Some years ago, a couple decided they could not live together anymore. They separated and started divorce proceedings. Dr. J. Mike Minnix, Editor, PastorLife.com. Through their lawyers, they agreed to meet at the home and divide the property. As they went through the home ...read more

Tags: Memories

Denomination: Baptist

Two Angry Brothers?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 20, 2022

ACCIDENTLY, COINCIDENCE OR ON PURPOSE? There were two precious brothers. They loved each other. Their parents owned a huge farm. The brothers worked in harmony alongside their mom and dad for years. Suddenly and unexpectedly the father and mother died. One brother went to a lawyer about the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:29

Tags: Anger, Forgive

Denomination: Assembly Of God

At The Time Of This Writing, The Story ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

At the time of this writing, the story dominating the national news involves the execution of former Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein. On December 30, 2006 the gun-toting dictator, who ruled Iraq with an iron fist for 24 years, was taken to the gallows. This 69-year-old despot, who ruled in ...read more

Tags: Guilt

Rest If You Must, Don't Quit

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jul 28, 2021

TO ACCOMPLISH GOD’S WILL WE MUST HAVE MORE THAN NEARSIGHTEDNESS. Working with people takes time and much patience. Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. In 1981 I accepted the pastorate of a small mission work in eastern ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:19, Psalm 37:7

Tags: Patience, Remember Me

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Parental Challenge Of Helping Teenagers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2010

The Parental Challenge of Helping Teenagers Face Their World And I wanna share a story with you. It’s a traumatic one and one that actually happened. I did a funeral about four or five years ago and in this funeral it was really bizarre, because as the high schoolers came in about a third of them ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

Tags: Death, Parenting

The Dog Gone Story!  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 28, 2003

THE DOG GONE STORY! Many years ago before airplanes and the great jets of today, people had to travel by ships. These great ocean going vessels were very slow sailing across long distances. The King of Greece made the decision to travel to the USA. The King had heard of the vast land and how God ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Jonah Jones - From Cocaine Trafficker To Christian Counselor

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Mar 27, 2009

*The closer we get to Jesus, the more we will see a change in our lives. *Jonah Jones had a terrible childhood. Jonah’s parents were drug traffickers who introduced him to cocaine when he was 8-years-old. Unbelievable! -- but true. Worse than that, Jonah’s stepfather raped him. His mother abused ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 16:20-25

Tags: Testimonies About Jesus, Testimonies, Changed By Christ

Denomination: Baptist

A Full Life  PRO

Contributed by Ovidiu Radulescu on Apr 25, 2011

A FULL LIFE A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them. "Not very long," answered the Mexican. "Well, then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-19

Tags: Season, Contentment, Balance, Commandments Covet

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Return Good For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

RETURN GOOD FOR EVIL Let me share with you the story of a lesser known man, Rev. John Perkins. He was a black minister in the South "lived through the worst nightmares of the civil rights movement." Perkins started a church, then a Bible Institute, a radio program, followed by a health clinic, a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Sermon On The Mount

Do Not Wait; The Time Will Never Be "Just Right." ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

Do not wait; the time will never be "just right." Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ, Workplace

It Is Easy To Love The People Far Away. It Is Not ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 25, 2002

It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us...Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Unconditional Love

Rousing Music Research Shows That People Who Use ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 17, 2006

Rousing Music Research shows that people who use high- energy music to start their day before they face challenging situations can increase their ...read more

Tags: Emotions

Rousing Music Research Shows That People Who Use ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 14, 2007

Rousing Music Research shows that people who use high-energy music to start their day before they face challenging situations can increase their ...read more

Rousing Music Research Shows That People Who Use ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 18, 2007

Rousing Music Research shows that people who use high- energy music to start their day before they face challenging situations can increase their ...read more

Rousing Music Research Shows That People Who Use ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 20, 2007

Rousing Music Research shows that people who use high-energy music to start their day before they face challenging situations can increase their ...read more

Tags: Workplace

If You Have Made Mistakes ... There Is Always ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"If you have made mistakes ... there is always another chance for you. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life