In Sermon Illustrations: "Starting The Year"

Language Deficit

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 9, 2022

. As families become more dysfunctional, social skills decline. A number of school counselors are noting a rise in “language deficit.” Some parents rarely converse with their children but use the television as a nanny. The result: children recognize but do not grasp the meaning of COMMON words. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29-32

Tags: Communication, Speech, Talking, Social Skills, Language Skills  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Where Do Human Beings Come From???

Contributed by Garris Hudson on May 5, 2022

A little girl asked her Mom, “Where do human beings come from?” Mom answered, “God made Adam and Eve and they had children, and so was all mankind made.” Two days later the girl asked her Dad the same question. Dad answered, “Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race ...read more

Tags: Mothers, Mother's Day, Fathers, Genesis, Creation, Evolution, Father's Day  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Funny Marriage Sermon-Starter

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 23, 2022

An 80 year-old woman was recently married to her 4th husband. A reporter questioned the occupation of her newly acquired husband. She replied that he owned a funeral home. Curious about the other husbands, the reporter also asked about their occupations. The woman paused for a while and stated ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18-31

Tags: Death, Marriage, Humor, Husbands, Wives, Widows  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Speed Of Deliveries

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 27, 2022

Illustration: The Speed of a Delivery Delivery of items are jet-streamed today. You can order one day and possibly get it the next. “I’m sure, many prophets waited and waited, hoping to be in the generation that would see the fulfillment of God’s Prophecies, which took thousands of years. But ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14, Galatians 4:4-5, Matthew 1:1-21

Tags: Christmas, Prophecy, Incarnation, Delivery, On Time  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Funnnnny Story About Temptation!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 8, 2024

A driver tucked this note under the windshield wiper of his automobile for a police officer to read. "I've circled this block for 20 minutes. I'm late for an appointment, and if I don't park here, I'll lose my job. Forgive us our trespasses." When he came back, the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Tests, Trials, Police Officers, Drivers, Sin, Lust, Temptation, Excuses  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 9, 2024

Lead us not into temptation! A driver tucked this note under the windshield wiper of his automobile for a police officer to read. "I've circled the block for 20 minutes. I'm late for an appointment, and if I don't park here, I'll lose my job. Forgive us our trespasses, ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15, 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Faith, Forgiveness, Lust, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Prayer, Temptation, Trial, Test, Police Officers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Taxi Driver

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

A taxi passenger tapped the driver on the shoulder to ask him a question. The driver screamed, lost control of the car, nearly hit a bus, went up on the footpath, and stopped centimeters from a shop window. For a second, everything went quiet in the cab, then the driver said, "Look mate, ...read more

Tags: Hearse, Taxi

Denomination: Anglican

In His Marvelous Book, The Kingdom Of God Is A ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Jul 23, 2001

: In his marvelous book, The Kingdom of God is a Party, Tony Campolo tells a story that illustrates how I believe the church must begin to live out our witness in the new millennium. Campolo was attending a Christian conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. Since there was a six-hour time differential ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony, Compassion, Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Welsh Revival Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 2, 2009

Welsh Revival of 1904-1905 Modern world history also records times of revival due to the hearing of God’s Word undergirded with prayer. The little nation Wales once become known as “The Land of Revival.” It has its own unique spiritual heroes such as Saint David of the Celtic Church – William ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:4-7

Tags: Revival

I’m Not Old Just Young Challenged

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 18, 2025

Most people are fascinated by their age as if it makes any difference in their lives. Some people are very intimidated by getting older and struggle against it. When I was young, I couldn't wait to get older. I couldn't wait until I was old enough to get a driver's license. Why does it ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:29

Tags: Youth, Age, Old

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

In 1998, Teresa And I Took Our Kids On A Short ...  PRO

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Sep 7, 2006

In 1998, Teresa and I took our kids on a short vacation to St. Simon’s Island off the coast of Georgia. It would turn into one of the most memorable vacations that we would take over the course of the years. It was there that we begin to chase lighthouses scattered along the coastlines of ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

[293]. A Message From A Poem – The Story Of William Shuttleworth

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 19, 2026

[293]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE STORY OF WILLIAM SHUTTLEWORTH Alternate title if you like - WITNESS ON THE PATH OF LIFE Just to begin – you may wonder why I use =========== to separate stanzas. It is because the simple formatting in Sermon Central puts all the lines together and does ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:9-10, John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17

Tags: Story Time, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Born Again, Saved, Crime, Coming To Christ, Converted, A Christian Story, Christ, Salvation, Testimony  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Impact Of The Sexual Sins On This Society: ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 12, 2005

The Impact of the sexual sins on this society: Noel Hornor states: Sex is everywhere. It permeates the movies and the television programs we watch, the music we hear, the magazines and books we read, the talk shows we listen to. Society, it seems, is obsessed with sex. Perhaps never has society had ...read more

Tags: Sin General, Sin Exposed

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If My ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

IF MY PEOPLE... Our nation is in trouble: Abortion i. Nearly half of pregnancies among American women are unintended, and four in 10 of these are terminated by abortion. Twenty-two percent of all pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion. ii. In 2005, 1.21 million abortions were ...read more

Tags: Sin General

The Parable Of The Fig Tree  PRO

Contributed by Ty Tamasaka on Jul 26, 2011

THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE 6 "Then Jesus told this story: 'A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. 7 Finally, he said to his gardener, 'I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:6-9

Tags: Suffering Joy In

Denomination: Other

Dave Stone Recently Told A Story About His Trip ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 23, 2003

Dave Stone recently told a story about his trip to Ft. Worth Texas where he was the guest speaker for the Richland Hills Church of Christ. When he arrived, the preacher met him at the airport and being a good host as he was, the preacher insisted that Dave come a play golf with him before the ...read more

Tags: God The Father, God's Love

There Are Going To Be Things Happen To You In ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Jul 19, 2004

There are going to be things happen to you in this life that will make you cling to that eternal hope because there is no other. Wally and Barbara Rendel know that’s true. Wally is the minister at the Southern Acres Christian Church in Lexington and has been for over 20 years. But five years ago ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Christian Church

Power Of A Praying Mother  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 28, 2004

POWER OF A PRAYING MOTHER The year was 1820 and Peter Richley was a grateful man. He had survived one of the strangest and most harrowing events known to mankind. The ship which he had been traveling on sank. He was rescued. By some strange twist of circumstance, however, this ship sank. He was ...read more

Scripture: James 5:1-10, James 5:1-10

Tags: Prayer Answered, Prayer General, Mother's Day

He Was Described As A Man Who "Dangled The Power ...  PRO

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Nov 17, 2006

He was described as a man who “dangled the power of life and death over his fellow countrymen and murdered anyone who stood in his way...” By the end of the 1970s, Manuel Noriega had earned a reputation as the most feared man in Panama. In 1983 he promoted himself to general and gained control of ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Henry Winstanley Never For Lacked For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Henry Winstanley never for lacked for confidence. Becoming a man as England was becoming the mercantile juggernaut in the late 1600s, Henry Winstanley was a man who knew how to make a name for himself. He made his money as a showman, and then invested it in ships. A proud man, he knew that ...read more

Tags: Temptation Pride