In Sermon Illustrations: "Starting The Year"

The Tree Covered In Rags

Contributed by David Dunn on Jul 10, 2026

There is an old story that I have never forgotten. I have heard it told in different ways over the years, but the heart of it remains the same. A young man had a terrible argument with his father. What began as a disagreement eventually became a separation. Pride took over. Harsh words were ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:20, Jeremiah 31:3, Isaiah 1:18, Romans 5:8

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness, Hope, Reconciliation, Home  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Memorial Day, A Time For Healing  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 19, 2002

MEMORIAL DAY, A TIME FOR HEALING Memorial Day, perhaps more than any other holiday, was born of human necessity. Deep inside all of us lies a fundamental desire to make sense of life and our place in it and the world. What we have been given, what we will do with it and what we will pass to the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 29:1-5

Tags: Holidays Civic, Finding Fulfillment, Amos, Prophet

The Village That Lives By The Bible  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Mar 9, 2003

The Village that lives by the Bible by Clarence W. Hall It was early in 1945 when, as a war correspondent on Okinawa, I first came upon Shimabuku, the strangest and most inspiring community I ever saw. Huddled beneath its groves of banyan and twisted pine trees, this remote village of some 1000 ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Was Fortunate To Grow Up In A Home Where My ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 22, 2004

I was fortunate to grow up in a home where my father was both a loving and disciplining presence. I guess I would have to say that if there is anything I really remember about my dad is this, he possessed a presence unlike any other person in my life. To me he was always larger than life. He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 16:1-12

Tags: Father's Day, Parenting

Denomination: Lutheran

Artesian Forgiveness!" Matthew 5: 43-48 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 30, 2004

“Artesian Forgiveness!” Matthew 5: 43-48 Key verse(s): 46 “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” Here at Beech Springs one of the things that sets these few acres apart is the artesian well that highlights our front yard. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Kindness

Denomination: Lutheran

Farmall Hospitality!" 3 John 1-8 Key Verse(S): ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 17, 2004

“Farmall Hospitality!” 3 John 1-8 Key verse(s): 5: “Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you.” I’m a Corvair man! That means that I drive old, forty years or more, cars with air-cooled engines and no shoulder harnesses. Since I’ve ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:1-8

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Christian Love, Prosperous

Denomination: Lutheran

April 18, 2005 "Good Name Above Good Gain!" ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 14, 2005

April 18, 2005 “Good Name Above Good Gain!” Genesis 43:1-12 Key verse(s) 12:“Take double the amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back in the mouths of your sacks.” In a world so caught up in rules and regulations it is not surprising that in that regulating ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:31-35, Genesis 43:1-12

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

Is The Church On The Endangered List?  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 18, 2006

** IS THE CHURCH ON THE ENDANGERED LIST? Many Americans are on a spiritual quest. This should be good news for the church. But, according to researchers, many of them are choosing noninstitutional forms of religion. A recent poll by Gallup shows that weekly church attendance is holding steady at ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 71:18

Tags: Sanctuary, Church General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Real Mccoy

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jul 18, 2010

THE REAL MCCOY It was about a seventy-two-year-old Baptist preacher names Charles McCoy. McCoy was pastoring a Baptist church in Oyster Bay, New York, when at age seventy-two he was told by his denomination to retire. A lifelong bachelor, he had cared for his mother for as long as she lived. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:16-30

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Following Christ

Denomination: Anglican

Knock, Knock; Someone’s In Trouble

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 27, 2021

For some reason, the last several weeks we have been getting many visitors at our door. I'm not sure if this is a general trend or if it is just our door. Some of them have been salesmen, religious people, scam artists, and a host of other people. They only had one goal in mind, and that was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:31

Tags: Money, Telemarketers, Knocking On Doors

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Green Thumb Versus Black And Blue Thumb

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 16, 2021

If you came to our parsonage, you would discover all over our property, plants and flowers. Just don’t ask me to identify what they are. I can tell a plant from a flower, but that’s as far as it goes with me. That is not true with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. She gets all the credit for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tags: Unity, Differences

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

A History Of Thanksgiving ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2008

A HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING DAY In 1604 King James came to power in England. We hear his name often, as the most trusted version of the English Bible was translated during his reign – the King James Version. He was relatively tolerant of other religious opinions, except those that openly criticized ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

So You Think Sins Don’t Matter?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Sep 12, 2022

Introduction: Have you ever heard someone say, “Oh, sin doesn’t matter” or anything like that? There are plenty of times when, in the Bible, when it certainly did. Would you believe that only two major sins cost Israel thousands of their population? Let’s take a look. Text: Numbers 1:44-46, KJV: ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 1:44-46, Numbers 26:51

Tags: Moses, Sin, Balaam, Phinehas

Denomination: Baptist

[334]. A Message From A Poem - What Foundation Do You Have?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 15, 2026

[334]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WHAT FOUNDATION DO YOU HAVE? This poem is built on the parable of the house built on sand and the other built on rock. It is a well known parable – {{Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, AND ACTS UPON THEM may be compared with a wise ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 89:26, James 4:13-14, Ephesians 2:20, Matthew 13:15-16, Matthew 7:24-27  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Salvation, Sand, Cyclone, Foundation, Destruction, Hurricane, House Built On Sand, Build On The Rock, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Hidden Mud And Leaves!" Ephesians 6:10-17 ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 14, 2004

“The Hidden Mud and Leaves!” Ephesians 6:10-17 Key verse(s): 10: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” We moved to Beech Springs valley some sixteen summers ago now. We had been looking for a place that could afford us peace, quiet and some room for our growing family to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-17

Tags: Battle, Doubt, Enemy, Stand, Strong  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

A Supernatural Event!" Matthew 5:43-48 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 31, 2005

“A Supernatural Event!” Matthew 5:43-48 Key verse(s): 44:“‘But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’” Pray for them who hate you! We know that this is what Jesus taught. And there are examples from Scripture of those who have dealt with their enemies in this manner. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Lutheran

The Real Sun King!" Job 37:19-24 Key Verse(S): ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 13, 2005

“The Real Sun King!” Job 37:19-24 Key verse(s): 23:“The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.” What does it mean to be truly great? There have been many in history who have claimed to be great, even the greatest. People ...read more

Scripture: Job 37:19-24

Tags: Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Lutheran

Sheila-Ism?" Matthew 25:14-30 Key Verse(S) ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 6, 2005

“Sheila-ism?” Matthew 25:14-30 Key verse(s) 24:“Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.’” Taking the safest route is something that my father always ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Faith, Faith General, Gift, Money, Obedience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Easter Eggs And Bloodhounds

Contributed by Jack Kale on Apr 6, 2016

Easter Eggs and the Bloodhound in Your Soul The rain forced us inside for our annual family Easter egg hunt, but we had a blast anyway. The kids started by hiding 120 eggs in the kitchen and den while the adults played cards in the dining room. Gangee, Pap-Pap, Uncle Paul, Aunt Kathryn, my ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7

Tags: Truth, Hunting, Hiding Place, Finding God's Grace, Easter Egg Hunt  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: *other

If Every Dog Has Its Day I Should Be Barking

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 2, 2019

Lately, I have been getting behind in my work schedule. Just when I think I am caught up, I discover something I had forgotten about. If only I could forget what I forgot, I would be happy. I am pretty close to being a master at the “O, I simply forgot about that” excuse. Getting away with it ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:38

Tags: Relationships, Stewartship

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance