In Sermon Illustrations: "Stille Nacht"

Is He Real Or Pretend?

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Dec 15, 2011

IS HE REAL OR PRETEND? I think George Reeves was the first actor to be Superman on TV. Back in the 50's, TV actors were not quite as "elite" as some seem to be now. They would throw out the first pitch at a Los Angeles little league game. They would fire the starting pistol for a soap box derby ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7, Isaiah 29:13

Tags: Hypocrisy, Sincerity

Denomination: Baptist

Painlessness Is Your Enemy

Contributed by Bret Toman on Jan 31, 2012

PAINLESSNESS IS YOUR ENEMY Dr Paul Brand was born in India to missionary parents and spent most of his life caring for people who couldn’t feel pain - people with leprosy. He spent much of life studying pain. At one point he was given a grant to develop a system of warning that would protect ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Baptist

The Story Of The Gipper

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Feb 2, 2012

THE STORY OF THE GIPPER It was halftime of the 1928 Army vs. Notre Dame Game that legendary head coach Knute Rockne gave his "win one for the Gipper" speech to his beleaguered players. Notre Dame was having one of its worst seasons on record and Rockne was trying to salvage what he could of the ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Staying The Course

Contributed by Ken Pell on Feb 12, 2012

STAYING THE COURSE The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Nazarene

Amish Grace And Forgiveness

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 9, 2012

AMISH GRACE AND FORGIVENESS Following the tragic Amish school shooting of 10 young schoolgirls in a one-room Amish school in October 2006, reporters from throughout the world invaded Lancaster County, PA to cover the story. However, in the hours and days following the shooting a different, an ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tough Love  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 15, 2012

TOUGH LOVE "Living in this house is like living in hell," screamed the young girl as she stamped her feet on the way upstairs to her room. The mother stood looking at her daughter, a hint of tears forming in her eyes. She wanted to run up the stairs and hug her daughter but she knew the timing ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 13:24

Tags: Parenting

In The Recent Summer Games (2012), Kim Rhode Won ...  PRO

Contributed by Kelly Mitchell on Aug 11, 2012

In the recent Summer Games (2012), Kim Rhode won the gold medal in skeet shooting making her the first American to win 5 olympic medals in 5 consecutive olympic games. That’s a span of 20 years and not her only distinction. In the 2012 games, she hit 99 out of 100 skeet setting a new Olympic ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 9:24-27

Tags: Preparation, Commitment To Christ, Disciplines General, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Baptist

He Has My Best Interests At Heart

Contributed by Bret Toman on Oct 31, 2012

HE HAS MY BEST INTERESTS AT HEART A few years ago I had a scary encounter with a masked man wielding a knife. I remember him with gratitude, though, since he was an orthopedic surgeon to whom I paid thousands of dollars to correct some problems with my left foot... For 3 months the surgeon ...read more

Tags: Commandments General

Denomination: Baptist

Hush Puppies

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Aug 27, 2014

Are you familiar with the brush-suede shoe called Hush Puppies? It was popular when I was a kid. The brand was all but dead until late 1994. Sales were down to 30,000 pairs a year, mostly sold in backwoods outlets and small-town family stores. Wolverine, the company that makes Hush Puppies, was ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:10

Tags: Prayer Power, Importance Of Prayer

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Is The Answer

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 11, 2015

Krister Sairsingh, a former Hindu from Trinidad who is now the Chaplain to international students at Harvard. Let me read you some excerpts from his story. After making great progress in the Hindu spiritual disciplines something happened that unsettled him deeply. During my final year of high ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:1-32

Tags: Evangelism, Conversion, Jesus Is The Answer

Denomination: Methodist

Just Let Go !

Contributed by Bruce Simpkins on Mar 11, 2015

In my younger years I thought it would be an exciting adventure to try sky diving. After checking into it, I found I could get a big discount if I brought 5 friends to jump with me . . . so I did. It was a beautiful sunny day in California when we arrived for a half day training and then an ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

Tags: He Is Strong, I Am Weak

Denomination: Baptist

Embracing The Interruptions (Fatherhood Thoughts)

Contributed by Matthew Redder on Jun 8, 2018

As a young Father I remember being frequently awakened in the middle of the night by my son. I would open my eyes to see him standing next to my bed, staring at me. It was startling and honestly, a little bit creepy. I would ask him what he needed and it was always something like, "I had a bad ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:10-12

Tags: Father, Listen, Fathers Day, Father And Son

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

War

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 15, 2019

WAR My life fell apart in the summer of ‘68. One minute I was the happiest man in the world then wham! It was all over. My countenance changed from a look of total contentment into one filled with agony and anguish. Here I was living in total rapture, married to the woman of my dreams. It’s hard ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

Tags: Battle, War

Denomination: Pentecostal

Something For Nothing?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 13, 2020

Several years ago, I had to make an urgent flight across the country. Because the only airport with those kinds of connections was a good ways away, I took advantage of a shuttle service. Considering the cost of fuel and parking alone, I figured I could get a ride from the northern terminal all ...read more

Scripture: John 6:25-27

Tags: Greed, Motive Or Motivation

Denomination: Baptist

The Grace Of God

Contributed by James Dina on Oct 25, 2020

THE GRACE OF GOD "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which [was bestowed] upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15:10) Grace can be defined as the love and mercy given ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:10

Tags: Grace, Grace Of God, Unmerited Favor

Denomination: Pentecostal

What Do I Do When I Am Rejected?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 17, 2022

REJECTED, TRY AGAIN SORRY CHARLIE? REMEMBER THE STARKIST TUNA MASCOT? CHARLIE IS THE MOST FAMOUS … TOUGH LUCK, BRO… JUST GET OVER IT… REJECTED? WE CAN HELP CHEER ON OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN REJECTED. CARMELO ANTONY, third player picked in the NBA DRAFT,. He played 17 years and became one ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Philippians 2:3

Tags: Try Again, Persist, Rejection

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Unsung Heroines-Salome

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 23, 2022

Introduction: She’s only mentioned in two verses, and only in one of the Gospels. Her deeds of love for Jesus, though, far outweigh any lack of text. Her name is Salome and she’s another unsung heroine of the Bible. Text: Mark 15:40-41, KJV: 40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:40-41, Luke 24:1-11

Tags: Salome, Unsung Heroines

Denomination: Baptist

The Most Incredible Birthday Miracle

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 21, 2022

I heard a missionary from Brazil tell an amazing story of the faithfulness of God at an Evangelism Conference in Dallas several years ago. He said that there was a woman named Maria in his country who was an unbeliever who was celebrating her 30th birthday. On that day, she looked up to Heaven ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Missions, Prayer, Miracles, Testimony, Will Of God, Waiting On God, Faithfulness Of God, Sovereignty Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unsung Heroes: They Helped A Desperate Father

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 14, 2023

Introduction: True friends are those willing to help. These unsung heroes helped a desperate father bring his son to Jesus. Text, Mark 9:17-20a, KJV: 17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; 18 And wheresoever he taketh him, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:17-20

Tags: Jesus, Evil Spirits, Unsung Heroes

Denomination: Baptist

Ordinary Joe – An Unsung Hero

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 24, 2023

Ordinary Joe – An Unsung Hero There are many characters in the cast of the Christmas story that have gripped the Church’s imagination but there’s one that has rarely had a place in the spotlight. Joseph. There’s the Magi, exotic and somehow still gleaming in their silks after the long, dusty road ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:16-25, Matthew 2:14-21, Luke 1:27, Luke 3:23-30

Tags: Angel, Christmas, Angels, Joseph, Simeon, Genealogy, Mary And Joseph  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed