In Sermon Illustrations: "Storms Of Life"

Friends And Acquaintances?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 26, 2020

Junior high/middle school basketball is always fun to play, and more fun to watch. These youngsters have acquired some skill—more or less—and it’s still more for fun than for competition. Oh, sure, we wanted to win, and few athletes that don’t want to win will ever get very far in any kind of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:3

Tags: Youth, Book Of Life, Athletics, Friends, Relationship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Solar Powered

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Apr 27, 2021

The other day I was sitting on my back porch. On my porch is a bird bath with a small solar-powered fountain. The fountain only works when the sun is directly on it and, since that day was a clear day, the fountain was operating at full steam. As I was sitting enjoying the day a brief passing ...read more

Scripture: John 8:12

Tags: Spirit, John, Light, Power, Life, Darkness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Meditate On The Lord.

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 18, 2021

Where I was Pastoring at the time I got 5th Sunday off. I had a favorite fishing hole. The water wasn’t very deep so I could wade in the water. That was fun for me. It had big trees that hung over the water and the sun would shine through them and made it look beautiful. It was great, this river ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6

Tags: Life Is Rough, God Teaches To Smooth Us

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Like A Rolling Stone

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Aug 29, 2022

Bob Dylan is considered one of the greatest song writers of all time. In 1965 he wrote "Like a Rolling Stone" - one of his most popular songs. It has been acclaimed as the greatest lyric ever written. "Like a Rolling Stone" is statistically the most acclaimed song of all time. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:37-42, Philippians 3:7-14

Tags: Community, Purpose, Identity, Loneliness, Meaning Of Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Owe Our Whole Lives To God!

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Nov 3, 2022

Genesis 6:1-9 Some think that the “sons of God” in this passage are angels; how can we say not? - v3 tells us that these men will die and angels are eternal beings; also, Jesus Himself tells us in the Gospels that angels do not marry! What can we say about Gen 6:2? – God’s creations of people are ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:1-9

Tags: Love, Thanksgiving, Sin, Life, Jesus Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Does It Mean To Be Crucified With Christ?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 6, 2022

To participate in the life of Christ, we must first be identified with Him in His death. "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection" (Ro 6:5-note). Those of us who now have eternal life have died in the person ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:1-11

Tags: Discipleship, Self, Dying To Self, Crucified Life

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Long Is Eternity?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 22, 2022

A young boy went up to his pastor after his sermon and said, "Pastor, how long is forever?" The pastor knelt down by the side of the boy and said, "Why would you ask me that question, Billy?" Billy said, "Well, Pastor, you said that we were going to live in one of two ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Eternity, Heaven, Time, Everlasting Life, Hell  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Let Me Put It To You Like This

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Aug 8, 2024

Let Me Put It To You Like This As a young boy, while in a country store on a chilly Fall morning, my dad and I stopped in for a few items. Looking straight ahead, I saw my first Potbelly stove, I was fascinated by it. Some older men were sitting around it and chatting, a couple were playing ...read more

Scripture: John 16:4, James 3:5, Ecclesiastes 7:25, 2 Timothy 3:7, Proverbs 13:16, Proverbs 12:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Stupid, Lessons Of Life, Wisdom, Experience, Fire  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Where Is Your Faith?

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 25, 2014

“A weak faith is weakened by predicaments and catastrophes, whereas a strong faith is strengthened by them.” – Victor Frankl Rain poured down and thunder boomed one dark night in September in Western Oklahoma. It had been a quiet, pleasant evening at the nursing center, and nurses and residents ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7

Tags: Active Faith, Encourage Others, Courageous Women, Faith Lifestyle

Denomination: Charismatic

Helpful Background On The Book Of Jonah

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Oct 7, 2025

BACKGROUND: *Today we will study the story of the Prophet Jonah. And it may surprise you but Jonah's story has some crucial lessons for Christians today. Almost everybody who has been to church knows the story of Jonah. It's one of the first Bible stories we learn as kids. They even made a ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-17, Jonah 4:1-11

Tags: Evangelism, Jonah, Nineveh, Storms, Gentiles, Old Testament Prophets, Baal Worship, Assyrian Empire, Sharks, Whales, Mediterranean Sea, Swallowed  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

You Are Not A Christian Until You Receive A New ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2005

You are not a Christian until you receive a new nature and if you receive a new nature there will be evidence. You can educate a pig to stay out of the mud and eat differently but on a hot day with fellow pigs he will resort to his normal nature and dive happily into the mud. If you could give ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Proverbs 26:11, 2 Peter 2:22, 1 John 3:7-8

Tags: New Creation, New Life, Nature, Salvation, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Years Ago There Was A Woman Crossing The Hills ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Years ago there was a woman crossing the hills of South Wales on foot in the midst of a blizzard but she was not as fortunate as my wife and I were in South Dakota. She never made it to her destination. When they found her frozen body they did not understand why in that climate she was not wearing ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8, John 3:16

Tags: Atonement, Salvation, Cross, World Religions, Eternal Life  (view more)  (view less)

James S. Hewett, Former Pastor Of Saratoga ...  PRO

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Mar 23, 2008

James S. Hewett, former pastor of Saratoga (California) Presbyterian Church shares this story: “A little boy and his father were driving down a country road on a beautiful spring afternoon. Suddenly out of nowhere a bumblebee flew in the car window. Since the little boy was deathly allergic to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:22, Luke 24:4-6

Tags: Atonement, Sacrifice, Salvation, New Life, Apostles General  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

We Used To Live In This Small Farming Town North ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Emmert on Sep 22, 2008

We used to live in this small farming town north of Manhattan. Down the street from our house was a sweet-natured and friendly family with a strange habit. They never seemed to throw anything away. They had completely filled their front porch with bags of trash and it wasn't long before their yard ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:37-38, Matthew 9:17, Mark 2:22

Tags: Change, Transformation, New Life, Born Again, Wineskin  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

Things I Have Learned From Gardening  PRO

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 10, 2010

THINGS I HAVE LEARNED FROM GARDENING • Nothing ever looks like it does on the seed packet. • Your lawn is always slightly bigger than your desire to mow it. • Whichever garden tool you want is always at the back of the shed. • The only way to ensure rain, is to give the garden a good soaking. ...read more

Tags: Creation, Growth, Discipleship, New Life, Church Planting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Brethren

Guiding Light

Contributed by Joe Bertone on Aug 20, 2012

GUIDING LIGHT Do you remember this intro? “And now, The Guiding Light.” It is an old one. According to Guinness Book of World Records The Guiding Light was the longest running drama of all time. It came on the air in January 25, 1937 five days after President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s second ...read more

Scripture: John 8:12

Tags: Darkness, Change, Soap, Jesus Life, Guiding Light  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Church's Role In Parenting

Contributed by Rodney Bowen on Feb 7, 2013

THE CHURCH'S ROLE IN PARENTING Recently reviewing the new book by Dr. Tim Kimmel title, CONNECTING CHURCH & HOME, I found my mind and heart really pierced with the current state of our in-church parenting. Churches and families need each other. And no, I am not referring to our family’s use of ...read more

Tags: Children, Family, Parenting, Christian Life, Family Ministry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Three Ways Out

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2013

THREE WAYS OUT Sir Harry Lauder was a British entertainer who proved highly popular throughout the English speaking world both before, during and after World War One. During World War One Lauder worked tirelessly to organize and recruit performers for shows given to troops serving abroad. When ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Death, Despair, Struggles, Hardship Of Life, Trials And Difficulties  (view more)  (view less)

Success Is Often Earned On Hard Rough Roads

Contributed by Tim Baker on Dec 21, 2017

I don't always agree with positive thinking ideals. I don't think a person has to believe in themselves, believe that they will be successful before attempting something. I think a person achieves more things then they ever thought they could simply because they attempted them. Sorry Yoda and Star ...read more

Tags: Try Again, Success In Life, Perseverance, Success, Failure  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tweeners!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2019

"Too many Christians are “’tweeners”: they live between Egypt and Canaan, saved but never satisfied; they live between Good Friday and Easter, believing in the Cross but not entering into the power and glory of the Resurrection. It is clear, then, that the believer cannot deliberately be ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-8

Tags: Canaan, Crucified Life, Identification With Christ, Sin, Egypt  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational