In Sermon Illustrations: "Strong Together"

Feasts In The Bible

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 11, 2014

There are seven feasts in the Bible and they help us to tell the time. In fact, the Hebrew word for "feast" is moadim, used 223 times in Scripture and means "appointed times". The feasts represent the calendar of God’s plan for the ages. Four of the feasts were historically fulfilled in Christ’s ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:1-13

Tags: Second Coming, Passover, Feast

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ox And Mule

Contributed by Perry Greene on Jun 6, 2017

An old farmer plowed hard for many days with an ox and mule yoked together. The ox told the mule that they should play sick and rest. The mule declined saying, “No, we must get the work done for the season is short. But the ox played sick and the farmer brought him hay and corn and made him ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:5-9

Tags: Consequences, Integrity In Work

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Christmas Present Unrealized

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 25, 2019

This is a true story. Freddie and John were fortunate enough to have a season ticket to watch Chelsea soccer in the UK. They could not help noticing that there was always a spare seat next (B14) to them and they had a friend who would love to buy a season ticket, especially if all three could have ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Tags: Christmas, Christmas Present, Unattended Effect, Missed Opportunity

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Cloudy Days

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 18, 2021

My wife told me about a dream where she is looking up at a cloudy sky with two arms sticking through the clouds and says, I love you. The arms sign back to her, "I love you." I am cautious about dreams and interpretations because most are just our brains doing what we call in the IT ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5

Tags: Dark, Alone, Cloud, Silence, Sile, Arms, Love, Heart  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

I Cannot Say The Lord's Prayer If...

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 8, 2022

An unknown author put together an interesting (convicting) summary of how we cannot pray the Lord's Prayer, which should be actually referred to as the Disciples’ Prayer, for Jesus had no sin to confess. I cannot say “our” if I live only for myself. I cannot say, “Father” if I do not endeavor ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God, Sermon On The Mount, Forgiveness, Prayer, Temptation, Holiness, Lord's Prayer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Story Of The Christian Lion

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 20, 2022

A missionary in Africa was walking through a jungle when he heard the ominous roar of a lion behind him. He was very scared and dropped immediately to his knees and started praying feverishly! "Oh Lord," prayed the missionary, “You know I have served you my whole life. I have even ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3

Tags: Thanksgiving, Protection, Prayer, Humor

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Trusting God To Rise Beyond Life's Challenges

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 16, 2024

Eagles are often harassed by crows that peck at them. Instead of retaliating, the eagle soars higher, reaching altitudes where crows can't survive. This behavior teaches us about rising above life's challenges rather than confronting them directly. Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who hope ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:31

Tags: Worldly Distractions, God, Trust, Power, Strength, Adversity, Rise, Worship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

A Joke To Share When Attendance In The First Service Begins To Drop

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 12, 2024

One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church. The plaque was covered with names, and small American flags were mounted on either side of it. The seven-year-old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:25

Tags: Church, Worship, Pastors, Attending Church, Dead Churches  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jewish Weddings Are A Portrait Of The Last Days

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 2, 2023

When a Jewish man found a woman he liked (and most times his father would pick one out for him) he would approach the young lady with a marriage contract (a covenant). In the contract were laid out the legal terms in which he would propose marriage. The most important part of this contract was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Revelation, Church, Israel, End Times, Last Days, Rapture, Bride Of Christ, Weddings  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

De-Evangelizing The Neighbourhood  PRO

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on Nov 30, 2004

De-evangelizing the neighbourhood I was at a conference a few years ago where they told the story of a church that looked as though they were really thriving: they had about 500 people attending, and had many outreach ministries reaching their community, and many people were coming to Christ and to ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups

Denomination: *other

Jingle Bells  PRO

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Dec 23, 2006

JINGLE BELLS The two of them were best friends in seminary, studying together, helping each other financially when one or the other got in a pinch, they stood by each other through thick and thin. When they graduated from seminary both coincidentally received a church call within the same state: ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6, John 14:1-3

Tags: Death

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sam Haughey (Commercial Salmon Fisherman From ...

Contributed by Scott Bradford on Jun 2, 2008

Sam Haughey (commercial Salmon fisherman from Alaska)told me a story recently, as I gave him a ride back from Methodist Hospital, how when he wakes up in the middle of the night in Alaska, he looks out the window, and he counts his boats. One night, several years ago, he looked out and one was ...read more

Tags: Parable Lost Coin

Denomination: United Methodist

E ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 8, 2008

ENOUGH Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said, "I love you and I wish you enough." The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more ...read more

Tags: Mothers

Twin Brothers And A Dollar

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 11, 2009

TWIN BROTHERS AND A DOLLAR In his book, The Preaching Event, John Claypool tells a poignant story about identical twin brothers who never married because they enjoyed each other’s company so much. When their father died, they took over his store and ran it together in a joyful collaboration. But ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

Giving Begets Giving  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 30, 2009

GIVING BEGETS GIVING Leadership Magazine carried a story about four young men, Bible College students, who were renting a house together. One Saturday morning someone knocked on their door. And when they opened it, there stood this bedraggled-looking old man. His eyes were kind of marble-ized, and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:2

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Generosity Of Poor Man Surprises Bible College ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 30, 2009

Generosity of Poor Man Surprises Bible College Students Illustration from Leadership/Melvin Newland: Leadership Magazine carried a story about 4 young men, Bible College students, who were renting a house together. One Saturday morning someone knocked on their door. And when they opened it, there ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Tags: Giving General

Ministry In The Hard Places

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 21, 2012

During his first year of seminary, Alan Hirsch led a small group of newly converted Christians that included “gays, lesbians, Goths, drug addicts, prostitutes, and some relatively ordinary people.” After graduating, he and his wife were called to go to South Melbourne Church of Christ in 1989 where ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Methodist

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

Carrots, Eggs Or Coffee  PRO

Contributed by Joel Santos on May 9, 2006

CARROTS, EGGS OR COFFEE A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as though just as one problem was solved, a new one ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[207]. A Message From A Poem – Our Behaviour Is Not Of The World

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 20, 2025

[207]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – OUR BEHAVIOUR IS NOT OF THE WORLD If I am a fool I will act like a fool. If I care for no one, you will probably find me at parties drinking and smoking pot. You see our behaviour flows from what we are inside. James had something to say about this – {{James ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:10, Romans 12:2, Acts 4:13, James 3:11-12

Tags: Christian Poems, Grandstanding, Ambition, Definitions, Worldly Standards, Good Soldiers, The World System, Conformed To The World, Behavior, Jesus, Truth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational