In Sermon Illustrations: "Success In Ministry"

Smallpox Is An Infectious Disease Unique To ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Jul 8, 2009

Smallpox is an infectious disease unique to humans. It raises fluid-filled blisters in the skin. How many remember the smallpox vaccination? Do you remember that one big blister on your arm? A person with smallpox has them all over his skin. The image on Google was too hideous to show you. It ...read more

Tags: Religion

Denomination: Pentecostal

I Was Pumping And Finally My Friend Sorin Said, ...

Contributed by Ovidiu Radulescu on Sep 11, 2009

I was pumping and finally my friend Sorin said, “You know Ovidiu, I don’t think there is any water left down there… Oh yes, still there but deep down… And the good thing about the water that is deep down at 50 feet underground, is this: the deeper the water - the purer, the sweeter, the cooler ...read more

Tags: Zeal

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

What Happens Every 15 ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

What Happens Every 15 Minutes Hands on Illustration: Set the timer for 15 minutes – I am setting this timer for 15 minutes and 15 minutes from now it will ring and at that point I will tell you how valuable 15 minutes are in this world. When the Timer goes off and rings this is what would have ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17

Tags: Time

The Perseverance Of Dan Jansen

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

THE PERSEVERANCE OF DAN JANSEN DAN JANSEN: Resident of suburban Milwaukee, Jansen finished 4th place in the 1984 Olympics in the 500 Meters Speed Skating. But four years later, he came rearing back and had proved himself to be the fastest skater in the world, having won the World Sprint Cup just ...read more

Scripture: James 1:12

Tags: Endurance

The Spirit Of The Law

Contributed by Sean Harder on May 11, 2011

THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW I knew a woman who stopped for a few drinks every night after work to let traffic die down, then drove home, about a 45 minute drive in lower mainland traffic. She would say, "I'm fine, I've never had an accident and there are never any roadblocks on my route home. It's not ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Singing For The Girls

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jun 22, 2011

SINGING FOR THE GIRLS Last Sunday night I preached in a town called San Miguel. It was known for witch doctors and demonic things going on. We had a constant string of problems happening one after another. The church was crowded with every seat taken and faces looking through the back doors and ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

The Maker

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2011

THE MAKER An old Model T Ford was pulled off to the side of the road with its hood up, and a young man was trying desperately to get it running. He had been working at it for a long time without any success when a beautiful, chauffeur-driven limousine stopped behind him, and a well-dressed man got ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Knowing God's Will

The Spirit Of The Law

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 9, 2011

THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW I knew a woman who stopped for a few drinks every night after work to let traffic die down, then drove home, about a 45 minute drive in lower mainland traffic. She would say, "I'm fine, I've never had an accident and there are never any roadblocks on my route home. It's not ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:1

Tags: Alcohol

No Shortcuts

Contributed by Brad Henry on Aug 26, 2011

NO SHORTCUTS Now that the New Year is right around the corner there are those infomercials that tout great fitness. It seems that each year the machines get weirder. Hang upside down, spin 360 degrees then throw up. That loses about 5 lbs. Then there are those that bend you like a pretzel while ...read more

Tags: Change

Don't Worry Be ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 8, 2012

DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY The song Don’t Worry Be Happy was a late 80’s chart buster as it gained phenomenal success for such a simple song. The lyrics written by Bobby McFerrin were copied from original Indian sage from the late 1800’s whose mantra was one of peace. I remember the first time I heard ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Tags: Worry

The Word Of God Sent Through The Prophets

Contributed by Pastor Amos Dele Dada on Jun 7, 2013

THE WORD OF GOD SENT THROUGH THE PROPHETS You want success - believe the word of God he has sent through his prophets. Period. Imagine The German Army and the USA Army and United Kingdom Army gathered against Canadian Army. And God sends Pastor Dada, call him a Prophet for this purpose to the ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity

Denomination: Pentecostal

Consecrated To Do God's Will

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 25, 2017

Years ago a young girl entered a little Presbyterian Church out of curiosity. There she heard the gospel for the first time and was converted. She later heard God’s call on her life to go to China as a missionary. She was the only daughter of a multi-millionaire. She was socially prominent and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24

Tags: Sacrifice, Consecrated Life

Denomination: Charismatic

From Baseball To Addiction To Redemption

Contributed by Matt Neace on Jun 13, 2018

Former baseball great Darryl Strawberry play 17 major league seasons with the Mets, Dodgers, Giants and Yankees. He won a World Series with the Mets in 1986. But off the field, Strawberry struggled with addiction for most of his adult life. He was recently asked by Sports Spectrum radio, "How ...read more

Tags: Addiction, Drugs, Emptiness, Fatherless, Protection Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Stealing God

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Aug 20, 2019

A couple had two little boys, ages 8 and 10, who were mischievous. They were always getting into trouble, and their parents knew that if any mischief occurred in their town, their sons were probably involved. The boys' mother heard that a Pastor in town had been successful in disciplining ...read more

Tags: Presence, God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Servanthood

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Aug 4, 2022

As Christians can find all kinds of ways to minister in the name of Jesus. For example, there are 21,800 patients per year who receive chemotherapy treatments in Louisville, Kentucky, and most lose their hair. When Lynette Le Gette discovered this, it brought her to tears. She ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:10, Acts 9:32-43

Tags: Servanthood, Good Deeds

Denomination: Lutheran

Speaking Death Or Life Over Your Marriage?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 6, 2025

Far too many people spend a lot of time speaking death over their marriages. "Psychologists Cliff Notarous of Catholic University and Howard Markman of the University of Denver studied married couples during the first decade of marriage. Among couples who ultimately stayed together, only 5 ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:20-22

Tags: Marriage, Words, Putdowns

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Patriotism, Regionalism And Getting Past Our Geographic Biasis.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Oct 18, 2025

I’d like to introduce you to another great Daniel. Now this man is remembered as a great, a great in his sport and a great in New Zealand. Here he is playing in the jersey of the Worlds most successful rugby franchise, consistently the best team in New Zealand also. You can all appreciate just how ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:16-18

Tags: Regionalism, Abednego, The Fiery Furnace, King Nebuchadnezzar, Adonay, Judeah, Sadrach, Patriotism, Daniel, Babylon, Preference, Bias, Meshach  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Foolishness - Appearances Can Be Deceiving "the 10 Bridesmades"

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 19, 2025

A film crew ... was on location ... deep ... in the desert. One day ... an elderly Native American ... who had been watching the filming for several weeks ... went boldly up to the director and said, ... "Tomorrow rain." And sure enough ... The next day ... it rained. A week later, ... ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Tags: Fool, Foolish, Foolishness, Appearances, Bridesmades  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Give God A Blank Check!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

I read once about a family that put their elderly grandmother on a plane for her first flight. She wasn’t too sure about this mode of transportation, but she grudgingly went along with it. When she returned, some of the family members couldn’t help playfully asking, “Grannie, did the plane hold you ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Faith, Commitment, Trust, Will Of God, Believing God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Has The License To Drive Me Crazy?

Contributed by James Snyder on May 24, 2025

I will confess that I am crazy, but I didn’t get there by myself. Somebody has been driving me crazy. When I use the word “somebody,” I mean a lot of people. I didn’t always know I was crazy until a few years ago The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage looked at me and said, “Are you crazy or ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:9

Tags: License, Crazy

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance