In Sermon Illustrations: "Suffering Joy In"

There Was A Little Boy Who Was So Crippled That ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 2, 2005

There was a little boy who was so crippled that he could not open his Bible, which he had always had before him. A gentleman asked him why he was so fond of reading it. "I like to read the Bible," said the boy, "because it tells me of Jesus Christ." The gentleman asked, "Do you think you have ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Carlyle Had A Very Devoted Wife Who Sacrificed ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

Carlyle had a very devoted wife who sacrificed everything for his sake, but he never gave her a single expression of appreciation for which her heart yearned. She came to regard herself as the most miserable woman in London and evidently died of heart hunger. After her death, Carlyle, reading her ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships

This Was Not The Despairing Cry Of A Helpless ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

“This was not the despairing cry of a helpless martyr. It was not an expression of satisfaction that the end of His sufferings was now reached. It was not the last gasp of a worn-out life. No, it was the declaration on the part of the Divine Redeemer that all for which He came from heaven to earth ...read more

Tags: Cross Agony

Believers Happier

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

BELIEVERS HAPPIER People who believe in God are happier than agnostics or atheists, claim British researchers. They become even happier the more they pray and go to church. The report found religious people were better able to cope with disappointments such as unemployment or divorce than ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Tags: Happiness

Depressed ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

DEPRESSED TEENS More than two million U.S. teens have suffered a serious bout of depression in the past year, including nearly 13% of girls, finds a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration report. On average, 8.5% of youth 12-17 admit to having a major depressive episode in the ...read more

Tags: Youth

Two Tombstones

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2010

TWO TOMBSTONES A tombstone in a small English village reads, "Here lies a miser who lived for himself, And cared for nothing but gathering wealth. Now where he is or how he fares, Nobody knows and nobody cares." In contrast, a plain tombstone in the courtyard at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-6

Tags: Christian Love

Raptured?

Contributed by Davon Huss on Nov 16, 2014

Herbert Washington, whom co-workers at Significant Plastics Inc. say was unduly concerned with the rapture and the second coming of Christ, suffered a serious heart attack when co-workers pretended they’d been caught away without him. "We didn’t mean to scare him to death," said one woman. "He’s ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Second Coming, Rapture

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Too Busy To Die

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 13, 2022

Too busy to read the Bible, too busy to wait and pray; Too busy to speak out kindly, to someone who passes by the way! Too busy working and worrying, to think of the life to come; Too busy building earthly mansions, to plan for the Heaven above. Too busy to help a brother, who faces trials and ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:27

Tags: Hell, Death, Heaven, Salvation, Funerals  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Five Brothers Were Walking Along A Road When ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 15, 2003

Five brothers were walking along a road when they saw a sign: “party tonight!” It announced. “Free food, drink, music, dance.” And best of all, at the bottom it said, “hosted in person by The King.” The first brother read the poster and said, “I’m not interested.” I’m going to stay home and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Baptist

Bishop Blake Of The Oklahoma Area Conference Told ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Buchner on Jul 15, 2004

Bishop Blake of the Oklahoma Area Conference told this story at General Conference… “In 1999, the Oklahoma Conference met soon after the tragic tornadoes that swept thought the area, the most severe ever calculated by measuring devices. Many homes and many lives were destroyed. That conference ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Methodist

Reasons We ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Reasons We Congregate Psalm 122:1, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’" We are told that this verse can be translated as, “I rejoice whenever they say to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’”. (The Expositors Bible Commentary) Our key text ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 122:1

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Ever Heard Of The Game Show Lets Make A Deal? ...

Contributed by Jesse Bennett on Nov 14, 2008

You ever heard of the game show lets make a deal? Let’s play it for a minute. Suitcase #1 you have the entire world all the people possessions, money, power. 2. You can do anything you want, have anything you want, live anywhere you want, travel anywhere you want. 3. Sounds pretty good, ...read more

Tags: Money

Denomination: Baptist

A Good ...

Contributed by Dwight L. Moody on Jun 11, 2009

A GOOD MOTHER (a classic illustration by D. L. Moody) A young man went home from one of our meetings some time ago. He had been converted. He had previously been a dissipated young man. His mother had made it a rule, she told me, that she "would not retire till he came home." That was her rule, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Tags: Parable Prodigal Son

Denomination: *other

Spurgeon On Experiencing Fullness In Heaven

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2013

SPURGEON ON EXPERIENCING FULLNESS IN HEAVEN The renowned 19th-century English preacher C. H. Spurgeon told this story about King Cyrus, the man who conquered Babylon and freed the Jews from captivity: A visitor who was admiring Cyrus' gardens said it gave him much pleasure. "Ah," said Cyrus, ...read more

Scripture: John 4:34-38

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, Husbands Love

I've Heard Many People Say So Many Times That You ...  PRO

Contributed by Russ Sharrock on May 4, 2002

I’ve heard many people say so many times that you can’t tell the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian. Alice’s sister-in-law, Keiko, is a New Age Soka Gakkai Buddhist. She is so serene, so filled with peace and joy, that Alice’s brother, her Mom and Step dad, have all been drawn ...read more

Tags: Peace, Christian Love, Cults

Denomination: Baptist

A Story Is Told About A Famous Preacher Long Ago ...  PRO

Contributed by Donald Smith on Apr 24, 2003

A story is told about a famous preacher long ago who pastored a church that was filled every Sunday by people who traveled miles on foot just to hear his messages. One day, as the church was emptying, a passerby asked one of the people in the church why this preacher’s messages were so compelling. ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Methodist

A Young African Boy Listened Intently As The ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Dec 4, 2003

A young African boy listened intently as the missionary teacher explained why Christians give presents to each other on Christmas Day. ’An expression of our joy over the birth of Jesus and our love for one another’. When Christmas came the boy brought the teacher a very beautiful sea shell. ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Christmas

Closing Blessing

Contributed by Greg Buchner on Oct 4, 2004

Closing Blessing You are a child of creation, a reflection of God, No one can steal your beauty or reduce your worth, Unless you let them…don’t let them! You are a miracle of God’s love… Never look at yourself and see anything less! Your life is not a random stroke of chance, You are part of a ...read more

Tags: God The Father

Denomination: Methodist

When My Son, Rick Was About 4 Years Old He ...

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Jun 30, 2005

When my son, Rick was about 4 years old he wandered off in a store and got lost or separated from me. My first reaction was panic, which then turned to anger at him and myself. Then I was full of frustration because I couldn’t find him. Did I just say, “Oh well, he’ll turn up!” – NO! – Neither ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To, Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

There Was Once A Very Old Widow Who Lived In A ...

Contributed by John Shearhart on Mar 19, 2006

There was once a very old widow who lived in a dirt floor shack. She worked hard for every bite of food she ate. After one particularly long, hard day she sat down and looked at the “dinner” before her. She had a glass of water in a broken cup, a dry crust of bread, and a handful of beans. A ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment