In Sermon Illustrations: "Sycamore Tree"

Math Tests Through The Decades

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 29, 2011

MATH TESTS THROUGH THE DECADES * 1960s test: "A logger cuts and sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is four-fifths of that amount. What is his profit?" * 1970s new-math test: "A logger exchanges a set (L) of lumber for a set (M) of money. The cardinality of Set M is 100. ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:3-4

Tags: Wisdom, Walk, Fire

Truman's Faithfulness

Contributed by Ken Pell on Aug 28, 2011

TRUMAN'S FAITHFULNESS A number of years ago, the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, MO made public 1,300 letters that the late President wrote to his wife, Bess, over the course of a half-century. Mr. Truman had a lifelong rule of writing to his wife every day they were apart. He followed ...read more

Tags: Marriage Faithfulness

Denomination: Nazarene

Jewish Blessings

Contributed by Perry Greene on Dec 19, 2011

JEWISH BLESSINGS David Stern relates in hid Jewish NT Commentary, pp.115-116 that there are many blessings given by the Hebrew people. There are blessings for wine (Matthew 26.27-29); for bread (14.19); The Talmud (circa 5th century CE) had specific formulas for dozens of blessings that the people ...read more

Tags: Blessing

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Take Time To Say Thank You

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 2, 2023

A doctor wrote a letter of thanks to a schoolteacher for having given him so much encouragement when he had been in her class 30 years before. He later received this reply: "I want you to know what your note meant to me. I am an old lady in my eighties, living alone in a small room, cooking ...read more

Tags: Thank You, Retired People, Thanksgiving, Gratitude, Blessings, Senior Adults, Teachers, Encouragment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Beautiful America

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Jun 29, 2024

BEAUTIFUL AMERICA Oh my, what a lovely country. Americans, we are blessed. The wonders of this country could never be overstressed! Tall, majestic mountains boast glistening snow-crowned heads. Blue mysterious oceans gleam with sparkling water spreads. Green, luscious grassy meadows, refreshing ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Isaiah 18:1-2, Philippians 3:20

Tags: America, Patriotic, Independence Day, Poems About America

Denomination: Baptist

Sowing And Reaping

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 20, 2026

I want to remind you of a basic truth of Scripture - the Law of Sowing and Reaping that we read about in Galatians 6:7: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” I always illustrate this with the same example: if I plant an apple tree, can I expect ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7

Tags: Peace, Sowing, Reaping

Denomination: Methodist

That Was Lee Risler’s Problem According To ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2001

That was Lee Risler’s problem according to the Associated Press1. Mr. Risler, a 53-year-old sandal maker, was driving from his high desert home in Lucerne Valley, California to Hermosa Beach to sell his wares at a craft fair, when the accident occurred. For some reason, Risler’s van veered off ...read more

Tags: Repentance, Creator, Elohim, Evangelism The Lost, Sin Separates From God  (view more)  (view less)

Like A Bird In The Hand!" Matthew 8:14-17 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 8, 2005

“Like A Bird in the Hand!” Matthew 8:14-17 Key verse(s): 16-17:“When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took up our infirmities and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:14-17

Tags: God's Provision, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Lutheran

I Have A Religion!" 1 Samuel 18:1-12 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 27, 2005

“I Have a Religion!” 1 Samuel 18:1-12 Key verse(s): 11-12:“. . . and he hurled it, saying to himself, ‘I’ll pin David to the wall.’ But David eluded him twice. Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left Saul.” In a world where we seek only peace and kindness there is, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1-12

Tags: Forgiveness General, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Lutheran

Monkey Business

Contributed by David Dunn on Jan 15, 2026

I want to tell you a story about monkeys. This story takes place in a country called India. When I was about your age, I lived with my parents and my brothers and sisters in India. In that country they have monkeys. The monkeys don’t live in zoos like they do here. They live in the trees—right ...read more

Scripture: James 1:5, Proverbs 15:1

Tags: Mercy, Wisdom

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Phineas Could Not Sleep. He Was Up Before The ...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 16, 2009

Phineas could not sleep. He was up before the sun. He had his bag packed, and he was downstairs, ready to begin the day. The year was 1820. Phineas was finally to see an island- his very own island. Phineas had received the island as a gift from his grandfather. As a baby, Phineas had been ...read more

Tags: Lies

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Can't Win For Losing  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 5, 2009

CAN'T WIN FOR LOSING A man named Fred inherited a huge land grant, but the will provided that he could choose land in either Chile or Brazil. He chose Brazil. Unhappily, if he had chosen Chile, he would have received his inheritance in land on which they had recently discovered uranium, gold and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-29, Mark 8:27-33

Tags: Hardship Of Life

The Legend Of Jose Rivera

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 30, 2010

THE LEGEND OF JOSE RIVERA Have you heard the folk story of the bandit Jose' Rivera, who became notorious in several little towns in Texas for robbing their banks and businesses? Finally the townsfolk, weary of the constant plundering, hired a ranger to track down Jose' Rivera in his hideout in ...read more

Tags: Temptation General

Denomination: Brethren

The First Thing Bartimaeus Saw

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 30, 2020

Think of what Bartimaeus saw when he received his sight! Think of the wonders of seeing for the first time a crowd of human beings just like himself, the walls and palm-tree groves of Jericho, the sky, so blue above him, and the hills of Moab in the distance. But that was not the first thing that ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-7

Tags: Death, Heaven, Miracles

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Are Biologically Wired To Trust

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 20, 2023

Henry Cloud in his book, Trust, talks about how we are hard-wired to trust. If you have ever been around a newborn, you may have noticed that newborns do not do much due diligence when they're hungry. They scream with all their might and basically say, "Bring it to me now!" The human ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 13:12

Tags: Trust, Mothers, Infants, Neuroscience

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Bear And The Atheist  PRO

Contributed by Brent Williams on Jun 1, 2001

The Bear and the Atheist An atheist was walking through the woods looking at the beautiful trees and flower that had just bloomed. Because he was an atheist he couldn’t thank anyone for the beautiful landscape that he was witnessing. As he was gazing at the sky he saw a bear running toward him, ...read more

Tags: Creation, Apologetics God, Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Baptist

The New Dishwasher  PRO

Contributed by David Dewitt on Dec 12, 2001

THE NEW DISHWASHER In the fourth year of his layoff from his job, Dad gave Mom a dishwasher for Christmas. You have to understand the magnitude of the gift: Our old house had its original wiring and plumbing, and neither could handle the required installation. There was no spot in the ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Church Of God

Story Has Been Told Of A Lion Who Was Very Proud ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on May 20, 2002

Story has been told of a lion who was very proud and decided to take a walk one day to demonstrate his mastery over all the other creatures. He strutted his way through the forest until he came across a bear, ‘WHO IS THE KING OF THE JUNGLE BEAR? ‘Why of course you are mighty lion’. He went on ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts, Anger, Temptation Pride

Simon Peter's House  PRO

Contributed by Jackson Snyder on Jun 22, 2002

Simon Peter’s House The first find is the very house in which Jesus stayed, taught and healed the mother-in-law. Yes, Simon Peter’s house has been located, identified by etchings of crosses and over one hundred graffiti in five ancient languages scattered over upon the foundation stones and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:31-32

Tags: Apostles Peter, People In The Gospel

Denomination: Methodist

Consider Again Christmas  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 24, 2002

CONSIDER AGAIN CHRISTMAS When Pope Julius I authorized December 25 to be celebrated as the birthday of Jesus in A.D. 353, who would have ever thought that it would become what it is today. When Professor Charles Follen lit candles on the first Christmas tree in America in 1832, who would have ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Birth Of Jesus