In Sermon Illustrations: "Take It Or Leave It"

Regret For Not Witnessing  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Nov 21, 2001

In Decision magazine, Peggy DesNoyers writes: My job as a psychiatric home-health nurse brought me in touch with many people who were hurt or angry and who were searching for answers to problems in their lives. I knew that Jesus was the answer, but I couldn’t bring myself to talk to them about ...read more

Tags: Great Commission, Sharing My Testimony, Sharing Your Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In A Back Yard There Once Lived An Apple Tree ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Jun 25, 2004

In a back yard there once lived an apple tree and a thorn bush. The apple tree produced nice juicy apples that everyone liked to eat. Kids would climb up the tree and pluck the apples. Worms would eat the ones that fell on the ground. Birds would peck away at the fruit from the top. The owner ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-24

Tags: Faith, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Lutheran

Sea Sponge Collection And The Spirit

Contributed by Chris Surber on Apr 23, 2009

SEA SPONGE COLLECTION AND THE SPIRIT When my wife Christina and I lived in Tarpon Springs, Florida, one of our favorite places to visit was the Greek Sponge Docks. We lived on a few blocks away, in fact, and we would often take evening walks past the boats, restaurants, and little shops that are ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Christian Church

Thom Rainer And The Unchurched Next Door

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 14, 2011

THOM RAINER AND THE UNCHURCHED NEXT DOOR Thom S. Rainer has written a book entitled "The Unchurched Next Door". He wants people to understand the unchurched in order to better reach them. The premise is that we do not invite our neighbors for all the wrong reasons. He encourages Christians to make ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:1-24, Luke 14:1-14

Tags: Evangelism How To

Extraordinary Or Ordinary?

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2012

EXTRAORDINARY OR ORDINARY? God is not looking for extraordinary people. God is looking for ordinary people who will trust God in an extraordinary way. Morton Kondracke is known as a no-nonsense, independent-thinking journalist who, in addition to writing, appears on shows like The McLaughlin ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-15

Tags: Trust

The Orphan Train

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Dec 15, 2016

THE ORPHAN TRAIN In the history of the westward migration in the United States, part of the story has been largely passed over. From 1850 to 1930, tens of thousands of those who populated the west were orphans--children from eastern cities who were without parents because of disease or the death ...read more

Scripture: John 14:18

Tags: Adoption, Rebirth, Orphan, Train

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Paradox Of Our Time In History Is That We ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 2, 2008

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less ...read more

Don't Oppress The Poor

Contributed by James Dina on Nov 16, 2020

DON'T OPPRESS THE POOR "A poor man that oppresses the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food." (Proverbs 28:3) Anyone who oppress the poor reproach the Almighty God that creates the poor but those that honor Him has mercy on the poor (Proverbs 14:31). It is a grievous ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 28:3, Proverbs 28:27

Tags: Love, Poor, Rain, Oppression

Denomination: Pentecostal

Delete Or Repeat

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 27, 2022

Delete or Repeat Choosing What We Carry Forward Picture your life as a computer desktop crowded with files. Each one represents a memory, a habit, a choice, or an experience. Some files are useful and frequently opened. Others are outdated, damaged, or simply take up space—slowing everything ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-15, Isaiah 43:18-19, 1 John 1:8-9, Philippians 3:12-14, 2 Corinthians 5:17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Future, Goals, New Year, Tomorrow, Commitments, Starting The Year  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

[062c]. A Message From A Poem – Does Suffering Cancel Out A God Of Love?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

[062C]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DOES SUFFERING CANCEL OUT A GOD OF LOVE? THE POEM AS IT IS WILL NOT FIT IN THE ILLUSTRATION SPACE AVAILABLE. I HAVE HAD TO SPLIT IT INTO THREE PARTS. THIS IS THE THIRD PART. THE INTRODUCTION FOR THE POEM IS IN PART 1. PART 3 SECTION C - PART 1 (GOD ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:6-7, John 3:16, Exodus 34:6-7

Tags: Tragedy, God Of Comfort, God Of Love, Pain, Love, Christ, Compassion, Comfort, Suffering, Hurt  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On Little Yellow Flower! (11.04.05--Faith That ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 2, 2005

On Little Yellow Flower! (11.04.05--Faith That Flies!--John 6:18-19) Now is the time of year when most of the flowers in my wife’s flower beds have wilted and sagged. The frost has struck more than once, making even the hardier mums droop a bit. The time of blossoming has passed for most of the ...read more

Scripture: John 6:18-19

Tags: Faith General, Devoted, Doubt

Denomination: Lutheran

A Few Weeks Ago My Parents Came Down To Visit For ...

Contributed by Tyler Edwards on May 11, 2009

A few weeks ago my parents came down to visit for Easter and I got to relieve another childhood memory. My parents stayed at a hotel on Saturday night. Sunday after church we ate lunch and were hanging out before they had to start the journey back home. All of a sudden my mom panicked. She had ...read more

Tags: Mistakes

Denomination: *other

8226; It Is Easy To View Sin Lightly In A World ...

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Jul 30, 2010

• It is easy to view sin lightly in a world that sees sin as inconsequential, but we should view sin as seriously as Ezra did. (LAB) • When we see those around us in sin, we must fall on our knees as did Ezra! WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Denomination: Baptist

If You Had Asked Me A Couple Of Weeks Ago To ...

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Jan 16, 2005

“If you had asked me a couple of weeks ago to define the word tsunami I would have probably given a humorous response, suggesting that it was an item on an Japanese menu or the name of a new Korean car. Today, however, there is nothing funny to be said that that awful word tsunami. This ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Baptist

Did You Know That...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 25, 2005

Did you know that... The color in a butterfly’s wings does not come from pigment. The color is produced prism-like by light reflected by their transparent wing scales. Stranger yet, no moth or butterfly eats solid food (though some butterflies drink nectar); some can not even take in ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Some Are Famous

Contributed by Brian Black on Mar 20, 2007

Some are famous: Nathan Hale (1755-1776) – "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." Romeo – “Here’s to my love! O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.” Richard III – "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse." Julius Caesar (100-44 B.C.) – "You ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Went To A Conference In Brisbane Once In A ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Feb 21, 2010

I went to a conference in Brisbane once in a large Church lead by Pastor Reg Kliminiok. After he spoke, I went to him to thank him for his message. I finally got my opportunity after others had finished speaking with him. He took an interest in me and asked me about my Church. Halfway through the ...read more

Tags: Compassion

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A U.s. Volunteer Nurse Does What She Can In Haiti ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 28, 2010

A U.S. Volunteer Nurse Does What She Can In Haiti After an Earthquake John Wesley had this for his rule of life: Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can. We ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:14

Tags: Compassion

The World Is Mine.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 23, 2016

THE WORLD IS MINE. God allowed the Children of Israel to wander in the wilderness because of a COMPLAINING SPIRIT that was never satisfied with anything from God. God demands that we cast off the complaining spirit in Philippians 2:14 -- "Do all things without murmuring or complaining. Nothing ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:14

Tags: Complaining, Whining, Unthankful, Griping

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Trust In The Lord With All Your Heart And He Will ...

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Sep 3, 2007

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and HE will acknowledge and HE will light your way. This prayer has been sent to you for good luck. The original copy is from the Netherlands. It has been around the world nine times. The luck has now been brought to you. You will receive good luck within ...read more

Denomination: Baptist