In Sermon Illustrations: "Take No Thought"

No Toys For Sister

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Jan 5, 2009

NO TOYS FOR SISTER Two-year-old Sarah and her 13-year-old sister who had been fighting a lot. Sarah’s parents, trying to take advantage of her newfound interest in Santa Claus, reminded the two-year-old that Santa was watching and doesn’t like it when children fight. This had little impact. "I’ll ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Salvation Army

Not A Voice, But A Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

NOT A VOICE, BUT A LIFE The late great Presbyterian clergyman and hymnist, Rev. Maltbie Davenport Babcock (1858 - 1901) once wrote: "Christianity is not a voice in the wilderness but a life in the world. It is not an idea in the air but feet on the ground, going [Almighty] God's way. It is not an ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will

Keep Your Eyes On Me

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

KEEP YOUR EYES ON ME One day, a man hired an experienced guide to lead him on a hike into the Swiss Alps. After many hours, they came to a high and remote mountain pass. To the man’s dismay, he saw the path had almost been washed out. What could he do? To the left was a sheer rock cliff, to his ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2

Tags: Disciplines General

Christ's Return Is A Done ...

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 17, 2009

Christ’s return is a done deal! In the May 1984 National Geographic color photos and drawings showed the swift and terrible destruction that wiped out the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in A.D. 79. The explosion of Mount Vesuvius was so sudden; the residents were killed while in their ...read more

Tags: Preparation

Denomination: Baptist

Saddam Hussein: A Story Of Judgment

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 17, 2009

SADDAM HUSSEIN: A STORY OF JUDGMENT It was in the desert area of Iraq. Saddam Hussein was found in a small hole in the ground, hiding like a rat, curled up hoping to elude capture by the American troops. He was found near a farmhouse outside the city of Tikrit, in a swift raid conducted without ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Baptist

Governor William Bradford's Account Of The Story ...

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Feb 26, 2009

Governor William Bradford’s account of the story of Plymouth Plantation discusses how the Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth and their leaders initially planned to have everyone own and share everything. They planned for the people to work for the common good, and believed that this would produce ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Baptist

Kidnapped

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Aug 8, 2022

It was December 5 - and I was turning 50 years old. My wife and I went out for dinner with some close friends. During dinner I was informed that we were staying at a hotel by the airport tonight because we had to catch a flight in the morning. Surprise! Happy birthday! Fred, we are taking you on ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1, John 14:1-17, Philippians 4:6-7

Tags: Peace, Birthday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Greedy Little Monkey

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 28, 2022

I once heard about how animal catchers used to catch wild monkeys for zoos. I was told that they would set an empty glass pop bottle in an open field with a peanut dropped into it. Then they'd hide in the bushes and wait. After a while, a monkey would sneak up to the pop bottle, squeeze its paw ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-35, 1 Timothy 6:10

Tags: Money, Greed, Discipleship, Riches, Kingdom, Parables  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Look Of Love

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 13, 2023

Most of us have a bank account, at least I hope most of us do. But have you ever watched the bank teller to see what they do? Bank tellers have a rather thankless job. All of that monotonous counting, handling those germy dollar bills, and dealing all day with people who are more than likely in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Tags: Love, False Teachers

Denomination: Baptist

Redemtion - The Bank Ledgers

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 3, 2023

Hear Gods Word: BIBLE God made him who had no sin ....to be sin for us ... so that in him ... we might become ... the righteousness ... of God. END (2 Corinthians 5:21) Years ago ...... when I was a young banker in Ohio, ... we used large leather-bound ledgers ......where all accounts... were ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 1:3-14

Tags: Blood, Salvation, Redemption, Ledgers

Denomination: Anglican

The Calling - Story About Peter Marshall

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 7, 2023

In her book, ...A Man Called Peter, ...Catherine Marshall ...tells how her late preacher-husband ...felt a sense of destiny ... a sense of call ...in his life. (Pause) One dark night, ...Peter, ...then a young man, ...decided to take a Shortcut ...across the Scottish moors. Customize this ...read more

Scripture: John 1:43-51, 1 Samuel 3:1-20

Tags: Plan, Purpose, Master, Calling

Denomination: Anglican

Be Like The Llama And Face Your Enemy!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 8, 2024

Reports the DENVER POST: "Like many sheep ranchers in the West, Lexy Fowler has tried just about everything to stop crafty coyotes from killing her sheep. She has used odor sprays, electric fences, and 'scare-coyotes.' She has slept with her lambs during the summer and has placed ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Stand, Running, Spiritual Armor, Word, Battles, Lust, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, Victory, Defeat, Fear  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Necrotizing Fasciitis

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 7, 2024

It sounds like something out of a horror movie, but it’s real. In recent years, scientists have discovered a kind of bacterial infection called necrotizing fasciitis, more commonly called flesh eating bacteria. Once this bacterium enters a human body, it can multiply rapidly. Within 24 hours, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:15

Tags: Unforgiveness, Bitterness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Moved The Mountain

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Aug 7, 2025

A small church was growing very fast. Every Sunday, more and more people were coming to worship. But there was one big problem—there was no proper parking lot. Many people had to park far away and walk a long distance to the church. The pastor and the church members started praying. They asked God ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:20

Tags: Faith, Prayer

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Before You Hit Send

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

Think about the last text thread that went completely sideways. You typed something fast because you were frustrated. You hit send. And three seconds later your stomach dropped because you realized you said it wrong, or you said too much, or you said the exact thing that was going to make the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19

Tags: Slow To Speak, Self Control

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Of My All-Time Favorite Movies Is "Mr. ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on May 11, 2001

One of my all-time favorite movies is “Mr. Holland’s Opus.” It’s the story of a musician who really just wants to be a composer. Rather grudgingly, he takes a job teaching music at the local high school, supposing it will give him time to write music while providing an income for he and his wife. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Baptist

Are You A Patter?" 2 Timothy 4:11 Key Verse(S) ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 8, 2005

“Are You A Patter?” 2 Timothy 4:11 Key verse(s) 11:“Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” Everyone seems to have a purpose; but what is mine? Do you sometimes wonder just what your calling in life is? For some it seems pretty obvious. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:11

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Lutheran

She Wasn't A Very Impressive Woman. She Was About ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 26, 2007

She wasn’t a very impressive woman. She was about five feet tall, in her late 30’s, and wore cheap clothes. She couldn’t read, she couldn’t write, and if she were to smile at you, you would see that her top two front teeth were missing. She lived alone. She had been married but left her husband ...read more

Belly Up To The Bar?" Romans 13: 1-7: Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 18, 2004

“Belly Up to the Bar?” Romans 13: 1-7: Key verse(s): 4a “For he is God’s servant to do you good.” About a decade ago an assembly of Christian leaders came up with this summary of what it means to be a Christian citizen: “It is impossible for a believer to be a good Christian and a bad citizen ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:1-7

Tags: Men's Day

Denomination: Lutheran

The Four Soils: A Physical Illustration  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 11, 2004

THE FOUR SOILS: A PHYSICAL ILLUSTRATION (The following physical illustration is taken from “Heno Head’s Simple Science Object Talks.” If you decide use it, take note that you need to carefully measure out how much baking soda you use, and how much vinegar you place in each jar. Since we have ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:4-15

Tags: Parable Sower And Seed