In Sermon Illustrations: "Take Off"

A Dream For God

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Aug 10, 2008

"A Dream for God" Many years ago a young man had a dream of telling the story of Jesus everywhere in the world. When he suggested taking that good news to people, an older man said, "Sit down, young man. If God wants to save the heathen, he will do it without your help or mine." This young ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will

Denomination: Christian Church

Identify With The Lost

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

IDENTIFY WITH THE LOST In her famous book and film, "The Hiding Place" Corrie ten Boom tells the story of a Dutch Christian family, her family, who had a heart for the Jewish people. Her grandfather Wilhelm started a weekly prayer group in 1844 in the city of Haarlem, near Amsterdam for the ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Nizhizaka Hill Is The Place In Nagasaki, Japan ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

Nizhizaka Hill is the place in Nagasaki, Japan where the 26 martyrs were executed on 15 February 1597, 400 years ago. They went to their deaths singing Psalm 113. Paul Miki was preaching. Contrary to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the ruler of Japan’s expectation the Christians’ faith was strengthened. ...read more

Tags: Persecution

We Need Fixing

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

WE NEED FIXING There was a barber in a small local town who had been the only barber in town for years. Everyone went to this barber to get their hair cut. Then, one day a big hair salon franchise came to town and opened up shop. They advertised, "All Haircuts for $3.00" Slowly, the barber's ...read more

Tags: Character

Coming In Last

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Aug 27, 2008

Coming in Last Discouragement cramps our momentum; the heat-stroke of opposition can drain our stamina and motivation. Running into obstacles that drive our faces in the asphalt of reality make it hard to get back up. Our stories are not unlike Felicians Hopfner-Hibb's or Simon Whitfield's. Last ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Salvation Army

Macarthur Told About A Time That He And His ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

MacArthur told about a time that he and his family came back from vacation to find a large giant sunflower plant growing right in the middle of their garden, but he said they never even had the thought, that it came from any other seed than a giant sunflower seed. "You sow a thought and you reap ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Sowing The Flesh

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

SOWING THE FLESH MacArthur told about a time that he and his family came back from vacation to find a large giant sunflower plant growing right in the middle of their garden, but he said they never even had the thought, that it came from any other seed than a giant sunflower seed, "You sow a ...read more

Tags: God's Holiness

I Read A Fascinating Article Last Week That ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

I read a fascinating article last week that invited me to watch a breath-taking phenomenon that only occurs once every 44 years. It is the aligning of Jupiter and Venus with the Moon. Added to this amazing spectacle, viewed best with binoculars because the evening light would make it hard to see ...read more

Tags: Money

Rick Warren And Colossians 3:2

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Jan 5, 2009

RICK WARREN AND COLOSSIANS 3:2 Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life book earned $9 million in first quarter of its release. Rick told God he didn’t need the money, it wasn’t about the money. What did he do? He searched the Bible. Here’s his answer to his interview with David Kuo of Beliefnet. "I ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Salvation Army

Prof. Howard Hendricks Of Dallas Theo. Seminary ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Feb 25, 2009

Prof. Howard Hendricks of Dallas Theo. Seminary said: Years ago in a church in Dallas we were having trouble finding a teacher for a junior high boys’ class. The list of prospects had only one name -- and when they told me who it was I said, "You’ve got to be kidding." But I couldn’t have been ...read more

Tags: Prayer Answered

Denomination: Pentecostal

People Are Special!

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 17, 2020

Aug. 13, 2020 (UPI) -- A 95-year-old California man known to neighbors as "Bicycle Bob" was treated to a celebration after he logged his 100,000th mile of cycling… he took up cycling when he retired in the 1990s and has been logging his miles ever since. Mettauer logged his 100,000th ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 8:1-9

Tags: Man, Ability, Mankind, Human, Dignity Of Man  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Funny Church Feuds

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 31, 2022

Church feuds are not uncommon, especially among cliques in the congregation. But when the pastor and worship leader get into it, stand aside. In one church, the preacher preached one weekend on commitment, and how you should dedicate yourselves to service. The worship leader then led the choir in ...read more

Tags: Church, Unity, Hymns, Division, Church Fights  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Census At The Birth Of Jesus

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 9, 2023

Historians have been puzzled about the census. The one taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. While all this begins to explain why Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, Luke is making a point. The birth of this little boy is the beginning of a confrontation between the kingdom of God - in all its ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-2

Tags: Mary And Joseph, Quirinus, Caeser Agustus, Bethlehem, Birth, Census  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

See The Lamb Of God

Contributed by Samuel M on Mar 19, 2025

When we are going through difficult times( or testing) and still remain obedient to God’s word, we will find, see (the lamb of God) and receive a greater (or deeper) revelation of the lamb of God. When Abraham was about to offer his only son as a sacrifice, he saw the ram caught in the thicket. ...read more

Tags: Faith, Hope

A Good Friend Of Mine Recently Told Me About An ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 23, 2000

A good friend of mine recently told me about an incident that happened to him that explains why a person can worship, and yet still not know God. It all began before the plane took off. Roger Williams III was sitting in the window seat and was looking forward to thumbing through a magazine on a ...read more

Tags: Holiness, Apologetics General, Church General

Denomination: Baptist

Jill Stanek Is A 44 Year Old Nurse Who Worked ...  PRO

Contributed by Rich Young on Jan 21, 2001

JILL STANEK IS A 44 YEAR OLD NURSE WHO WORKED FOR SEVERAL YEARS AT THE CHRIST HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTER IN OAK LAWN, ILLINOIS, A CHICAGO SUBURB. SHE CHOSE THIS HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF ITS CHRISTIAN NAME, HOPING THAT SHE WOULDN’T HAVE TO FACE SOME OF THE ETHICAL DILEMMAS REGARDING ABORTION THAT SHE ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:1-6

Tags: Abortion, Name

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

In The Fall Of The Year, Linda, A Young Woman, ...  PRO

Contributed by Jamie Moore on Oct 31, 2000

In the fall of the year, Linda, a young woman, was traveling alone up the rutted and rugged highway from Alberta to the Yukon. Linda didn’t know you don’t travel to Whitehorse alone in a rundown Honda Civic, so she set off where only four-wheel drives normally venture. The first evening she found a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:1-6, Mark 9:36-37

Tags: Church Small Groups, Compassion

Denomination: Baptist

One Of The Characters In The Movie, Toy Story, Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 30, 2001

One of the characters in the movie, Toy Story, is Buzz Lightyear, a new toy to Andy’s room. Buzz is an astronaut, with a lot of neat things attached to him. Buzz comes into the other toys’ lives thinking that there are no other Buzz Lightyears around. He is the only one. Woody, a cowboy toy, and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-10, 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, God's Provision, Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Church Of God

Today In Sunday School The Teacher Told Us A ...

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jul 13, 2001

Today in Sunday School the teacher told us a story about Gaylord and his old dog that wouldn’t bite anybody. Seems that the dog liked to run alongside when Gaylord rode his bike. Gaylord either did not have a chain guard on the bike or this was in the days when they did not use them. Anyway, one ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 36:7, Revelation 21:4

Tags: Trust, Pain, Distrust

Denomination: Baptist

Do You Remember Bubba Smith? He Retired ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 13, 2001

ILL. Do you remember Bubba Smith? He retired from professional football a few years ago. Then, after he retired from playing football, Bubba Smith started making beer commercials. He was the guy who tore the top off of beer cans, & engaged in the argument about whether it is less filling or ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-37

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ