In Sermon Illustrations: "Take Off"

Philip Yancey, In His Book The Jesus I Never ...  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Sep 11, 2004

Philip Yancey, in his book The Jesus I Never Knew, comments on this truth, that Christ can only be King on His own terms. He alludes to the 3 temptations Jesus faced before he began His ministry: 1) to turn stones into bread and feed Himself, 2) after taking Him to the temple in Jerusalem, to jump ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-5

Tags: Jesus Temptation

Denomination: Baptist

As A Hospital Chaplain I Encounter Many Patients ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 9, 2005

As a hospital chaplain I encounter many patients that have upcoming surgeries and are stressed about anesthesia and the procedure they will undergo. It is not appropriate to tell a patient that they shouldn’t worry and that worry is a sign of poor faith. Instead I tell patients that God is aware ...read more

Tags: Guilt

Raquel Welch Was One Of Hollywood's Most Famous ...

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Jul 28, 2006

Raquel Welch was one of Hollywood’s most famous beauties. She said: I’d acquired everything I wanted yet I was totally miserable. I thought it peculiar that I’d obtained everything I wanted as a child: wealth, fame, accomplishment in my career. I had beautiful children, a lifestyle that seemed ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Baptist

Last Night I Got A Wild Hair Around 7:00 P.m. I ...

Contributed by Don Jones on Oct 28, 2006

Last night I got a wild hair around 7:00 P.M. I wanted to fix a mechanical pencil that was broken and refill a ball point pen. These had been broken for the past 6 years but at that moment they were all that I had on my mind. I finished a good 45 minutes later victorious and filled with pride at my ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Six Kinds Of Toxic People

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 19, 2012

SIX KINDS OF TOXIC PEOPLE Life Coach Cheryl Robinson says there are six kinds of toxic people. There are the blamers who are always complaining about what is wrong in their life and blaming others. Then there are the drainers. They’re like vampires who will come and suck everything out of you ...read more

Tags: Friendship General

Denomination: Methodist

Glutton-Free Communion

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 14, 2014

Our staff recently started a new ministry to our church family by offering "gluten-free" bread for the Lord's Supper. It has been very successful and our staff has received a lot of affirmation because of this ministry. However, we didn't start off very well.......thanks to the Senior Pastor! ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Tags: Communion, Preacher Bloopers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If You Are A Marathon Runner You Are Encouraged ...

Contributed by John Foster on Jun 10, 2007

If you are a marathon runner you are encouraged to eat pasta the night before the race because pasta has lots of energy in and the speed of release of energy from Pasta is slow so that you get it during the race just when you need it. It’s actually a bit more complicated than that though. ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Christian Marriage

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Christian Marriage Story: A young courting couple approached the gates of Paradise and knocked on the door. St Peter appeared and beckoned them in. As the young man approached St Peter he said: “Before we come in can we ask: Can you get married in paradise?” St Peter replied. “I don’t know off ...read more

Tags: Marriage Commitment

Our Religion Has Become Ineffective In The World. ...

Contributed by Michael West on Mar 29, 2008

Our religion has become ineffective in the world. We are being rejected more each day. The world wants us to take our little god and go somewhere else. Our religion has become powerless because we believe in a powerless god. Our religion is weak because our god is weak. Our faith is weak because we ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Looking At The Master

Contributed by Jimmy Chapman on Apr 25, 2008

LOOKING AT THE MASTER A pastor once told his congregation about a man who had a dog, and the man was trying to train his dog to be obedient. And what he would do was to take a large piece of meat--good, red, juicy meat that dogs would normally like to eat--and he would put it in the middle of the ...read more

Tags: Temptation General

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas Lights In March

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Dec 14, 2008

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN MARCH Robert Russell, pastor and author, tells a story of how about twenty years ago there was a house near the entrance of his subdivision that kept their Christmas lights burning long after the season was past. They burned through January. Even through the first of February ...read more

Tags: Holidays

Denomination: Salvation Army

Love

Contributed by Terry Cavanaugh on Nov 23, 2024

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, “If I could only see the world, I would marry you.” One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:8-10

Tags: Love, Marriage

Denomination: United Methodist

The Good Night Kiss  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2003

THE GOOD NIGHT KISS At the end of their first date, a young man takes the girl back to her home. Emboldened by the night, he decides to try for that important first kiss. With an air of confidence, he leans with his hand against the wall and, smiling, he says to her, "Darling, how ’bout a good ...read more

Tags: Romantic Love

9998; Let's Imagine Today Is Payday Only ...

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Jan 7, 2004

✎ Let’s imagine today is payday only instead of a check we are all given cash. What do you notice about the money we have all worked so hard for? It’s not enough right? No, M is not for “more” it’s for “MERCY,” so in your minds eye take a close look at your money, and what do you see? ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Money

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Bob Russell, A Preacher In Kentucky, Says That ...

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Aug 28, 2004

Bob Russell, a preacher in Kentucky, says that when he was 11-12 he wanted to build his brother, John, a toy wheel barrow for Christmas. He got some old broom handles and a wheel off a wagon and some old wood. Bob said he put together the most awful looking contraption you can imagine. One week ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Christian Church

Surf Torture  PRO

Contributed by Tommy Hames on Oct 12, 2005

ILLUSTRATION The U.S. Navy has a Special Forces team called the SEALS. It takes a lot to become part of this elite group. One of the many physical challenges that SEALS in training must complete is called “surf torture”. Basically the entire class must wade into the surf zone to their waist line ...read more

Tags: Temptation General, Temptation Resisting

Denomination: Baptist

It's Aweful When You Do Not Know Something Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Rick Doucette on Apr 18, 2007

It’s aweful when you do not know something is happening! At the end of their first date, a young man takes the young lady back to her house and they are standing on the front porch! Feeling the night went well, with an air of confidence, he leans with his hand against the wall and smiling, he says ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

A Pirate Had A Wooden Leg, A Hook On One Arm, And ...  PRO

Contributed by Larry Brincefield on May 31, 2007

A pirate had a wooden leg, a hook on one arm, and a patch over one eye. Someone asked him how these things happened. He said that a whale bit off his leg,... a crocodile had chewed off his hand,... and a bird dropping hit him in the eye. The other guy replied that he understood about the ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene

The Dog Gone Story!  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 28, 2003

THE DOG GONE STORY! Many years ago before airplanes and the great jets of today, people had to travel by ships. These great ocean going vessels were very slow sailing across long distances. The King of Greece made the decision to travel to the USA. The King had heard of the vast land and how God ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Bullet-Proof Vest Of Righteousness  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 27, 2011

BULLET-PROOF VEST OF RIGHTEOUSNESS Terry Schafer, a young wife, lived with her husband in the small city of Moline, Illinois. She had a special gift she wanted to give to her husband for Christmas but was afraid that they would not be able to afford it. She started shopping for it in September, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:14

Tags: Righteousness