In Sermon Illustrations: "Take Off"

Japan's Sea Wall

Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on May 31, 2011

JAPAN'S SEA WALL New York Times, April 16, 2011: So unshakable was this town's faith in its sea wall and its ability to save residents from any tsunami that some rushed toward it after a 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northeast Japan on the afternoon of March 11. After all, the ...read more

Tags: Security

Denomination: Lutheran

Forgiveness: Like A Bell Tolling

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 18, 2011

FORGIVENESS: LIKE A BELL TOLLING Corrie ten Boom once told of being able to forget a wrong that had been done to her. She had forgiven the person, but she kept rehashing the incident and so couldn’t sleep. Finally, she cried out to God for help in putting the problem to rest. She wrote this about ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

I Came Upon My 3rd Grade Report Card From A Small ...

Contributed by Brad Henry on Dec 9, 2011

I came upon my 3rd grade report card from a small school in Western Pennsylvania. The teacher wrote, "I feel Bradley could do so much better. Inattentive." Well not much has changed. ADD started early. But I was not inattentive when it came time for sports. Why the disconnect? It is because I was ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Love Your Neighbor

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Apr 16, 2012

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR I stepped outside my hotel room yesterday and saw a thin elderly woman taking small steps in a circle. She seemed to be mumbling. Our eyes connected. She said, "They left me here and I don't know where they have gone. I don't know what room I am in." I held out my hand. She ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 23:4-5

Tags: Neighbor

Denomination: Baptist

The Word Of God Sent Through The Prophets

Contributed by Pastor Amos Dele Dada on Jun 7, 2013

THE WORD OF GOD SENT THROUGH THE PROPHETS You want success - believe the word of God he has sent through his prophets. Period. Imagine The German Army and the USA Army and United Kingdom Army gathered against Canadian Army. And God sends Pastor Dada, call him a Prophet for this purpose to the ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Importance Of Forgiveness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2014

Life assurance is far more valuable and important than life insurance. One famous atheist said, "The one thing I envy about you Christians is that you have someone to forgive you." A man by the name of Val Patterson died on July 12th of this year due to cancer. He knew the end was coming, so he ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-5

Tags: Confession Of Sin, God's Forgiveness, Guilty Conscience

Pastor And Leadership Speaker John Maxwell Te...

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

Pastor and Leadership speaker John Maxwell tells the story of his brother who was called to active duty during the Pueblo crisis in Korea. He says he could remember standing in his father’s office when my father found out the news and went to his brother, hugged him and said, “Larry, I’m going to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:33-38

Tags: Perseverance, Conversion

Denomination: Methodist

Forgive Us Our Debts

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 20, 2019

The debt has been paid… (forgive us our debts…) The graduating class of Morehouse College got a surprise gift on Sunday (May 19, 2019) when billionaire Robert F. Smith announced during his commencement speech that he would pay off the entire student debt of the graduating class. Student loans in ...read more

Scripture: John 8:36

Tags: Forgiveness, Freedom, Generosity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Are Many Things I Don't Enjoy. One Of Them ...  PRO

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Apr 20, 2008

There are many things I don’t enjoy. One of them is taking my vehicle to the dealership to have it serviced. Then there’s the wait for a ride back to the office (or sit in the waiting room drinking terrible coffee). I lose the rhythm in my day. This past week was an absolute nightmare on ...read more

Tags: Encouragement, Church Growth, Finish, Start

Denomination: Salvation Army

I Think Of A Young Man Named Adrian Who Was In My ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Jun 7, 2008

I think of a young man named Adrian who was in my Youth Group back in a former church. Adrian’s dad --- who had, unfortunately, never been much of a dad to Adrian --- decided to move to Mexico right before Adrian’s senior year of High School. A family in our church took Adrian in to live with ...read more

Tags: Father's Day

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Recently Had To Replace One Of The Strings On ...

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Jul 14, 2008

I recently had to replace one of the strings on my mandolin. I laid the new string on the table as I took off the broken string. When I had thrown it into the trash, I looked at the new string lying on the table and realized how much it resembles many Christians. That string has the ability to ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: *other

It Comes Back To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2008

IT COMES BACK TO YOU A preacher was making his rounds to his parishioners on a bicycle when he came upon a little boy trying to sell a lawn mower. "I’ve been needing a lawn mower. How much do you want for it?" asked the preacher. "I just want enough money to go out and buy me a bike," said the ...read more

Tags: Dead To Sin

Hyperbole

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 13, 2020

I had to have a tooth removed last Thursday. It took me FOREVER to get an appointment. Once I got there and got back in the room where they were going to extract my tooth I felt like I was in an operating room not a dentist office. I remember back in the ‘80’s when I got two eye teeth removed they ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33, 1 John 4:7-9

Tags: Hyperbole, Stretching Truth

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Hiring A Dog

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 17, 2021

A sign was hung in an office window. It read: Help wanted. Must type 70 words a minute. Must be computer literate. Must be bilingual. An equal opportunity employer. A dog was ambling down the street and saw the sign. He looked at it for a moment, pulled it down with his mouth, and walked into ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:26

Tags: Service, Gifts

Denomination: Methodist

A Good Race

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Mar 7, 2021

Many years ago, I coached the High School Swimming team. I had several athletes that went to College on scholarships; but the athlete I was thinking about while I was preparing this sermon, went on to compete in Triathlons. A Triathlon is a 1 mile swim, 25 mile bike ride, and a 6 mile run. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:7

Tags: Freedom, Endurance

Denomination: Baptist

Seize The Moment!  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Jun 7, 2001

I liked the way humorist Erma Bombeck put it: Seize the moment! Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Addiction, Guilt

Denomination: Baptist

Old Age Is A Blessed Time. It Gives Us Leisure ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Old age is a blessed time. It gives us leisure to put off our earthly garments one by one, and dress ourselves for heaven. Blessed are ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

No Unwelcome Tasks Become Any The Less ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"No unwelcome tasks become any the less unwelcome by putting them off till tomorrow. Undone, they stand threatening and disturbing our ...read more

Tags: Productivity

Since My High School Years, The Message Of The ...  PRO

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Jan 1, 2008

Since my high school years, the message of the Gospel Hymn “God Will Take Care of You” by Civilla D. Martin, have spoken to my heart, especially in times such as these. I would like to share the lyrics of the first stanza and the refrain with you this morning. You may also find the complete text ...read more

Tags: Listen, Disciplines Silence

Denomination: Methodist

Look Carefully  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Apr 16, 2002

LOOK CAREFULLY In the Greek original of the New Testament the word often translated sincere means `judged in the sunlight’; and the English word is derived from the Latin--- `sine cera’, which means `without wax’. In the days when art flourished in ancient Greece, it was the common ...read more

Scripture: James 1:13-17, James 1:13-17

Tags: Leadership General, Truth, Faith

Denomination: United Methodist