In Sermon Illustrations: "Take Stock"

A Place In His Arms  PRO

Contributed by Andy Grossman on Dec 9, 2008

A PLACE IN HIS ARMS Monday I went to Redding to do my weekly shopping and to see my daughter, Monica and the grandkids. Monica is a single mom and works so hard at the bank, then has to come home and cook a meal for the kids and then entertain and care for them until bed time. Then she starts ...read more

Tags: Acceptance, God's Love, Adoption, Inclusion

Denomination: Holiness

These Small Acts Of Service Won't Show Up On Our ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 16, 2008

These small acts of service won’t show up on our “to do” list. Opportunities for Mundane Service have a way of surprising us … sometimes in our busiest moments --- which means we have to be willing to be interrupted. I had one such unscheduled event a while back when a man came to my office ...read more

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Responsibility Comes With The Gift

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

RESPONSIBILITY COMES WITH THE GIFT As Clayton J. Schmit put it in his commentary on our text: The moment of birth is one of unspeakable joy. Yet, if parents stopped to count the cost of taking a child home (which, fortunately, they never do) they might be tempted to turn the gift down. The cost ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Joseph Was Despised Because Of His ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

Joseph was despised because of his Behavior. (Vv. 8-11) Joseph was despised not for doing evil but for doing good. Joseph typifies the Lord in many ways. Sidlow Baxter observes that he was the beloved son, that he was the rejected servant, and also the exalted Savior. The way that he was despised ...read more

Tags: Ot Characters

Good News

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2008

GOOD NEWS Our world is desperately in need of some good news. Suzanne Jennings wrote this song in 1999: I woke up Monday morning, walked out on the lawn My eyes were barely open, and my mouth began to yawn Picked up the daily paper, every single headline said, That this ole world is full of ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

Seeing Far Enough Ahead

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2009

SEEING FAR ENOUGH AHEAD Eight-year-old Frank had looked forward for weeks to this particular Saturday because his father had promised to take him fishing if the weather was suitable. There hadn’t been any rain for weeks, and as Saturday approached, Frank was confident of the fishing trip. But, ...read more

Tags: Disappointment

Whirpool Galaxy

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jan 12, 2009

WHIRPOOL GALAXY God breathed out our sun. His word put the earth in its orbit around the sun. But this is really nothing. Our sun is one of between 200 and 400 billion other suns in our galaxy. What is our galaxy called? Milky way. Now I want to show you a picture. [This picture can be found ...read more

Tags: Creation

Denomination: Church Of God

Spiritual Millionaires

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Feb 5, 2009

SPIRITUAL MILLIONAIRES Obeying the law justifies no one, Jew or Gentile, because no one obeys the law. There is no one righteous, not even one, Romans 3:10 says. Therefore, the law can only condemn us, not declare us righteous. For example, the law is very clear: "Do not write a check for more ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:2-4

Tags: Justification

Denomination: Evangelical Free

He Endured To The End

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on Feb 9, 2009

HE ENDURED TO THE END We need to possess an enduring love. Endurance: the power to withstand hardship or stress, to keep on going despite all setbacks. I recently heard of a Leicester women who, after having four children, started running then entered marathons. This year, she is running the ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Baptist

So Be Careful How You Live. Don't Live Like ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Mar 3, 2009

“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do” (Eph. 5:15-17). To ignore that is to court disaster. The Winter 1991 issue of the ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Denomination: Pentecostal

Taken Out By ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 12, 2009

TAKEN OUT BY WATERMELONS Years ago, I went to the Sultan Centre in Salmiya. This was back in the days when it was the only one in town, and you were still allowed to take your shopping cart up that moving ramp to the second floor. I had gone upstairs after getting some groceries. As I was coming ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Our Room Steward, Denny, Was So Nice And Seemed ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Mar 17, 2009

Our room steward, Denny, was so nice and seemed to genuinely show concern and respect to our family. It was amazing. So as I thought about this issue of respect, which we are going to talk about today, I also began to wonder if respect can be bought. How many of you have been on a cruise? This ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Church Of God

Who's In Charge?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jun 3, 2023

One of the most disturbing movies ever produced is Francis Ford Coppola’s classic reflection on the Vietnam War, Apocalypse Now. The film tracks an American officer who is sent upriver into the heart of the war-torn countryside in order to find and eventually assassinate a renegade commander who ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 6:1-17

Tags: Wrath, Apocalypse, Four Horsemen, God's Sovereignty

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Outline Of Psalm 119 - The Power Of God's Word

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 14, 2023

Psalms 119 - David proclaims the power of God's Word. David in this Psalm describes God's Word in 48 different ways. Here are a few: 1. The Word of God is the source of cleansing - Psalms 119:9 (KJV) Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: David, Bible, Psalms, Word Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Traveling To Heaven

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Mar 29, 2024

Throughout my life I had always wanted to go to Germany. It wasn’t until my son moved over there and got married that we finally were able to do so. The trip wasn’t always easy, as we were stranded in New Jersey for a night after a flight was canceled. We were tired from the journey. But once ...read more

Scripture: Job 19:26

Tags: Resurrection, Heaven

Denomination: Lutheran

Knowledge Of Jesus

Contributed by Samuel M on May 16, 2024

The knowledge of you (Jesus) changes my understanding of who I am. The words I speak, the way I think, the life I live will radically change when I see you and get to know you Jesus. ‘I’ in me will alter (change or destroy) to become more like you (Jesus). Knowing and seeing you Jesus helps me to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:8

Tags: Faith, Knowledge Of God

Boxer Illustration For Spiritual Battles

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 9, 2024

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:26: “I do not fight like a man beating the air (NIV).The NLT says, “I am not like a boxer who misses his punches.” A boxer can throw a lot of punches, but if none of them hit the opponent, he will lose the fight. This is one reason a boxer trains so that he punches with ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:26, Ephesians 6:10-18

Tags: Devil, Spiritual Warfare, Opposition, Overcoming, Boxing, Battles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Stress Management

Contributed by David Parks on Nov 4, 2024

Stress Management A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?" Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g. The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Stress, Worry

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Lack Wisdom?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 29, 2025

I am told there was a happy old man. People came from far and wide to sit at this man’s feet and learn. One day a young man asked him: HOW DID YOU GET SUCH WISDOM? It was evening. The old man said: Saddle up the fastest horse and ride as fast as possible. Go due east until you come to a big river. ...read more

Scripture: James 1:5

Tags: Wisdom, Study, Opportunity

Denomination: Assembly Of God

A Praying Mother

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on May 12, 2025

Has your life been impacted by a sacrificial mother who would never give up? Never underestimate the power of a praying mother. Born in 1669, Susanna Wesley raised up two of Christianity’s most gifted leaders, John and Charles Wesley. Daily, as a mother, Susanna prayed, “Dear God, guide me. Make ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28, 1 Samuel 1:10-16

Tags: Prayer, Mother, Susanna Wesley

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ