In Sermon Illustrations: "Take"

The Jewish People Tried To Work Around Some Of ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 9, 2009

The Jewish people tried to work around some of the commands of the Torah that could not be practically enforced once the Jewish nation was no longer sovereign. One of those commands was the Sabbath Year. All debts were to be cancelled, but, under Roman rule, this could not work economically for ...read more

Tags: Law

Denomination: Independent/Bible

March Of The Penguins: Fellowship

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Dec 24, 2009

MARCH OF THE PENGUINS: FELLOWSHIP The documentary The March of the Penguins follows the emperor penguins of Antarctica on their incredible journey through ice and snow to mating grounds up to 70 miles inland. Narrated by Morgan Freeman, this beautiful film captures the drama of these ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Build Me A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

Build Me A Bridge A man walking along a California beach was deep in prayer. Suddenly the sky clouded above his head and, in a booming voice, the Lord said, "Because you have TRIED to be faithful to me in all ways, I will grant you one wish." The man said, "Build a bridge to Hawaii so I can drive ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:7

Tags: Marriage General

Do Whatever The Champion Does

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 24, 2011

DO WHATEVER THE CHAMPION DOES In 1976, Finland’s Lasse Viren made Olympic history when he became the first man to win both the 5,000 and 10,000 meter races in successive Olympiads. After his victory, his coach decided to take on the record of the legendary Emil Zatopek. Earlier in the century at ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-5

Tags: Discipleship

Faith Like A Potato: Don't Give Up Hope

Contributed by Selwyn Robins on Apr 19, 2011

FAITH LIKE A POTATO: DON'T GIVE UP HOPE There is a movie called 'Faith Like a Potato'. It takes place in South Africa. Long story short a farmer w/an anger management issue is converted to a believer (follower) of the word. Needing to bring in money for his family, he decides to plant a crop of ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Charismatic

Diapering Is Like Baseball

Contributed by Alan Tison on Apr 25, 2011

DIAPERING IS LIKE BASEBALL Communication is necessary for all mothers. A young couple had just had a newborn baby, and the time came when the baby needed a change, and the mother was not able to change the baby so she asked her husband, who was a minor league ball player if she would change the ...read more

Tags: Communication General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Crucufixion

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 11, 2015

David Smith writes about crucifixion. They would take the upright beam and place it in a hole in the ground and fix it steadfast. And then they would take the victim and lay his hands on the cross beam, driving spikes into his quivering flesh and with a rope would hook it onto the cross beam and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:33-38

Tags: Crucifixion, Death On A Cross

Denomination: Methodist

If I Have Seen Everything....  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 23, 2016

IF I HAVE SEEN EVERYTHING.... Evangelist Jack Taylor was alone in his hotel room in Houston, Texas after a Southern Baptist Convention meeting. He felt exhausted in ministry. He cried out to God in prayer, "Lord, if I have seen everything You have for me in my ministry.......then take my life ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-5

Tags: Pastoral Ministry, Total Surrender, Burnt Out

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Slow And Steady

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2022

The power of the Holy Spirit is not just for salvation, but for sanctification, a process that is slow and gradual. The difference might look like this: You can take ten gallons of gasoline and release a tremendous amount of power and energy by just dropping a lighted match into it. It makes a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8

Tags: Holy Spirit, Energy, Fuel

The Worst Dad Joke Ever

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 17, 2023

I usually begin every one of my Sunday sermons with a funny story to get our congregation comfortable before I begin to dive in deeply to the Word of God. If you like dad jokes or puns (old name) and you want to make your congregation groan a little bit.........check this dad joke out! CHESS ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22, Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Medicine, Dad Jokes, Happiness, Joy, Humor, Laughter  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Do You Use Your 18,000 Words Per Day?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 6, 2024

Do you have any idea how many words you use in the course of an ordinary day? To illustrate, let’s take the books of Tom Clancy. I’m sure you have read or heard of those techno-thrillers: “Hunt for Red October,” “Cardinal of the Kremlin,” “Clear and Present Danger,” “The Sum of All Fears,” “Without ...read more

Tags: Conversation, Mouth, Words, Tongue, Talk  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Trapped

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 15, 2024

Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. When my son was practicing with his little league baseball team there was a practice field. The practice field was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:18, Galatians 5:7

Tags: Change, Trapped

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Why They Serve Coffee  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Mar 10, 2002

WHY THEY SERVE COFFEE Some of the most humorous and enlightening moments in our lives center around eating and drinking. Take for instance the interaction between a pastor and young boy in a certain congregation. It seems this particular congregation loved good fellowship and always served ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:37

Tags: Church, Church Practices, Preaching

Denomination: Church Of God

The Student Of A Great Philosopher Entered The ...  PRO

Contributed by Dana Chau on Mar 22, 2002

The student of a great philosopher entered the house of ill-repute. The teacher came to the door and asked him to come out. The student refused because he was ashamed. The teacher replied, "There is no shame in leaving the house of ill-repute, but there is great shame in staying." We ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-11

Tags: Faith General, Repentance

Denomination: *other

Did You Know You Can Now Send An Email To God? An ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 6, 2002

Did you know you can now send an email to God? An Israeli internet company (www.virtual.co.il) has announced that they will take email prayers to the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Customarily people write prayers and place them in cracks of the wall. I did so when I visited Israel some years ago. But ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Congregational

S.d. Gordon From Quiet Talks On Prayer  PRO

Contributed by Wesley Eader on Sep 25, 2002

S.D. Gordon - The greatest thing anyone can do for God and man is pray. It is not the only thing, but it is the chief thing. The great people of earth are the people who pray. I do not mean those who talk about prayer; nor those who say they believe in prayer; nor yet those who can explain ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony, Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Baptist

Three Kinds Of Christians  PRO

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Oct 25, 2002

There are three kinds of Christians: (1) Row-boat Christians—struggling in their own power; stop to rest for a while, only to find that the current has taken them back where they started. (2) Sail-boat Christians—let the wind do all the work; enjoy the high moments, But what happens ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity

Denomination: Mennonite

The Young Salesman Was Disappointed About Losing ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 9, 2003

The young salesman was disappointed about losing a big sale, and as he talked with his sales manager he lamented, "I guess it just proves you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink." The manager replied, "Son, take my advice: your job is not to make him drink. Your job is to make ...read more

Average American Has Four Major Credit Cards With ...  PRO

Contributed by Ken Kersten on Jun 3, 2003

Average American has four major credit cards with an average total credit card debt of $9,000.00. Now, add to that those that a sucked into the minimum payment plan scheme and you have a recipe for financial disaster. Did you know that if you have a balance of $3,900 and you pay the 3% minimum ...read more

Tags: Money

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

W.a. Criswell Once Said, Jesus Said On The Cross ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Simms on Jun 4, 2003

W.A. Criswell once said, Jesus said on the cross “It is finished.” (Luke 19:30) What that means is that salvation is “Something outside of myself. Something with which I had nothing to do. I add nothing to it. I take nothing away. I just receive it as a gift from my Lord. And the rest of my ...read more

Tags: God The Father, God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist