In Sermon Illustrations: "Teach Children"

In His Autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi Wrote That ...

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Sep 29, 2008

In his autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi wrote that during his student days he read the Gospels seriously and considered converting to Christianity. He believed that in the teachings of Jesus he could find the solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India. So one Sunday he decided ...read more

Tags: Racism

Denomination: Baptist

Street Clothes

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

STREET CLOTHES On March 5, 1994, Deputy Sheriff Lloyd Prescott was teaching a class for police officers in the Salt Lake City Library. As he stepped into the hallway he noticed a gunman herding 18 hostages into the next room. With a flash of insight, Prescott (dressed in street clothes) joined the ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Our Praying Should Be Like The Story Of Jacob ...

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 20, 2009

Our praying should be like the story of Jacob wrestling with God in Genesis 32. They wrestled all night and toward morning, Jacob had the angel in a full Nelson grip. The angel said, “Jacob, let me go.” The mighty Angel of God could have tossed Jacob off in a heartbeat, but God was teaching Jacob ...read more

Tags: Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Baptist

Robert J. Morgan Once Told The Story Of A ...

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Jun 2, 2009

Robert J. Morgan once told the story of a preacher who was approached by a man who wanted to join the church. “But,” the man said, “I have a very busy schedule. I can’t be called on for any service, like committee work, teaching, or other such things. I just won’t be available for special projects ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Christian Church

Game Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2009

Game of Life In 1860, a lithographer named Milton Bradley decided to invent a board game where people by playing it would learn life lessons. They would learn about the risks and the rewards in life and decisions and consequences. It was originally called “The Checkered Game of Life.” It was a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:12-14

Tags: Salvation

Poll On Salvation

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 1, 2010

POLL ON SALVATION 56% say a good person can earn their way into Heaven. 44% say if a person does not consciously accept Christ as savior, they will be condemned to Hell. 44% say all people experience the same outcome after they die, regardless of their religious beliefs. 34% say there are some ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: *other

Samuel Chadwick: Guiding His Life By The Bible

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 19, 2011

SAMUEL CHADWICK: GUIDING HIS LIFE BY THE BIBLE Let me conclude by sharing something written many years ago by Samuel Chadwick. "I have guided my life by the Bible for more than sixty years, and I tell you there is no book like it. It is a miracle of literature, a perennial spring of wisdom, a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 19:7-11

Tags: Bible Influence

Revenge In Witnessing

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jun 10, 2011

REVENGE IN WITNESSING Yubis was filled with grief and didn't know where to turn. Yubis' husband--a pastor--was brutally murdered as a martyr in Colombia for his faith and teachings of Jesus Christ. As a result, their two-year-old daughter was despondent--and she stopped speaking. She would only ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Grace And Matthew

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 12, 2013

GRACE AND MATTHEW These days people don't know Matthew as a failure and embarrassment who sold his soul to the Romans for a job. We know Matthew as a follower of Jesus who wrote the first book of the New Testament. It's important to understand that the grace of God doesn't simply invite us to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:27-31

Tags: Grace, Jesus Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Billionaire’s Happiness

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 11, 2018

Jack Ma has a lot to be happy about. He is the founder and executive chairman of the Alibaba Group, a tech company in China. Among the things going his way: - His company went public in September 2014 and its worth shot up to $25 billion. - He is the richest man in China. - His company is the ...read more

Tags: Money, Wealth, Contentment, China

Denomination: Baptist

Humanism

Contributed by Richard Tow on Nov 17, 2020

"During the construction of Emerson Hall at Harvard University, president Charles Eliot invited psychologist and philosopher William James to suggest a suitable inscription for the stone lintel over the doors of the philosophy department. After some reflection, James sent Eliot a line from ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:20, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Jude 1:25, Ephesians 3:21, 2 Corinthians 10:17, Romans 16:27, Psalm 8:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Glory, Man, God, Doxology, Glorifying, Perspective, Pride, Worldview, Orientation, Humanism, Boast  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Approved Workers

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 2, 2020

In II Timothy 2:14-20, the Apostle Paul gives five characteristics of those in the Body of Christ who are "approved workers". When believers stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ, there will be only two types of people there: workers who are approved and workers who are not approved. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:14-20

Tags: Rewards, Bema, Judgment Seat Of Christ, Approved Workers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Poor Short-Term Memory

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

A man was working in his backyard one day when his neighbor began talking to him over the fence. He said, “Yeah, my wife and I went to one of those seminars yesterday, you know, where they teach you ways to improve your memory and such.” His neighbor commented, “Really? What was the name of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:19

Tags: Communion, Lord's Supper

Prayer As Our Heavy Artillery

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 9, 2024

In Ephesians 6:18, Paul has completed the metaphor of Roman armor. But he is not finished teaching about spiritual warfare. In fact, he has come to the most important weapon in our spiritual arsenal. Prayer is the heavy artillery. Through prayer we call down the bombardment of God against our ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18

Tags: Spiritual Warfare, Prayer, Intercession, Victory, Armor, Battles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Little Things Add Up

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 15, 2025

MY SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER TOLD A STORY OF A MAN THAT WORKED IN THE COAL MINES IN EAST TENNESSEE. The man drove a coal truck from the coal temple to the rail road loading dock. It was a short quick trip. Each time the driver drove by the house where he lived. He made a quick stop threw a very large ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:13

Tags: Small, Little

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Goal Of Spiritual Gifts

Contributed by John Bright on Sep 24, 2025

Spiritual Gifts were documented in Class Meetings within the Wesleyan tradition. It was there that members shared their lives – the successes and the struggles. They would search the Scriptures for answers, and they would pray for each other. Those prayers included listening for a Word from the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11, 1 Corinthians 12:28

Tags: Small Groups, Class Meeting, Love, Spiritual Gifts

Denomination: Methodist

Thanksgiving Without Martha  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 17, 2002

THANKSGIVING WITHOUT MARTHA Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. I’m telling you in advance, so don’t act surprised. Since Ms. Stewart won’t be coming, I’ve made a few small changes: Our sidewalk will not be lined with homemade, paper bag luminaries. After a trial run, it ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving

Dead Fathers Better Than Absent Fathers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 27, 2009

DEAD FATHERS BETTER THAN ABSENT FATHERS According to the New Jersey Index of Leading Cultural Indicators, in 1960 the total number of births to teenagers was 11,636. In 2000, the number of births to teenagers was 8,219. At first glance, we would say we are doing something right, yet a little more ...read more

Tags: Father's Day

Lo Ruhamah

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Dec 15, 2016

Lo-Ruhamah There is no Old Testament story more fascinating than that of the prophet Hosea, who at commands of the Lord, acted out a parallel of God’s love, yet severe warnings for his unfaithful people, the kingdom of Israel. Contrary to every healthy instinct and cautionary impulse, Hosea was ...read more

Tags: Hosea, Name, Pity

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Railroad Fireman's Jump  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 12, 2003

A RAILROAD FIREMAN’S JUMP On September 29, 1907, the three older children of the Dixon family, living about one mile from Seward, started for school. Baby Gladys Dixon, who was only nineteen months old, went with them a little distance. Away the children ran, and Gladys was soon left behind. Still ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Holidays Civic