In Sermon Illustrations: "Temptation Resisting"

Think Before You Speak

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 6, 2025

Taking a moment to think before you speak is like installing a verbal facemask —it gives you a chance to avoid regrettable word splatter before it happens. Now, let’s be honest—there are four types of people in this world: 1. Those who think before they speak (a rare and majestic ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:27-28, Proverbs 21:23, Proverbs 18:21

Tags: Speak, Words, Think Before You Speak

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

My Heart Was Touched This Week By Some Breaking ...  PRO

Contributed by Bob Hunter on Feb 24, 2005

My heart was touched this week by some breaking news from the musical world of heavy metal. The headline reads: Korn guitarist leaving to follow Jesus. "Popular heavy metal band, Korn, has parted ways with guitarist and founding member, Brian, "Head" Welch who has chosen Jesus Christ as his ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9

Tags: Repentance, Confession Of Sin

Denomination: Holiness

Irritation In A Church Service

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Apr 18, 2006

Irritation in a Church Service: It is not all that strange for people to come to church and be dissatisfied with something going on there. On the two occasions I had recently to sit out in the audience at church with my family I noticed myself focusing on things like the temperature of the room ...read more

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It Was My Handicapped Brother Morgan's Birthday. ...  PRO

Contributed by J. Curtis Goforth, O.s.l. on Aug 7, 2006

It was my handicapped brother Morgan’s birthday. There is a fantastic little restaurant in Mooresville called The Little Kitchen that has the best steaks in the world and is one of Morgan’s favorite spots to eat. So, Morgan orders a filet mignon. And, as it happens, my father was at the salad ...read more

Tags: Miracles Of Jesus

Denomination: United Methodist

Practice Openness And Accountability  PRO

Contributed by Chris Edmondson on May 26, 2007

• Practice openness and accountability. This is the one thing we desperately need the most, and the one thing we most resist. We need support. Some things in life are just too hard to do on your own. We need people to come along side of us and encourage us. Whether you are dieting, or exercising, ...read more

Tags: Support, Encourage, Edify, Accountable

Denomination: Baptist

When I Was About 27 Years Old I Developed An ...

Contributed by Andy Beech on Mar 29, 2008

When I was about 27 years old I developed an abscess in a rather embarrassing area of the body. Consequently I tried to keep quiet about it hoping it would go away by natural means. Eventually the abscess got to such a size that the pain was intense and I was finding it difficult to walk. So I ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

H.a. Ironside's Comment On H. D. Thoreau's

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 30, 2009

H.A. Ironside’s Comment on H. D. Thoreau’s "A Different Drummer" One of the most famous lines of the 19th century naturalist Henry David Thoreau was, "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." Commenting on Thoreau’s defense of his ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-5

Tags: Worldliness

Winner And Loser

Contributed by Daniel Haas on Jan 5, 2011

WINNER AND LOSER In 1958, a New York City father named Robert Lane decided to call his baby son Winner. The Lanes, who lived in a housing project in Harlem, already had several children, each with a fairly typical name. But this boy—well, Robert Lane apparently had a special feeling about him. ...read more

Tags: Children

Denomination: Congregational

Severe Trial Of Affliction

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 18, 2014

In his novel The Source, James Michener described a period in Jewish history around 170 BC when the Jews in Palestine faced severe persecution. Greek officials came to Jerusalem and read an edict that forbade any Jew from worshipping Yahweh, and ordered them to lay their hands on an unclean pig ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:35-38

Tags: Persecution, Great Commandment, Loyalty To Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Coffee Doesn't Trust Me  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 25, 2014

My pet finch Coffee runs into a serious problem once in a while. Her claws grow so long she loses the ability to control them. They get stuck in the nest and she can’t get them out. Once we found her nearly dead, hanging for hours upside down with one claw ensnared in her wicker home. Carol rescued ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Surrender, Trust In God, Rest In God, Pruning, God's Care  (view more)  (view less)

The Laws Of Spiritual Motion!!!

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Aug 14, 2017

THE LAWS OF SPIRITUAL MOTION!!! The Fundamental Laws of motion designed by the all-wise God (discovered and revealed to us by Sir Issac Newton) says that we move forward whilst walking or running not just by exerting the force on earth with our feet by ourselves but by the propulsive force which ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2

Tags: Persecution, Action Reaction

Denomination: *other

Salt Of The Earth  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Salt of the Earth Matthew 5:13 says to Christians, "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Our Lord is telling His disciples that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Freiherr Manfred Von Richthofen, Was A Famous ...

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Feb 24, 2007

Freiherr Manfred von Richthofen, was a famous German First World War fighter pilot. He was better known as the Red Baron -because he flew a distinctive a red Fokker aircraft. He shot down the more combat planes than any other person on either side in the War. His known kill tally was 80. On ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

James Michener, Writing In His Book, The Source, ...  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jun 28, 2003

James Michener, writing in his book, The Source, tells the story of a man named Urbaal, who was a farmer living about 2200 B.C. He worshipped two gods: one, a god of death, and the other, a goddess of fertility. One day, the temple priests tell Urbaal to bring his young son to the temple for ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Baptist

Out Of Our Depth

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Out Of Our Depth The 3-year old felt secure in his father’s arms as Dad stood in the middle of the pool. But Dad, for fun, began walking slowly toward the deep end, gently chanting, "Deeper and deeper and deeper," as the water rose higher and higher on the child. The lad’s face registered ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Natural Says...jesus Says...

Contributed by Donny Granberry on Dec 8, 2008

NATURAL SAYS...JESUS SAYS... The natural says that you must be conceived of a man and a woman, yet he was conceived of the Holy Spirit. The natural says that your birth will bring your family joy, yet when He came He brought joy to the world and heaven. (At his birth, and angelic choir erupted in ...read more

Tags: Jesus Life

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Stand By Your ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2009

STAND BY YOUR SIGN When an individual or a congregation has the attitude of compromise in regard to spiritual values and truths, dark days are ahead. All who strive to be Christians feel a certain amount of pressure from the world. Through the strength that Christ gives, we can overcome the world ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:2

Tags: Truth

Jesus Saves Me Now

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Aug 30, 2011

JESUS SAVES ME NOW The old version used to tell us that He was able to keep us from falling. The new version, giving a closer rendering of the Greek, tells us that He is able to guard us from stumbling. So He can. So He will. But we must trust Him. Moment by moment we must look into His face, and ...read more

Tags: Security

Denomination: Baptist

The Pink Bunny Suit

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 11, 2012

THE PINK BUNNY SUIT "Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now I keep thy word." There's a memorable scene in A Christmas Story, in which Ralphie, who longs for a BB gun for Christmas, opens a parcel from his dotty maiden aunt. The aunt makes clothing for Christmas presents, and is under ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Denomination: Catholic

Praying To People

Contributed by Perry Greene on May 28, 2013

PRAYING TO PEOPLE Two young boys were spending the night at their grandparents. At bedtime, the two boys knelt beside their beds to say their prayers when the youngest one began praying at the top of his lungs. "I PRAY FOR A NEW BICYCLE... I PRAY FOR A NEW PLAYSTATION... I PRAY FOR A NEW VCR..." ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ