In Sermon Illustrations: "Thank You"

Our Topic Today Is Worship And Service. I'd Like ...

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jan 29, 2009

Our topic today is worship and service. I’d like to begin by telling a true story that happened to Reverend Forrest I. Sears. He writes: Wilma had been a member of our church for many, many years. In her later years she needed the assistance of a cane to help in walking. As she was talking ...read more

Tags: Preaching

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Writer Regina Barreca Wrote An Article For The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 4, 2001

Writer Regina Barreca wrote an article for the Chicago Tribune in 1996 on this very issue: "Sloth is insidious. It whispers that you might as well do it tomorrow, that nobody will know if you cut comers here and there to save yourself some trouble, that the world will be the same in a hundred ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:11-12

Tags: Doctrine

The Dawn Of Goodness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2003

THE DAWN OF GOODNESS There is the story of a young lady who was a bright student. Unfortunately, she did not have assurance. Her name was Marian. She was working her way through college by cleaning the dorm rooms of her fellow students. She was often annoyed by their in ability to say “thank you” ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Just Before General Eisenhower Died, Billy ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Just before General Eisenhower died, Billy Graham was invited to visit him at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC He was told he could stay thirty minutes. When he went in, the general was wearing his usual big smile, even though he knew he didn’t have long to live. Later Billy Graham told what ...read more

Tags: Parable Ten Virgins

Mind Your Manners - Servant - President Calvin Coolidge Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 1, 2025

Have you ever dined at a fancy restaurant ... or at someone's home ... and felt a little ... uncomfortable? President Calvin Coolidge ... invited some friends from Vermont ... to dine with him ... at the White House. They were extremely ... nervous. And were concerned ... about the correct ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:7-14, Matthew 15:36, John 13:14, 1 Corinthians 11:27

Tags: Manners, Servant, Friends

Denomination: Anglican

5 Ways To Praise

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 28, 2011

5 WAYS TO PRAISE There are 5 ways that you can praise employees: personal praise, written praise, electronic praise, public praise and indirect praise. Personal praise- is considered the most important type of praise by employees. It consists of being verbally thanked one on one for doing good ...read more

Tags: Workplace

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

People Who Claim To Have Faith And Yet Are Simply ...

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on Dec 3, 2009

PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO HAVE FAITH AND YET ARE SIMPLY FILLED WITH PIOUS GOOD WISHES TO THOSE IN NEED (CHRISTIAN BROTHER) WITHOUT GOOD ACTIONS GIVE TO THE LIE OF PIOUS WORDS. THE THOUGHT ONLY COUNTS IF SOMETHING TANGIBLE IS DONE TO HELP THE INDIVIDUAL. OUR FAITH BECOMES AN ACT MAKE PRETEND. IT SPEAKS ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Baptist

The Fixer-Preacher - Pastor Appreciation Help

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Jun 24, 2025

Proverbs 17:22, A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. The Fixer-Preacher Helping the church with Pastor Appreciation Day I was recently invited to preach for the Sunday morning service. Ice Breaker: For an introduction, I stated the following: This is ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22, Romans 13:7, Hebrews 13:7, 1 Timothy 5:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, Ephesians 4:11  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Humor, Laughter, Pastor Appreciation, Introductions, Ice Breaker, Pastor Humor, Icebreakers, Sermon Starters  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

While Grace Is Getting What You Don't Deserve, ...

Contributed by Brian Harvison on Oct 7, 2008

While grace is getting what you don’t deserve, mercy is not getting what you deserve. A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death "But I don’t ask for justice," the mother ...read more

Tags: Mercy

Denomination: Baptist

The Spiritual Odd Couple  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on May 1, 2002

THE SPIRITUAL ODD COUPLE Often times we stand in awe of the fact that our Savior Jesus Christ was born into this sinful world and took on human flesh - born in a cattle stall! What a filthy place for God to be born! In the same way, then, shouldn’t we stand in awe at what the Holy Spirit ...read more

Tags: Holiness, Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Lutheran

Queen Mary Made It Her Practice To Visit Scotland ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Apr 8, 2003

Queen Mary made it her practice to visit Scotland every year. She was so loved by the people there that she often mingled with them freely without a protective escort. While walking with some children one afternoon, she went farther than she had planned. Dark clouds came up unexpectedly, so she ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 1:7-8

Tags: Discipleship, Giving Yourself

How Do Your Eyes See It?  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jun 6, 2002

How do your eyes see it? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com so you are a Mother? I see alot different than you do, you see the mud all around you, Ha! I see the diamond in you. You compare yourself to others, and say I can never acheive that level. I say, you are beyond where most ever ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

For My Next Point, I Need A Volunteer. I Need A ...

Contributed by Robbie Parsons on Sep 14, 2008

For my next point, I need a volunteer. I need a young person who really likes bubble gum. (Get the volunteer and talk with him or her up front for a minute.) So you like chewing gum? What is your favorite kind? Really, that is nice. I’m sorry that I don’t have any of that king of bubble gum, ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

Children's Letters To The Pastor

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 31, 2021

Children’s letters to the Pastor Dear Pastor, I would like to go to heaven someday because I know my brother won't be there. Stephen. Age 8, Chicago Dear Pastor, I know God loves everybody but He never met my sister. Yours sincerely, Arnold. Age 8, Nashville. Dear Pastor, Please say ...read more

Tags: Children, Humor, Pastors

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Larry Norman Funeral Was A Going Away Party

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 25, 2024

What a gathering! Over 500 poured into a church this morning to pay our respects to Larry Norman. As we entered, we were handed ‘circus programs’ (instead of a boring pamphlet) that read: "Larry Norman Presents: A Going Away Party." It was a gathering of friends, family and fans ...read more

Tags: Funerals, Christian Music, Death, Celebration, Heaven, Mourning  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Young Boy Was Leaving For Iraq And On His Last ...

Contributed by Bob Marcaurelle on Jun 16, 2007

A young boy was leaving for Iraq and on his last night at home he went out with his friends. Arriving home about 11:30 he made his regular stop at the refrigerator. The mother and father were in bed upstairs, and as always did not feel right until they heard him come in. The mother said to the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

I Didn't Save You. God Did.

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 19, 2012

"I DIDN'T SAVE YOU. GOD DID." Fireman Edward Cushing tells the story of an old frame house burning on the southside of Chicago. He ordered the hoses to start fighting the fire and then dashed inside and pulled three people out. When the blaze was over, the Chief came over and told him he did a ...read more

Tags: Dreams

Denomination: Methodist

A Little Boy Was Spending The Night At Grandma ...  PRO

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Sep 20, 2007

A little boy was spending the night at grandma and grandpa’s house. Kneeling beside his bed with his grandparents he softly said his prayers; "Dear God, please bless Mummy and Daddy and all the family. Thank you for letting me stay with grandma and grandpa tonight bless them and please give us ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Obedience

Contributed by Anitha Jabastion on Jan 2, 2021

There was a boy who went trekking on the mountain. He reached a great height when he realized that it was getting dark and he had to reach the bottom soon. He began climbing down. It was getting darker and darker, so dark that he could barely see. He was somehow managing to get down the mountain ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:22

Tags: Obedience, Listening To God

In An Earlier Century, There Lay A Large Boulder ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Warren on May 1, 2001

In an earlier century, there lay a large boulder in the middle of the roadway. Traveler after traveler walked past the boulder, veering off the side of the road to get around it. All the while, they were shaking their head and muttering, "Can you believe that? Someone should get that big thing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Psalm 61:1-8

Tags: Doing God's Will, Evangelism, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ