In Sermon Illustrations: "Thankful For Pain"

On The Old Happy Days Television Show – Which I ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 9, 2009

On the old Happy Days television show – which I loved to watch, Richie Cunningham had just been “grounded for life” by his father, Howard, for misbehavior. As they talked about it, Howard asked his son, “Did you know that there is a lesson in this for you?” Richie’s response was priceless: “I ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Baptism

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Jun 19, 2020

The story is told about the baptism of King Aengus by St. Patrick in the middle of the fifth century. Sometime during the rite, St. Patrick leaned on his sharp-pointed staff and inadvertently stabbed the king's foot. After the baptism was over, St. Patrick looked down at all the blood, realized ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:38

Tags: Baptism, Suffering

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Another Turkey On The Table

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 30, 2024

It was a Monday morning, and I was busy starting my week by organizing my schedule and organizing some of my projects. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage came to my door, looked in, and said, "Are you ready for the week?" I don't recall her ever asking me that question, but I ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:17

Tags: Thanksgiving, Celebration

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

There Was A Farmer Who Had Three Sons: Ron, Don ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim George on Apr 29, 2001

There was a farmer who had three sons: Ron, Don and Little John. All had their names on the church roll but none ever attended church or had time for God. Then one day Don was bitten by a rattlesnake. The doctor was called and he did all he could to help Don, but the outlook for his recovery was ...read more

Scripture: James 1:26-27, Luke 13:3, Luke 13:10-17, Luke 13:6-9

Tags: Faith, Clean, Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Baptist

A Few Years Ago, A Major Multinational Company ...  PRO

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Dec 14, 2001

A few years ago, a major Multinational company was looking for a new Marketing Director. After much advertising and many application, three candidates entered the final selection process. A mathematician, a statistician and a solicitor. The first to be invited in for the final interview was ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:10

Tags: Truth, Workplace Integrity

Denomination: Anglican

Perhaps Daniel Defoe Gave Us Some Good Advice ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

Perhaps Daniel Defoe gave us some good advice through his fictitious character Robinson Crusoe. The first thing that Crusoe did when he found himself on a deserted island was to make out a list. On one side of the list he wrote down all his problems. On the other side of the list he wrote down ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday, Joy

Proof Of Divine Inspiration

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 27, 2009

PROOF OF DIVINE INSPIRATION The story is told that Frederick the Great of Prussia once asked a court chaplain for proof of divine inspiration of the Bible. The response was simply, "The Jews, sire." Dr. Adrian Rogers has written that "Israel is God’s yardstick, His blueprint for the world." And, ...read more

Tags: Israel

Enjoyable Giving

Contributed by Bradley Kellum on Sep 8, 2009

ENJOYABLE GIVING A panhandler asked a woman for money, and she dug in her purse and handed him a dollar bill. As she did, she admonished him, "I’ll give you a dollar—-not because you deserve it, but because it pleases me." "Thank you, ma’am," he ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Baptist

May 11, 2005 "Sunshine Following The Rain!" ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 9, 2005

May 11, 2005 “Sunshine Following the Rain!” Philemon: 17-19 Key verse(s) 18:“If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.” There is that precious, opportunistic moment; when a gentle hand by a touch on the shoulder is able to magically remove the sting of failure from the ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:17-19

Tags: Faith, Christian Love, Compassion

Denomination: Lutheran

Paul W. Powell, "Pride Is So Subtle That If We ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Paul W. Powell, “Pride is so subtle that if we aren’t careful we’ll be proud of our humility. When this happens our goodness becomes badness. Our virtues become vices. We can easily become like the Sunday School teacher who, having told the story of the Pharisee and ...read more

Tags: Sin Bondage To

How Can You Praise When You Feel Down? Look Back ...

Contributed by Michael West on Sep 29, 2008

How can you praise when you feel down? Look back to where you have been and recall the blessings and miracles, recall what God has already done in your life and through your life. Then put on the garment of praise for those things and in a short period of time of praising and giving thanks ...read more

Tags: Worship Benefits

Denomination: Independent/Bible

One Very Important Ingredient Of Success Is A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"One very important ingredient of success is a good, wide-awake, persistent, tireless enemy. An enemy to an ambitious man is like the rhinoceros bird to the rhinoceros. When the enemy comes the rhinoceros bird tells about it. When a successful man is making mistakes the enemy immediately calls ...read more

Tags: Miscellaneous

They Were My Sins, But Not Anymore

Contributed by Thomas Cash on Jan 29, 2013

THEY WERE MY SINS, BUT NOT ANYMORE F.W. Farrar said, "Sometimes as we float down the river of life, memory flashes up from the hidden depths, and the dark wave is peopled with the innumerable faces of once-forgotten sins which menace us from the waters and prophecy of death. But God can enable us ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 17:10-16, 2 Kings 17:8-16

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Learn To Listen

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 19, 2025

Learn to listen to others with the goal of understanding – NOT JUDGEMENT! Just ask this question, “What’s the story behind that tattoo?” Then, just listen. Try to learn about that person you just met. Then, tell them thanks for sharing. Until you are ready to share your story of becoming a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15, James 1:19

Tags: Judgment, Listen, Tattoo

Denomination: Methodist

Charlie's Thanksgiving List

Contributed by Perry Hancock on Nov 22, 2022

Charlie’s Thanksgiving List The pastor at the downtown men’s shelter was ready to begin the Thanksgiving service. Everyone was ready for him to begin and finish since the service was before the meal. After a few hymns were sung, it was time for the pastor’s Thanksgiving sermon. This year he had ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:2

Tags: Thanksgiving, God's Blessings

Denomination: Baptist

Am I An Enabler?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 7, 2023

Text, Galatians 6:6, KIV: 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Not long ago I had lunch with a pastor friend. We talked about several different things but when I mentioned something I had seen on Sermon Central, he was alarmed! He asked me, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:6

Tags: Pastors, Communication, Humor

Denomination: Baptist

Kind Of Like The Little Kid Who Was Told This ...  PRO

Contributed by Maximiliano Zapata on Jun 19, 2001

Kind of like the little kid who was told this same story in his Sunday morning Bible class. After church on way home mom asks him what they talked about in Bible class, little boy tells her that they talked about the creation story and how God had taken a rib from mans side and made a wife for ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-3

Tags: Children

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

According To Dr. Lana Staneli, Author Of A Book ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 16, 2002

According to Dr. Lana Staneli, author of a book on marital triangles, “Of those who break up their marriage to marry someone else, eighty percent are sorry later. Of those who do marry their lover, which is only about ten percent, about seventy percent of them get a divorce. Of that twenty-five ...read more

There Are Twelve Million Cases Of Sexually ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 16, 2002

There are twelve million cases of sexually transmitted diseases every year. The AIDS epidemic is reaching monstrous proportions, and efforts at making sure we all wear condoms aren’t going to safeguard anybody. The failure rate of condoms when it comes to preventing pregnancy is somewhere between ...read more

In An Article Entitled, "The Three Wise Women," ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Jan 14, 2004

In an article entitled, “The Three Wise Women,” Christin Ditchfield noted this about Anna, “[she] had a lot of time on her hands. She could have spent that time living in the past and longing for the good old days. She could have become the proverbial busybody… sticking her nose into other people’s ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Church Of God