In Sermon Illustrations: "Thankful For Pain"

Worthless Slaves

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Aug 16, 2009

WORTHLESS SLAVES Rewards from God are never merited as something God owes us but come as a free gift from his grace. Jesus brought this home at another time with a short story. Suppose you had a slave plowing the fields. Now when that slave came in, would you say, "Sit down and I’ll get you some ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Lutheran

Gene Perrett Gave This List Of Eight Things To Be ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Oct 27, 2009

Gene Perrett gave this list of eight things to be thankful for: 1 - for automatic dishwashers. They make it possible to get out of the kitchen before the family come in for their after-dinner snacks. 2 - for husbands who attack small repair jobs around the house. They usually make them big ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Pentecostal

I Simply Came To Give...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 21, 2010

"I SIMPLY CAME TO GIVE..." In the middle of President Lincoln’s Presidency, an elderly lady made an appointment to see him. As she entered his office, he inquired, "How can I be of service to you, Madam?" The lady answered, "Mr. President, I know you are a very busy man, and I have not come to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Tags: Gratitude

Time Marches On  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2011

TIME MARCHES ON There was once a middle aged man who was considering going back to school to get that degree he had always wanted. But he was balking at the idea because he was now over 50 and what good would it do him now. He went to his dad for advice and his dad asked him how long it would ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-16

Tags: Wisdom, Wait, Response, Call God's Name, Time  (view more)  (view less)

I Can't Remember

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 19, 2011

I CAN'T REMEMBER An elderly man moved into a retirement community. It wasn't long until he had made a number of friends among the other residents. There was one lady he was especially attracted to and she was attracted to him, also. They spent a lot of time together. Finally one evening he ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-14

Tags: Aging

All By Myself?

Contributed by Perry Greene on Dec 27, 2011

ALL BY MYSELF? The story is told of an old lady who had moved to the United States from Europe when she was a child, but now she wanted to officially become a citizen of this country. After months of going through all the necessary red tape, she was finally ready to take the required ...read more

Tags: Confidence

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

We Humans Tend To Come To Blockages And Stop. ...

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Dec 28, 2012

We humans tend to come to blockages and stop. The other day I was using a vacuum cleaner, the nice new yellow one here at the hall, I turned it on and it worked (tuned it on made all the right noises). But it had no suck. It had become blocked and jammed with hay where the hose met its body, thanks ...read more

Tags: Prayer Hardship

Denomination: Salvation Army

Glutton-Free Communion

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 14, 2014

Our staff recently started a new ministry to our church family by offering "gluten-free" bread for the Lord's Supper. It has been very successful and our staff has received a lot of affirmation because of this ministry. However, we didn't start off very well.......thanks to the Senior Pastor! ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Tags: Communion, Preacher Bloopers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Too Wicked For Ministry

Contributed by Keith Foskey on Apr 16, 2014

Paul Washer is a powerful preacher and evangelist. He once had a seminary student send him a message. He was afraid that he was too bad to enter the ministry. He sent him a message that simply said, "I think I am too wicked to be in the ministry." And Paul Washer wrote him back and said, "You are ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:19-26

Tags: Assurance, Confidence, Reliance On God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Telemarketer

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 6, 2017

Here’s a story from a telemarketer: “The other day I called a house and a real nice lady answered the phone, she was really helpful and friendly, she was the type of lady that helps a telemarketer get through a long day. After some pleasantries I asked if Mr. Smith was in, “I’m sorry”, she ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Matthew 5:4

Tags: Grief, Grave, Cemetery, Marketing

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Sovereignty Is The Basis Of Our Prayers.

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 19, 2018

"In prayer, you ask for things and give thanks for things. Why? Because you recognize that God is the author and source of all the good that you have had already, and all the good that you hoped for in the future. This is the fundamental philosophy of Christian prayer. The prayer of a Christian is ...read more

Tags: Sovereignty Of God, Prayer

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Story Of The Christian Lion

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 20, 2022

A missionary in Africa was walking through a jungle when he heard the ominous roar of a lion behind him. He was very scared and dropped immediately to his knees and started praying feverishly! "Oh Lord," prayed the missionary, “You know I have served you my whole life. I have even ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3

Tags: Thanksgiving, Protection, Prayer, Humor

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How We Stop God From Answering Our Prayers

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 24, 2022

Recently, the Lord moved me from Arkansas to Louisiana. I was so happy to leave Arkansas and be released from it – it had felt like an overgrown prison to me. As I drove south on the interstate, I was thanking and praising God for a new start in a new place when He impressed upon me that I could ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:13, James 3:6

Tags: Unanswered Prayers, Preventing God, Words Stout Against Him, Tongue, Power Of Words  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Remission

Contributed by Lou Butterfield on Sep 5, 2011

REMISSION While a graduate student at Indiana University and also serving as youth minister at the North Central church in Bloomington, I had an experience I will never forget. I woke up early on this particular Sunday morning to get to the building in time to drive one of the church buses to ...read more

Tags: Born Again

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Excerpts From Saturday Evening Post Magazine ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 19, 2001

Excerpts From Saturday Evening Post Magazine article on Jack La Lanne: Fit for Life. At 86, Jack La Lanne has dipped, chinned, pushed, pulled, and lifted more often than anyone in recorded history. His present training regimen is tailor-made for only superheroes. While many of his contemporaries ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Christian Disciplines, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Stubborn Joy—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Dec 1, 2001

STUBBORN JOY--Communion Meditation "No man had more reason to be miserable than this one – yet no man was more joyful. His first home was a palace. Servants were at his fingertips. The snap of his fingers changed the course of history. His name was known and loved. He had everything – wealth, ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-13

Tags: Human Body, Humanity Of Christ, Joy

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

65279;have You Ever Had One Of Those Days? ...  PRO

Contributed by Joanna Loucky-Ramsey on Nov 4, 2002

Have you ever had one of those days? Perhaps you can identify with this fellow: I am writing in response to your request for additional information. In block number 3 of the accident reporting form, I put “Poor planning” as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Baptist

Phan Thi Kim Phuc  PRO

Contributed by John Harvey on Feb 12, 2004

Phan Thi Kim Phuc (Illustration from Still More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks” Wayne Rice. Printed by Youth Specialties) On June 8, 1972, a nine-year-old Vietnamese girl, her clothes flaming from gasoline bombs, fled the American-led assault on her village of Trang Bang. With her eyes ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Baptist

See Life As A Squint! (09.13.05--Heavenly ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 11, 2005

See Life as a Squint! (09.13.05--Heavenly Citizens!--Romans 8:25) What is easily taught but not soon learned: easily preached, but not soon believed: good advice, but not easily followed: well spoken but hard to do?. The answer? Patience. If there is one thing that none of us is capable of doing ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:25

Tags: Peace

Denomination: Lutheran

Response To An Insurance Company) I Am Writing ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

(Response to an insurance company) I am writing in response to your request for additional information. In block #3 of the accident form, I put "trying to do the job alone" as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain more fully, and I trust that the following details ...read more

Tags: God's Provision