In Sermon Illustrations: "The Apple Of The Eye"

One Day A Farmer On Leaving For A Long Trip ...

Contributed by Sylvester Fergusson on Jul 17, 2007

One day a farmer on leaving for a long trip called his son and gave to him specific instructions. He told him; while I am gone I want you to reap the harvest and plant fresh seeds for the next harvest. The son being an obedient lad reaped the harvest and planted the seeds. As the farmer was ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:24, Proverbs 12:24, Ecclesiastes 10:18

Tags: Love, Obedience, Laziness, Initiative, Expectations, Wistdom  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Adventist

The Story Of The Candy Cane

Contributed by Darrin Fish on Dec 12, 2007

The story of the candy cane • A Candy maker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that could be used as a witnessing tool, so he made the Christmas Candy Cane. • He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus. • He began with stick of pure white, hard candy. • White to ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

When Shane Claiborne Was In Baghdad During The ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jan 14, 2008

When Shane Claiborne was in Baghdad during the initial stages of the Iraqi war as a civilian and peacemaker, he attended a birthday party for a girl whose family he had become friends with. She was turning 13. (I told the story last week of Shane’s harrowing escape from Baghdad in the midst of ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

I Close With A Story From Becky Tirabassi Whose ...

Contributed by Jim Kane on Feb 18, 2008

I close with a story from Becky Tirabassi whose wrote the article posted at Christianity Today.com I spoke of earlier that illustrates one young man’s desire to be free in Christ. While speaking at Oregon State, ‘in front of 1,000 students,’ she wrote, ‘near the end of my message, a young man ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

Its Critical That We Keep In View Were We Are ...

Contributed by Richard Francis on Feb 29, 2008

Its critical that we keep in view were we are going, on a recent trip to the USA I made a mistake on not doing that. I wanted to travel to Bloomington, so booked the flights arrived at the airport, stood for an hour in freezing winds waiting for a taxi, was praying for one to arrive and for me to ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Can Face Anything

Contributed by Bruce Montgomery on Apr 17, 2008

I CAN FACE ANYTHING In a gruesome Nazi prison camp in WWII, Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsie had just arrived at Ravensbruck, where new prisoners were being searched. Corrie was hiding a Bible under her dress. It did bulge out obviously through my dress; but I prayed, "Lord, cause now ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Refining

Contributed by Doug Lyon on May 11, 2008

REFINING A woman called a silversmith one day because she was curious about the process of refining silver. So she made an appointment to come to his shop and watch him work. She saw him hold a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, you need to ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: Independent/Bible

It Was A Busy Day In Our Costa Mesa, California, ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on May 20, 2008

It was a busy day in our Costa Mesa, California, home. But then, with 6 children and one on the way, every day was a bit hectic. On this particular day, however, I was having trouble doing even routine chores -- all because of one little boy. Len, who was three at the time, was on my heels no ...read more

Tags: Mother's Day

Denomination: Pentecostal

Twenty ...

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on May 21, 2008

Twenty Dollars A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up. ...read more

Tags: Self

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Metamorphosis

Contributed by Paul Dietz on Aug 16, 2008

Metamorphosis In a world filled with sweet scents and blue sky, Lives the gentle, uplifting butterfly, Whose metamorphosis has this truth to teach: Our aspirations are within our reach. For this fluttering flyer of soaring worth Was at one time a creature that crawled the earth. When she climbed ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: *other

Isaac Watts

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 7, 2009

ISAAC WATTS Isaac Watts was a genius. At four years of age, he had learned Latin, at nine Greek, at 11 French, and at 13 years old, Hebrew. His poetic re-working of the Psalms was magnificent. Unfortunately for poor Isaac, he was not a looker. His one chance at love came and went with a young ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

One Summer While I Was In Church Camp I Had A...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

One summer while I was in church camp I had a preacher friend ask me, "Do you work 40 hours a week? There are many preachers out there who don’t." And what if a preacher or anyone else, for that matter, were hired to work 40 hours a week and they didn’t work 40 hours a week? That would be ...read more

Tags: Laziness

You Already Have Happiness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

YOU ALREADY HAVE HAPPINESS The angel asked, "You aren’t happy. How can I help you?" The poet replied, "I have everything. But I lack only one thing. Can you give it to me?" To which the angel happily said, "Sure. I can give you anything you desire." The poet stared right into the angel’s eyes, "I ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:19

Tags: Happiness

Our Family Pet Dog, Avalon, Was A Beautiful ...

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 17, 2009

Our family pet dog, Avalon, was a beautiful rottweiler and she was a good dog. She loved to follow me around. When I would come home from work she would get all excited – wagging her tail with glee. She would rush towards me while snorting with anticipation and celebration. Avalon loved to be ...read more

Tags: Temptation General

Denomination: Baptist

I Was Invited To Compete In The Howard Wood ...

Contributed by Kerry O'neill on Feb 2, 2010

I was invited to compete in the Howard Wood Relays while running track in high school. It was time for the 110 meter high hurdles. I had set my blocks and the starter called "Runners, come to your marks." I was so nervous and decided to look to my left and right to see that I was lined up like ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Sports

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What's Left Of Your Heart

Contributed by Gregg Barbour on Feb 8, 2010

What's Left of Your Heart Anna's wedding day was finally here. She planned for months and months, and in the small church with her family and friends, she was ready to take the vow's with her fiancé, David. He gently took her hand and they turned toward the altar. But, as the minister began to ...read more

Tags: Dating

Denomination: *other

Love Me First, Then Witness To Me

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 28, 2010

LOVE ME FIRST, THEN WITNESS TO ME In our lesson we have seen that faith without works is useless. It cannot be demonstrated, it cannot change a person, it is not perfected, and it is dead! Our faith does not help us, or others, until it causes us to act. Once a chaplain walked up to a wounded ...read more

Scripture: James 2:21-24

Tags: Christian Witness

Consider Cornelia, A Woman Imprisoned In A Work ...

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Mar 23, 2010

"Consider Cornelia, a woman imprisoned in a work camp in Romania during the hard years of Communist occupation. One night, being too tired to undress, she fell exhausted on her bed and immediately went to sleep. She began to dream of a beautiful field full of flowers. There was a soft humming sound ...read more

Tags: Security, Enemies

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Parents Teach Their Children God's Word At A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 2, 2010

Parents Teach Their Children God’s Word at a Restaurant I once read an illustration of a family who took this seriously. One night at a pizza parlor, we decided to use the minutes waiting for our food as a teaching time. We passed out an index card and pencil to each child and had them write down a ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Tags: Parenting

Suburban Outreach

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 10, 2010

SUBURBAN OUTREACH Calvin Miller teaches in Birmingham, Alabama, at the Beeson Divinity School. He recently wrote a provocative article entitled, "Rethinking Suburban Evangelism," on the challenge taking the gospel to people who sense no need: "Suburbia: the push-button Zion of those who have made ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Tags: Evangelism How To