In Sermon Illustrations: "The Last Days"

The Perseverance Of Dan Jansen

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

THE PERSEVERANCE OF DAN JANSEN DAN JANSEN: Resident of suburban Milwaukee, Jansen finished 4th place in the 1984 Olympics in the 500 Meters Speed Skating. But four years later, he came rearing back and had proved himself to be the fastest skater in the world, having won the World Sprint Cup just ...read more

Scripture: James 1:12

Tags: Endurance

The Mayor's Martyr Maid

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jun 3, 2011

THE MAYOR'S MARTYR MAID "I found one!" The inquisitor held up a Bible and hollered out, "Bring in the mayor and his family. Someone is studying the Bible in this house!" In the 16th century, Philip II sent the Duke of Alba to Flanders to stamp out the Protestants who insisted on reading the ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The First Radio Broadcast  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 7, 2011

THE FIRST RADIO BROADCAST Allow me to start our time by reading you a nifty story. It is called, "The First Radio Broadcast." For their entire careers, wireless operators onboard US Navy and merchant ships had only heard Morse code coming through their headphones. However, a few days before ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Tags: Christmas Eve, Peace, Eternal

The Shepherd's Voice

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 10, 2012

THE SHEPHERD'S VOICE If you know and follow Jesus as Shepherd you will be able to flee from untruth and ungodly belief systems. D.L. Moody told the following: A friend, who was traveling in the East, heard that there was a shepherd who still kept up the custom of calling his sheep by name. He ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-18

Tags: Parable Lost Sheep

Why Did Jesus Really Weep?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 30, 2020

When Jesus went to call Lazarus back from the grave......HE WEPT. Some have wondered why he wept. The Jews must have thought it was from sorrow, because they said, "Behold how He loved him" (John 11:36). Yet we wonder why he wept, if he was going to call him back to life? Maybe ...read more

Scripture: John 11:35, John 14:1-6

Tags: Death, Heaven, Lazarus, Weeping, Funerals  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Preserved And Protected By The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2022

When my mother used to make jam, I would watch her pour wax over the top of the preserves until it was at the brim of the jar. She would then carefully wipe some wax around the rim itself and place the rubber-lined lid on tight. The wax and the vacuum caused by the cooling preserves would seal that ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:13

Tags: Protection, Holy Spirit, Preserve

Do You Have This Much Self Control?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

I heard a funny story about a stunt pilot who was selling rides in his single engine airplane. One day he got into an argument with a pastor who insisted on taking his wife along at no extra charge. Not wanting to miss out on a chance to make some cash, the pilot said, “I’ll take you both up for ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Marriage, Self Denial, Fruit Of The Spirit, Works Of The Flesh, Self Control, Character Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Be Like The Llama And Face Your Enemy!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 8, 2024

Reports the DENVER POST: "Like many sheep ranchers in the West, Lexy Fowler has tried just about everything to stop crafty coyotes from killing her sheep. She has used odor sprays, electric fences, and 'scare-coyotes.' She has slept with her lambs during the summer and has placed ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Word, Battles, Temptation, Victory, Defeat, Stand, Running, Spiritual Armor, Fear, Lust, Satan, Spiritual Warfare  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Sunday School Class Was Studying The Ten ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 8, 2005

A Sunday school class was studying the Ten Commandments. They were ready to discuss the last one. The teacher asked if anyone could tell her what it was. Susie raised her hand, stood tall, and quoted, "Thous ...read more

Tags: Commandments Covet

Through The Week We Go Down Into The Valleys Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Through the week we go down into the valleys of care and shadow. Our Sabbaths should be hills of light and joy in Gods presence; and so as time rolls by we shall go from mountain top to mountain top, till at last ...read more

Tags: Commandments Sabbath

A Condemned Prisoner Awaiting Execution Was ...  PRO

Contributed by George Rennau on Feb 19, 2001

A condemned prisoner awaiting execution was granted the usual privilege of choosing the dishes he wanted to eat for his last meal. He ordered a large mess of mushrooms. "Why all the mushrooms and nothing else?" inquired the guard. "Well," ...read more

Tags: Death Nearness, Endurance, Fear And Worry

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Leslie D. Weatherhead: Divine Undefeatable Purpose

Contributed by Curtis Kittrell on Apr 30, 2002

Quotable “I believe that each individual is precious to God, and that a divine undefeatable purpose is being worked out in every life; a life that goes on after death. A thousand things happen to us which are not ‘the will of God,’ but ...read more

Tags: Knowing God's Will, Faith

Denomination: Pentecostal

If Individuals Live Only Seventy Years, Then A ...  PRO

Contributed by Curtis Kittrell on Jun 6, 2002

“If individuals live only seventy years, then a state, or a nation, or a civilization, which may last for a thousand years, is more important than an individual. But if Christianity is true, then the individual is not only more important but incomparably more important, for he is ...read more

Tags: Death, Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Soldier Called My Chapel On A Tuesday Morning ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Oct 27, 2003

A soldier called my Chapel on a Tuesday morning and asked if I could conduct a wedding for him that Friday. I explained that I required at least 3 month’s notice. He replied, “I ...read more

Tags: Marriage General, Marriage Struggle

Denomination: Congregational

Apparitions Of Mary

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Sep 19, 2006

Apparitions of Mary On the 25th of each month, Our Lady appears to the Medjugorje visionary Marija who then goes into a trance which sometimes can last up to 30 minutes. After the apparition leaves, Marija shares the message. Each ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

A Reporter Was Interviewing An Old Man On His ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A reporter was interviewing an old man on his 100th birthday. "What are you most proud of?" he asked. "Well, " said the man, "I don’t have an enemy in the world." "What a beautiful thought How inspirational" said the ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

I Love This Book

Contributed by Bob Marcaurelle on Dec 8, 2009

I LOVE THIS BOOK Dr. Vance Havner says the Bible begins in a garden (Gen.3) and ends in a garden (Rev. 21-22). He says there is no devil, no sin, and no sorrow in the first two chapters of the Bible or in the last two ...read more

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Baptist

The Christian Communications Laboratory Relates ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Feb 23, 2010

The Christian Communications Laboratory relates the story of a small Midwestern weekly paper which ran a story saying, "We are pleased to announce that the tornado which blew away the Methodist church last Friday did no real damage to the town." Kind ...read more

Tags: Worldliness

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Modern Version Of The Parable Of The ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jul 18, 2003

A MODERN VERSION OF THE PARABLE OF THE LABOURERS: A large, mulit-national, retail giant moved into a new city. We’ll call it “Stuff Mart.” They put an add in the paper inviting applications for people to work for one month to stock their shelves, and received 100 applications. The manager ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Tags: Parable Vineyard

Denomination: Baptist

If You Have The Truth And It's A Matter Of Life ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

If you have the truth and it’s a matter of life or death, you had better be assertive. For example, I do a tremendous amount of flying. It has been my observation that pilots are some of the most arrogant people you would ever want to meet. First of all, in all my years of air travel they have ...read more

Tags: World Religions