In Sermon Illustrations: "The Lord Is Close"

Relay Team Wins Race By Yelling

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 27, 2009

Relay Team Wins Race by Yelling "Stop" during Final Baton Pass I ran track in High School and my thing was running the sprints, 100, 200, hurdles, relays and such. In my Junior year the School hired a new track coach. At every practice this coach would give a short talk on strategy and tactics for ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1

Tags: Sports, Finishing The Race

Car Trouble Opens An Opportunity To Be A Good ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 26, 2010

Car Trouble Opens an Opportunity to be a Good Samaritan This was written by a Metro Denver Hospice Physician: I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and splutter and die. I barely managed to coast, cruising, into a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:29-37

Tags: Compassion, Angels Unaware

The Real Tooth Fairy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2011

THE REAL TOOTH FAIRY In 1827, a small group of people settled around a bay at Port Fairy, Australia. Among them was a newly wed couple, Sonny and Matilda Dixon. The town soon began to grow due to its fast developing fishing industry. Local stores began to spring up, and people started to cultivate ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:11

Tags: Anger, Darkness Falls, Tooth Fairy

Guardrails

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 30, 2012

GUARDRAILS A guardrail is actually a system designed to keep vehicles from straying into dangerous or off-limit areas. Now, nobody pays attention to guardrails unless you need one. There are all different kinds of guardrails, but guardrails are that invisible part of our driving experience. We’re ...read more

Scripture: Acts 24:15-16

Tags: Conscience

The Best Thanksgiving Ever

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” – Epictetus They lived a comfortable life in the upscale part of town, the children were teen and pre-teen then and had most anything their hearts desired. They had begun to recite their ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Gratitude, Serving Others, Giving Spirit

Denomination: Charismatic

Chosen

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Jul 5, 2017

CHOSEN 1 Peter 2:4 …you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious… I was awful. No one had to tell me – I knew it. In my hometown of Littlefield, Texas, the kids used to find a vacant lot relatively bare of weeds, choose up teams and play baseball. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4

Tags: Chosen By God, Baseball, Athlete, Athletic, Sports, Chosen, Elect  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Is Your Value?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 17, 2020

Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? A boy asked a wise man: WHAT ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:29, Matthew 16:25

Tags: Value, Mirror

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The King's Search

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 15, 2020

MY HANDS AND GOD’S HEART CAN ACCOMPLISH GOD’S WORK IN SOME OF THE STRANGEST WAYS. PONDER MY STORY… There was this wonderful King that loved his people so much. This King had prayed for a son for years. But all he and the queen ever had was a DAUGHTER. She was absolutely beautiful. To add to ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-8

Tags: New King, Do It

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Post-It Note Christianity

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Jul 6, 2021

I’m a minister and, for the most part, the people I’m around know that. But in the church I serve we don’t wear any special clerical clothing, so on occasion I find myself in conversations with people who don’t know I’m a minister. That can create some interesting situations. I golf occasionally ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:3

Tags: Faithfulness, Sincerity, Faith, Commitment, Dedication  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Monkey Business

Contributed by David Dunn on Jan 15, 2026

I want to tell you a story about monkeys. This story takes place in a country called India. When I was about your age, I lived with my parents and my brothers and sisters in India. In that country they have monkeys. The monkeys don’t live in zoos like they do here. They live in the trees—right ...read more

Scripture: James 1:5, Proverbs 15:1

Tags: Mercy, Wisdom

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Resolutions Of Jonathan Edwards  PRO

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Jan 5, 2003

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake. Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:5

Tags: Discipleship, New Year's Day

Denomination: Baptist

The Real St. Nick  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 9, 2002

THE REAL ST NICK A vast multitude was imprisoned in every place," wrote an eyewitness. "The prisons -- prepared for murders and robbers -- were filled with bishops, priests, and deacons ... so there was no longer room for those condemned of crimes."[1] You’d hardly expect to find old St. Nick ...read more

Tags: Christmas

May 5, 2004 "You Can Walk Boy!" John 16: 19-24 ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 4, 2004

May 5, 2004 “You Can Walk Boy!” John 16: 19-24 Key verse(s): 21 “‘A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.’” Why do Christians have to suffer? If I had ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-11

Tags: Hardship Of Life

The Hidden Mud And Leaves!" Ephesians 6:10-17 ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 14, 2004

“The Hidden Mud and Leaves!” Ephesians 6:10-17 Key verse(s): 10: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” We moved to Beech Springs valley some sixteen summers ago now. We had been looking for a place that could afford us peace, quiet and some room for our growing family to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-17

Tags: Battle, Doubt, Enemy, Stand, Strong  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Afraid Of Christmas?" Luke 2: 8-14 Key Verse(S): ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Dec 21, 2004

“Afraid of Christmas?” Luke 2: 8-14 Key verse(s): 10: “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” “If I hear one more person wish me a “Happy Holiday!” I think I will just burst!” How often have you heard that over the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-14

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Lutheran

If You Can't Beat ‘em?" Philippians 1: 12-14 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 5, 2005

“If You Can’t Beat ‘Em?” Philippians 1: 12-14 Key verse(s): 14:“Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em! We’ve all said it at times when it just seemed hopeless and there ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-14, Philippians 1:12-14

Tags: Faith, Endurance

Denomination: Lutheran

Passing Through The Shadows!" 1 Corinthians ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 21, 2005

“Passing Through The Shadows!” 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 Key verse(s): 26:“‘For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes’.” “Smile and the world smiles with you! Cry and you cry alone.” Walking through life with a smile on our faces is something to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-34

Tags: Easter Maundy Thursday

Denomination: Lutheran

Pastor Jim Cymbala, In His Book Fresh Wind, Fresh ...  PRO

Contributed by Johnny Creasong on Sep 10, 2007

Pastor Jim Cymbala, in his book Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, tells how God answered fervent prayer on behalf of his daughter. He writes: “Our oldest daughter, Chrissy, had been a model child growing up. But around age sixteen she started to stray,…not only from us but also away from God. In time, she ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

The Insignificant Is Significant

Contributed by Peter Loughman on May 15, 2008

THE INSIGNIFICANT IS SIGNIFICANT To anyone who knows her, Joanne is not a significant person. Honestly, chances are, Joanne will never accomplish anything significant. In the town that she lives in, Joanne is never going to be someone who people in town will see as an important person. Joanne is ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Great Testimony Of Salvation

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Apr 20, 2021

A Great Testimony of Salvation *William MacKay had a great testimony about how God rewrote the story of his life. In the mid-1800s, as a teenager in Scotland, William left home to go to college. *His mother was greatly concerned about his spiritual life, so she gave him a Bible and printed a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:23-25, Romans 1:15-17, Romans 10:8-15

Tags: Salvation, Gospel Power, God's Work, The Bible, Christian Testimonies, William Mackay, Revive Us Again  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist