In Sermon Illustrations: "The Lost Son"

When Things In Your Life Seem Almost Too Much To ...

Contributed by Fran Van Hoven on Jun 29, 2007

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar... and the wine...:A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-17

Tags: Busy, 24 Hours, Time, Not Enough Time

Denomination: Assembly Of God

There's A Wonderful Little Legend About A Man Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Sep 17, 2007

There’s a wonderful little legend about a man who was lost and wandering in the desert, dying of thirst. As he wandered in that terribly hot desert, he stumbled upon a ramshackle, dilapidated shack. There wasn’t much to it, but, at least, it would provide a little bit of shade and respite for him. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Denomination: Baptist

Life-Saving Stations  PRO

Contributed by C Jordan on Mar 16, 2008

ILLUSTRATION: On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur, there was once a little life-saving station. The building was primitive, and there was just one boat, but the members of the life-saving station were committed and kept a constant watch over the sea. When a ship went down, they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:37-38

Tags: Service, Church, Outreach, Salvation, Business, Labourers, Volunteer, Employed  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: *other

In A Movie Classic - National Lampoon's Vacation ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 31, 2008

In a movie classic - National Lampoon’s Vacation - Chevy Chase - otherwise known as Clark Griswold - leads his family across the country to their dream vacation at Wally World. Along the way, Clark gets lost several times. One time happened to be in St. Louis. After several wrong turns, the houses ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ

In Tough Economic Times Maybe You’re Thinking ...

Contributed by Dean O'bryan on Jul 21, 2008

In tough economic times maybe you’re thinking about polishing your resume and applying for a different job. If you find yourself looking, let me give you a little help. I came across several statements from actual resumes and job applications – and you might want to take notes and file these ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Baptist

Follow The Trail

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

FOLLOW THE TRAIL In 1949, Mao Tse-Tung ran through China in a marauding storm. His communist army was wiping out anything in their path that would hinder an unrestrained dictatorship of communism. In the path of this malicious army, a CIA operative Douglas Mackiernan had to flee for his life. ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Comfort In Captivity

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

COMFORT IN CAPTIVITY We all want our lives to have some semblance of control. We want to feel safe and secure. We want to have victory in our lives over our troubles. Jesus, the triumphant King, has come to enter your life to do just that. You must give up your power and control over your life. ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships

The Gift Nobody Wants

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2008

The Gift Nobody Wants In 1999 Dr Paul Brand and Philip Yancey co-wrote a book called "Pain: the Gift Nobody Wants." Dr Brand was born in India to missionary parents, and has spent most of his life caring for people with leprosy. One of Dr Brand's greatest discoveries was that people with leprosy ...read more

Tags: Guilt

Are You Sure, Lord?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

ARE YOU SURE, LORD? In a movie classic - National Lampoon's Vacation - Chevy Chase - otherwise known as Clark Griswold - leads his family across the country to their dream vacation at Wally World. Along the way, Clark gets lost several times. One time happened to be in St. Louis. After several ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Let Us Remember The Little Birds... No Room In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2008

Let us remember the little birds... NO ROOM IN THE INN? There was a little bird that came and lived at my house a few weeks. He and I became friends. I felt so sorry for that little bird. He seemed happy to jump around on the ground. He could no longer fly, but he could still sing. Could I ever be ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Financial Wow Miracle

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jun 10, 2009

FINANCIAL WOW MIRACLE Lake City Church - Madison -- God does a financial wow miracle. They were four days away from having to make their quarterly payment of $140,000 for their mortgage. Pastor John Ruck meets with all the finance wizards - bankers, Cpa's, business men. They asked him "How are you ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mendelssohn And Rembrandt: Artists In Christ

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 10, 2009

MENDELSSOHN AND REMBRANDT: ARTISTS IN CHRIST This past Tuesday we noted the 200th anniversary of the birth of the composer Felix Mendelssohn. Mendelssohn was born into a family with deep spiritual roots. His grandfather Moses Mendelssohn was a rabbi and a philosopher. But Felix’s parents, ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

Sinners Need Restoration Like Cast Sheep Need ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2009

Sinners Need Restoration like Cast Sheep Need Rescued One of the dangers facing a sheep is that it becomes ‘cast’ and one of the challenges facing a shepherd is to make sure that his sheep do not become cast. A cast sheep is one that has turned over on its back and is, become of it lack of agility ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Tags: Restoration

Wartime Speech By Churchill,

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 29, 2009

Wartime Speech by Churchill, "We Will Never Surrender" On the fifth of June, 1940, not even a month after he became prime minister, Winston Churchill spoke to the British people to encourage them of their desperate situation. Bear in mind that in September of the previous year the Nazis had ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:9

Tags: War

Dave Dravecky On The Impact Of Suffering On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 22, 2009

Dave Dravecky on the Impact of Suffering on Faith Again, it’s a reminder that following Christ is risky and that suffering will come. Jesus makes it very clear: there is no avoiding the cross. Peter couldn’t avoid it, and neither can we. Dave Dravecky was a professional baseball pitcher who lost ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Tags: Enduring Trials, Trials And Difficulties

Margaret Waage Wrote Of An Especially Important ...

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Dec 26, 2009

"Margaret Waage wrote of an especially important Christmas eve in her life. She got off her job at noon and stood dejectedly in the crowd waiting for the subway train. She had worked by herself all morning since her fellow workers had been given the day off. Now many people around her were talking ...read more

Tags: Christmas Eve

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Wycliffe Bible Translator Chet Bitterman's Death ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 30, 2009

Wycliffe Bible Translator Chet Bitterman’s Death Motivated Others for Missionary Service Jesus Himself said that the end would come only after the “gospel of the Kingdom” is “preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations” (Matthew 24:14). As His coming approaches, Jesus wants the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:14

Tags: Missions, Bible Translation

Reason Why Helicopter Pilot Stopped A Massacre In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2010

Reason Why Helicopter Pilot Stopped a Massacre in Vietnam I would like to close with another quote from Thomas Long, who relates an illustration that many of us hear this morning can recall. Long writes, and I quote: “The school where I teach gave an honorary degree several years ago to a man named ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:12

Tags: Christian Values

I'm Always Fascinated By The Stories Of People ...

Contributed by Bret Toman on May 20, 2010

I'm always fascinated by the stories of people who win large sums of money in lotteries. A large majority of whom wish they had never won. Willie Hurt of Lansing, Mich., won $3.1 million in 1989. Two years later he was broke and charged with murder. His lawyer says Hurt spent his fortune on a ...read more

Tags: Money, Gambling

Denomination: Baptist

Breaking The Heart Of The Father

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 30, 2010

BREAKING THE HEART OF THE FATHER D. J. Wilbur Chapman told a story related to him by R. A. Torrey of an old father and mother who determined to give their boy an education. They were as poor as they could be. They had a conference in their home, and decided to send their boy to the university. ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 23:22-26

Tags: God The Father