In Sermon Illustrations: "The Second Coming"

Perseverance And Poise In The Midst Of Pain--The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

PERSEVERANCE AND POISE IN THE MIDST OF PAIN--THE EXAMPLE OF KERRI STRUG When the Olympic Games were in Atlanta, Georgia, the whole world knew the name and fame of young Kerri Strug. Kerri became the key to the American women’s gymnastic team receiving the gold medal. If she could ace her turn to ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Tags: Endurance

Could It Happen Every Day?

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jul 1, 2012

COULD IT HAPPEN EVERY DAY? Jeff Ingle tells the story of spending four days with 75 other pastors in a Pastor's Prayer Summit in Wisconsin. He writes, "In my time I've been to many camps, conferences and retreats but never have I been to anything like this. For four days, we met together with no ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Methodist

Recognising Conflict, Where An Enemy Sowing Bad Seed

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Jul 24, 2017

1. Be Perceptive to the enemy. The first way to deal with conflict is to be perceptive to the enemy. Verse 25 “but while everybody was asleep, an enemy, (that is Satan), came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away”. Notice he went away, he was sly; he did not stay to watch, or say, “I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:25

Tags: Satan's Deception, Bad Seed, Satans Tactics

Denomination: Episcopal

How To Finish A Great Book

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 11, 2018

There are a lot of books that are great and unread. You know, those books that everyone says are great: “it’s a classic,” “one of the best books of all-time,” “a masterpiece.” But almost no one reads them. Jordan Ellenberg, a University of Wisconsin professor, used Amazon’s Kindle to do an ...read more

Tags: Perseverance, Bible, Scripture

Denomination: Baptist

From Baseball To Addiction To Redemption

Contributed by Matt Neace on Jun 13, 2018

Former baseball great Darryl Strawberry play 17 major league seasons with the Mets, Dodgers, Giants and Yankees. He won a World Series with the Mets in 1986. But off the field, Strawberry struggled with addiction for most of his adult life. He was recently asked by Sports Spectrum radio, "How ...read more

Tags: Addiction, Drugs, Emptiness, Fatherless, Protection Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Mercy In A World War 2 Battle

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 1, 2020

Here is a unique, moving story about "MERCY" from the Second World War: The American pilot glanced outside his cockpit and froze. He blinked hard and looked again, hoping it was just a mirage. But his co-pilot stared at the same horrible vision. “Dear God, this is a nightmare,” the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Hate, Ww2, Mercy, Beatitudes, War  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Satan's Three-Fold Attack

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 9, 2020

Satan tempts us in three separate ways according to I John 2:15-16: "The lust of the flesh is the desire to DO something apart from the will of God. The lust of the eyes is the desire to HAVE something apart from the will of God. The pride of life is the desire to BE something apart from ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, 1 John 2:15-16

Tags: Lust, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Perfect Portrait Of Peace

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 2, 2023

Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-23, John 14:27, Philippians 4:7

Tags: Spirit Filled Life, Peace, Presence Of God, Fruit Of The Spirit, Trials, Problems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Was In Line At Mcdonalds With My Family The ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Buchner on Feb 8, 2004

I was in line at McDonalds with my family the other day when it hit me. We often come to Christ with our requests as if we’re ordering a super-value meal. “Yes, I’ll have a reassurance sandwich, with a side of prosperity, and a large, refreshing dose of hope to wash it all down. And super-size ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Methodist

An Elderly Christian Man Was Taken To A Plaza By ...  PRO

Contributed by Francis Avila on Apr 9, 2004

An elderly Christian man was taken to a plaza by the Red Army when the Communist Korea taken over the North. Trying to create fear among the people, they beat up the old man to denounce Jesus in front of many witnesses. But each time he got hit, he exclaims JESUS! as he got beaten repeatedy. After ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Congregational

When Jesus First Sent Peter And The Others Out ...  PRO

Contributed by Tom Mccrossan on Mar 1, 2005

When Jesus first sent Peter and the others out to heal the sick, He gave them the necessary power to do it (see Matt. 10:1). The Greek word for this power is exousia, which carries with it the meaning that the power is not inherent but delegated by a higher authority. It is similar to the power an ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus To Them

Contributed by Shawn Rose on May 19, 2009

JESUS TO THEM A missionary, lost at sea, washed up on edge of a remote native village. Half-dead from exposure, starvation, and sea water, the natives nursed him back to health. He lived with them 20 years; never made a confession of faith, no songs, no sermons, no Scripture; but attended the sick ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

Denomination: Baptist

A Young Businessman Had Just Started His Own ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A young businessman had just started his own firm and so he rented a beautiful office and furnished it with valuable antiques. As he was sitting behind his magnificent mahogany desk, he saw a man come into the outer office. Wanting to appear busy, he picked up the phone and pretended to be working ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships

I Heard The Story Of A Young Man Who Told His ...  PRO

Contributed by J Bernard Taylor on Jan 25, 2009

I heard the story of a young man who told his pastor that the Lord had called him into the ministry. And for several months he was busy in the work of the Lord, serving in the pulpit, leading Bible studies, going to prayer meeting, and so on. But then all of a sudden, he stopped coming to church. ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

There’s An Old Story That The Jewish Rabbis ...

Contributed by T. Scott Womble on Jul 27, 2010

There’s an old story that the Jewish rabbis tell. As the story goes, one day a rabbi asked his servant to go and buy some good food for him in the market. When the servant returned home, he presented the rabbi with a tongue. The next day, the rabbi told the servant to go the market and buy some ...read more

Tags: Tongue

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Whitening Fast

Contributed by Johnny A. Palmer Jr. on Feb 13, 2012

WHITENING FAST When Dr. Rees was waiting to preach, a friend commended to him, "You sure are whitening fast!" He got up and said this from the pulpit: "There is a little white flower that comes up through the earth at this season of the year - sometimes it comes up through the snow and frost; but ...read more

Tags: Aging

Denomination: Baptist

We Study The Bible To Listen To His Voice

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jan 14, 2013

WE STUDY THE BIBLE TO LISTEN TO HIS VOICE "We study the Bible to listen to His voice that comes from outside our experience, not to listen to our own voice that is crying from within. "His Word is not one of many. It is the only Word that has been there from all eternity because it comes from ...read more

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Who's That?

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Apr 2, 2023

Who’s that ridin’ on a colt? Who’s that lowly and humbly coming- coming into Jerusalem on that glorious Palm Sunday day? Who’s that bringin’ hope with him? Who’s that gracefully offering- offering Himself as the Shepherd to all who’ve gone astray? Who’s that? Isn’t He the Messiah? Isn’t He the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-5, John 1:29

Tags: Hosanna, Prophecy About Jesus, Poems For Palm Sunday, Palm Sunday Poem, Religious Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Secret Service Christians

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 30, 2025

A man was coming out of church one day. The pastor stood at the door to shake hands and gently pulled him aside. “Brother,” he said, “you need to join the Army of the Lord.” The man smiled, “Pastor, I’m already in the Lord’s army.” “Then how come I only see you at Christmas and Easter?” He ...read more

Scripture: John 2:11, Matthew 5:14-16

Tags: Commitment, Discipleship, Kingdom

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Is It Time Yet!" Psalm 75: 1-10 Key Verse(S): 2: ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Dec 28, 2004

“Is It Time Yet!” Psalm 75: 1-10 Key verse(s): 2: “You say, ‘I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge uprightly.’” “Is it time yet?” I can’t tell you how often I have heard those words over the years after having raised four children who were always interested in knowing when the “time” was ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 75:1-10

Tags: Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Lutheran