In Sermon Illustrations: "The World Gets Worse"

They Won't Let Me In, Either!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2014

THEY WON’T LET ME IN, EITHER! Years ago in the Deep South, a Baptist church was struggling over whether or not to allow a black gentleman to join their church. He had been their janitor for years and decided he wanted to be part of the church family. A special vote of the congregation was called ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:1-20

Tags: Church, Racism, Presence Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If I Could Rescue Just One Person...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jun 23, 2014

In 1879, Charlie Peace, a well-known criminal in London, faced execution by hanging. When he was marched to the gallows, a minister walked behind him. In keeping with custom, the minister read aloud this passage from a prayer book, "Those who die without Christ experience hell, which is the pain ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Evangelism, Rescue, Evangelism Urgency, Hell Is Real

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Your Legacy

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 2, 2014

What is the soil of your heart like? Is it growing and producing fruit for the Kingdom of Heaven – are you using your life for eternity? 1. Quote: “I will not waste my life! I will finish my course and finish it well. I will display the Gospel of the grace of God in all I do. I will run my race to ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23-24

Tags: Afterlife, Godly Legacy, Blessed Life

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

C.s. Lewis On Church And Worship

Contributed by Davon Huss on Nov 16, 2014

C.S. Lewis said that when he first became a Christian, he had trouble with church gatherings. “I thought that I could do it on my own by retiring to my rooms and reading theology, and I wouldn’t go to churches anymore.” He found the sermons often dull, and he disliked organ music, which he ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:24

Tags: Pride, Ego, The Organ, Hymns

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sowing And Reaping

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 15, 2019

SOWING and REAPING In my life time I’ve eaten a lot of taters and beans In fact, I’ve grown a lot of taters, and I’ve grown a lot of beans. But I’ve never raised beans from a tater plant, nor have I ever got taters from a bean bush. If fact, I found that 99% of the time you reap what you sow, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:6-8

Tags: Sowing, Reaping

Denomination: Pentecostal

Framed

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 11, 2019

A cow and a chicken were framed and thrown into prison. They knew they had to get out to bring the criminals to justice so they spent weeks designing escape plans. Finally, a month after they had been thrown in, they escaped in the middle of the night. However, they weren't silent enough and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:1-23

Tags: Framed, Accused

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Meeting William Shatner

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 27, 2020

“When I was a kid, my dad and I were driving somewhere on a nice, sunny afternoon…. My window was rolled down. The town we live in isn’t known to be a destination for celebs of any kind. We pull up to a light; we’re the second car from the front. A polished limo pulls up next to us, and the window ...read more

Tags: Famous, Ordinary, Fame, Human, Celebrity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

You Pick It Up

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 29, 2020

The worst defeat in college football came in 1916 when Georgia Tech defeated Cumberland College of Kentucky 222 to 0. Cumberland never even made a first down. The much smaller Cumberland players were being mauled. Halfway through the first half one of the Cumberland players fumbled the ball. As ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:9

Tags: Knocked Down, Fumble

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Time Allows Me To See Gods Working Better.

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Jun 19, 2020

I got my first cup of coffee and slowly moseyed to my front porch. Walking to the banister putting my elbows there I sipped my coffee. I looked around my neighborhood, I kinda live on a small knoll, and it seemed so peaceful. The birds were singing, they were flying around and there was what seemed ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:66

Tags: Thinking, God Working

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Missing Pieces

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 25, 2020

A not-so- bright gal calls her boyfriend and says, “Please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can’t figure out how to get it started.” He asks, “What is it supposed to be when it’s finished?” The girl says, “According to the picture on the box, it’s a tiger.” Her ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:1-10, Acts 18:24-28

Tags: Immaturity, Thinking, Gaps, Missing Information, Dunning Kruger, Wisdom, Learning, Ignorance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Morning Time With God

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 13, 2020

I got my first cup of coffee and slowly moseyed to my front porch. Walking to the banister putting my elbows there I sipped my coffee. I looked around my neighborhood, I kinda live on a small knoll, and it seemed so peaceful. The birds were singing, they were flying around and there was what seemed ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:66

Tags: Time With God, Sunday Morning

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Are You A Chicken Or An Eagle?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

John McNeil tells the story of a young eagle he had raised with a flock of chickens. The out-of-place bird had never learned to fly. One day McNeil thought he would teach this bird how, so he tried throwing it up in the air. But each time the bird would look down and fall to the ground. Then he had ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33, Colossians 3:1-4, Hebrews 12:1-2, Isaiah 40:31

Tags: Holy Spirit, Vision, Spiritual Growth, Eagles, Things Of Earth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christmas Cards Can Be Funny!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 21, 2020

Our culture really gets into Christmas cards. It’s reported that Americans send 2.1 billion of them each year. Hallmark alone has more than 2,700 Christmas card designs. I don’t always read the cards but do like to catch up on those famous “Our-family-is-perfect Christmas letters” often found ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-12

Tags: Christmas, Christ, Holidays, Laughter, Christmas Humor  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pastor, Please Don't Stop Preaching On Hell.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 18, 2022

"Preachers must not neglect preaching on the reality of Hell and the catastrophic consequence of rejecting Christ. When you abandon preaching on Hell, you ignore the accent in the Epistles on the coming judgment, you will need to skip large portions of Jesus’ teaching in the Gospels, and you ...read more

Tags: Hell, Salvation, Preaching, Judgment, Repentance, Pastors, Preachers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If Marriage Is That Much Work....

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 23, 2022

Because of a shortage of maids, the minister’s wife advertised for a male servant to help around the house. The next morning, a nicely dressed young man came to the front door of the parsonage. The minister opened the door and jumped right into the conversation. "Can you start breakfast by 7 ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18-31

Tags: Love, Marriage, Work, Humor, Engagement, Singles, Fiancee  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He Waited 42 Years To Marry Her!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 12, 2023

Richard Armstrong, in Make Your Life Worthwhile, reports the story about a man in Wales who sought to win the affection of a certain lady for 42 years before she finally said, "Yes." The couple, both 74, recently became "Mr. and Mrs." For more than 40 years, the persistent, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7

Tags: I Corinthians 13, Quitters, Love, Marriage, Agape, Persistence, Patience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

People Still Want To Be Invited To Church

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 25, 2024

Most Americans say they would visit a church if invited by a family member, neighbor or a friend. A recent study by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and LifeWay Research found that 67 percent of Americans say a personal invitation from a family member would be effective in getting them to ...read more

Scripture: John 20:21, Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19-20

Tags: Unchurched, Unbelievers, Wintessing, Evangelism, Church, Easter, Gospel, Missions, Lost  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Are We Teaching?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Aug 22, 2025

WHAT ARE WE TEACHING OTHERS? I recently heard the story of a German shepherd that was expecting little ones. She ran out in front of a car and injured her back legs. The doctor said she would heal but it would take a long time. The dog had her litter of puppies. When their eyes were open, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13

Tags: Teach, Example

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Praying For Rain

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 27, 2025

A story from drought-stricken Texas captures the boldness of true intercession. For months no rain had fallen. Desperate believers called a Friday-night prayer meeting. One farmer stopped for fuel on the way. In the back seat lay an umbrella. The station attendant mocked, “Why carry that? It ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:24, James 5:17, Matthew 7:7, 1 Kings 18:41, Luke 18:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Prayer, Intercession, Providence, Persistence, Expectation, Faith  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Stoyan's Father By Nik Ripken

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 14, 2019

When Stoyan was twelve, they imprisoned his protestant pastor father. His father remained in custody for ten years. “At first,” he said, “they held him in a secret police place in our city.” “Every morning one of the guards would take some of his own human waste and spread it on the piece of toast ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:13, 1 Peter 1:3

Tags: Faith, Persecution, Hope

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational