In Sermon Illustrations: "The World Is Getting Worse"

Show Us God  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Jan 9, 2013

SHOW US GOD The Greek philosopher Socrates made this statement: "Oh that someone would arise, man or god, to show us God." In the minds of scholars, here's one of the greatest philosophers who ever lived; and yet he, himself, had beating in his own breast--and he admitted it--oh that god could ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Messianic Prophecies

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Will Give You Two Apples  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 29, 2014

I WILL GIVE YOU TWO APPLES An atheist and a little boy in his neighborhood were talking one day about God, church and faith. Finally, the old neighbor said to the little boy, "Son, I don’t see how there could be a God in this world with all of the problems we have. I will give you an apple if you ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 19:1-5

Tags: Faith, Apologetics, Atheism, Unbelief

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Band Of Theologians  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 4, 2014

A BAND OF THEOLOGIANS Dr. Robert Jastrow, scientist and agnostic once said, "Now we see how astronomical evidence leads to a biblical view of the origin of the world." He concluded w/a monumental statement: "For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 18:1-5

Tags: Science, God, Atheism, Agnostic

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Elton Trueblood On Family And Parenting

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 24, 2014

Elton Trueblood: "No matter how much a man may be concerned with his work in the world, he should not care about it as much as he cares for his family. This is because we have, in our families, a bigger stake than most of us can ever have in our employment. We can change business associates ... we ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:4-12

Tags: Family, Parenting, Fatherhood, Fathers Day, Household, Christian Fathers, Godly Fathers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Encouraging Others

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 18, 2017

After analyzing many surveys, J. C. Staehle found that the principle causes of unrest among workers, were the following: 1. Failure to give credit for suggestions. 2. Failure to correct grievances. 3. Failure to encourage. 4. Criticizing employees in front of other people. 5. Failure to ask ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:39

Tags: Relationships, Encourage Others

Denomination: Charismatic

Christmas And Atheism

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 16, 2019

The famed Austrian psychologist Carl Jung once wrote about a life without God: “Those psychiatrists who are not superficial have come to the conclusion that the vast neurotic misery of the world could be TERMED a neurosis of emptiness. Men cut themselves off from the root of their being, from God ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Faith, Atheism, Emptiness, Existence Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Scratch Resistant

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 6, 2022

I was emailing with a friend about the intense testing we all seemed to be experiencing when she emailed back to me: I think a very good analogy for the unending intense spiritual attacks is to liken it to how a diamond is formed… Diamonds are formed under extreme pressure and intense heat, ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 13:9

Tags: Endurance, Fiery Trials, Spiritual Strength, Refining, Tests, Spiritual Attacks  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Why The Titanic Was Destroyed

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2024

In 1912, the world saw the maiden voyage of the great Titanic ship. Tragically, during the journey, the Titanic received a message from another ship that there were dangerous icebergs in the area. The radio operator put the message under a weight at his elbow and went on with his work. It ...read more

Tags: Action, Voice Of God, Disobedience, Hearing God, Works, Doers Of The Word, Obedience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unrealized Dreams

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 3, 2024

The Soybean Car,” a concept developed by Henry Ford -- is an example of an unrealized dream. The car was intended to run on hemp fuel. According to Wikipedia, “The soybean car was a concept car built with agricultural plastic. The New York Times in 1941 states the car body and fenders were made ...read more

Scripture: James 4:14-15

Tags: Uncertainty, Presumption, Assumption, Unrealized Dreams, Humility, Future, God's Will, Goals, Dreams  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Eating Thing  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Hamilton on Sep 29, 2002

The Eating thing Let me share with you a fairly personal issue that I’m working through that has caused me to ask this question about loving God. Last year – in fact for a number of years now I have been aware that I have been struggling with an addiction. As soon as I say the word it arouses ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:8

Tags: Addiction

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

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

Don't Give Pain The Short Shrift!" Luke 13:10-17 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 9, 2005

“Don’t Give Pain the Short Shrift!” Luke 13:10-17 Key verse(s): 16:“‘Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?’.” Many things in this life get short shrift. Perhaps its the lot of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:10-17, Luke 13:6-9

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, God's Creation

Denomination: Lutheran

The Spirit Of Power That We Receive Is Not Like ...  PRO

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Oct 28, 2007

The Spirit of Power that we receive is not like the human power that we recognize as strong. It’s a power unlike anything we can do on our own. A young man growing up in the wrong part of Houston became a bully. He would get in fights in school, in the neighborhood, and began mugging people to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:49, Matthew 28:19-20, Matthew 28:19, Luke 9:57-67, Zechariah 4:6, Psalm 33:16-18  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Friend, Friendship

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Easter Eggs And Bloodhounds

Contributed by Jack Kale on Apr 6, 2016

Easter Eggs and the Bloodhound in Your Soul The rain forced us inside for our annual family Easter egg hunt, but we had a blast anyway. The kids started by hiding 120 eggs in the kitchen and den while the adults played cards in the dining room. Gangee, Pap-Pap, Uncle Paul, Aunt Kathryn, my ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7

Tags: Truth, Hunting, Hiding Place, Finding God's Grace, Easter Egg Hunt  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: *other

What It Was, Was A Cookie

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 11, 2025

At least once a month The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and her daughter will spend a day visiting thrift stores in our community. I’m not sure, so don’t quote me, but I think there’s a 100-mile radius where they do their shopping. This past week was one of those days. As she was backing out ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:2

Tags: Desire, Cookie

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Imagine A Group Of People Coming To Your Home And ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2002

Imagine a group of people coming to your home and interrupting your Twinkie-eating, TV-watching routine with an urgent message: “Good News! We’re from the United States Olympic Committee. We have been looking for someone to run the marathon in the next Olympics. We have statistics on every person ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:24, 1 Corinthians 9:24, 2 Timothy 4:7, Hebrews 12:1, James 1:1-4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Race, Discipleship, Disciplines

A Bubbling Baby, A Bubbling Joy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 16, 2002

A BUBBLING BABY, A BUBBLING JOY On September 23, 1930, early in the morning a baby boy was born in Albany, Georgia. At that moment, of course, his family had no way of knowing that this bouncing baby boy would grow up to become one of the most beloved and respected singers and entertainers ...read more

Have You Ever Seen The Walt Disney Movie, ...  PRO

Contributed by Curt Cizek on Feb 25, 2003

Have you ever seen the Walt Disney movie, Hercules? It’s a great movie. Zeus was the father of all the gods. That is god with a small “g.” Zeus had a son named Hercules. Hades who was the ruler of the underworld was angry with Zeus so he devised a plan to overthrow the gods and take over Mt. ...read more

Tags: Romantic Love

Denomination: Lutheran

A Farmer Was Walking Through The Forest One Day ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2003

A farmer was walking through the forest one day when he found a young eagle that was hurt. The farmer saved the eagle from the dangers of the forest. He took it home and put it in his chicken lot where it soon learned to eat and behave like the chickens. One day a Forest Ranger passed by the ...read more

No Matter What  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 24, 2003

NO MATTER WHAT "Longing to leave her poor Brazilian neighborhood, Christina wanted to see the world. Discontent with a home having only a pallet on the floor, a washbasin, and a wood-burning stove, she dreamed of a better life in the city. One morning she slipped away, breaking her mother’s ...read more

Tags: Faith, God's Provision, Descriptions Of God