In Sermon Illustrations: "Things Of Earth"

Paint Me With Diamonds

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Oct 22, 2011

PAINT ME WITH DIAMONDS A woman decided to have her portrait painted. She told the artist, "Paint me with diamond rings, a diamond necklace, emerald bracelets, a ruby broach, and gold Rolex." "But you are not wearing any of those things," he replied. "I know," she said. "It's in case I should ...read more

Tags: Greed

Denomination: Baptist

Clean House

Contributed by Herbert Armstrong Bosantog on Nov 6, 2012

CLEAN HOUSE Imagine, if you receive a message from God the Father & He told you that He is going to send Jesus down to visit you at your house on a specific date. What would be the first thing that you do? You would want to clean your house from top to bottom. Everything will be properly dusted; ...read more

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: *other

There Is A Growing Awareness Of The Exalted ...

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 15, 2012

There is a growing awareness of the exalted dignity proper to the human person, since he stands above all things, and his rights and duties are universal and inviolable. Therefore, there must be made available to all men everything necessary for leading a life truly human, such as food, clothing, ...read more

Tags: Family, Human Dignity

Denomination: Catholic

The Wonder Of The Hummingbird

Contributed by David Simpson on Jan 15, 2013

A few weeks ago, a hummingbird came and fluttered in front of my face. I was stunned. I've never seen one up that close and personal. It was so close I counted the number of times it flapped its wings - 25 beats per second - or 1500 flaps per minute! (No I looked it up!) It is the only bird ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 71:19

Tags: Creation, Wonder

Denomination: Christian Church

A Bad Business Meeting

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 28, 2014

A church called a special business meeting of all of its members to vote on a very heated issue. Things got out of hand so badly that one elderly woman of the congregation stood up and said, "I am so ashamed of every one of you here tonight. This is a disgrace! If Jesus knew about this......He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:1-33

Tags: Jesus, Church, Theology

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer And Revival - Jonathan Edwards

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on May 24, 2018

Here are only a few examples: It is God’s will through his wonderful grace, that the prayers of his saints should be one of the great principal means of carrying on the designs of Christ’s kingdom in the world. When God has something very great to accomplish for his church, it is his will that ...read more

Tags: Prayer, Revival History

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Unhappy Church Member

Contributed by Kerry O'neill on Jan 27, 2019

A christian man was stranded on a deserted island for many years. He was finally discovered and a rescue crew arrived. They were impressed with all the things he built by himself, most prominently 3 buildings. They asked him about the first building and he answered, “That is where I live.” Then ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:45

Tags: Negativity, Church Hopping

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He Strives With God.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jun 10, 2024

A bit of an aside, I can remember when I have pulled a few all night jobs out of necessity back in my power distribution days when a fault would require repairing, nothing like a 24 plus hour day to exhaust you. Lack of sleep is never a good thing, but in Jacob’s case it led to a change in the man ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Tags: Israel Tehman, 24 Hours Awake, God Strives, He Strives With God, Night, Jacob, Exhaustion, Wrestling With God, Deciever, Lack Of Sleep  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Coronation Of The Queen

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 25, 2025

CONCLUSION: What kind of offering will we give? I read years ago it was CORONATION DAY in Great Britain. A new queen was going to be set in order. There were invitations sent out. There was a little note attached to the invitations: ALL EXCUSES CEASE. I ponder what might happen if we couldn’t give ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-23

Tags: Challenge, Excuses

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Look Different

Contributed by John Bright on Sep 23, 2025

These folks to whom Peter is writing used to look like everybody else. They were a part of the world, so they partied and did all the other things average folks did back then. The Roman world in which Christianity first spread was highly sexualized, and many of the practices today that are ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:3-4

Tags: Roman World, Change, Sexuality, Gender

Denomination: Methodist

Time Alone Is Time Invested

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 28, 2020

During the past week, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly have been spending quite a bit of time together. I cannot recall any time that we have spent this much time together. The exception would be when we first got married. Even then, both of us worked during the day and were ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:31

Tags: Humor, Relationships

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Christmas Is More Than Jingle, Jingle

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 12, 2020

I have been trying lately to remember my first Christmas. I know my memory isn't perfect, but I thought maybe I could bring up some old memories of my first Christmas. Unfortunately, I couldn't think of a thing about that first Christmas of mine. Of course, it might be that I was only five ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:6-7

Tags: Christmas, Holiday

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Where Oh Where Is My Hair?

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 10, 2021

I must confess I sometimes get so busy that certain things have slipped my mind. I don't do this intentionally, but I try to prioritize things in my life. With so many things going on, it is tough to keep up-to-date with everything, even personal items. This is not true with the Gracious ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:29

Tags: Humor, Change

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Is Being Sane Too Much To Ask?

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 28, 2021

When young, I remember my grandfather often saying to me, "the world wasn't like this when I was your age." Then he would go on a long rant about how things were much different when he was my age. Finally, he would conclude by saying, "It's an insane world out there, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:9

Tags: Sanity, Culture, Generational

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Eating Healthy Is For Sissies

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 27, 2021

As a youngster, I often heard my father say things that later turned out not to be on the true side of the table. So I guess that is a father's prerogative, and I probably have done the same thing many times. But I don’t want to research that aspect of my life right now. One that he said quite ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:13

Tags: Diet, Health

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

What If I Do Have A Brain?

Contributed by James Snyder on Jun 1, 2024

After about a month on a health hiatus, things started returning to normal, and then I had a doctor’s visit scheduled for a checkup. I don’t know why they call us patients because I’m not very patient with these doctors. At my visit, the doctor thoroughly examined me but couldn’t find anything ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-20

Tags: Brain, Challenges

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

So What If I’m Crazy?

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 17, 2024

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and her wonderful husband are celebrating 53 years of marital bliss this year. What an accomplishment! It doesn’t seem possible that we have been married 53 years. After all, we don’t look that old! At least she doesn’t. It’s amazing how time flies; if ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Unity, Relationships, Crazy

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Potato, Egg, Or Coffee?  PRO

Contributed by Mike Leiter on Jan 15, 2003

POTATO, EGG, OR COFFEE? Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn’t know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed. Her father, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 15:7, Galatians 6:9, James 1:2-4

Tags: Hardship, Purpose, Touch, Trial, Struggles, Difficulties, Adversity, Endurance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Vineyard

A Pastor Ran Into The Grocery Store One Day To ...  PRO

Contributed by Tex Cox on Apr 19, 2004

A pastor ran into the grocery store one day to pick up a couple of things he was needing – he was in a big hurry because he was running behind trying to get to his next appointment. He quickly went through the checkout counter – paid for his stuff – grabbed the receipt and change and out the ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Thank You For The Goats In Our Lives!" 1 ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 23, 2004

“Thank You for the Goats in Our Lives!” 1 Chronicles 16: 1-4 Key verse(s): 4: “He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel. ” “God would surely understand if I wasn’t thankful for this!” If ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 16:1-4

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Lutheran