In Sermon Illustrations: "Things Of Earth"

George Mueller On Prayer

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 5, 2012

GEORGE MUELLER ON PRAYER George Mueller: "I live in the spirit of prayer. I pray as I walk about, when I lie down and when I rise up. And the answers are always coming. Thousands and tens of thousands of times have my prayers been answered. When once I am persuaded that a thing is right and for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Tags: Comfort, Believe, Security, Saved, Prayer How To  (view more)  (view less)

Your Cheatin' Heart

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Aug 12, 2020

Ft. Knox guards $13 billion in gold. During WWII, the original Declaration of Independence, the original copy of the U.S. Constitution, the first printing of the copy of the Guttenberg Bible, and the original copy of Magna Carta were all moved to Ft. Knox. The security is updated constantly. Not ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-27

Tags: Obedience, Compromise

Denomination: Baptist

Superstition

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 31, 2020

“The number 13, black cats, breaking mirrors, or walking under ladders, may all be things you actively avoid – if you’re anything like the 25% of people in the US who consider themselves superstitious. “…Superstition also explains why many buildings do not have a 13th floor … some airlines such as ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:11-20

Tags: Superstition, Occult, Magic

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Honesty

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 7, 2022

Blaise Pascal observed that human life is nothing but perpetual delusion; human relationships are based on mutual deception. Martin Buber wrote of the uncanny game of hide and seek we play - in which the soul seeks to hide from itself. Thomas Merton - our minds are deformed with a contempt for ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:16, Ephesians 4:15, Matthew 5:33-37

Tags: Deception, Truth, Integrity, Misinformation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Revenge, Justice And Grace

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 19, 2023

Someone has offered this penetrating comparison of the difference between revenge, justice, and grace. If someone brutally murders your son and you take things into your own hands, that's revenge. If you're content to allow the law and the courts to arrest and punish the offender, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness, Salvation, Redemption, Justification, Revenge, Adoption, Justice  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tony Evans Talks About God's Providence

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 21, 2023

Tony Evans described God's providence this way: “There are many times in our lives when God is nowhere to be found. There are many times when we look for God, but He cannot be located. There are many times when it seems like God is letting things happen to you and me that He wouldn’t ...read more

Tags: Esther, God, Trust, God's Will, God's Providence, Faith, Protection  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Throw Yourself On The Mercy Of The Court

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 1, 2025

Imagine you were in a courtroom standing before a judge and you are being charged with a crime that carries the death penalty. Every person is born a sinner. The penalty of that sin is eternal death without the atoning sacrifice of Jesus’ blood. Back to the courtroom – the judge reads the verdict ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 20:11-12, Romans 3:23

Tags: Mercy, Blood, Guilty, Courtroom

Denomination: Methodist

Bring Back The Rotary Phone?" Acts 13:42-52 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 11, 2005

“Bring Back the Rotary Phone?” Acts 13:42-52 Key verse(s): 50:“But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.” There are three things you can do in life when ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:42-52

Tags: Leadership General

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

Plots, Plans, Villains And Fools!" Ezra 6:13-18 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 10, 2005

“Plots, Plans, Villains and Fools!” Ezra 6:13-18 Key verse(s): 14:“So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, a descendant of Iddo. They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 6:13-18

Tags: God's Sovereign Will

Denomination: Lutheran

Merely Mode!" Job 38:1-41 Key Verse(S): ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 15, 2005

“Merely Mode!” Job 38:1-41 Key verse(s): 1ff:“Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm.” When tragedies happen, do you marvel at their randomness? Seven people are gunned down in a church on a Saturday evening. A young boy of 15 and an old man of 74. The newspaper headline called it ...read more

Scripture: Job 38:1-41

Tags: God's Forgiveness, God's Provision

Denomination: Lutheran

Ready Or Not, Here I Quit

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 18, 2021

I do not quit easily. When I start a project, I like to work until it's finished. I hate to quit before something is completed. One thing I have learned through the years is not to start something unless I have the time and resources to finish it. How many projects I started in the past and ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Quitting, Agreement, Humor

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

My Body, My Swat

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 6, 2021

Usually, I am not easily offended, nor do I easily lose my temper. I did lose my temper when I was six years old but have not been able to find it since. Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage is trying to find it but so far, she has not found it. Many people are ticked off by some minor little thing ...read more

Scripture: Song of Songs 2:15

Tags: Patience, Temper, Offended

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Unsung Heroines-The Women Who Prepared Materials For The Tabernacle

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 1, 2022

Introduction: The Tabernacle. For the first time in history, the God of Heaven agreed to dwell in one location with His special people, Israel. Sometimes it’s easy to get lost in the details of the construction, the listed steps and instructions, and other things but it’s important to remember: ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 35:20-29

Tags: Tabernacle, Offerings, Unsung Heroines

Denomination: Baptist

Touch My Coffee And You Die

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 16, 2024

Recently, illegitimate aliens of the worst kind have invaded our house illegally. It came to a head just the other day when we were sitting down to lunch, and The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage had a lovely bowl of tomato soup. I forgot what I was eating because all the attention went to her ...read more

Scripture: James 3:5

Tags: Fire, Pest

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Robert Fulghum In It Was On Fire When I Lay Down ...  PRO

Contributed by Scott Sharpes on Dec 18, 2001

Robert Fulghum in It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It, tells a story involving his daughter, Molly. One day, as Fulghum was ready to leave for work, Molly handed him two brown paper sacks. In one was his lunch. What was in the other was a mystery. When Fulghum asked Molly what was in the mystery ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-7

Tags: Birth Of Jesus

Denomination: Nazarene

But The Most Inspiring Stories Aren't Those Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Sep 29, 2002

But the most inspiring stories aren’t those of Olympic champions or world-class mountaineers. Most of us will never compete for a gold medal, or stand triumphantly on top of the world’s highest peak. No, the stories which really hit home are those of men and women who overcome great obstacles just ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Baptist

The Meanest Mother  PRO

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Sep 27, 2004

The Meanest Mother We had the meanest mother in the whole world! While other kids ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast. When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches. And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was different from other ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Tags: Parenting, Children

Denomination: Pentecostal

There Was Once A Very Pious Monk With The Name ...

Contributed by Jelle Horjus on Nov 1, 2005

There was once a very pious monk with the name John, who spend most of his days in meditation and prayer. He was old, and had a beautiful long, white beard. No one else in the monastery had such a beautiful beard. Now and then, between his bible reading and praying, he used to take out a small ...read more

Tags: Sin Bondage To, Sin Deceptive

Denomination: Baptist

I Sat Down With Our Senior High Kids Awhile Ago ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

I sat down with our senior high kids awhile ago to discuss our plans for youth activities for this year. I expected to get some ideas of fun things to do, lets go bowling and to laserquest and whitewater rafting yadda yadda yadda… You know what they decided? They asked me to find two Friday night ...read more

Tags: Servanthood