In Sermon Illustrations: "Things Of Earth"

What Commitment?

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jul 1, 2012

WHAT COMMITMENT? When I was in my first year of ministry, I walked into our District preachers meeting at the same time as Bobbie Potter, who was pastor of Munholland UMC in Old Metairie. He asked if I preach last Sunday which I did. Then he asked, "What did you ask them to commit to?" I said I ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Methodist

Against All Odds

Contributed by Ronald Franklin on Dec 28, 2012

Yesterday, the Tennessee Titans beat the Baltimore Ravens in a pro football playoff game. Before the game, all the commentators talked about was that the Titans had lost the last five games to the Ravens, and how the Ravens seem to have their number. Nobody gave the Titans a chance. So, how did ...read more

Tags: Perseverance, Sanctification

Denomination: Baptist

Jealous In A Restaurant  PRO

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Jan 10, 2013

JEALOUS IN A RESTAURANT There is an old story about an older couple having dinner in a restaurant. The wife sees another couple about their age sitting in a booth nearby. She sees the husband sitting close to his wife, with his arm around her. He is whispering things in her ear, and she is smiling ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:28

Tags: Contentment, Marriage General

Denomination: Baptist

True Worship

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 19, 2013

"True worship is God-centered worship. People tend to get caught up in where they should worship, what music they should sing in worship, and how their worship looks to other people. Focusing on these things misses the point. Jesus tells us that true worshipers will worship God in spirit and in ...read more

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Richard Eye On Divorce

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 16, 2013

RICHARD EYRE ON DIVORCE "We now have over 40 years worth of very conclusive statistics that show that children from two parent homes (a mother and a father) are at substantially less risk for drug abuse, teen pregnancy, school dropout, suicide, and a whole host of other problems. Statistically ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:6

Tags: Children

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Jesus Used Parables

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 16, 2013

WHY JESUS USED PARABLES The following thoughts reveal why Jesus used the parabolic method (They are adapted from - All the Parables of The Bible by Herbert Lockyer). • Parables attract attention and when fully understood are sure to be remembered. They are a great help for our short-term ...read more

Tags: Parables, Jesus Teachings

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Faith When Faced With Death?  PRO

Contributed by Michael Sechler on Jan 25, 2014

My son, Micah died in 2012 from kidney disease and complications. As he lay dying I wrote this in my journal: "Sitting at the bedside of my dying son at 3:48 in the morning. Weeping like crazy. Bertrand Russell once said that 'no one can sit at the bedside of dying child and believe in God.' Well ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1

Tags: Faith, Trial, Child Death, Belief In God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

During The Great Depression A Good Man Lost H...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 9, 2015

During the Great Depression a good man lost his job, exhausted his savings, and forfeited his home. His grief was multiplied by the sudden death of his young wife. The only thing he had left was his faith. One day as he combed the neighborhood looking for work he stopped to watch as men did ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

Tags: Faith, Suffering, Pruning, Works Tested By Fire

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Mother Teresa

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Mar 1, 2016

Mother Teresa was attending a party full of dignitaries. The guest list included presidents and statesmen from around the world. They came in their crowns and jewels and silks. Mother Teresa wore her ever-present sari, held together by a safety pin. True leadership must be for the benefit of the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1-10

Tags: Mercy, Pastoral Leadership, Showing Mercy

Denomination: Baptist

Memorial Day - Never Forget The Cost Of Freedom

Contributed by David Simpson on May 24, 2018

Needless to say, protecting our freedom has come at a great cost. President Franklin Roosevelt said: “Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.” Our Lord Jesus Christ knew that we all have trouble remembering things, even important ...read more

Tags: Freedom, Memorial Day, The Lords Supper

Denomination: Christian Church

Compassion For The Lost

Contributed by Shine Thomas on Nov 9, 2018

D.L. Moody told the story of his conversion this way: “When I was in Boston I used to attend a Sunday school class, and one day I recollect my teacher came around behind the counter of the shop I was at work in, and put his hand upon my shoulder, and talked to me about Christ and my soul. I had not ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 49:13, Luke 19:41-44

Tags: Compassion Of God, Compassion For Lost, Compassion Of Jesus, Compassion For Souls

Denomination: Assembly Of God

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

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

Heaven Or Drake's Mansion

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Sep 14, 2020

Drake is a famous rapper from Toronto who lives is a mansion valued at $100,000,000. Measuring 50,000 square feet it includes a 3,200 foot square master bedroom; A basketball court and a "Great Room" with a 44-foot-high ceiling and containing a Bösendorfer concert grand ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:19-22, Matthew 16:18, John 14:1-7

Tags: Church, Heaven, Materialism, Mansion, Possessions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Discovered By Mistake

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 24, 2021

In 1968, scientist Spencer Silver at the 3M company created a very weak adhesive that would peel off when removed from any surface. The funny thing was that he was in fact trying to create a super strong adhesive No one thought there was any use for such a product, until another scientist, Art Fry, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:17-40

Tags: Mistakes, Failure, Uninended

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Don't See The Evidence

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Mar 31, 2022

I was with a friend talking to a new acquaintance when she began touting the virtues of a weight loss book she had read a few years earlier. “It will completely change your relationship with food,” she exclaimed, insisting he take down the name of the book and its author. I saw the man glance at ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22, James 1:23, James 1:24, James 1:25, 2 Corinthians 8:21  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Doer Of The Word, Integrity, Honesty

Denomination: Charismatic

Several Years Ago Driving Through The Ocala ...

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 26, 2007

Several years ago driving through the Ocala National Forest at night, I spotted a large brown object lying in the middle of the road. I thought it looked like it might be a bear cub that had been struck by a car. I got out and looked at it, and sure enough, that is what it was. About the time I ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Man Was Preaching To A Church In Australia. ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A man was preaching to a church in Australia. The congregation had big black Bibles and severe expressions... And they knew their Bibles, and were proud of that. It was a smallish group, so he decided to engage them in dialogue: ’Who knows who the Pharisees were?’ They did. ’The Pharisees got a ...read more

Tags: Parable Pharisee, Jesus The Light

Dr. W.a. Criswell Wrote In His Book, Standing ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

. DR. W.A. CRISWELL WROTE IN HIS BOOK, STANDING ON THE PROMISES: HOW YOU CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LIVE AND DEAD CHURCH, “LIVE CHURCHES ARE FILLED WITH FOLKS WITH BIBLES IN THEIR HANDS. DEAD CHURCHES ARE NOT LIVE CHURCHES HAVE NOISY CHILDREN AND YOUTH. DEAD CHURCHES DO NOT LIVE CHURCHES ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

In January 2001 Nairobi Police Raided The Home ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In January 2001 Nairobi police raided the home of a former university lecturer and his wife to find their six children emaciated and starving. The kids were ages 2-11 and could not stand up they were in such a bad state. Their legs were stick thin, their hair was falling out and they were all ...read more

Tags: Knowing God's Will