In Sermon Illustrations: "Think Before You Speak"

Children's Faith

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

"Children’s Letters to God" series, actual authentic letters written by kids to God: "Dear God, I read the Bible. What does ’begat’ mean? Nobody will tell me. Love, Alison." "Dear God, did you mean for the giraffe to look like that or was it an accident?" - ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11, Matthew 18:3

Tags: Childlike Faith, Questions

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Max Lucado In His Book, The Applause Of Heaven, ...  PRO

Contributed by John Kah on Dec 6, 2001

Max Lucado in his book, The Applause of Heaven, puts it like this: "A small cathedral outside Bethlehem marks the supposed birthplace of Jesus. Behind a high altar in the church is a cave, a little cavern lit by sliver lamps. You can enter the main edifice and admire the ancient church. You can ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Tags: Christmas, Birth Of Jesus

Denomination: Lutheran

In A Marriage Devotional Renee And I Read ...  PRO

Contributed by Christopher Roberts on Oct 18, 2003

In a marriage devotional Renee and I read together before we go to bed, the author noted in an evening devotion, “Blaming cripples the atmosphere in a marriage. It tears a couple a part” (H. Norman Wright, “After, You Say ‘I Do’”). One partner blames the other for problems in the marriage. Sure ...read more

Tags: Marriage Struggle, Marriage General, Marriage Commitment

Denomination: Methodist

Take The Story Of Young William Wilberforce. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 26, 2006

Take the story of young William Wilberforce. He was discouraged one night in the early 1790s after another defeat in his ten year battle against the slave trade in England. Tired and frustrated, he opened his Bible and began to leaf through it. A small piece of paper fell out and fluttered to the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:5

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Lutheran

Fear To Joy, Bondage To Freedom  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Apr 15, 2006

FEAR TO JOY, BONDAGE TO FREEDOM A poor German girl announced that she was going to give a piano concert. In order to attract people to come, she mentioned in the advertisements that she was the student of the famous Hungarian professor, Franz Liszt. But it was a falsehood. To her dismay, she ...read more

Tags: Repentance

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Writer Amos Wells Reflected Our Need For Thorough ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2006

Writer Amos Wells reflected our need for thorough Bible study in this verse: I supposed I knew my Bible, Reading peacemeal, hit or miss, Now a bit of John or Matthew, Now a snatch of Genesis, Certain chapters of Isaiah, Certain Psalms (the twenty-third), Twelfth of Romans, first of Proverbs ...read more

Tags: Bible Study

In The Summer Of 1960 The Great Musical Star ...

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Oct 16, 2006

. In the summer of 1960 the great musical star Mary Martin was playing the lead role of Maria von Trapp in Rogers and Hammerstein’s musical THE SOUND OF MUSIC on Broadway. Lyrist Oscar Hammerstein, II was on his death bed. “One evening just before Mary went on stage, a note was handed to her. ...read more

Tags: Jesus Teachings

Denomination: Methodist

Airline Travelers With Confirmed Tickets Are Not ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 17, 2009

Airline Travelers With Confirmed Tickets Are Not Anxious, Unlike Those Flying Standby Bill Hybels, in his book Too Busy Not To Pray wrote Sometime when you’re in an airport, observe the difference between passengers who hold confirmed tickets and those who are on standby. The ones with confirmed ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:1-16

Tags: Peace

Unintentionally Humorous Texts: "Don’t Ask Me, It Just Happened!”

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 2, 2024

Introduction: Chances are either you, me, or someone we know has tried to excuse something that whoever it was, did. Excuses vary, but more often than not, the reply is something along the lines of “I don’t know how this happened!” One of the clearest cases of “I-don’t-know-itis” took place at the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:21-24

Tags: Moses, Aaron, Golden Calf

Denomination: Baptist

Being Sick Is Not My Cup Of Tea

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 27, 2024

I do not have a history of being sick. I rarely even have a headache, but I must confess, I give headaches. The last two weeks have been different for me. I have never experienced such a long stretch of sickness before. One day in the hospital and then two weeks in bed. What kind of experience is ...read more

Scripture: James 5:16

Tags: Sickness, Doctors, Nurses

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Trapped , Sabotage

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 3, 2020

WHEN MY OWN THINKING AND MY OWN WORDS SABOTAGE MY LIFE AND MY FAMILY. There was this woman that went to the Old Wise Man in the community to seek advice about her future. She approached the wise man to seek answers about her life... She asked him: SIR, WHAT WILL MY FUTURE HOLD? The wise man ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:12

Tags: Words, Sabotage, Attitudes

Denomination: Assembly Of God

[150]. A Message From A Poem – James Chapter One

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 31, 2025

[150]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JAMES CHAPTER ONE The author of this letter is known as James the Less, to distinguish him from James the brother of John. This author was the half brother of Jesus, the full son of Joseph and Mary. James is a book that is often rejected for messages, but there ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-20, James 1:12, James 1:5

Tags: James, Wisdom, James The Less, Letter Of James

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Are Three Stages Of Motherhood: Young, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There are three stages of motherhood: young, middle age and “you’re looking fine.” I don’t know about you, but my mother was responsible for teaching me some of the most valuable life lessons I ever learned. Someone sent me some valuable reminders of Mom lessons and I wanted to share a few of them ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:46-50

Tags: Mother's Day

Discipleship Calls For Wholehearted Commitment To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 31, 2009

Discipleship Calls for Wholehearted Commitment to Christ “I have seen the most horrible things, but I have met people who are still full of faith in spite of what they have endured.” That was the opening statement to a gathering of leaders and supporters of Samaritan’s Purse, the organization led ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Tags: Missions

A Teenager Noticed This In His Own Life And ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Oct 3, 2005

A teenager noticed this in his own life and sought out his pastor. A teenager was sitting in the pastor’s office saying,"Sometimes I don’t think I am a Christian. I don’t seem to have the same interest and excitement, or enthusiasm I once did. It isn’t easy for me to remember God, to come to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6, Ephesians 4:22-24

Tags: Discipleship, Baptism Adult

Denomination: Lutheran

The Masses Blink And Say: 'we Are All Equal — ...

Contributed by Noel Atkinson on Jun 29, 2009

"The masses blink and say: 'We are all equal — Man is but man, before God we are all equal.' Before God! ...read more

Tags: America

Denomination: Baptist

The Following Words Come From The Language Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Mar 24, 2002

The following words come from THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE, by Gary Smalley and John Trent: His leaving had been abrupt and unforeseen. His wife had come home from shopping one day and found the note on the refrigerator. The words were brief and cold. He was tired of trying to make their marriage work. He ...read more

Tags: Divorce, Marriage Struggle

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Bet — Anton Chekhov

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Sep 7, 2006

The Bet -- Anton Chekhov We live in a world that knows little about what’s truly valuable. People all around us are pursuing things that have no lasting value. That pursuit is ably treated by Anton Chekhov in his classic short story The Bet. This story gives us great insight into the value system ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:28-38, Matthew 8:5-13

Denomination: Pentecostal

Where Is Your Faith?

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 25, 2014

“A weak faith is weakened by predicaments and catastrophes, whereas a strong faith is strengthened by them.” – Victor Frankl Rain poured down and thunder boomed one dark night in September in Western Oklahoma. It had been a quiet, pleasant evening at the nursing center, and nurses and residents ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7

Tags: Active Faith, Encourage Others, Courageous Women, Faith Lifestyle

Denomination: Charismatic

Who I Am Makes A Difference

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Oct 29, 2008

WHO I AM MAKES A DIFFERENCE A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her high school seniors for the difference they made in her life. Then she presented each of them with a Blue Ribbon imprinted with gold letters, which read, "Who I Am Makes a Difference."™ Afterwards the teacher gave each ...read more

Tags: Blessing

Denomination: Pentecostal