In Sermon Illustrations: "Think Before You Speak"

Middle Age Is Miserable

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2008

MIDDLE AGE IS MISERABLE Middle age is truly miserable, according to an 80-country study showing depression is most common among men and women in their 40s. Researchers found happiness follows a U-shaped curve where life begins cheerful before turning tough during middle age and then returning to ...read more

Tags: Aging

Meaningless Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 6, 2008

Meaningless Life Mark Twain expressed thoughts about the meaningless of life in view of man’s inevitable death. Shortly before his death, he wrote, "A myriad of men are born; they labor and sweat and struggle;...they squabble and scold and fight; they scramble for little mean advantages over each ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1-18

Tags: Death Nearness

No Faith, No Power

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

NO FAITH, NO POWER One night at dinner a man, who had spent many summers in Maine, fascinated his companions by telling of his experiences in a little town named Flagstaff. The town was to be flooded as part of a large lake for which a dam was being built. In the months before it was to be ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

Why Stick With Milk?

Contributed by Todd Leupold on Feb 10, 2009

WHY STICK WITH MILK? Why would someone continue with a staple diet of milk only? Simple. Milk is easily and quickly swallowed. Meat, on the other hand, is much more substantial. It needs to be chewed, savored and broken down before it can be swallowed. Usually, we have to wait for it to cook. ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Baptist

Moving Day

Contributed by Doug Lyon on Mar 7, 2009

MOVING DAY Shortly before his death, Dr. M. R. De Haan, founder of Radio Bible Class, took great comfort from an article written by J. E. Campbell. The article spoke of death in a unique way: "Moving day is coming. Just when the van will stop at our home we do not know—-but for everyone it is ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Why Cain Refused To Bring A Blood Offering

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 26, 2023

God's having made for man coats of skin presupposes the slaying of animals; and doubtless implies that Abel's sacrifice of an animal life was an act of faith which rested on God's command (though not expressly recorded) that such were the sacrifices He required. If it had not been ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices, Cain, Abel, Blood Of Jesus, Blood Covenant, Offerings, Blood Atonement  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Workaholic's 23rd Psalm

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

The Workaholic’s 23rd Psalm by Ed Vasicek The Lord is my foreman, I shall not rest. He makes me mow down the green pastures. He leads me to generators beside rapid waters. He wears out my soul. He shoves me to conferences for my schedule's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:6, Ecclesiastes 9:9, Ecclesiastes 6:2, Luke 10:38-42

Tags: Success, Balance, Conscience, Materialism, Work Ethic, Driven, Workaholic, Addicted To Adrenaline, Extremism, Overly Conscientious, Obeying In All Things  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Christian Walk Compared To Learning How To Pitch ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 14, 2009

Christian Walk Compared to Learning How to Pitch Horseshoes When I married into Charlotte’s family I married into a really close family that liked to spend a lot of time together. Almost every Sunday was spent at Charlotte’s Mom and Dad’s house. There were football or baseball games to watch or ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-21

Tags: Growth In Christ

Glorify God In Your Body

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Dec 15, 2016

When I was in high school at Littlefield, Texas, a boy was occasionally seen in the corridors who I did not ever see in my classes. His head was a grayish purple color, irregularly shaped, and at least twice the size of a normal person’s head. I understood that he was a student at the school who ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:20

Tags: Body, Glorify, Elephant, Proteus

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Praying The Beatitudes

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 15, 2020

PRAYING THE BEATITUDES Blessed are the poor in spirit. Matthew 5:3 Heavenly Father, I want the humility not to be impressed with myself and my accomplishments. Increase in me (John 3:30). More of You, God, none of me. I am overwhelmed with the sense of my spiritual need. I recognize my true ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Prayer, Beatitudes, Poor In Spirit, Blessed Are The Meek, Matthew 5, Blessed Are The Pure In Heart  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Barna On Parenting

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 22, 2009

BARNA ON PARENTING George Barna in his book "Revolutionary Parenting" gives us the bad news about the family today -- especially many Christian families: What does God measure? In other words how does God evaluate what is a healthy family and an unhealthy family? Barna states: What does God ...read more

Tags: Family

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Door Knights Without Maidens!" John 17:13-19 ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 28, 2005

“Door Knights Without Maidens!” John 17:13-19 Key verse(s): 17-19:“‘Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into this world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.’” Ingratitude. Doesn’t it seem sometimes that we ...read more

Scripture: John 17:13-19, Romans 6:1

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

When Someone Becomes Really Great At What They ...  PRO

Contributed by Justin Meek on Jun 6, 2001

When someone becomes really great at what they do, it almost always because they spent years dedicating themselves to it. Pete Rose didn’t just wake up one day as a great ball player, he dedicated his life to being a great ball player. Tori Murden didn’t just hop into a boat one day out of the blue ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Discipleship, Call Of The Disciples, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Baptist

Famous Last Words In History  PRO

Contributed by David Barnes on Jul 20, 2002

Famous last words in history. 1. Entrepreneur, P. T. Barnum, d. 1891 “How were the receipts today at Madison Square Garden?” 2. John Barrymore, actor, d. May 29, 1942 “Die? I should say not, dear fellow. No Barrymore would allow such a conventional thing to happen to him.” 3. Humphrey Bogart, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Tags: Temptation Pride, Death, Humility

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Just Follow Directions  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 5, 2011

JUST FOLLOW DIRECTIONS Robert Kupferschmid was an 81-year old man who had no flying experience. However, due to a tragic emergency, he was forced to fly an airplane. On June 17, 1998, he and his 52-year-old pilot friend, Wesley Sickle, were flying from Indianapolis to Muncie, Indiana. During the ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26

Tags: Faith Vs. Works

The Village Of The Book

Contributed by Perry Greene on Apr 17, 2012

THE VILLAGE OF THE BOOK It was early in 1945. As United States forces pushed deep into Okinawa they came across a village unlike any they had ever seen. Here at Shimabuku they were met and welcomed by two old men who invited the troops in as "fellow Christians." Correspondent Clarence W. Hall ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Boston Marathon

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 19, 2015

Around here in Boston, Patriots Day is famously known for “The Boston Marathon” in which runners from all over the world participate. I watched with keen interest as the gun shot went off for the 116th Boston Marathon. Upmost in every ones mind was the question “Who will get the grand prize worth ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Tags: Self-Control, Run To Win, Running The Race, Self-Discipline

Isaiah's Prophecies And The Dead Sea Scrolls

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Jan 14, 2017

There was a time when skeptics claimed that the prophecies in Isaiah 53 were too detailed, too specific, too accurate to be mere coincidence. I agreed. But then the skeptics argued that the ONLY logical explanation was that Isaiah was written after the gospels and patterned the suffering Servant ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-12

Tags: Reliability Of Bible, Fulfilled Prophecy, Dead Sea Scrolls, Prophecy

Denomination: Baptist

Story: In 1981 The Film, Chariots Of Fire, Won ...

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Aug 21, 2001

Story: In 1981 the film, Chariots of Fire, won an Oscar - the Academy Award for Best Picture. It tells the true story of two atheletes: Harold Abrahams - a man of the world and Eric Liddell - a committed Christian. Eric Liddell was one of the favourites to win the gold medal for the 100 m ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

The Cost For Preaching The Truth About Baptism

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 22, 2024

Baptism is identification with Christ. Baptism allows the believer in Christ to openly identify with Christ who died, was buried and who rose again on his behalf. It is a public testimony to say I have identified with Christ. I will live for Christ. On October 15, 1517, an Augustinian monk nailed ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25-34

Tags: Baptism, Persecution, Immersion, Reformation, Church History, Count The Cost  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational