In Sermon Illustrations: "Thinking Ahead"

The Christian Church Is Struggling To Influence ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 16, 2006

"The Christian Church Is Struggling to influence the nation’s culture because believers think of themselves as individuals1st, Americans 2nd, , and Christians 3rd. Until that prioritization is rearranged, the Church will continue to ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?

Christian Guitarist Phil Keaggy, In His Song

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Aug 6, 2009

Christian guitarist Phil Keaggy, in his song "A Time and a Place," said, "Said the robin to the sparrow, I would really like to know Why these anxious human beings Rush about and worry so. Said the sparrow to the robin, Friend, I think ...read more

Tags: Worry

Denomination: Methodist

Like Their Parents

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 27, 2010

Quote: BILLY GRAHAM who said: "Children will invariably talk, eat, walk, think, respond, and act like their parents. Give them a target to shoot at. Give them a goal to work toward. Give them a pattern that they can ...read more

Tags: Children

Denomination: Brethren

The Greek Word For 'sincere' Means To Test By ...

Contributed by Ronald Thorington on Jan 1, 2008

The Greek word for ’sincere’ means to test by sunlight. When you wash windows you can think you have cleaned the window well but when the sun shines on them you can see alot of streeks and smears. When the light of the Holy ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Difference Between A Fool And Being Full

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 7, 2019

One thing truly amazing to me is how fast Thanksgiving goes. Here I am in the living room relaxing in my easy chair just one day after Thanksgiving. My ears are still ringing with all the chatter that went on around our Thanksgiving dinner table. It is so beautiful to get together with family to ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 13:20

Tags: Thanksgiving, Holiday

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

An Apple Fritter On My Mind

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 2, 2022

The last few weeks have been rather hectic, and I’ve struggled to keep up with everything. If it weren’t for The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, I probably would not have gotten where I am today. I don’t know anybody who can plan out a day, week, or month better than her. She has everything ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:21

Tags: Stress, Humor

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

If I’m Not Crazy Nobody Is

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 18, 2023

Last Sunday, we were driving to our Sunday morning church service and encountered a lot of crazy drivers. As The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage was driving, I kept my cool and, more importantly, my mouth closed. Every once in a while, she would say, “What’s wrong with these crazy drivers?” I ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Crazy, Drivers, Apple Fritter

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

A Little Girl Was Asked, "Who Does Your Mommy ...  PRO

Contributed by Howard Parnell on Sep 23, 2002

A little girl was asked, "Who does your mommy love most?" The little girl replied without thinking, "She loves Johnny most because he’s the oldest...and she loves Billy most because he’s ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God

Denomination: Baptist

Two Little Boys Were Walking Home From Sunday ...  PRO

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Sep 15, 2003

Two little boys were walking home from Sunday School where the lesson had been on the Devil and one asked the other “What do you think of this devil business?” “Well” replied the other boy, “You know ...read more

Tags: Children, Satan

Denomination: Wesleyan

Ii. Children Will Invariably Talk, Eat, Walk, ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 30, 2004

ii. Children will invariably talk, eat, walk, think, respond, and act like their parents. Give them a target to shoot at. Give them a goal to work toward. Give them a pattern which they can see clearly, and you give them ...read more

Tags: Children

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Astounding Answer  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 11, 2004

ASTOUNDING ANSWER When you think of what prayer really is it’s astounding that we’d get an answer at all. Ambrose Bierce once said that to pray was … "To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf of a single petitioner confessedly ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3

Tags: Prayer Supplication, Parable General

Elton Trueblood Wrote, "It Used To Be That ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 26, 2001

Elton Trueblood wrote, "It used to be that Christianity was a revolutionary faith that turned the world upside down. But today Christians sit in Sunday morning church services looking at their watches, wondering what time dinner will be served, or thinking about the ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To, Church Purpose Of, Book Of Revelation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

7 Year Old Eric's Description Of Heaven: "It's A ...  PRO

Contributed by Troy Mason on Apr 21, 2001

7 year old Eric’s description of Heaven: “It’s a place where there is a lot of money lying around. You could just pick it up, play with it, and buy things. I think I’m going to buy a basketball, ...read more

Tags: Heaven, Children

Denomination: Baptist

The Lowest Shelf  PRO

Contributed by James Westervelt on Mar 30, 2002

THE LOWEST SHELF "I used to think, that God’s gifts were on shelves - one above another, and the taller we grow, the easier we can reach them. Now I find that God’s gifts are on shelves - one beneath ...read more

Tags: Emotions, Temptation Pride, Humility

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Is Compassion?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2002

WHAT IS COMPASSION? "Compassion is the sometimes fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else’s skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:36

Tags: Christian Love, Compassion

A Survey Performed For The Irs With 2200 People ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2006

A survey performed for the IRS with 2200 people discovered: 23% admitted cheating by either underreporting income or overstating deductions. 52% think at least one in four of their fellow taxpayers is cheating too, and that cheating is becoming more prevalent. 63% say it is fear ...read more

Tags: Sin General

A Man Consulted A Doctor, "I've Been Misbehaving, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2005

A man consulted a doctor, “I’ve been misbehaving, Doc, and my conscience is troubling me,” he complained. “And you want something that will strengthen your willpower?” asked the doctor. “Well, no,” said the fellow. “I was thinking of ...read more

Tags: Peace

I Was Once Present When An Old Mother, Who Had ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"I was once present when an old mother, who had brought up a large family of children with eminent success, was asked by a young one what she would recommend in the case of some children who were too anxiously ...read more

Tags: Parenting

When It Comes To Defining Real Problems, The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"When it comes to defining real problems, the main pitfall to look out for is this: we are inclined to take the first possible solution that happens to pop into our minds, and make the mistake of thinking that's our problem. The result is that we sometimes ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

To Welcome A Problem Without Resentment Is To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"To welcome a problem without resentment is to cut its size in halfProblems are challenges we can complain about, dwell on, give in to or think throughWe can spend our time aimlessly licking our wounds or aggressively ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life