In Sermon Illustrations: "Thoughtfulness"

We Never Thought We Were Poor

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 17, 2011

WE NEVER THOUGHT WE WERE POOR Eddie Ogan
writes: I’ll never forget Christmas 1946. I was 14, my little sister Ocy was 12 and my older sister Darlene was 16. We lived at home with our mother, and the four of us knew what it was to do without many things. My dad had died five years before, ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Methodist

It’s Closer Than I Thought!

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 7, 2020

My wife and her parents used a certain brand of ketchup for many things over a long period of time. They hadn’t had any of it, though, in maybe 30 years or so. They believed this brand wasn’t available, locally, so they never got around to finding any more of it. Now, I grew up in a different part ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: God's Will, Discovery, Sharing

Denomination: Baptist

My Thoughts Are Worth More Than A Penny

Contributed by James Snyder on May 30, 2020

Dr. James L. Snyder I must admit that I do gravel a lot in thinking about my thoughts. It has been a habit of mine down through the years. Thinking is what really makes life worth living, or so I believe. My father had a saying whenever he saw me staring off into the distance, “A penny for your ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:17

Tags: Thoughts, Thinking, Penny

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Doing Nothing Is Harder Than I Thought

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 29, 2020

After being so long in a lockdown situation, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage planned a short vacation time for us. It took her quite a while to put all of the pieces together, but she succeeded as always. As I was preparing for this little adventure, my wife looked at me and said, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:31

Tags: Vacation, Holiday

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Chillin Ain’t What I Thought It Was

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 3, 2020

Last week the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage came up with a brilliant idea. At least, at the time, it seemed brilliant. “Why don’t we,” she began, “take Monday off and just chill?” Since it's been a long time since I did any chillin, I had to ask her, "What do we chill ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Humor, Vacation, Day Off

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Some Thoughts About Veteran’s Day

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 14, 2022

Text, James 1:12, KJV: 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Thoughts: Veteran’s Day was originally called Armistice Day. This was because on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:12

Tags: Veterans, Crown Of Life, Veteran's Day

Denomination: Baptist

Second Thoughts Can Be Dangerous To My Health

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 30, 2024

Many things in life can be rather dangerous. For me, the most dangerous things in my life are thoughts. I thought about this one day, and by the end of the day, I was in deep trouble. Thoughts have a way of doing that with me. My New Year’s resolution one year was to have one thought per day. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12

Tags: Obedience, Opinion, Thoughts

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Year I Thought I Killed The Vine

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 20, 2026

Years ago, my wife and I moved into a new house in Michigan. There was a grapevine growing along the fence. We were getting into gardening, and I thought, “This is fantastic. We have a grapevine.” The first year, the vine looked amazing. It was long and healthy. It stretched along the fence, ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Tags: Spiritual Fruit, Spiritual Growth, Abiding In Christ, Pruning

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

So, Whose Job Is It? According To A Kaiser ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2006

So, Whose Job Is It? According to a Kaiser Foundation study, “94% of parents want teachers to be the ones to discuss the pressures and consequences of having sex.” Another ‘99 study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation reports that 50% of all teens say “they still trust their parents for the most ...read more

Tags: Children, Thought

During The Vietnam War A Rural Village Had Been ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

During the Vietnam war a rural village had been bombed and an orphanage run by missionaries had been hit. An 8 year old girl had multiple injuries and was bleeding profusely. A Navy doctor and nurse came but only had their medical kits. The girl was in critical condition and needed an immediate ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Tags: Thought, Salvation

"When We Give Our Hearts To Christ In Salvati...

Contributed by Bradley Kellum on Aug 25, 2009

“When we give our hearts to Christ in salvation, we experience “peace with God” (Romans 5:1); but the “peace of God” takes us a step farther into God’s blessings. This does not mean the absence of trials on the outside, but it does mean a quiet confidence within, ...read more

Tags: Thought, Heart

Denomination: Baptist

"On The Top Of A Hill In A Midwestern State S...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 22, 2009

"On the top of a hill in a Midwestern state stands a courthouse so situated that raindrops falling on one side of the roof travel by way of the Great Lakes into the Atlantic, while drops landing on the opposite side find their way through the Ohio and Mississippi to the Gulf. Just a breath of wind ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Tags: Eternity, Thought

In Their Book Sway, Ori And Rom Brafman Tell ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 28, 2010

In their book Sway, Ori and Rom Brafman tell about a test that was conducted at a college. They said the teacher couldn't make it, but they had a guest instructor. Half the students were given a brief bio that included the statement that the instructor was competent, even though he was considered ...read more

Tags: Thought, Influence

Denomination: Independent/Bible

My Wife Knows

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Oct 26, 2010

"Where's my..." "On the kitchen bench" "...keys". "What happened to my..." "It's in the washing machine. You wore it yesterday." My wife knows my thoughts before I ask. It's uncanny. "Do you know where my..." "On your desk" "...phone is". She is intimately acquainted with my habits, thoughts and ...read more

Tags: Thought, Omniscient

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

New Perspective

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 15, 2013

New Perspective A guy was crossing the street to visit his neighbor. As he started to cross the street, a car was bearing down on him, so he stopped and backed up to the curb. The car stopped, so he started to cross, and the car started to move toward him. He changed direction and went back to the ...read more

Tags: Empathy, Thoughtfulness

The Late Dr. Boice Had Some Interesting Thoughts ...  PRO

Contributed by Nathan Robertson, Jr. on Nov 3, 2000

The late Dr. Boice had some interesting thoughts as to why God’s justice is offensive. In human affairs we rightly value justice and the "wrath" of the judicial system, for they protect us. If by chance we ourselves run afoul of the law, there is always the chance that we can cop a plea, escape on ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:1-12

Tags: Forgiveness General, God's Judgment, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Baptist

Charles Reade Said, "You Sow A Thought And You ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Jan 8, 2005

Charles Reade said, "You sow a thought and you reap a deed. You sow a deed and you reap a habit. You sow a habit and you reap a ...read more

Tags: Sin Deceptive

Denomination: Christian Church

Our Favor With God Would Be Enough If We Thought ...  PRO

Contributed by Tony Abram on Jun 21, 2005

Our favor with God would be enough if we thought that you would have: Enough happiness to keep you sweet. Enough trials to keep you strong. Enough sorrow to keep you human. Enough hope to keep you happy. Enough failure to keep you humble. Enough success to keep you eager. ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Fulfillment

Well I Thought That Since We Just Celebrated ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Hoover on Aug 3, 2006

Well I thought that since we just celebrated Christmas that I would start out this morning by sharing some of the most overheard comments regarding bad Christmas gifts. So here they are, the top five most overheard comments regarding bad Christmas gifts… 5. Hey, now there’s a gift. 4. If ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Church Of God

A Pastor Thought God Gave Him An Idea, And He ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 25, 2006

A pastor thought God gave Him an idea, and he presented it in the monthly elders meeting. After giving his most impassioned plea and really “selling” the idea to the elder board, the board voted and voted down the pastors proposed changes 12-1. The head elder looked at the pastor and said, “Well ...read more

Tags: God Answers Prayer, Change, Church General, Vision

Denomination: Independent/Bible