In Sermon Illustrations: "Time Is At Hand"

The Journey Of Jonathan Aitken

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Nov 5, 2012

THE JOURNEY OF JONATHAN AITKEN Jonathan Aitken was a British war correspondent in Viet Nam, Chief-Executive of TV-AM, and for 23 years an MP including time as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and a Defence Minister. Jonathan Aitken's life fell apart after he was caught telling a lie under oath in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Anglican

Busyness  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 3, 2013

BUSYNESS Busyness is no sign of spirituality or any kind of a full life. In fact, it’s more likely the sign of an empty life. Tim Kreider, in an article he wrote for The New York Times called The Busy Trap put it this way: “If you live in America in the 21st century, you’ve probably had to listen ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Complaining

Last Lap Of The Race

Contributed by Shawn Miller on Jul 4, 2014

May 29, 2011 it looked like it was destiny, the day Dale Earnhardt Jr. was rounding the last lap of the Charlotte Motor Speedway. You could just imagine the script that was being set; it was memorial day, he was being sponsored by the national guard, and He was going to finally win for the first ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:7

Tags: Perseverance, Endurance, Finish The Race, Gas Tank

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Our Weakness

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Apr 13, 2021

When I was in my early 20s and a student at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, I was, believe it or not, in pretty good shape. I jogged regularly. I was a karate student. I went to the gym 4-5 times a week. I truly was in good shape. Now that I’m older, I’m realizing that I’m not what I used to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:29-31

Tags: Weakness, God's Strength, God Sustains

Denomination: Baptist

Obstacles To The Goal

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 29, 2021

COLLEGE: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE HIT REAL HARD. ROY RIEGELS WILL FOREVER BE KNOWN AS “WRONG WAY ROY.” Roy played for the University of California from 1927 to 1929. Back then freshmen and sophomores never played on varsity. On January 1, 1929 Roy played in the ROSE BOWL. The GOLDEN ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:12-15, Matthew 13:45

Tags: Goal, Obstacle

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Who Is Praying For Me?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 31, 2022

Pastor Jim Cymbala's daughter had been running from God for a long time. Chrissy had rebelled against her family, had left home, and was living as far from God as she could. But one night, this teenager awoke with the distinct feeling that someone was praying for her. And someone was. The ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3, James 4:1-2

Tags: Petition, Intercessory Prayer, Interceding For Sinners, Prayer

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Slow And Steady

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2022

The power of the Holy Spirit is not just for salvation, but for sanctification, a process that is slow and gradual. The difference might look like this: You can take ten gallons of gasoline and release a tremendous amount of power and energy by just dropping a lighted match into it. It makes a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8

Tags: Holy Spirit, Energy, Fuel

Moving Story Of A Godly Father

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 13, 2023

Hear our Lords Words: BIBLE Be merciful ... even as your Father (in Heaven) is merciful. END (Luke 6:36) Some time ago ... I heard a touching story .... about a humble, ... consecrated pastor ... whose young son had become.... Extremely ill. After the boy had undergone an exhaustive series of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:36, Proverbs 1:8, Matthew 6:1-18

Tags: Father, Father's Day, Salvation, Godly

Denomination: Anglican

How Do You Use Your 18,000 Words Per Day?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 6, 2024

Do you have any idea how many words you use in the course of an ordinary day? To illustrate, let’s take the books of Tom Clancy. I’m sure you have read or heard of those techno-thrillers: “Hunt for Red October,” “Cardinal of the Kremlin,” “Clear and Present Danger,” “The Sum of All Fears,” “Without ...read more

Tags: Conversation, Mouth, Words, Tongue, Talk  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Only Jesus Can Give This Kind Of Forgiveness!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 12, 2024

Bruce Goodrich was being initiated into the cadet corps at Texas A & M University. One night, Bruce was forced to run until he dropped -- but he never got up. Bruce Goodrich died before he even entered college. A short time after the tragedy, Bruce's father wrote this letter to the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15

Tags: Eternity, Parents, Cross, Prayer, Lord's Prayer, Forgiving Others, Enemies, Fathers, Forgivness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Return Good For Evil - Martin Luther King

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on May 11, 2025

Jesus doesn’t just ask us to avoid revenge—he calls us to actively do good in return. Not because the other person deserves it, but because he deserves our obedience. And we’ve seen it lived out—not just in Bible times, but in our own history. Perhaps one of the clearest modern examples is Dr. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42

Tags: Evil, Martin Luther, Doing Good

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How Can We Know That We Are Truly Saved

Contributed by Hylton Davidson on Aug 13, 2025

Having assurance that one is saved is linked to the process called regeneration. Regeneration is not something a person initiates; it is a sovereign act of God. A person is born again when the Holy Spirit imparts spiritual life, enabling them to repent and believe in the gospel. This transformation ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Assurance, Saved

Denomination: Christian Church

When God Says No

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 24, 2026

Back in 1991, Garth Brooks released a song that went to #1 on the Country Chart. “Thank God for Unanswered Prayers” tells the story of how our prayers may not align with what is best for us. It’s a story about our timing not being God’s timing. Just in case you don’t remember, here’s the story ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:8-9

Tags: Prayer, Garth Brooks

Denomination: Methodist

A Recent Poll By The Barna Research Group In ...  PRO

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jan 2, 2001

a recent poll by the Barna Research Group in America found that only 37% of adults thought the birth of Jesus is the most important aspect of Christmas. 44% of the respondents said family time is the most important part of the Christmas celebration. 3% said presents or parties were the most ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:9-21, John 1:19-28

Tags: Christmas, Birth Of Jesus, Jesus Christ

Denomination: Anglican

Os Guiness Gives A Very Helpful Definition Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Nov 21, 2000

Os Guiness gives a very helpful definition of doubt in his book In Two Minds. He says, "When you believe, you are in one mind and accept something as true. Unbelief is to be of one mind and reject that something is true. To doubt is to waver between the two, to believe and disbelieve at the same ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 13:1, James 1:6-8

Tags: Emotions, Doubt, Faith

Denomination: Baptist

In November I975, 75 Convicts Started Digging A ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Jan 26, 2001

In November I975, 75 convicts started digging a secret tunnel designed to bring them up at the other side of the wall of Saltillo Prison in northern Mexico. On April 18, 1976, guided by pure genius, they tunneled up into the nearby courtroom in which many of them had been sentenced. The surprised ...read more

Tags: God's Sovereign Will, Judgment, Second Coming

Denomination: Baptist

A Father, Walking Past His 5 Year Old ...  PRO

Contributed by David Deborde on May 31, 2001

A father, walking past his 5 year old daughter’s room one night, proudly noticed she was on her knees in prayer. Listening in, he heard this curious prayer- "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz"- repeated several times. When she was finished, he asked her what it meant: "God is really smart," she ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:26

Tags: Prayer How To, Prayer General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Someone Once Asked Dr. Albert Schweitzer, "What's ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeffrey Benjamin on Nov 15, 2001

Someone once asked Dr. Albert Schweitzer, “What’s wrong with men today?” After a brief pause he said, ”The trouble with men today is that they simply don’t think.” “Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.” Henry Ford “Few people think more ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Leadership General

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Dr. Alexander Whyth Of Edinburgh Is An Example Of ...  PRO

Contributed by David Fox on Nov 15, 2001

Dr. Alexander Whyth of Edinburgh is an example of an unusually thankful Christian. “He was famous for his pulpit prayers. He always found something to thank God for, even in bad times. One story morning, a member of his congregation thought to himself, the preacher will have nothing to thank ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday, Human Body, Joy

Denomination: Pentecostal

James Dobson Said, "When I Went To My Old High ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Nov 25, 2001

James Dobson said, "When I went to my old high school in Texas I found my tennis trophies thrown away in the trash heap to make room for new ones in the trophy case. It made me realize that all human accomplishments are really nothing but trash that will not stand the test of time. It made me ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God, Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational