In Sermon Illustrations: "Timing"

Church Cake Cover-Up  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 19, 2009

CHURCH CAKE COVER-UP It was time for the annual cake sale at a Presbyterian church not much different than our own. Ms. Billings always made the most beautiful cakes...she was expected to make another one this year. However, Ms. Billings was a very busy woman with the time she spent with her ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:1-15

Tags: Hypocrisy, Cake

Chris Paul: Forgiving The Murderers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 23, 2011

CHRIS PAUL: FORGIVING THE MURDERERS In April, 2011, Rick Reilly wrote a moving story about forgiveness from the life of Chris Paul, the all-star basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets. Reilly writes: On the moonless night of November 15, 2002, five boys ran across a park, jumped a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:4

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Ask Seek Knock

Anxious Moments, I Experienced Some Years Back, ...

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Dec 6, 2011

Anxious moments, I experienced some years back, when I had to disturb a "sleeping boss"! There I was between the devil and the deep blue sea (many years ago during my secular stint of 13 years in the Indian oil sector) pacing nervously in the Hotel aisle, peering frighteningly at the “Do not ...read more

Tags: Anxiety

Denomination: *other

Extraordinary Or Ordinary?

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2012

EXTRAORDINARY OR ORDINARY? God is not looking for extraordinary people. God is looking for ordinary people who will trust God in an extraordinary way. Morton Kondracke is known as a no-nonsense, independent-thinking journalist who, in addition to writing, appears on shows like The McLaughlin ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-15

Tags: Trust

Ashamed When It Counted The Most

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 18, 2019

Ashamed when it counted the most My two sisters, when they were somewhat younger, liked to play the piano and took lessons for some time. I like music, too, but not all the practicing that went along with it! We found out there was going to be a “recital” where all of the students in their ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, 1 John 2:28

Tags: Christian Life, Shame, Rewards

Denomination: Baptist

Drugs Are No Game

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 7, 2020

You’ve probably heard and seen it all when it comes to warnings about “don’t do drugs,” and so forth. Frankly, I’ve seen and heard a lot of them, and I’m sure glad someone told me about the dangers of drugs and drug abuse. Someone took a lot of time to get the information out and thanks to those ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Tags: Drugs, Temptations, Drug Abuse

Denomination: Baptist

Unsung Heroes-Aquila And Priscilla

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 12, 2023

Introduction: This couple is only mentioned a few times in the New Testament, but with each mention it’s clear they were serving the Lord. They are truly unsung heroes of the Bible! 1 Ministering with Paul in Corinth Text: Acts 18:1-3. KJV 1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-3, Acts 18:18-21

Tags: Priscilla, Aquila, Unsung Heroes

Denomination: Baptist

Any Rest That You Receive, Any Comfort That You ...  PRO

Contributed by David Taylor on Apr 18, 2003

Any rest that you receive, any comfort that you find, any hope that you have, and any encouragement you get during the time of suffering is a direct provision from God. When we begin to realize that, then even ...read more

Tags: Emotions, God's Provision, Promises Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Many Years Ago, Roger Babson Published A ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 28, 2004

Many years ago, Roger Babson published a pamphlet entitled “Essentials of Business Success.” The leaflet contained nothing but a reprint of the Ten Commandments. Some time later a western manufacturer wrote to Mr. Babson ...read more

Tags: Commandments General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Could The Veil Be Lifted, We Would See That ...  PRO

Contributed by Adam Deibert on Feb 11, 2005

“Could the veil be lifted, we would see that angels of God are around us to preserve us from unseen dangers. Thousands of times has their care been especially manifested for us in our warfare with the agencies ...read more

Tags: Angels

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Health Insurance Up: The Average Cost For A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Health Insurance Up: The average cost for a family health insurance policy has topped $10,000 for the first time finds a Kaiser Family Foundation 60% employers offered coverage, down from 69% ...read more

Tags: Money

Mainline Decline: In '60, Total Mainline Church ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 3, 2006

Mainline Decline: In ’60, total mainline church membership in the U.S. topped over 29 million, by ’00 this number had fallen to 22 million¾a 21% drop. During this time span, church ...read more

Tags: Church General

Shrinking-Vacation Syndrome A Recent Conference ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 19, 2007

Shrinking-Vacation Syndrome A recent Conference Board study found 40% of consumers have no plans to take a vacation over the next 6 months (the lowest rate in 28 years). A similar Gallup ...read more

There Are Many Monumental Statements We ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There are many monumental statements we associate with fathers. Statements that reverberate down through the corridors of time. Statements like: Ask your mother. I was watching that It’s only blood, wipe it ...read more

Tags: Patriarchs Joseph

A. Ten Thousand Steps-That's More Or Less How ...

Contributed by Brian Matherlee on Nov 29, 2007

a. Ten thousand steps-that’s more or less how many the average person takes in a day. It adds up to 115,000 miles…4 times around the earth. (info taken from Bill Hybels, “Just ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Heating ...

Contributed by Jonathan Campbell on Jun 23, 2008

THE HEATING APPARATUS Charles Haddon Spurgeon was showing a group of people around the Metropolitan Tabernacle church in London. After some time the famous preacher informed the visitors that we wished to show them the heating ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

My Religious Belief Teaches Me To Feel As Safe ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. That ...read more

Tags: Death

I Think That What's Most Disturbing About ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"I think that what's most disturbing about success is that it's very hazardous to your health, as well as to your daily routine. Not only are there intrusions on your time, but there is a kind of corrosion of your own humility and sense of ...read more

Tags: Workplace Success

The Power Of Presence

Contributed by Eduardo Quintana on Jun 12, 2017

Long before I became a Dad, I had strong opinions about fathering. Perhaps it’s because I came along quite late in my father’s life. He was 47 years old. To say I was a surprise would be an understatement! But, my Dad rose to the challenge! Like my sister and brother before me, I became his pride ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:3

Tags: Parenting, Legacy, Fatherhood

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There’s Always Tomorrow

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 11, 2020

For almost four weeks now, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly have enjoyed some exceptional time together. It has been the rich experience I never thought I would experience until I retired from everything. But, if this is retirement, “Lord, let it be so.” Nothing to complain ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:8

Tags: Together, Rest, Pajamas

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance