In Sermon Illustrations: "Today"

As A Third-Century Man Was Anticipating Death, He ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Oct 18, 2000

As a third-century man was anticipating death, he penned these last words to a friend: "It’s a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy, which is a thousand times better than any ...read more

Tags: Death, Joy, God Brings Hope

Denomination: Baptist

Notice Satan’s Version Of Grace - It Had An ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Mar 1, 2001

notice Satan’s version of grace - it had an IF clause attached to it. [[This reminds me of the many ploys out there today - get 400 dollars of free merchandise - IF you sign up for MSN for three years. No money down - no interest for 12 months - you can own a new car NOW! But all you have to do ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:12-15, Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 4:26-34

Tags: Money, Sin Deceptive, Temptation Of Christ

Denomination: Lutheran

The Motivated Typist  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Jan 9, 2002

“The Motivated Typist” One day an eager young man from Stanford University applied for a part time position at the school. The man who was doing the hiring said, “All I need now is a typist.” “I’ll take the job, said the applicant. “but I can’t start until next Tuesday.” On Tuesday he ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Workplace, Workplace Unemployment

Denomination: Wesleyan

Lawyer And Statesman Daniel Webster Was A ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Sep 10, 2002

Lawyer and statesman Daniel Webster was a powerful orator who gave early evidence of his quick mind and way with words. One day Webster’s father, who was to be absent from home, left Daniel and his brother Ezekiel specific work instructions. But on his return he found the task still undone, and ...read more

Tags: Giving Yourself, Workplace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It Is No Wonder That In 15 Years Of Asking High ...

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

It is no wonder that in 15 years of asking high school students throughout America whether, in an emergency situation, they would save their dog or a stranger first, most students have answered that they would not save the stranger. "I love my dog, I don’t love the stranger," they always say. The ...read more

Tags: Truth Absolute, Doubt

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The First American Thanksgiving Didn’t ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 10, 2001

The first American Thanksgiving didn’t occur in 1621 when a group of Pilgrims shared a feast with a group of friendly Indians. The first recorded thanksgiving took place in Virginia more than 11 years earlier, and it wasn’t a feast. The winter of 1610 at Jamestown had reduced a group of 409 ...read more

Tags: Joy, Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Scene Was San Diego Superior Court. Two Men ...  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jul 27, 2003

The scene was San Diego Superior Court. Two men were on trial for armed robbery. An eyewitness took the stand, and the prosecutor moved carefully: “So, you say you were at the scene when the robbery took place?” “Yes.” “And you saw a vehicle leave at a high rate of speed?” “Yes.” “And did you ...read more

Tags: Sin Exposed, Sin General

Denomination: Baptist

Several Churches In North Dakota Were Being ...  PRO

Contributed by Maurice Schaus on Nov 26, 2003

Several churches in North Dakota were being served by a clever old preacher. The people were always amazed, for no matter what the circumstances, the preacher could always find something to give thanks for. As he made his rounds one cold December morning, he was late in getting to worship because ...read more

Tags: Joy, Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Lutheran

B) Swindoll Says This About His Book Laugh ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Dec 23, 2003

(b) Swindoll says this about his book Laugh Again,”It’s about giving the child within us permission to look at life and laugh again “(11). (i) He adds, “I know of no greater need today than the need for joy. Unexplainable, contagious joy. Outrageous joy…Unfortunately, our country seems to have ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 126:2

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

As A Third-Century Man Was Anticipating Death, ...

Contributed by Paul Redwine on Jan 5, 2004

As a third-century man was anticipating death, he penned these last words to a friend: "It’s a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which is a thousand times better than any ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Psychologists Are Studying What Makes People ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Thomas on Feb 10, 2004

Psychologists are studying what makes people happy. "Materialism is toxic for happiness," says University of Illinois psychologist Ed Diener. Even rich materialists aren’t as happy as those who care less about getting and spending. The article also quoted University of Michigan psychologist ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When England Closed It's Libyan Embassy Muammar ...

Contributed by Jason Cole on Mar 22, 2004

When England closed it’s Libyan Embassy Muammar Qaddafi became so angry that he ordered England to be removed from all maps in Libya. If you buy a map in that country today, that area will be represented by a new arm of the North Sea bordered by Scotland and Wales. Simply removing England from all ...read more

Tags: Apologetics The Bible

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

As I Mentioned At The Outset, "Pride Is A ...

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Aug 18, 2004

As I mentioned at the outset, “Pride is a killer.” One man in history learned that lesson the hard way. During the Battle of the Wilderness in the Civil War, Union general John Sedgwick was inspecting his troops. At one point he came to a parapet, over which he gazed out in the direction of the ...read more

Tags: Emotions, Men And Women

Denomination: Baptist

The Story Was Told Some Years Ago Of A Pastor ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Sep 8, 2004

The story was told some years ago of a pastor who found the roads blocked one Sunday morning and was forced to skate on the river to get to church, which he did. When he arrived the elders of the church were horrified that their preacher had skated on the Lord’s Day. After the service they held a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:23-28

Tags: Church Practices, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

Choices  PRO

Contributed by Marcus Rosa on Sep 20, 2004

How in the world did Lot end up in such a mess? One word—choices. —Something each of us has in common. Every single day... every single moment we make choices. —What to eat. What to wear. What to say. What to do. How to act. —You’ve made a thousand choices before you arrived here this morning! ...read more

Tags: Sin Wages Of, Sin Exposed

Denomination: Baptist

A Self-Service World  PRO

Contributed by James Chandler on Apr 15, 2003

We live in a self-service world. Self service gas stations. Self service fast food. Now you can even check yourself out at the grocery store. We have totally lost the idea of service in our society today. Yet Jesus reminds us of the value of service as he humbly washed his disciples feet. And ...read more

Tags: Discipleship, Christian Disciplines, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Forgiving My Enemy  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Apr 18, 2003

FORGIVING MY ENEMY Ronald Reagan’s attitude after the 1982 attempt on his life made an impression on his daughter, Patti Davis: “The following day my father said he knew his physical healing was directly dependent on his ability to forgive John Hinckley. By showing me that forgiveness is the key ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Forgiveness, Forgive, Forgiveness General, Christlikeness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

When Orville And Wilbur Wright Finally Succeeded ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

When Orville and Wilbur Wright finally succeeded in flying the first airplane for fifty-nine seconds on December 17, 1903, they rushed a telegram to their sister in Dayton, Ohio, telling of their amazing accomplishment. The telegram read, "First sustained flight today fifty-nine seconds. Hope to be ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

Death Was Walking Toward A City, And A Man ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Death was walking toward a city, and a man stopped Death and asked “what are yo going to do?” “I’m going to kill 10,000 people today” Death said. The man ran ahead to the the city. He warned everybody he passed that Death was coming and what he was going to do. At then end of the day, he again met ...read more

Tags: Guilt

The Teachings Of John Wesley Were Very ...

Contributed by Don Hawks on Jun 22, 2007

The teachings of John Wesley were very instrumental in my identifying with the United Methodist approach to practicing the Christian life. Wesley of course was an 18th-century Anglican clergyman and Christian theologian who was an early leader in the Methodist movement. In addition to Wesley’s ...read more

Denomination: Methodist