In Sermon Illustrations: "Trials Mature Us"

What The Lost Coin Means

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 18, 2019

Ann Punton writes, “Although everyone dressed more or less alike according to social standing, each village had some distinguishing feature. Bethlehem women wore a conical cap. When they married, their husband gave them a number of silver coins which they fixed to their hat. The coins were their ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Tags: Search, Found, Parable Of The Lost Coin

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Inerrant Word Of God

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 21, 2020

"Divine Inspiration is not asserted of the authors of Scripture but of the writings themselves. But inspiration was not mechanical. The Holy Spirit did not destroy the personality and individual characteristics of the individual writers but rather so worked through the entire being of the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Bible, Truth, Inspiration, Word Of God, Inerrancy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tobymac On Faithfulness

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Aug 24, 2022

TobyMac wrote these words upon the tragic death of his 21 year old son; “My wife and I would want the world to knows this … We don’t follow God because we have some sort of under the table deal with Him, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-27

Tags: Faith, Grace, Worship, Salvation, Grief  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Helen Rosavere Is An English Woman Who Had ...  PRO

Contributed by Darren Ethier on May 7, 2002

Helen Rosavere is an English woman who had interests in becoming a doctor and serving Do. Upon completion of her medical training at Cambridge University, Helen began to ask God where he would want her to serve. Before long, God directed Helen to an area in the Congo (Africa) which had a population ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-10

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Discipleship

Denomination: Pentecostal

Coach Jim Fassel's Son Bears Family Likeness, ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Oct 17, 2003

[Coach Jim Fassel’s Son Bears Family Likeness, source: Bill Pennington, "34 Years Later: One Coach’s Sweetest Victory," New York Times (5-16-03)] As the head coach of the New York Giants, Jim Fassel has enjoyed great success on the football field with a trip to the Super Bowl as recently as 2001. A ...read more

Tags: Prayer Persistence, Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

To Touch A Scorpion!" Matthew 5: 43-48 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 9, 2004

“To Touch a Scorpion!” Matthew 5: 43-48 Key verse(s): 44 “‘But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’” Is it in our nature to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute us? Getting even or, in the very least, shunning confrontation with those who would ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Unconditional Love

Denomination: Lutheran

Getting To The Good Stuff!" Exodus 6: 1-12 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 11, 2004

“Getting to The Good Stuff!” Exodus 6: 1-12 Key verse(s): 12: “But Moses said to the Lord, ‘If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips’.” When I was a boy I had the rather thankless job of feeding a herd of our neighbor’s ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 6:1-12

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

Rach And I Have A Friend Who Is A Source Of Grief ...  PRO

Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Feb 17, 2005

Rach and I have a friend who is a source of grief for us. It is not that he has done anything to us – he is quite dear to us actually. Rather it is what he has done to himself, what he has chosen to believe. About ten years ago, this friend began absenting himself from church. He was getting ...read more

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Winning Streak Of One!" 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 1, 2005

“A Winning Streak of One!” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 Key verse(s) 16“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” It’s important to make sure that every day of our lives we practice gladness and condition ourselves to finding ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Tags: Doubt

Denomination: Lutheran

Many Turns–one Road! (07.01.05--Direction--John ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 29, 2005

Many Turns–One Road! (07.01.05--Direction--John 21:20-25) Like life, most highways that we find ourselves on aren’t always straight and true. In fact, what makes some highways fun to drive is that they give you the opportunity to make a turn here and there from time to time, just to break up the ...read more

Scripture: John 21:20-25

Tags: Knowing God's Will

Denomination: Lutheran

Too Easily Pleased! (07.06.05--Joy Every ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 5, 2005

Too Easily Pleased! (07.06.05--Joy Every Day--Ecclesiastes 9:7-10) I was happy with things the way they were. Why should I go to any great length to make them any better when, as it were, I was contented with how my car looked and drove? This was my response about a year ago when my wife ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:7-10

Tags: Fulfillment

Denomination: Lutheran

Game's Only Half Over! (10.04.05--Beginning ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 3, 2005

Game’s Only Half Over! (10.04.05--Beginning Again!--2 Samuel 12:20-24) Is there anyone who hasn’t felt the sting of regret and discovered just how bitter it is to live with the thought that if only we hadn’t done this or said that we’d be a whole lot happier at the moment? Beginning again is one ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:20-24

Tags: God's Provision, Regret, Remorse, God's Forgiveness, Face Your Fears, Embarrassment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Ministering To ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Ministering to Christ In The Midst of Disaster “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom… For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:34-40

Tags: Unconditional Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Colt Mccoy Story

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

THE COLT MCCOY STORY College football experienced a masterpiece national championship game featuring the number one ranked Crimson Tide from Alabama against the undefeated ballers from the University of Texas. The Longhorns, led by their Heisman nominated quarterback Colt McCoy hoped to prove to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Tags: Father's Day

Where Did That Come From?

Contributed by Rick Palmer on Oct 21, 2018

As a Police Officer we were required to use radar to influence drivers to slow down and obey the laws. One evening I parked at a T-intersection where Main Street intersected a major highway.This intersection was very well lite up because of the businesses located there, a restaurant with a gas ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:23, Matthew 28:14, 2 Peter 2:12-15, 1 John 2:15-16, John 15:19, Galatians 3:23-24, 1 Corinthians 2:14, John 16:8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Reprove The World, Gospel Of Jesus Christ, Evangelism, Gospel, Jesus On The Cross, Preach The Gospel, Go Into All The World  (view more)  (view less)

Hope For When Christ Comes

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jun 27, 2021

This two-part story can frame a message on heaven, hope or the resurrection. The 1989 Armenian earthquake needed only 4 minutes to flatten the nation and kill 30,000 people. Moments after the deadly tremor ceased, a father raced to an elementary school to save his son. When he arrived, he saw that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:14, 1 Corinthians 15:17, 1 Corinthians 15:23, Romans 6:5-9

Tags: Resurrection, Heaven, Hope

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Are You Tired? I Am.

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Dec 22, 2023

Can you believe it? Another year is in the books. I don’t know about you, but as magical and wonderful this time of year is, it is exhausting. I’m tired! And the fact is that it’s not just this time of year. I find myself getting weary and tired often. Life is like that. It can wear you down. ...read more

Scripture: James 4:7, Matthew 4:1-11

Tags: Perseverance, Endurance, Temptation, Discouragement, Weariness, New Years, Tiredness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[038] A Message From A Poem – Can They Really Know?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 26, 2025

[038] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CAN THEY REALLY KNOW? This poem is derived from thinking about the songs of several decades ago, (50-70 years) especially in the American Southern Gospel Quartets. Needless to say I love those old singers especially The Cathedrals. The poem is quite simple and is ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 20:1-15, Ephesians 2:4-7

Tags: Hell, Grace, Glory, Heaven, Know, We Can Know  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[248]. A Message From A Poem – Starlight Is Always There

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 2, 2026

[248]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – STARLIGHT IS ALWAYS THERE This is a short poem, one just came straightaway to me. I could expand it more but I decided I will not do that. Although the poem was written in 2020, the original thought for this came to me one evening when I was walking home. Here ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 John 1:12

Tags: Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Unveiled Face, Obscured, Love, Barriers, Stars, Shining, Starlight  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Root Beer Thirst --- ...

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Apr 3, 2010

Root Beer Thirst --- --- As a kid in High School, I loved to go to amusement parks, and so did my friends. We only had a couple of amusement parks in the SF Bay Area and my high school buddies and I were able to convince our parents to drop us off at one of these amusement parks that was like a six ...read more

Tags: Stress

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational