In Sermon Illustrations: "Troubled Times"

Religion And Sexual Satisfaction  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 18, 2014

RELIGION AND SEXUAL SATISFACTION Several years ago, Redbook magazine did a computer survey on sexual attitudes and practices (not surprising). What was surprising in the survey was they sprinkled questions about religion in with the study. The survey of about 19,000 women showed that "strongly ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:3

Tags: Sexuality, Pleasurable, Biblical Sexuality, Religious People

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Become What You Are

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 18, 2014

Norman Jean Douglas- Germans have a saying, “Ware was du bist” (Become what you are). The meaning was difficult for me until a minister gave me the following analogy. When a reigning monarch has a child there appears to be no difference between that child and any other child. Both are fussy, ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12-13

Tags: Child Of God, Mentor, Training Disciples, Kingdom Character

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Gold, Frankincense, & Myrrh

Contributed by Gerald Manning on Dec 21, 2015

The little boy was no more than seven years old. It was time for Church, and he wanted to take his teddy bear, whom he had always called Frank. His parents protested, but he insisted that he had to take Frank, today, and they finally relented. When the offering plates were passed, he put the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:11

Tags: Offering, Giving, Tithing

Denomination: Nazarene

The Worst Boss Ever

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 11, 2018

What if you had a boss that demanded that you check in with him every ten minutes no matter what? What if he required that even if you were in the middle of other important work in your office? What if he demanded that whether you were at the office or at home? What if he required that even if ...read more

Tags: Technology, Busyness, Cell Phone

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Eat The Peanuts!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 20, 2019

A pastor went to call on one of the elderly widows of his church. While visiting with her, he noticed a big bowl of shelled peanuts on the coffee table. During the long conversation with the little old widow, the pastor began nibbling on the peanuts and soon the entire bowl was empty! The ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7

Tags: Deception, Hospitality, Humor, Pastors, Jokes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 13, 2020

This statement is many times use as a stand alone statement without regards to the actual meaning. When the context has to be considered and an understanding of who God is and his teachings are most important. A famous Bible scholar John Gill puts it this way: For whatever is asked in faith, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:22

Tags: Faith, Prayer

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Cheeful Giver

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Nov 20, 2020

A missionary in Africa was preaching his first sermon in a mission church. When time came for the offering, the people danced their offerings forward. They danced and sang praise to God as they brought their offerings to the altar. For they were “coming before God's presence with ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7

Tags: Cheerful Giving, Dancing

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

9 Characteristics Of Revivals In The Bible

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

In his book Revival Fire, Geoff Waugh lists nine similarities among Biblical revivals: They occurred in times of moral darkness & national depression. Each began in the heart of a consecrated servant of God who became the energizing power behind it. Each revival rested on the Word ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Holy Spirit, Revival, Last Days, Old Testament, New Testament, Church  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Drowned In Front Of One Hundred Lifeguards!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 4, 2022

The Times-Reporter of New Philadelphia, Ohio, reported in September, 1985 a shocking discovery at a New Orleans municipal pool. The party around the pool was held to celebrate the first summer in memory without a drowning at the New Orleans city pool. In honor of the occasion, 200 people ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19-20

Tags: Gospel, Tragedy, Witnessing, Lost, Unsaved, Great Commission, Evangelism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Easter, Easter

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Mar 11, 2023

Is Easter just a holiday, with dyed eggs and yummy candy? Is it a time when children play and all dress so fine and dandy? Is Easter when adults find some much-needed relaxation? Is it a break from their work to enjoy a short vacation? Or does Easter remind us how Christ died our debt to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-10

Tags: Holiday, The First Day Of The Week, Easter, Resurrection, Calvary  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Love Of Money

Contributed by David Swanger on Jan 19, 2024

One day a certain old, rich man of a miserable disposition visited a rabbi, who took the rich man by the hand and lead him to a window. “Look out there,” he said. The rich man looked into the street. “What do you see?” asked the rabbi. “I see men, women and children,” answered the rich man. Again, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10

Tags: Money, Riches

A Man's Worth Is Not Based On His Wealth

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2024

The Jews had a practice of seating the most important people nearest the sacred scrolls in the synagogue. Other (less important) people would be seated in the back. This unhealthy practice was still carried on by some Christians in Jerusalem in the time of James, the half-brother of Jesus. Those ...read more

Tags: Prejudice, Synagogue, Judgmentalism, Possessions, Playing Favorites, People, Money, Soul, Favoritism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Winnowing Fork

Contributed by Subasini Peter on May 8, 2024

God's winnowing fork Imagine God being so good, loving and kind now will have a winnowing fork in His hand to separate the chaff from the grain. All our works in a lifetime we have done will be judged by God. All the works that do not glorify the name of Jesus Christ will be separated. We ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:12

Tags: Grain, Seed, Winnowing Fork

Fixing My Face

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Aug 8, 2024

Illustration: Fixing My Face While on a hiking trip for the first time, Dad noticed his little boy kneeling at the spring looking at his distorted reflection in the water. He observed his son taking both hands and pushing his face this way and that. His dad said, “What’s wrong Son?” His son ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, Romans 13:14, 2 Timothy 3:14-16, Matthew 6:33

Tags: Distortion, Worldiness, Love Of World, Comformity, Comform, Humor, Commit, Habits, The World  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

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

Who Invented The Autocorrect?

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 15, 2023

The other day I recognized something that had been happening for quite a while. As I was texting, I noticed that there was AutoCorrect. So whenever I spelled a word, it would finish the spelling before I was done. And, if I was spelling it wrong, it corrected me. A few times, I am typing a word, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:11

Tags: Correct, Errors

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I’d Rather Kiss A Goat

Contributed by James Snyder on May 15, 2023

There are very few things in my life I regret; at least that I can remember. One of the good things about getting old is that you can forget many things. The important thing is to forget the right thing, which is a challenge. You can be sure I work on this all the time. It takes a really good ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:36-37

Tags: Kiss, Goat, Accountability, Excuses

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

What’s So Bad About A Knucklehead?

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 26, 2023

Dr. James L. Snyder As I got older, the least little thing brought back memories from a lifetime ago. From some of the memories, I must have had an incredible boyhood. Too bad I can't live it again. I might improve those memories. Who knows. For some reason, I remembered the word ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Crazy, Knucklehead

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Eating Thing  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Hamilton on Sep 29, 2002

The Eating thing Let me share with you a fairly personal issue that I’m working through that has caused me to ask this question about loving God. Last year – in fact for a number of years now I have been aware that I have been struggling with an addiction. As soon as I say the word it arouses ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:8

Tags: Addiction

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Hidden Mud And Leaves!" Ephesians 6:10-17 ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 14, 2004

“The Hidden Mud and Leaves!” Ephesians 6:10-17 Key verse(s): 10: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” We moved to Beech Springs valley some sixteen summers ago now. We had been looking for a place that could afford us peace, quiet and some room for our growing family to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-17

Tags: Battle, Doubt, Enemy, Stand, Strong  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran