In Sermon Illustrations: "Troubled Times"

I Watched One Of My Favorite Movies Last Night. ...

Contributed by Ken Pell on Sep 29, 2008

I watched one of my favorite movies last night. It is an old comedy called "The God's Must Be Crazy." It is about a bush tribe that lives in the Kalahari Desert; they have no earthly possessions. They are happy, content, and self sufficient. A bush plane flies overhead (which they mistake for a ...read more

Tags: Confession Of Sin

Denomination: Nazarene

Light In Dark Places

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 11, 2008

Light in Dark Places A young girl once consulted with her minister. "I cannot stick it out any longer. I am the only Christian in the factory where I work. I get nothing but taunts and sneers. It is more than I can stand. I am going to resign." "Will you tell me," asked the minister, "where ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Evangelism How To

During The American Revolution, Farmers Who ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

During the American Revolution, farmers who joined the Continental Army during the spring and summer went AWOL in the fall and winter. They were known as "summer soldiers". They signed up with the Army after their crops were planted, they fought the British over the summer, but then returned home ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

None Like To Jesus

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2009

NONE LIKE TO JESUS Charles Spurgeon said, "Climb ye up to heaven, and behold the snow-white host, glittering like the sun in spotless purity. I ask them whence came they? The reply is that they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. It is most true that Jesus saves ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 19:1-21

Tags: Atonement

Soft-Iron Magnets

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2009

SOFT-IRON MAGNETS There are two kinds of magnets, steel magnets and soft iron magnets. The steel magnet receives its magnetism from the load stone, and has it permanently; it can get along very well alone in a small way; it can pick up needles and do many other little things to amuse children. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 9:30-33

Tags: Faith Vs. Works

Stuttering  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

STUTTERING A enormously muscular guy with a bad stutter goes to a counter in a department store and asks, "W-w-w-where’s the m-m-m-men’s dep-p-p-partment?" The clerk behind the counter just looks at him and says nothing. The man repeats himself: "W-w-w-where’s the m-m-m-men’s dep-p-p-partment?" ...read more

Scripture: John 14:26

Tags: Conscience

A Pastor Named Wayne Field Asks A Series Of ...

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jan 29, 2009

A pastor named Wayne Field asks a series of profound questions: “What would happen if we applied the same standards of loyalty to our Christian activities that we expect from other areas of our lives?  If your car starts every three tries, is it reliable?  If the post carrier ...read more

Tags: Trust

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Phil Vischer's Fresh ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

PHIL VISCHER’S FRESH START Phil Vischer is the creator of Veggie Tales. He is the voice of Bob the Tomato and other various characters. In 2004, Phil was one of the guest speakers at my minister’s convention that I attend each year. Phil told about his dream coming to an end. He told about Big ...read more

Tags: Mistakes, Trust God

I Wish I Could Be Like That  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

I WISH I COULD BE LIKE THAT It was the Christmas season and Paul had received a special pre-Christmas gift from his brother. It was a beautiful brand new automobile. On Christmas Eve, when Paul came out of his office, a street kid was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. When Paul ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

God's Detour

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Mar 31, 2009

GOD'S DETOUR The year was 1920. The scene was the examining board for selecting missionaries. Standing before the board was a young man named Oswald Smith. One dream dominated his heart. He wanted to be a missionary. Over and over again, he prayed, "Lord, I want to go as a missionary for you. Open ...read more

Tags: Disappointment

Denomination: Wesleyan

Worship In Spirit And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2009

WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH When Lawrence of Arabia was in Paris with some of his Arab friends after World War I, he took them to see the sights of the city. His friends showed little interest in the Louvre, the Arch of Triumph, or Napoleon’s tomb. The thing that really interested them was the ...read more

Scripture: John 4:23

Tags: Worship General

As For Me — "Henry"

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2009

AS FOR ME -- "Henry" Dangling over eternity are many unlearned souls, Gripping the bands of God’s mercy, Stretching them all they can go, Living the most deceptive nightmare, As it is written, they are living a lie, They can’t even allow themselves the luxury of breaking down to cry, Unable to ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:12

Tags: Endurance

I Didn't Know Her.

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 28, 2009

"I DIDN’T KNOW HER." A few years ago, a man named David Cash and a friend and his friend Jeremy Strohmeyer were in Las Vegas. Strohmeyer followed a young girl into a bathroom and began to physically assault her. Cash came upon the scene, made a half-hearted attempt to intervene, and then left the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:14

Tags: Christian Love

Sheep Need Fresh Pasture And Water Daily And In ...

Contributed by Tyler Edwards on May 26, 2009

Sheep need fresh pasture and water daily and in the desserts of Palestine that can be no easy task. A shepherd will search for water sometimes for hours every day. He carries a pail with him that he will fill over and over again for any sheep who cannot access the water. A shepherd will lead his ...read more

Tags: Security, Good Shepherd

Denomination: *other

Lou Gehrig Was Such A Clumsy Ball Player That The ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Sep 1, 2009

Lou Gehrig was such a clumsy ball player that the boys in his neighborhood would not let him play on their team. But he was committed. He did not give up. Eventually, his name was entered into baseball’s Hall of Fame. Woodrow Wilson could not read until he was ten years old. But he was a ...read more

Tags: Zeal

Denomination: Pentecostal

Search And Rescue

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 21, 2009

SEARCH AND RESCUE There is a group of people I hope we never have to meet. They’re job is hard, exciting, frightening and important all at the same time. They do SAR; Search and Rescue. They work near Reno, Nevada and work ski resorts and desert rescue. They pull people off of Mt. Hood, find lost ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:10

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Self-Gratification, Nfl ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 21, 2009

Self-Gratification, NFL Style Dexter Manly, has two Super Bowl rings, and amassed over 100 sacks during his career-heard voices. They were voices calling him into personal and instant gratification as a star. Clothes, meals, cars and drugs took over his life. In 91 he was banned from the NFL. His ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38

Tags: Self

To Know God's Will, Follow The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 26, 2009

To Know God’s Will, Follow the Guide In A Slow and Certain Light, Elizabeth Elliot tells of 2 adventurers who stopped by to see her, all loaded with equipment for the rainforest East of the Andes. It was the first time they are trekking the forest but they sought no advice, just a few phrases to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 73:24

Tags: God's Will, Knowing God's Will

Pulling On Both Oars  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 26, 2009

PULLING ON BOTH OARS An old Scotsman operated a little rowboat for transporting passengers. One day a passenger noticed that the good old man had carved on one oar the word "Faith" and on the other oar the word "Works." Curiosity led him to ask the meaning of these oars. The old man, being a ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26, James 5:1-7

Tags: Faith Vs. Works

Spurgeon Shown Grace By Fellow Minister

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 30, 2009

Spurgeon Shown Grace by Fellow Minister Charles Spurgeon and Joseph Parker both had churches in London in the 19th century. On one occasion, Parker commented on the poor condition of children admitted to Spurgeon's orphanage. It was reported to Spurgeon however, that Parker had criticized the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29-32

Tags: Grace