In Sermon Illustrations: "Troubles"

A Neurotic Sickly Girl, Suffering From Insomnia, ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jun 25, 2001

A neurotic sickly girl, suffering from insomnia, consulted a physician. After examining her and finding no physical cause, he bluntly said, “You have ingrown feelings.” She looked puzzled, so he made it plainer. “You think too much about yourself. What you need to do is to get away from ...read more

Tags: Emotions, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

In His Book, What’s So Amazing About ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 12, 2001

In his book, What’s So Amazing About Grace, Philip Yancey tells the true story of a Texas couple who had trouble with pride. An argument ensued one day when the husband felt that his wife had spent too much on sugar at the grocery story. The argument was never resolved. They lived together for ...read more

One Of The Worst Things We Can Do Is Have An ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Oct 18, 2004

One of the worst things we can do is have an unrealistic expectation that life will be without trouble. Several years ago I had a young couple in my office who wanted me to perform their wedding. I told them to do so, would require them to complete our pre-marital counseling. The girl looked at me ...read more

Tags: Marriage Commitment

Denomination: Christian Church

D. L. Moody Has Expressed It So Well: ". . .joy ...  PRO

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Dec 12, 2004

D. L. Moody has expressed it so well: “. . .Joy flows right on through trouble; joy flows on through the dark; joy flows in the night as well as in the day; joy flows all through persecution and opposition. It is an unceasing fountain bubbling up in the heart; a secret spring the world can’t see ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Methodist

In Spite Of What They Say, 90% Of The Chronic ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In spite of what they say, 90% of the chronic patients who see today’s physicians have one common symptom. Their trouble did not start with cough or chest pain or hyperacidity. In 90% of the cases, the first symptom was fear. This is the opinion of a well-known American internist as expressed in a ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

A Preacher One Day Was Preaching On Perfection ...

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Jul 4, 2007

A preacher one day was preaching on perfection and he asked the congregation, "Does anybody here claim to be or even claim to know another person beside Jesus Christ who is perfect?" To his surprise a man in the back stood up. The preacher said, "Sir, you can’t actually be standing up claiming to ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

From Illustrations Unlimited - ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 24, 2007

Illustration from Illustrations Unlimited - PEACE, PEACE: A true story: A retired couple was alarmed by the threat of nuclear war so they undertook a serious study of all the inhabited places on the globe. Their goal was to determine where in the world would be the place to be least likely affected ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Birds Worry

Contributed by George Mansfield on Feb 23, 2008

When Birds Worry When the birds begin to worry And the lilies toil and spin, And God’s creatures all are anxious, Then I also may begin. For my Father sets their table, Decks them out in garments fine, And if He supplies their living, Will He not provide for mine? Just as noisy, common ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Story Is Told By Dr. John R. Rice That Once ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on May 9, 2008

The story is told by Dr. John R. Rice that once he was preaching in a conference with the late Gypsy Smith. After the service he walked out of the building to catch a cab back to his motel. Once in the cab, he began to witness to the driver, whereupon the driver with tears in his eyes, told him ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Thread In Your Eye

Contributed by Ovidiu Radulescu on Oct 14, 2008

The Thread in Your Eye I awoke one morning with a terrible pain in my eye. I had no idea why it hurt, but I could not do what needed to be done that day with that kind of pain in my eye. I went to the Optometrist who spent a great deal of time examining my eye. Then he reached in with a swab and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:3

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Sitting Down For Jesus

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 3, 2008

Sitting Down for Jesus In his book entitled, "The Trouble With Jesus," Joe Stowell tells the story of the mayor's prayer breakfast in Chicago. If it were not for the performance of Wheaton College choir, the name of Jesus would not have even been mentioned. The keynote speaker was saying that ...read more

Tags: Confidence

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Miracles Are Beyond Our ...

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Feb 8, 2009

Miracles are beyond our ability... "In the early 1980’s, Carol Cymbala decided to “make a little tape for the church,” and when she had trouble finding enough appropriate songs, she began writing them. Although she cannot read or write music, the Lord has given her a special gift to direct and ...read more

Tags: Trust

Denomination: Pentecostal

Arthur John Gossip Was A Great Preacher In The ...

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Nov 18, 2007

Arthur John Gossip was a great preacher in the Church of Scotland. When he was pastor at Beechgrove Church in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1927 he suddenly lost his beloved wife. The following Sunday he preached perhaps the greatest sermon of the Twentieth Century “When Life Tumbles In, What Then?” ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Napoleon - P82 Boasted He Could Remember The ...

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Dec 6, 2007

Napoleon - p82 boasted he could remember the names of every person he ever met. His technique was simple. If he didn’t hear the name clearly, he said, “So sorry I didn’t get the name clearly,” If it was an unusual name he would ask how is it spelled? During the conversation, he took the trouble ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

George Muller, Who Was Known For His Strong ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

George Muller, who was known for his strong faith, confided. "The first 3 years after conversion, I neglected the Word of God. Since I began to search it diligently, the blessing has been wonderful. I have read the Bible through one hundred times and always with increasing delight!" John Bunyan, ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

George Muller, Who Was Known For His Strong ...

Contributed by John Shearhart on Jul 5, 2006

George Muller, who was known for his strong faith, confided. "The first 3 years after conversion, I neglected the Word of God. Since I began to search it diligently, the blessing has been wonderful. I have read the Bible through one hundred times and always with increasing delight!" John Bunyan, ...read more

Tags: Character

Test Pilots Have A Litmus Test For Evaluating ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 11, 2001

Test pilots have a litmus test for evaluating problems. When something goes wrong, they ask, "Is this thing still flying?" If the answer is yes, then there’s no immediate danger, no need to overreact. When Apollo 12 took off, the spacecraft was hit by lightning. The entire console began to glow ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

During A Monday Night Football Game Between The ...  PRO

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Jan 15, 2003

During a Monday night football game between the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants, one of the announcers observed that Walter Payton, the Bears’ running back, had accumulated over nine miles in career rushing yardage. The other announcer remarked, “Yeah, and that’s with someone knocking him ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Pentecostal

Billy Bray Was Saved From A Terrible Life Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Ronald Keller on Nov 24, 2003

“Billy Bray was saved from a terrible life of drunkenness and sin. After his conversion he experienced one trouble after another, but he never ceased praising the Lord. At last he came to the place where all he had to eat was a mess of very small potatoes which a friend had given him. Billy Bray ...read more

Tags: Human Body

Denomination: Nazarene

There Is A Story Told About Sam Rayburn Who Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Evie Megginson on Jul 30, 2004

There is a story told about Sam Rayburn who was Speaker for the House of Representatives longer than any other man. One of his friends lost a teenage daughter and early the next morning Rayburn knocked on his door. "I just came by to see what I could do to help." The father replied that there was ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Baptist