In Sermon Illustrations: "Used For Good"

I Recall One Of The Andy Griffith Episodes That ...  PRO

Contributed by Martin Wiles on May 8, 2002

I recall one of the Andy Griffith episodes that I think illustrates very well the matter of giving. It seems Andy had been elected chairman of the needy children charity drive. They were taking up money at the schools for this charity as well as in town. Well, word got back to Andy that Opie had ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Baptist

God's Hmo's

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 6, 2008

GOD'S HMO'S In Christian Counseling Today Magazine I discovered another article talking about "Spirituality Theology and Health." It highlighted the center for the study of Religion/Spirituality and Health at Duke University. After twenty years of study and 25 research studies they discovered the ...read more

Tags: Gifts Healing

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Old Wives' Tales: The Truth

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 9, 2009

OLD WIVES' TALES: THE TRUTH Have you ever believed something, only to find out that it wasn’t true? Consider these old wives tales: "If you go outside with wet hair, you’ll catch a cold." Cold weather, wet hair, and chills don’t cause colds; viruses do. "Reading in dim light will damage your ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Methodist

To Be Needed

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 8, 2011

TO BE NEEDED Stu Weber, in his book Tender Warrior, includes an article written by a woman. She writes: One day the doorbell rang and there stood my beloved brother. It was a delightful surprise. His work as an executive of an international petroleum company keeps him out of the country most of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:17

Tags: Friendship General

Trust The Prayer

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 2, 2021

A TRUSTING PRAYER Did you hear about the young preacher that graduated Bible School? He accepted a small country church to be the pastor. It was the only church that would have him. He was the only candidate that would go to the small church. So they were matched up pretty well. His first ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:7, Isaiah 40:28-31

Tags: Trust, Prayer

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Danger: Listen

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Aug 21, 2021

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE YOUNG GIRL CUTTING THROUGH THE WOODS TO TAKE HER GRANDMOTHER SOME FOOD? The weather had turned very cold. The snow was coming down. The cold north wind was blowing so hard. The young girl was walking through the field returning home. She heard someone calling to her. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 107:8-9, John 10:10, Judges 20:18

Tags: Listen, Danger, Ready

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Plunging To Murky Earth  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 19, 2003

PLUNGING TO MURKY EARTH A family was out vacationing at the lake one summer. Dad had been puttering out by the boat house. Two of his sons, a 12-year old and a 3-year old were down playing along the dock. The 12 year old was supposed to be watching his little brother, but he got distracted. The 3 ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Salvation, Waiting On God

World Of Words

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 7, 2009

WORLD OF WORDS We live in a world of words. Words are all about us, words on TV, words on the radio, spoken words by family and friends, words printed in newspapers, books, on computers, and words on the Internet. The world of words have turned us into a people who have been overwhelmed, ...read more

Tags: Communication General

I Was Blind, But Now I Can See  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 8, 2009

I WAS BLIND, BUT NOW I CAN SEE There were two boys who grew up together. They were close friends as children, but as they entered their teen years their paths began to diverge, and they ended up in very different places. Ernie was always in trouble. He began by shoplifting small things from stores ...read more

Scripture: John 9:25

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Since Isaiah (And Later, The New Testament ...

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Aug 31, 2009

Since Isaiah (and later, the New Testament writers) spoke of God’s "tested" keystone (cornerstone?) or foundation stone in terms of depending upon God rather than what anyone else says or promises, it might be good to look at the importance of "foundations" and Jesus Christ as our "tested" ...read more

Tags: Messianic Prophecies

Denomination: *other

James Montgomery Boice On Eternal ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 30, 2010

James Montgomery Boice on Eternal Security James Montgomery Boice has a wonderful picture to show how Jesus preserves believers for all eternity: I have sometimes thought that what Jesus did in uttering these words was like something a carpenter often does. Sometimes in rough carpentry a workman ...read more

Scripture: John 10:27-29

Tags: Security

God Is Bigger Than Our Box

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Mar 20, 2023

(Have 4 boxes of different sizes for illustration) Here is a box. Its a small one. For some people, what they think of God could fit in this box. They have few expectations and limited knowledge of who God is. Here is another box. It is a little larger. Many people would be comfortable ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20-21

Tags: God Is Able, Power Of God, Limiting God, Bigness Of God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Man Accurately Noted, "I've Learned That If ...  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Sep 6, 2004

One man accurately noted, “I’ve learned that if you give a pig and a boy everything they want, you’ll get a good pig and a bad ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Denomination: Baptist

Last Year, More Than 40 Million Active Buyers ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2006

Last year, more than 40 million active buyers bought $24 billion worth of goods at eBay, up 60% from ‘02. (Foster ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment

Sign On Church Bulletin Board  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 10, 2002

SIGN ON CHURCH BULLETIN BOARD "Merry Christmas to our Christian friends. Happy Hanukkah to our Jewish friends. And to our atheist friends, good luck. SOURCE: ...read more

Tags: Birth Of Jesus, Christmas

Prayer Of A Young Child  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 21, 2003

PRAYER OF A YOUNG CHILD "Bless my mommy and daddy...and dear God, take good care of Yourself. If anything happens to You, we’re ...read more

Tags: War, God's Provision, God The Father

A Shepherd Vs. A Fisherman

Contributed by Ovidiu Radulescu on Sep 21, 2007

A SHEPHERD VS. A FISHERMAN A shepherd is usually given an existing flock and maintains that flock in good fashion. A fisherman, by nature, is more aggressive than ...read more

Tags: Church Growth

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

J. Vernon Mcgee Said, "I Want To Say That I Have ...

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 9, 2011

J. Vernon McGee said, "I want to say that I have always thanked the Lord for my wife. It is wonderful to have a good wife--and to ...read more

Tags: Wife

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Sunday Morning The Pastor Noticed Little ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 8, 2005

One Sunday morning the pastor noticed little Johnny was standing and staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church. The young man of seven had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up and stood beside him and, gazing up at the plaque, he said quietly, ...read more

Tags: Death

Pastor Leadership Styles

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2006

Pastor Leadership Styles Shepherding-loving, nurturing, community-driven 55% Bridge Building-good personality, create consensus, being people together 53% Directional-seeks next logical move, searches for right path 44% Team Building, matching people/jobs, expects it done, hands off ...read more

Tags: Church General