In Sermon Illustrations: "Used For Good"

Joy In Church  PRO

Contributed by Paul Green on Oct 28, 2009

JOY IN CHURCH Then there’s the story about a little boy in church with his mother. He was a good little boy, quiet and well behaved. He didn’t cause any problems. But every once in a while he would stand up in the chair, turn around, look at the people behind him and smile at them. His smile was ...read more

Tags: Church General

Denomination: Baptist

Hurt Vs. Harm

Contributed by Kerry O'neill on Mar 12, 2010

HURT VS. HARM There is a wonderful book entitled "Boundaries" in which the authors differentiate two words - Hurt and Harm. Think of these examples. If I were to eat an entire 2 pound bag of peanut M&M's (which I sadly am fully capable of doing!) would it hurt me? No, it would feel great! ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It Matters Which Way You Go

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Apr 7, 2010

IT MATTERS WHICH WAY YOU GO In Lewis Carroll's classic story Alice asks the Cheshire Cat, "Which way do I want to go? Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?" "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat. "I don't much care where" says Alice. ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Student Conquers The Temptation To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2010

A Student Conquers the Temptation to Cheat A Struggle with Temptation” At school Joe was good in arithmetic but poor in spelling. Mabel was a fine speller and sat opposite him. On examination day Joe forgot many words, and the tempter said, ‘Look on Mabel’s paper; she has them right!” So Joe ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Temptation Resisting

Middle C

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 22, 2010

MIDDLE C When Lloyd C. Douglas, author of The Robe and other novels, was a university student, he lived in a boarding house. Downstairs on the first floor was an elderly, retired music teacher who was infirm and unable to leave the apartment. Douglas said that every morning they had a ritual they ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Brethren

Time Marches On  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2011

TIME MARCHES ON There was once a middle aged man who was considering going back to school to get that degree he had always wanted. But he was balking at the idea because he was now over 50 and what good would it do him now. He went to his dad for advice and his dad asked him how long it would ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-16

Tags: Wisdom, Wait, Response, Call God's Name, Time  (view more)  (view less)

On Obedience  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2011

ON OBEDIENCE "One word stands out from all others as the key to knowing God, to having His peace and assurance in your life--it is obedience." (Eric Liddell) Elisabeth Elliot tells the story of when she and her brother Tom were small children. Their mother would let Tom play with paper bags that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:22, 1 Peter 1:3-12, 1 Peter 3:1-12, Luke 8:16-21, Psalm 81:1-16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Obedience

If I'd Known You Had Him...

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Apr 19, 2011

IF I'D KNOWN YOU HAD HIM... Madeline Rockwell wrote of her grandparents: "My Grandmother was a ball of fire, while Grandpa was slow and deliberate. One night they were awakened by a commotion in the chicken house. Grandma sprang out of bed, ran to the chicken house and found the cause of the ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

I Can't Remember

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 19, 2011

I CAN'T REMEMBER An elderly man moved into a retirement community. It wasn't long until he had made a number of friends among the other residents. There was one lady he was especially attracted to and she was attracted to him, also. They spent a lot of time together. Finally one evening he ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-14

Tags: Aging

The Wedding Problem

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jun 22, 2011

THE WEDDING PROBLEM Mary Campbell of Elgin, Illinois that had to say "I do" three times at three different weddings before she finally became Mrs. Randy Peterson. The couple took out their wedding license in Kane County and made all the arrangements for their wedding at a church in Ontarioville. ...read more

Tags: Weddings

Journaling Experiment

Contributed by Brad Henry on Jul 26, 2011

JOURNALING EXPERIMENT Please try this experiment. Take out a piece of paper and on the left side of the paper write down all the things that you are burdened with. On the right side of the paper write down all the things that God has either protected you from or trials that He has gotten you ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Jewish Blessings

Contributed by Perry Greene on Dec 19, 2011

JEWISH BLESSINGS David Stern relates in hid Jewish NT Commentary, pp.115-116 that there are many blessings given by the Hebrew people. There are blessings for wine (Matthew 26.27-29); for bread (14.19); The Talmud (circa 5th century CE) had specific formulas for dozens of blessings that the people ...read more

Tags: Blessing

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Two Adversaries

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 2, 2012

THE TWO ADVERSARIES Robert Biggs, 69, who often hikes in the Whisky Flats area, came across a mother bear and her cubs, which were about 40 feet from where he was standing. After watching the bear family for a few minutes he decided to leave them alone and turned to walk back up the trail. As he ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Drop That Baby!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

"DROP THAT BABY!" A pastor called on a lady from his church and found her very despondent and feeling that God had forsaken her. Looking at the baby in the woman’s arms, the pastor said to her, "Drop that baby on the floor." Startled by the suggestion, she looked at him in disbelief. "Well," he ...read more

Scripture: John 10:22-30

Tags: God In The Hardships

Model Kylie Bisutti, 21, Has Decided To Leave ...

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Aug 27, 2012

Model Kylie Bisutti, 21, has decided to leave Victoria’s Secret because it clashes with her Christian beliefs. “I just became so convicted of honoring the Lord and my body and wanting to be a role model for other women out there who look up to me,” Bisutti said today on “Good Morning ...read more

Tags: Conscience

Denomination: Baptist

Disguised

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Aug 15, 2018

I live in Arkansas. I LOVE when autumn comes and fall leaves drift down on autumn breezes. But in Arkansas, you have to be careful about those leaves on the ground because some of them conceal SERPENTS. There are lots of Copperhead Snakes here. Copperheads are venomous Pit Vipers that strike you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:14, Genesis 4:7, Genesis 3:1, Proverbs 23:27, Proverbs 22:14, Ecclesiastes 7:26  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Discerning, Affairs, Snares, Sin, Deception, Serpent, Adultery, Deceive, Disguise  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Assumptions And Arrogance

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 12, 2019

Four people—a pilot, a professor, a pastor, and a hiker—were flying in a small plane when the engines died. The pilot said, “There are only three parachutes. Since this is my plane, I’m taking one of them.” He put it on and jumped out. The professor said, “I’m brilliant and the world needs me, so ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:13-20

Tags: Errors, Mistakes, Arrogance, Assumptions, Snob, False Confidence  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How Do We Know That Jesus Is The Son Of God?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 2, 2022

As we approach the last of the last days, we see an alarming trend among many pastors to drift away from the basic truths of Scripture. We should not be surprised. Jesus promised this day would come (Matthew 24, II Timothy 3). So, how do we know for sure from Scripture that Jesus is the very ...read more

Tags: Apostasy, Jesus, Truth, Last Days, Heresy, Deity, Son Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

First-Time Fathers Are A Hoot!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 8, 2024

One day shortly after the birth of their new baby, the mother had to go out to do some errands. So, the proud new papa stayed home to watch his wonderful new son. Soon after the mother left, the baby started to cry. The father did everything he could think of to do but the baby wouldn’t stop ...read more

Tags: Dad, Children, Parents, Training, Fathers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It's Time To Change The Diaper!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 12, 2024

One day shortly after the birth of their new baby, the mother had to go out to do some errands. So, the proud papa stayed home to watch his wonderful new son. Soon after the mother left, the baby started to cry. The father did everything he could think of to do but the baby wouldn’t stop crying. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Salvation, Transformation, New Life, New Birth, New Creation, Changes, Trusting Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational