In Sermon Illustrations: "Used For Good"

Good Timing

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jun 22, 2011

GOOD TIMING Actress Shirley McLaine a new ager, was conducting one of her seminars at the Long Beach Arena teaching people about their own divinity. During the seminar, she had everyone light a candle. They turned off the lights so those candles could be seen shining in the dark. She said, "Just ...read more

Tags: Atheism

Is God Good?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 25, 2011

IS GOD GOOD? Randy Alcorn talks about what happened to his friend, Ethel Herr in his new book, What Good is God. She had had a double mastectomy. Then two months later, doctors discovered that the cancer had spread. One of Herr's friends in shock asked her, "And how do you feel about God now?" ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

There Is Good In All

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 19, 2012

THERE IS GOOD IN ALL Norman Vincent Peale tells the story of one Christmas when he was 15 and his father, a physician turned minister, received a call from a brothel in the red light district. The madam had a girl who was dying and was calling for a minister. Quietly, his father explained to his ...read more

Tags: Christmas Eve

Denomination: Methodist

Good Intentions

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 29, 2021

In our younger days, my husband and I sign up for a “boot camp” fitness class. This class costs $300 per person for ten classes. At the start of the first class, our instructor. Tara, does a quick roll-call. She frowns and comments: “Hmm, Susie isn’t here. That’s a shame; attending the first ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:14-33

Tags: Unrealized Intentions, Excuses, Discipline, Follow Through, Explanations  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Good Tree

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Mar 2, 2022

A Good Tree A lovely little girl was holding two apples with both hands. Her mom came in and softly asked her little daughter with a smile: my sweetie, could you give your mom one of your two apples? The girl looked up at her mom for some seconds, then she suddenly took a quick bite on one ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:39-45

Tags: Judgement, Good

Denomination: Other

If God Is Good

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 1, 2025

There is a problem at the heart of Christianity. If God is good and loving why is there evil and suffering in the world? There is an old response when you are asked to do something: “I would if I could but I can’t so I won’t.” That response is like one of the ways our world tries to solve this ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:17

Tags: Evil, Suffering, Goodness Of God

Denomination: Methodist

The Fragments Of Our Lives - Good Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 25, 2026

Hear God's Word in John's telling: BIBLE "And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost." 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those ...read more

Scripture: John 6:12-13, Matthew 14:19, Mark 6:41, Luke 9:16, John 6:5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Brokenness, Leftovers, Fragments, Gathering, Problems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Rare Italian Automobile Good Only For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 24, 2009

Rare Italian Automobile Good Only for Show I heard this week about a very, very special automobile. It was built in the 1920’s by the Italian manufacturer Bugatti, and it was designed to be sold to the outrageously wealthy. This car was equipped with 450 horses under the hood; it was some 22 feet ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21

Tags: Materialism

God's Relationship With Us.

Contributed by Rob Roy on Nov 19, 2018

My best memory of my Grandfather who died when I was four or five. I was four or five and we loaded up with my four older brothers and mom and dad in our sixty-four brown Chevy Bel Air and headed to my grandparents home. My mom announced to all of us that Grandfather was weak and we should NOT ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-11

Tags: God's Love For Us, God's Relationship With Us

Finishing A Good Book Is Like Leaving A Good ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

Finishing a good book is like leaving ...read more

Tags: Books And Literature

A Good Title Should Be Like A Good Metaphor: It ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

A good title should be like a good metaphor: it should intrigue without being ...read more

Tags: Books And Literature

A Good Newspaper And Bible In Every House, A Good ...

Contributed by David Insell on Jul 23, 2003

A good newspaper and Bible in every house, a good schoolhouse in every district, and a church in every neighborhood, all appreciated as they deserve, are the chief support ...read more

Tags: Political Freedom, Bible Influence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Aim Above Morality. Be Not Simply Good; Be Good ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

He That Is Good At Making Excuses Is Seldom Good ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

He that is good at making excuses is seldom good ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

Good People Are Good Because Theyve Come To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Good people are good because theyve come to wisdom through failure. We get very little ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

A Good Laugh Is A Mighty Good Thing, And Rather ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"A good laugh is a mighty good thing, and rather too scarce a good ...read more

Tags: Humor

Refuse Good Advice And Watch Your Plans ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Emmert on May 22, 2001

“Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed” (Proverbs 3:21). We can say it another way: Heed wise counsel, or watch your hopes be cancelled. The hard won truth of this proverb is evident in an experience that riveted my generation. In January of 1985 ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1

Tags: God's Forgiveness, God's Omniscience, Leadership General

Denomination: United Methodist

A Stinging Blow For Good  PRO

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Mar 2, 2010

A STINGING BLOW FOR GOOD Always remember that God knows what he is doing with us, even if we don’t know. Many years ago there was found in an African mine the most magnificent diamond in the world’s history. It was presented to the King of England to wear in his crown. The king sent it to ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-12

Tags: Affliction

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Business Is Always Good

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Jul 29, 2008

BUSINESS IS ALWAYS GOOD I had a man in my last congregation who was in the snack business. He was part of a small company which supplied chips and pretzels and the like to mini markets and various retail outlets. One afternoon I asked Albert how business was, good or bad, up or down. He looked at ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Confession Is Good For You

Contributed by Jerry Blaxton on Mar 12, 2010

CONFESSION IS GOOD FOR YOU We’ve all heard the old saying, "Confession is good for the soul." Even in non-Christian and non-spiritual circles, people believe that to be true. Psychologists or psychiatrists would say that when we confess our wrong actions, words, and thoughts, it’s like a burden is ...read more

Tags: Confession Of Sin

Denomination: Baptist