In Sermon Illustrations: "Valentines Day"

Better Influence

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Feb 19, 2011

BETTER INFLUENCE A Peanuts cartoon showed Peppermint Patty talking to Charlie Brown in which she said, "Guess what, Chuck? The first day of school, and I got sent to the principal’s office. It was your fault, Chuck." Charlie Brown responds, "My fault? How could it be my fault? Why do you say ...read more

Tags: Friendship General

Denomination: Brethren

Trying To Help  PRO

Contributed by Brent Long on Mar 20, 2011

TRYING TO HELP An older man approached a young stranger in the post office and asked, "Sir, would you address this postcard and write a short note for me? I have such a difficult time writing these days." The younger man gladly did so, and when he was finished, he asked the older gentleman, ...read more

Tags: Complaining

Denomination: Apostolic

This Too Shall Pass

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Jun 10, 2011

THIS TOO SHALL PASS "Walking on Water" Sermonspice video about Bethany Hamilton (Soul Surfer), also quote from Pastor TL Lewis Bethel Baptist Missionary Church, Pratt City Alabama who quoted the following after his church was destroyed from Tornado: "I can't tell you that I don't hurt over this, ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Christian Church

Army Of The Lord

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 12, 2011

ARMY OF THE LORD A friend was in front of me coming out of church one day, and the preacher was standing at the door as he always is to shake hands. He grabbed my friend by the hand and pulled him aside. The Pastor said to him, "You need to join the Army of the Lord!" My friend replied, "I'm ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Am I Still Your Child?

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Dec 6, 2011

AM I STILL YOUR CHILD? What if Lynne and I adopted a child and brought him/her into our home. That child might be so thankful that every day they might ask, "Can I mow the lawn today, can I do the dishes for you, do you need a foot massage?" That would be great, but it would break my heart to ...read more

Tags: Adoption

Distortions

Contributed by Perry Greene on Feb 29, 2012

DISTORTIONS I know you have heard the story of the man that was on the ocean on a huge yacht. They had cruised for days and somehow had gotten lost. The captain noticed the owner’s little son had placed his toy magnet next to the casing around the compass. The magnetic force had distorted the ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Jesus' Birth

Contributed by Kevin Barron on Dec 29, 2012

Steve McGuire, our retired county judge, mentioned to me the other day that when someone wishes him “Merry Christmas,” he will sometimes tell them, “I wish you a happy birthday for Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!” He has seen, like all of us need to see, that Christmas was not just the lights ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ, Birth Of Jesus

Denomination: Methodist

You Need Mercy!!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 30, 2020

One day, a woman who occasionally walked through the park after work, stopped to have her picture taken by a photographer. She was very excited to see the photo, but when she looked at it, her face dropped. She turned to the photographer and stated rather sharply, “This is not right! This is not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Mercy, Humor, Judgment, Justice

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Outline Of The Lord's Prayer

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 8, 2022

This profoundly simple model captures everything we need to know about prayer. It sets the standard, or pattern, for praying the way Jesus prayed. Outline: The paternity of prayer: “Father” The priority of prayer: “Hallowed be your name” The program of prayer: “Your kingdom come” The ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness, Prayer, Temptation, Lord's Prayer, Daily Bread, Kingdom Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It Just Takes Over

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Jul 21, 2022

One day my friend was looking at the beautiful blooming wisteria vine entwined in the fence by her home thinking how the woody vines just take over everything around them and choke the life out of it. They are extremely hard to eradicate once they've taken hold. Wisteria is actually an ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Tags: Death, Sin, Wages

Denomination: Charismatic

Understanding Mercy

Contributed by Richard Tow on Apr 4, 2023

There was a young soldier in Napoleon’s army who committed an offense worthy of death. The day before he was scheduled for the firing squad, the young man’s mother went to Napoleon and asked him to show mercy for her son. Napoleon harshly replied, “Woman, your son does not deserve mercy.” “I know,” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7, Micah 6:8, Matthew 9:13, Luke 10:25-37, Ephesians 4:32, Matthew 18:23-35  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Kindness, Mercy, Forgiveness, Compassion, Leadership, Relationships, Merciful  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Are You In The Secret Service?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 2, 2023

A friend was in front of me coming out of church one day, and the preacher was standing at the door as he always is to shake hands. He grabbed my friend by the hand and pulled him aside. The Pastor said to him, “You need to join the Army of the Lord!” My friend replied, “I’m already in the Army ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:25

Tags: Faithfulness, Pastors, Attendance, Service, Church, Worship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Coronation Of The Queen

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 25, 2025

CONCLUSION: What kind of offering will we give? I read years ago it was CORONATION DAY in Great Britain. A new queen was going to be set in order. There were invitations sent out. There was a little note attached to the invitations: ALL EXCUSES CEASE. I ponder what might happen if we couldn’t give ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-23

Tags: Challenge, Excuses

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Be Careful Who You Accuse

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 6, 2025

Miss Abigale was the one church member sure to stick her nose into everyone’s business. One day, she accused George, a new member and a man of few words. She told him, in front of others, that he must be a drunk because his truck had been seen in front of the town’s only bar. George did not ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 6:16-19

Tags: Revenge, Gossip

Denomination: Methodist

Look Different

Contributed by John Bright on Sep 23, 2025

These folks to whom Peter is writing used to look like everybody else. They were a part of the world, so they partied and did all the other things average folks did back then. The Roman world in which Christianity first spread was highly sexualized, and many of the practices today that are ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:3-4

Tags: Roman World, Change, Sexuality, Gender

Denomination: Methodist

Puppy Story Concerning Martin Luther

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 1, 2025

The Great theologian Martin Luther ... had visitors for dinner one day. His puppy ... happened to be at the table, ... looking for just a morsel ... from his master hand. The puppy watched motionless with open mouth and eyes widened in anticipation. Martin Luther said, "Oh, if I could ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:19-20, Luke 14:7-14, Matthew 15:36

Tags: Christ, Hope, Anticipation

Denomination: Anglican

138 Years Ago Today Marked A Key Event In Our ...  PRO

Contributed by Peter Schmidt on Nov 13, 2003

138 years ago today marked a key event in our nation’s history. The date was July 1st, 1863. The location was a small town in Pennsylvania, a town at that time not known for much except a shoe factory that was there. Today, the name of this town represents the bloodiest and one of the most ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Lutheran

In Max Lucado's Book The "Applause Of Heaven" ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Wafford on Apr 13, 2005

In Max Lucado’s book the “Applause of Heaven” reads, Even though by the “book” I’m guilty, by God’s love I get another chance. Even though by the law I’m indicted, by mercy I’m given a fresh start. “For it is by grace you have been saved … not by works, so that no one can boast.” 9 No other world ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Promises Of God

Denomination: Baptist

Somewhere I Read The Story Of A Family With A ...  PRO

Contributed by Jelle Horjus on Nov 1, 2005

Somewhere I read the story of a family with a small boy, his parents and his grandfather. It happened that every evening when the family was having dinner at the table, the old grandfather spilled the food on his clothes. He was old, his hands were trembling and he could not move the spoon to his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:35-45

Tags: Judgment, Mercy, Forgiveness For Others, Forgiveness, Compassion  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

In The Summer Of 1982, I Was Living By Myself In ...

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Nov 6, 2006

In the summer of 1982, I was living by myself in a trailer house after graduating from high school, biding my time until leaving for college. One day after getting home from work, I decided to take a quick nap before catching that day’s "Lone Ranger" episode. During that nap I was awakened by ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan