In Sermon Illustrations: "Wait"

In The First Half Of The 17th Century, Germany ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Oct 14, 2008

In the first half of the 17th century, Germany was in the midst of wars and famine and pestilence. In the city of Eilenburg lived a pastor by the name of Martin Rinkart. During one especially oppressive period, Rinkart conducted up to 50 funerals a day as a plague swept through the town and as the ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Other

Seeker

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Dec 15, 2008

"SEEKER" In recent years, there has been a movement of calling people who are not Christians "seekers." It was a way to classify people who come into the church looking for God without labeling them offensively as "sinners." It was a way to try to keep church accessible to anyone and everyone. Has ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Church Of God

When I Think Of Stewardship (Humor)  PRO

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 29, 2008

When I think of stewardship it brings to mind a story about a small Church located in a farming community. The pastor of the church would call on every member of the congregation as part of the annual pledge campaign. The next home he was going to visit was Farmer Brown’s. Now Mr. Brown was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:18, Proverbs 3:9, Hebrews 7:1, Matthew 6:21, Malachi 3:8-12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Giving, Stewardship

Denomination: Anglican

Three Preachers On Fishing Trip. The Methodist ...

Contributed by Shawn Rose on Jan 3, 2009

Three preachers on fishing trip. The Methodist says, "Hey guys, since we’re not catching anything, why don’t we pass the time by sharing our secret sins?" The Pentecostal says, "I think that would be great!", but the Baptist says, "I don’t know...I think that’s a bad idea." After a half an hour ...read more

Tags: Secrets

Denomination: Baptist

Moses And The Bush Joke  PRO

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Mar 30, 2009

MOSES AND THE BUSH JOKE We all know that our past President from TX is now a private citizen, back in his home state. I heard that recently George W. Bush was waiting in an airport lobby when he noticed a man in a long flowing white robe with a long flowing white beard and flowing white hair. The ...read more

Tags: Anxiety

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Study Shows Divorce Won't Make You Happier

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 25, 2009

STUDY SHOWS DIVORCE WON’T MAKE YOU HAPPIER One research team studied the responses of over 5,000 married adults who were first interviewed in the 1980s. Five years later, the survey re-contacted those people. Even though the study really wasn’t centered on divorce, they found that some of the ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 2:16

Tags: Divorce

He Keeps Me ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2009

HE KEEPS ME SINGING A Methodist preacher by the name of Luther Bridges, was born in 1884, he married Sarah Veatch and three lovely sons were born. Pastor Bridges accepted an invitation to minister at a conference in Kentucky in the year 1910, so he left his family in the care of his father-in-law ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:10

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

This Morning When You Came Into The Citadel You ...

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Sep 30, 2009

This morning when you came into the citadel you found the seats up against the wall, confusing, a bit of a nuisance? This was used to illustrate what life without God’s Grace is like, it is confusing, it’s not ordered, each of us as individual’s are lost and in turmoil, we do foolish things we are ...read more

Tags: Change

Denomination: Salvation Army

How Much Time Do We Have ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2010

How Much Time Do We Have Left? A few years ago People Magazine published an article entitled, “Dead Ahead,” telling about a new clock that keeps track of how much time you have left to live. It calculates an average life span of 75 years for men and 80 years for women. So you program your sex and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-17

Tags: Death, Death Nearness

I’ll Never Forget My First Experience Using ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Mar 10, 2010

I’ll never forget my first experience using an automatic car wash. Approaching it with the dread of going to the dentist, I pushed the money into the slot, nervously checked and rechecked my windows, eased the car up to the line, and waited. Powers beyond my control began moving my car forward as ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

So I Can See You Come

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Jul 6, 2010

SO I CAN SEE YOU COME Some years ago in Dayton, Ohio, a very young little girl came to know the love of Jesus Christ. She became an earnest Christian. She loved her father very much, but her father was not a Christian and he had no concerns for the affairs of the Body of Christ. Each evening as ...read more

Tags: Funerals Christian

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hanging Onto The "Bomb"

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 13, 2010

HANGING ONTO THE "BOMB" For four hours he held the cylinder, waiting for rescue or an immediate death. After digging up what appeared to be an unexploded WWI bomb, David Page held on to it, afraid that letting go would detonate the device. While holding the bomb, the terrified 40-year-old from ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Tags: Anxiety

Surprise With Joy And Delight

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Mar 15, 2011

SURPRISE WITH JOY AND DELIGHT She squealed with joy – I just know she would. She grinned and chuckled while dashing from room to room as she gazed at all the balloons, streamers and other decorations scattered about. Her little fingers mined through the candy, presents, and other trinkets of fun ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:11-17

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Lutheran

Peace In The Storm

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 17, 2011

PEACE IN THE STORM Adam Hamilton tells the story of leading a team down to Bay St. Louis to help gut houses after Katrina. They were assigned to a woman who brick house was completely inundated and they were asked to gut a two-story garage. In the room above the garage were literally hundreds and ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Methodist

Before It's Too Late

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2011

BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE USA Today had an article on the front page about those who escaped the World Trade Center on September 11. After interviewing over 300 survivors and family members of victims, USA Today concluded that in the South tower those who didn’t delay but ran for safety immediately ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:57-62

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Mother's Arms

Contributed by Eugene Morell on Feb 24, 2012

MOTHER'S ARMS There was a teenager who didn’t want to be seen in public with her mother, because her mother’s arms were terribly disfigured. One day when her mother took her shopping and reached out her hand, a clerk looked horrified. Later, crying, the girl told her how embarrassed she was. ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Safety Against The Fire

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 23, 2013

FIRE SAFETY There is a story told of a pioneer family traveling across the western plains in a covered wagon. They watched in horror as a huge prairie fire rushed toward them driven by a strong wind. They were afraid they would be killed by the fire, but the man acted quickly. He jumped down and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:47-50

Tags: God's Judgment

Then The Judgment

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Oct 6, 2017

The Bible holds a truth that is sure to be experienced by all who had lived before us, a truth for us all now and a truth for all who will live after us: - "...[mankind] is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment." (Hebrews 9:27) It is imperative, all of us must understand, now we ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Asking The Visitor To Leave

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 11, 2018

Note: This story is told from my perspective - Jim Butcher of Madison WV. I was visiting with one of our long-time members a few months ago and she related an interesting story about her visit to Madison Baptist decades ago. Rosemary was sitting along the aisle, waiting on the service to begin, ...read more

Tags: Church, Worship, Welcome, Greeting, Welcoming  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

A Close Encounter

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 15, 2019

A Close Encounter As the great hunter stalks his prey thru the sultry jungle of Africa, the prey is running for his life; but to no avail because nothing escapes the skills of the great white hunter. The prey is trembling with fear as the hunter closes in. Can you see the evil leer in the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-13

Tags: Grace, Mercy

Denomination: Pentecostal