In Sermon Illustrations: "Wasting Time"

Anger On The Golf Course

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 26, 2011

ANGER ON THE GOLF COURSE There were times when golf course etiquette was completely traded in for the ever popular "lose control and act like a madman" routine. There's something intriguing about watching a full grown man crumble to pieces over a tiny ball that's 1½ inches in diameter. I've seen ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-21

Tags: Anger

Falling After Dark

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2011

FALLING AFTER DARK There is a story told about a construction worker. This construction worker was employed on a high-rise building project, which required him and others to work after dark. He was busy on the edge of one of the walls which was many stories high, when he suddenly lost his balance ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Tags: Fear And Worry

Margin Or Messiah?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 24, 2011

MARGIN OR MESSIAH? Richard Swenson wrote a book in the 1990's titled, "Margin" in which he describes modern society as so overcommitted and over scheduled that we have no space left for rest. A reviewer writes: Overload is not having time to finish the book you're reading on stress. Margin is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Stress

A True Story Of How My Close Relative's Urgent ...

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Dec 8, 2011

A true story of how my close relative's urgent financial need was met by God's Providence! Dear friends, Jesus is same yesterday, today & forever (Hebrews 13:8). Oh how many personal experiences I have had and oh how many true accounts I have heard from God’s servants of the Almighty using ...read more

Tags: Opportunity

Denomination: *other

The Treasure Of Christmas

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Dec 19, 2011

I agree it is time Christmas “message” time folks! But firstly how about having a round of Quiz? Which is your favorite Tintin comic? Do I hear the answers…Tintin in Tibet, Crab with the Golden claws etc etc. Some would even confide, any comic with Captain Haddock (most spicy character) in it. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:21

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: *other

Salvation: The Three Envelopes

Contributed by Tim White on Apr 2, 2012

SALVATION: THE THREE ENVELOPES When a pastor was trying at assure a teen of her salvation during times she didn't feel it, the pastor asked her if she had ever trusted and called upon Jesus. She said, "Yes, I did that." The pastor asked, "Did God do His part and save you?" She said, "Oh yes, ...read more

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

Who's Flying The Plane?

Contributed by Roger Whipp on Dec 31, 2014

I guess many here including me have in the past and if honest still do sometimes ask this question “Why God?” or “How can there be a God with all this suffering” Sometimes life hands us some tricky situations. Former President Ronald Reagan likes to tell a story which he says is true about a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-31

Tags: Hope, Suffering

Denomination: *other

Thanksgiving Joke

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 20, 2019

A lady purchased a parrot whose previous owner had taught him profanity and decided that she would reform him. The parrot learned a number of Christian words and Bible verses to replace the cuss words. However, the owner caught him cussing one day and grabbed him and said, "I'll teach ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving, Turkey, Jokes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Floating Pumpkins

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 8, 2020

Satan will use the same type of tactics that hunters use in Africa. The story is told of a certain African tribe that learned an easy way to capture ducks in a river. Catching their agile and wary dinner would be a feat indeed, so these hunters formulated a plan. The tribesmen learned to go ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 Peter 5:6-9

Tags: Sin, Deception, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, Sexual Sins  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

32 Simple Ways To Make Your Marriage Sizzle

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

32 WAYS TO HELP YOU HAVE A GREAT MARRIAGE..... 1. Communicate with your partner – work hard on listening. 2. Befriend each other’s friends and family 3. Know your spouse’s love language – Touch, talk, time, treasures, tasks 4. Give each other space to breathe without control 5. Take trips ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18-31

Tags: Love, Marriage, Family, Relationships, Home  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thanksgiving Humor!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 7, 2022

A lady purchased a parrot whose previous owner had taught him profanity and decided that she would reform him. The parrot learned a number of Christian words and Bible verses to replace the cuss words. However, the owner caught him cussing one day and grabbed him and said, "I'll teach you ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving, Blessings, Lepers, Turkeys, Jesus, Holidays, Healing, Miracles, Gratitude, Leprosy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hilarious Marriage Joke To Share!!!!!!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 8, 2024

There’s a very funny story going around like a virus about a man who went to his doctor after weeks of serious symptoms. The doctor examined him carefully, then called the patient’s wife into his office. The doctor told her, "Your husband is suffering from a rare form of anemia. The bad ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18-31

Tags: Death, Marriage, Husbands, Wives

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Stand By Me

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 13, 2024

STAND BY ME I played the video of the song, "Stand By Me" by Home Free in a recent worship service right before I came up to preach. Our people wondered: "Pastor Larry, why play a secular song for a Sunday morning service??" Maybe I need to share what I discovered about the ...read more

Tags: God's Promises, Hymns, Friends, Songs, Black Spirituals, Gospel Songs, Marriage, Support, Loyalty  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dead Man Walking

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 25, 2025

In some of the Maximum-Security Prisons in the United States ... when a prisoner is taken to be executed ... the guard that is leading the procession continual shouts out, ... "Dead man walking". It means, ...to clear the way ... to quiet down ... for this prisoner is on their last walk ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:15, Romans 5:12

Tags: Sin, Cross, Prison, Slave, Dead, Walking, World, Death  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Grandpa, The Genius

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 18, 2025

Grandpa, the Genius It certainly looked like this would be a terrible day! You see, I was providing my grandfatherly childcare to my grandson Dawson, who was probably 5 years old at the time. He loved bowling, but like most five-year-olds, he became extremely and easily bored. It was a rainy day, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:5, Proverbs 22:6, Proverbs 17:6, Proverbs 16:31, Ephesians 6:1-4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Grandparents, Kids, Children, Family, Humor, Relationships  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Was That A No?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 22, 2005

WAS THAT A NO? A Proud young man walked into a room looking for his friend. He passed two blond young women near the door who looked him over then looked at each other and said and the same time ‘NINE’. The prideful young man puffed out his chest and drew a big smile on his face then walked over ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:33-37

Tags: Parable General

If I Were To Take A Long Piece Of Super-Duper ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Nance on Apr 28, 2005

If I were to take a long piece of super-duper duct tape and stick it firmly to your hairy arm, how would you prefer to have it removed if you only had these two choices: Slowly, pulling out one hair at a time, or suddenly, ripping it off instantly? Most of us would prefer a quick rip. Well, when ...read more

Tags: Christian Liberty

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

On A Snowy Winter's Day In 1941, Ss Gruppenführer ...

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on May 31, 2005

On a snowy winter’s day in 1941, SS Gruppenführer Hans Wolf received orders that he was to search the house of his own pastor Martin Kirchschläger. Kirchschläger was a Lutheran pastor closely connected to the Confessing Church. Wolf came to Kirchschläger to tell him that he would be ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Anglican

Perhaps You Are Like Charley Brown  PRO

Contributed by Larry Jacobs on Jul 18, 2005

PERHAPS YOU ARE LIKE CHARLEY BROWN: In a peanuts comic strip showed a conversation between Lucy and Charlie Brown. Lucy said that life is like a deck chair. Some place it so they can see where they are going; some place it so they can see where they have been; and some place it so they ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Baptist

To Me One Thing Seems Clear, That When Heaven Is ...

Contributed by Ian Johnson on Aug 6, 2005

To me one thing seems clear, that when heaven is opened only God can shut it! Once the wall between dimensions has been torn, then it is easy to break through again. In the Celtic tradition of Christianity these places are called “Thin places” Columba’s Iona, Patricks Croagh Patrick The cliffs of ...read more

Tags: Supernatural

Denomination: Pentecostal