In Sermon Illustrations: "Wasting Time"

In The Fulness Of Time, God Sent His Son

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 19, 2022

•When God sent His Son into the world, the ancient world benefited from several conditions that made it far easier to spread the news of the good new of salvation. Some of those conditions were: • Roman Law - This protected Paul and others as they traveled the Roman world and preached the ...read more

Tags: History, Christmas, Bethlehem, Sovereignty Of God, Rome, Prophecy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Momma Needed Her Quiet Time

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 7, 2023

If you think you are too busy for a Quiet Time, consider Charles and John Wesley's mother Susanna Wesley, who had nineteen children. And, yet, in the middle of her busy day, she would sit down in a chair and pull her apron up over her head and have her Quiet Time! ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9

Tags: Quiet Time, Prayer, Meditation, Seeking God, Devotions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Can Only Marry Sixteen Times!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 26, 2023

After the wedding, the little ringbearer asked his father, “How many women can the groom marry?” “One,” his father said. “Why do you ask?” “Because the pastor said he could marry sixteen,” the boy said, puzzled. “How’d you come up with that?” his father asked. “Easy,” the little boy ...read more

Tags: Adultery, Church, Family, Pastors, Men, Marriage, Sin, Women, Weddings  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Gentlemen, It's Closing Time!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 4, 2023

At the end of the 19th century, two French writers went to visit the well-known French scientist, Peirre Berthelot. Berthelot was a kind of a scientific prophet. He forecast some of the weapons of mass destruction which would appear in the next century. He said to the writers, "We have only ...read more

Tags: Last Days, Prophecy, Rapture, Return Of Christ, Second Coming, End Times, Armageddon  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It's Time To Change The Diaper!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton 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

Duke University Did A Study On "Peace Of Mind." ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Jul 20, 2002

Duke University did a study on “peace of mind.” Factors found to contribute greatly to emotional and mental stability are: 1. The absence of suspicion and resentment. Nursing a grudge was a major factor in unhappiness. 2. Not living in the past. An unwholesome preoccupation with old mistakes ...read more

Tags: Giving Yourself, Finding Fulfillment, Peace

Denomination: Baptist

Duke University Study  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on Dec 11, 2003

INTRODUCTION... A Duke University Study A group at Duke University did a study on “peace of mind.” Factors found to contribute greatly to emotional and mental stability are: 1. The absence of suspicion and resentment. Nursing a grudge was a major factor in unhappiness. 2. Not living in the ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose, God Brings Hope

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Finding Peace Of Mind

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 12, 2007

Finding Peace Of Mind Duke University did a study on “peace of mind.” Factors found to contribute greatly to emotional and mental stability are: · The absence of suspicion and resentment. Nursing a grudge was a major factor in unhappiness. · Not living in the past. An unwholesome preoccupation ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Cast In A Line For Yourself

Contributed by Richard Goble on Dec 30, 2007

Cast In A Line For Yourself A poor, hungry man stood idly on a bridge watching some fishermen. Seeing one of them with a basket full of fish by his side, he said, "if I had a catch like that, I’d be happy. I’d sell it and buy some food and clothes." "I’ll give you that many fish if you do a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Cast A Line For Yourself

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Feb 23, 2010

CAST A LINE FOR YOURSELF A poor, hungry man stood idly on a bridge watching some fishermen. Seeing one of them with a basket full of fish by his side, he said, "If I had a catch like that, I'd be happy. I'd sell it and buy some food and clothes." "I'll give you that many fish if you do a small ...read more

Tags: Action

Denomination: Pentecostal

Get Busy And Cast A Line

Contributed by Keith Peters on Jul 5, 2011

GET BUSY AND CAST A LINE A poor, hungry man stood idly on a bridge watching some fishermen. Seeing one of them with a basket full of fish by his side, he said, "If I had a catch like that, I'd be happy. I'd sell it and buy some food and clothes." "I'll give you that many fish if you do a small ...read more

Tags: Workplace Unemployment

Denomination: Baptist

Because He Lives  PRO

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Sep 25, 2014

It’s because He lives we should be able to face tomorrow, it’s because He lives all fear should be gone. Because He lives we are pretty sure who holds the future. Is that the lyrics Bill Gaither wrote? No, but that’s the way many Christians feel. The first verse of Because He Lives says it all. God ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-3

Tags: Troubled Times, Trials And Difficulties, Time Of Trouble, Trials Of Life

Denomination: Baptist

New Rules Barna Research Group Has Identified The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 6, 2006

New Rules Barna Research Group has identified the following New Rules for the next generation. Some will encourage you, others will cause alarm. 1. Personal relationships count. Institutions don’t. 2. The process is more important than the product. 3. Aggressively pursue diversity among ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?

The Word "Fool" Doesn't Get As Much Use Now As It ...  PRO

Contributed by James Jack on Jun 9, 2007

The word “fool” doesn’t get as much use now as it once did. If one of my mates does something profoundly stupid I don’t usually cry out “you fool”. I might say “you are such an idiot” or “what a goose”. I’m sure many people you know would use much more colourful language than that. Fool is one of ...read more

Tags: Bible, Scripture, Light, Time

Denomination: Anglican

When Is Jesus Coming?

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

What do these dates have in common (1248, 1306, 1689, 1792, 1836, 1844, 1914, 1936, 1960, 1974, 1981, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994, 2011)? They all represent the times in which people predicted that the second coming of Christ would occur. No one, not even Jesus knows the exact time of Christ’s coming. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-5

Tags: End Times, Second Coming

Denomination: Methodist

And Then It All Came To An End

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 28, 2024

Time has a way of getting ahead of me. Just when I think I’ve caught up, I find out I was wrong. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I were sitting down, relaxing after a wonderful Christmas activity with all the kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. It was a wonderful time, but with my ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:9

Tags: Christmas, Time, New Years

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

But One Time About Six Years Ago I Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Jan 17, 2001

But one time about six years ago I was complaining to someone about the Christian church, when suddenly an image flashed in my mind of a bride and a groom on their wedding day. In that mental image I walked up to the groom and said to him, "Your bride sure is ugly." Now no one would ever do that ...read more

Tags: Gift, Divinity Of Christ, Church Body Of Christ, Church Purpose Of, Spiritual  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Willie Nelson Apparently At One Time Owned A Golf ...  PRO

Contributed by Rich Young on Jan 17, 2001

Willie Nelson apparently at one time owned a golf course. He said the great thing about owning a golf course was that he could decide what par for each hole was. He pointed at one hole and said, ...read more

Tags: Faith, Forgiveness General, Sin Deceptive

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Some Time Ago I Read A Fascinating Story In ...  PRO

Contributed by Howard Harden on Jan 18, 2001

Some time ago I read a fascinating story in National Geographic magazine. An explorer had made a tremendous accomplishment. He managed, for the first time in history, to record on videotape the birth of a panda cub in the wild. This was amazing, in part, because of how violent the mother panda bear ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God, God's Provision, God's Omnipotence

Denomination: Baptist

A Mother Crab Who Was Having A Hard Time Teaching ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 23, 2001

A mother crab who was having a hard time teaching her young the right way to walk went scurrying at the beach one day. Before too long, the mother crab again chastised her son: "How many times do I have to tell you to walk straight! Stop walking sideways! It¡¦s much more becoming to stroll ...read more

Tags: Children, Parenting

Denomination: Independent/Bible