In Sermon Illustrations: "Ways To Live"

At What Age Should A Pastor Retire?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 3, 2020

AT WHAT AGE SHOULD A PASTOR RETIRE? TEN DIAGNOSTIC QUESTIONS There are a lot of Baby Boomer pastors and Christian leaders around. And it’s cliché, but they aren’t getting any younger. It’s a quiet question that many are asking, but they are asking it nonetheless: What age should I ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Retirement, Aging, Pastors, Missionaries, Paul And Timothy, Baby Boomers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Growing Through Pain

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Oct 2, 2020

Paul Tournier, the famous Swiss physician and counselor, reported his surprise in his book Creative Suffering upon reading an article entitled “Orphans Lead the World.” The article appeared in a respected medical journal and surveyed the lives of 300 leaders who had an impact on world history. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:14-27

Tags: Holy Spirit, Suffering

Denomination: Baptist

The Star In The East

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 19, 2023

On November 28 of this year, I was driving west from my house at about 7 in the evening. It was quite dark already. As I looked through the windshield of my vehicle, I saw a line in the sky. A bright white line. Because it was so far away, this line in the sky must’ve been half a kilometre long. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-18, Numbers 24:17

Tags: Birth Of Jesus, Wiseman, Christmas, Bethlehem, Magi, Star  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

"a Candle In The Window: Embracing Hope This Advent"

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Dec 22, 2024

As the evening wore on and the fire crackled gently in the hearth, Old Thomas gathered his family close, the soft glow of the candle illuminating their faces. It was a time for connection, reflection, and the cherished rituals of Advent that had been passed down through generations. “Now, let’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-6

Tags: Love, Hope

Denomination: Methodist

Corrie Ten Boom

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Nov 28, 2025

Corrie Ten Boom was a Jew that worked with the underground resistance against Hilter. 6 million died. Corrie, her dad Caspar and sister, BETSY were arrested. They were taken into captivity by the Germans in the Jewish Death Camps. Corrie and her sister were captives. In her book THE HIDING PLACE, ...read more

Scripture: Job 42:10, Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Faith, Plan, Trust

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Character Is Defined As "God Expressing Himself ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 9, 2005

Character is defined as “God expressing himself through man”, in other words, it is letting God have ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Creative Thinking May Mean Simply The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

Creative thinking may mean simply the realization that there's no particular virtue in doing ...read more

Tags: Art

The Principle Of Isometrics Is That You Can ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

The principle of isometrics is that you can build muscle by pushing firmly against an unyielding object. ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

We Weep Over The Graves Of Infants And The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

We weep over the graves of infants and the little ones taken from us by death; but an early grave ...read more

Tags: Death

Education Was The Road To Freedom And ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Education was the road to freedom and independence. It was the promise of possibilities beyond the cramped oppressive worlds of segregation and ...read more

Tags: Culture

Maturing Men And Women Must Avoid Ruts, Fixed ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Maturing men and women must avoid ruts, fixed habits, old ways. The antidote for aging is action, both ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

A Friend Is Someone Who Understands Your Past, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts ...read more

Tags: Compassion

Love Grows By Giving. The Love We Give Away Is ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Love grows by giving. The love we give away is the only love we keep. The only way to ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

The Difference Between A Successful Person And A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

The difference between a successful person and a failure often lies in the fact that the successful man will profit by his ...read more

Tags: Workplace Success

Vulnerability Is Believability And Christianity ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

Vulnerability is believability and Christianity is believable when it is lived ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity

Character Is Not Cut In Marble; It Is Not ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Character is not cut in marble; it is not something solid and unaltering. It is ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

The Tragedy Of Life Is What Dies Inside A Man ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

The tragedy of life is what dies inside a ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships

Wars Are To Be Undertaken In Order That It May ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Wars are to be undertaken in order that it may be possible to live in ...read more

Tags: War

We Must Form The Habit Of Love Until It Is The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

We must form the habit of love until it is the ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

It Is Always Easier To Fight For Ones Principles ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

It is always easier to fight for ones principles than ...read more

Tags: Principles