In Sermon Illustrations: "Why Suffering"

The Devil Made Me Do It

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Feb 19, 2010

THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT When I served a church in Greenville, Florida, one of our men was Joe Ball Reams; about 6'4" and a man's man! He farmed tobacco, corn and cotton to pay the bills. One of his entrepreneurial ventures is a 600 acre hunting club on family land. He has entertained Southern ...read more

Tags: Temptation General

Denomination: United Methodist

The Atheists And The Pharisees

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Oct 9, 2010

THE ATHEISTS AND THE PHARISEES He was wide eyed but unable to speak properly. The nurses told me that he did not have long to live. Brian (not his real name) was experiencing spasms of pain and shortness of breath. He was groaning, and looked weak, drawn and afraid. I offered to pray for him. I ...read more

Tags: Atheism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Moody And The Filling Of The Spirit  PRO

Contributed by Ken Pell on May 27, 2012

MOODY AND THE FILLING OF THE SPIRIT One of the great preachers in U.S. history is D. L. Moody. He pastored in Chicago and there is still a wonderful Bible College there that bears his name and values. Mr. Moody was a successful minister, but by his own admission, he lacked the power in his ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:1-22

Tags: Pentecost, Blessing, Esau, Isaac, Curse, Spoken Word  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

Gabriel Hurles Was Enjoying His Sixth Birthday ...

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Dec 21, 2012

Gabriel Hurles was enjoying his sixth birthday party. He was so focused on eating his birthday cake, that he hardly noticed the giant package in the corner of the room. When another child pointed out the large gift, Gabriel ran over and began to tear off the wrapping. It wasn’t a bicycle or any of ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Parable Of The French Fry

Contributed by Doug Fannon on Sep 23, 2019

Once upon a time, last week, I picked up my son after football and he was hungry. So he and I stop at Burger King to pick up a snack. Well I bought for my son two of his basic food groups, Chicken Nuggets and French Fries. After going through the drive through, tossing in the bag of food in front ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 24:1, Psalm 50:10-15, 2 Corinthians 9:7, Malachi 3:8-10

Tags: Giving, Stewardship, Tithing

Denomination: Baptist

A Young Boy Had To Feed His Father Every Day ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A young boy had to feed his father every day when he came home from school. His father had been so injured and couldn’t do many things for himself and to help with things the mother gave him one job to do and that was to feed his father every day, once a day. But on this particular day, the boy, ...read more

Tags: Cross Agony

Currently Rudy Is Locked Up And Locked Up Is What ...

Contributed by Sam Wrisley on Oct 24, 2007

currently Rudy is locked up and locked up is what he deserves. I met Rudy 4 years ago. He was drunk at a bus station. He wanted a bus ticket and I bought it for him. It would not be the last ticket i would buy for Rudy. Rudy was arrested for robbery when he was 17. The judge sentanced him to ...read more

Scripture: John 8:34-36

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Please Don't Go Back

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Feb 20, 2021

Many years ago, I was a Manager for McDonald’s and one of my Shift Manager’s who had 6 children lived in a very abusive situation. Her boyfriend who lived with her and the 6 children did not work; and he would do drugs all day while she worked. One day she came to me at work and asked for ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:8-9

Tags: Freedom, Forward

Denomination: Baptist

A Race

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Dec 22, 2021

A Race A race was organised between Goliath and David. Now, when the race started, both Goliath and David started running at an equal pace but after a few seconds, David got ahead of Goliath. Seeing David getting ahead, Goliatha increased his pace but was unable to match the David’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:16-18

Tags: David, Race, Goliath

Denomination: Other

You're Not Home Yet!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 25, 2023

An old missionary couple had been working in Africa for years, and they were returning to New York City to retire. They had no pension; their health was broken; they were defeated, discouraged, and afraid. They discovered they were booked on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Missionaries, Heaven, Faithfulness, Spiritual Fruit, Rewards, Fruit Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He Never Met A Christian Who Believed

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 18, 2026

When I was in high school I had a graphic design class. To my left sat a guy I'd known for about four years. He was an outspoken atheist and pretty much everybody knew it. One day out of nowhere it just popped into my mind to ask him, "Hey, why don't you believe in Christ?" He ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 10:14

Tags: Evangelism, The Great Commission

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tale Of Two Kings  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2002

TALE OF TWO KINGS Two of the greatest love stories ever told. The one, at Camelot; the other, at Calvary. Two of the noblest kings ever to live. The one, King Arthur; the other, King of the Jews. The one is adorned with a jeweled crown; the other, with a crown of thorns. The comparisons ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:33-35, John 10:15-18

Tags: Cross, Crucifixion, Forgiveness In Jesus

Who Are Those Masked Men?

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jul 6, 2010

WHO ARE THOSE MASKED MEN? Some of you would have no idea of who I am talking about when I speak of the LONE RANGER. He is way before your time and he doesn't fit into our culture anymore. Pity. He had a strict moral code and even the actor, Clayton Moore, was a great ROLE MODEL for ...read more

Tags: Angels

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Choice Tjbts

Contributed by Blake Henson on Jun 6, 2023

The choice shows two coaches recruiting a player to join their team. One seems like a good coach and is the obvious choice to play for. While the other seems not so great and the obvious choice not to play for. However they are really God and Satan recruiting you for their teams. So, whose team do ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:15

Tags: Hell, Heaven

[039] A Message From A Poem – Can We Understand His Goodness?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 28, 2025

[039] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CAN WE UNDERSTAND HIS GOODNESS? This poem is one of my absolute top favourites. It just flowed and I attribute it to the Lord’s presence when I wrote it. I think it came to me late one night as a happy rhythm and flowed quite well so that it was written quicker ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:9-10, 2 Corinthians 6:2, Malachi 3:2-4

Tags: Love, Salvation, Goodness, Poetry, Understand  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unwanted: An Original Husband

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Sep 26, 2025

Unwanted: An Original Husband Introduction: The story of David and his first wife, Michal (daughter of King Saul) could be one of the most tragic love stories of all time. We may never know what happened but we do have a record of the sad results. Full disclosure, Sermon Central has already ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:20, 1 Samuel 19:11-17, 2 Samuel 6:14-16

Tags: David, Unwanted Items, Michal Daughter Of Saul

Denomination: Baptist

[212]. A Message From A Poem - Everything In Its Season

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 26, 2025

[212]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - EVERYTHING IN ITS SEASON This poem covers a lot of ground. Broadly it is connected with the state of things, being the season of man. God created all of us and we live our lives in this world, but all of us are accountable for our actions. Some of that is ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 15:18, Genesis 12:3, Joel 3:2, Isaiah 5:20-21, Ecclesiastes 3:1-5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Death, Season, Evil, Curse Israel And Be Cursed, Christian Poems, Charlie Kirk, Israel, Birth, Good, Time For Everything, United Nations, Palestinians  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Is Death Like

Contributed by John Hamby on Jun 1, 2026

In his book “A Man Called Peter” Peter Marshall tells the story of a little boy he knew who was suffering from a terminal illness. At first, he didn’t understand what was happening to him, but as the months passed, and he had to stay inside while his friends went outside to play, the truth ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:27

Tags: Death, Die

Denomination: Baptist

Unca Frank's Christmas!" Isaiah 9: 6-7 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Dec 20, 2004

“Unca Frank’s Christmas!” Isaiah 9: 6-7 Key verse(s): 6a: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.” Franklin Chaney was by all accounts what you would call a crank. For years he had lived alone in his upper flat, Vera having gone to be with the Lord many years past. He was pretty set in ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7

Tags: Christmas Advent

Denomination: Lutheran

Where Do All My Nasal Fluids Come From?

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 5, 2024

I am finally, in what I think is the last phase of my recent health confusion. My nose is dripping, and I think I use at least one box of tissues daily. I did not know I had so much of this in my body, and I am not exactly sure where it came from. When I was young, I remember having a bad case of ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:4-5

Tags: Overcome, Victory, Sneeze

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance