In Sermon Illustrations: "Why"

The Hotel ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

THE HOTEL TEST A Jewish lady named Mrs. Rosenberg many years ago was stranded late one night at a fashionable resort - one that did not admit Jews. The desk clerk looked down at his book and said, "Sorry, no room. The hotel is full." The Jewish lady said, "But your sign says that you have ...read more

Scripture: John 15:18

Tags: Persecution

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

Forcing Doors Or Build Bridges

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jul 12, 2009

FORCING DOORS OR BUILD BRIDGES There were two unmarried sisters who had such a bitter fight that they stopped speaking to each other. Unable or unwilling to leave their small home, they continued to use the same rooms and sleep in the same bedroom. A chalk line divided the sleeping area into two ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Because You're My ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2009

"BECAUSE YOU’RE MY DAD!" Author Tim Hansel writes: One day, while my son Zac and I were out in the country, climbing around in some cliffs, I heard a voice from above me yell, "Hey Dad! Catch me!" I turned around to see Zac joyfully jumping off a rock straight at me. He had jumped and then yelled ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 20:7

Tags: Trust

Missionary To India Counters Brahmin View Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2009

Missionary to India Counters Brahmin View of Justice Mr. Thomas, one of the missionary brethren of Serampore, was one day, after addressing a crowd of natives on the banks of the Ganges, accosted by a Brahmin as follows: "Sir, don’t you say that the devil tempts men to sin?" "Yes!" answered Mr ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 9:1-20

Tags: Sin Punishment Of

63 Year-Old Man Went To School His Whole Life But ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 30, 2009

63 year-old Man Went to School His Whole Life but Never Worked Richard DeHaan shares this illustration: "I read about a man in New York City who died at the age of 63 without ever having had a job. He spent his entire adult life in college. He had acquired so many academic degrees that they looked ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22-25

Tags: Learning

Renoir On Suffering: The Beauty Remains, The Pain ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 10, 2009

Renoir on Suffering: The Beauty Remains, The Pain Passes Our greatest battles are not won on the mountain tops of life but during the tough times while we are in the valleys. Among the famous painters of the French impressionist school, Henri Matisse and August Renoir were the closest friends. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Suffering Joy In

Every Animal You Can Think Of -- Mammals, Birds, ...

Contributed by Jerry Blaxton on Mar 5, 2010

Every animal you can think of -- mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians -- has a brain. But the human brain is unique. It gives us the power to think, plan, speak, imagine... It is truly an amazing organ. The brain performs an incredible number of tasks:­ It controls body temperature, blood ...read more

Tags: Thought

Denomination: Baptist

On Profanity And Ungodly Language

Contributed by Bobby Mcdaniel on Apr 17, 2010

ON PROFANITY AND UNGODLY LANGUAGE Profanity and crude language are becoming more common on prime-time television programs. Many writers and producers seem to be intent on pushing the limits of how much immoral and offensive speech the public will allow. Profane and vulgar language is noise ...read more

Tags: Communication Speech

Stop Being Everybody's Victim By John ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 10, 2010

Stop Being Everybody’s Victim by John Powell, The late US syndicated columnist Sydney J. Harris accompanied his friend George to his favorite newsstand. George greeted the man selling the newspapers courteously, but in return he received gruff service. He barely acknowledged his customer and never ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Christian Witness

Humorous ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 5, 2010

Humorous Quotes Here are some final words of wisdom: Anybody who sleeps like a baby doesn’t have one. At my age, I’ve seen it all, heard it all, and done it all, but now, I just can’t seem to remember it all. He who laughs last ... thinks the slowest. The early bird gets the worm, but the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Tags: Wisdom

Hardships Further His Kingdom  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Feb 6, 2011

HARDSHIPS FURTHER HIS KINGDOM Bill Hybels' The Power of a Whisper (p.110-111): "Don't ever buy into the idea that everything God prompts His followers to do will be uncomplicated or low-cost. Sometimes God asks His children to carry heavy loads, as He did with the apostle Paul. But even--and ...read more

Tags: Love, Others, Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Patience And Jell-O

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 6, 2011

PATIENCE AND JELL-O Jell-O celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1997. I was fascinated to read the story of the man who invented it. In 1897, a man by the name of Pearle Wait wore several hats. He was a construction worker. He dabbled in patent medicines and went door to door selling homemade ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 12:32

Tags: Christian Values

I'm Not Brave, He's Not Tame

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 26, 2011

I'M NOT BRAVE, HE'S NOT TAME Writing in Moody Monthly, Carl Armerding recounted his experience of watching a wildcat in a zoo. "As I stood there," he said, "an attendant entered the cage through a door on the opposite side. He had nothing in his hands but a broom. Carefully closing the door, he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:1-3, Luke 10:1-20

Tags: Confidence

Saved Based On The Name

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2011

SAVED BASED ON THE NAME There was a lawyer in a metropolitan city that was leaving his firm one night and as he was walking ot his car he saw a dirty bum on the sidewalk leaned up against a building. He had pity on the bum and told him that he wanted to help him out. He took put a pen and began to ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14

Tags: Grace

The Importance Of Focus

Contributed by Mark Tonkery on Feb 3, 2012

THE IMPORTANCE OF FOCUS When the Alaskan Pipeline was being built, there were many Texans who went to Alaska and found work on the pipeline. The Texans could only work a few hours in the frigid weather, yet the Eskimos, the native Alaskans, could work indefinitely in the cold. They decided to ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 13:4-8

Tags: Affliction

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Unfair Contest

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Mar 6, 2012

THE UNFAIR CONTEST A Christian university student shared a room with a Muslim. As they became friends, their conversation turned to their beliefs. The believer asked the Muslim if he'd ever read the Bible. He answered no, but then asked if the Christian had ever read the Koran. The believer ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Do You Fear What You Need Not Fear?

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 11, 2012

DO YOU FEAR WHAT YOU NEED NOT FEAR? A friend told me a story of some hunting dogs that he had. They were good hunting dogs that he used when he went to hunt pigs in the mountains. He shared however, that the dogs, as tough as they were, were deathly afraid of chickens. I couldn’t believe it, so I ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:14-18

Tags: Satan

An Outward Expression Of An Inward Experience

Contributed by Christian Cheong on May 11, 2012

AN OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF AN INWARD EXPERIENCE David Ring was born with cerebral palsy. He had complications at birth and he was technically dead for 18 minutes after delivery. No oxygen reached his brain and a portion was permanently damaged. His family’s story was catastrophic – his father had ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Spiritual Gambling

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on May 30, 2013

SPIRITUAL GAMBLING The problem of compulsive gambling may seem foreign to most of us. Yet experts believe that millions of Americans are psychologically addicted to gambling. It gives them the excitement of hope and risk, but it usually ends in defeat. It is indeed a temporary pleasure. For those ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational