In Sermon Illustrations: "Win"

Marriage License: A Learner's Permit  PRO

Contributed by Jim Erwin on Dec 12, 2007

Marriage License: A Learner’s Permit It’s a wise groom who has to be dragged to the altar. He knows what love is. It’s death. If lovers don’t know this, they are headed for trouble. Never will you have your way again. You can’t be happy if this other person isn’t. No matter who wins the argument, ...read more

Tags: Vow

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus: The Total Package

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 1, 2008

JESUS: THE TOTAL PACKAGE Last week the Minnesota Timberwolves traded the superstar Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics in exchange for seven players. What does it feel like to know that you are worth seven men? Obviously KG, as he's known among NBA fans, must be pretty good. He is. He's the total ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Countries Far And Wide Sought Out Solomon. He ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Feb 19, 2009

Countries far and wide sought out Solomon. He gained influence and riches. Immediately after this passage, there is the story of two prostitutes who each had a baby. The mother of one child in her sleep rolled over and killed her child. She got up and switched her dead baby with the other women’s ...read more

Tags: Wisdom

Denomination: Church Of God

Proud Former Famous Athlete Humbled At Nursing ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2009

Proud Former Famous Athlete Humbled at Nursing Home We have a choice of either humbling ourselves or being humiliated. There was an elderly man who was once a famous, award-winning athlete in track and field. He had a room full of plaques and statues and framed certificates. Years after retiring ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Tags: Pride

Focusing On Danger Yields A Missed ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2009

Focusing on Danger Yields A Missed Opportunity August 12, 1944 - the allies nearly surrounded the German 7th and 5th Panser armies during operation Cobra. General Omar Bradley described the situation stating, “This is an opportunity that comes to a commander not more than once in a century. We’re ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:2-6

Tags: War

Michael Gerard

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Dec 28, 2009

Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson (born June 30, 1966) was the undisputed heavyweight champion and remains the youngest man ever to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles. He won the WBC title at just 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old, after defeating Trevor Berbick by a TKO in the second ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Intending To Grow

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 19, 2011

INTENDING TO GROW In the 1920s there was a young African American child who was growing up in Cleveland. One day a famous athlete named Charlie Paddock, came to his school to speak to the students. At the time Paddock was considered "the fastest human being alive." He told the children, "Listen! ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:6-10

Tags: Growth In Christ

We're On The Same Team  PRO

Contributed by Gaylon Clark on Dec 9, 2013

Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin had every reason as teammates to be friends, but they were not. Incognito harassed and bullied Martin. He called him a racial slur in a voicemail played by every media outlet in the country. He threatened to kill him and his family. Incognito claimed all of this ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6, John 17:20-23, Colossians 3:12-17, Psalm 133:1-3

Tags: Teamwork, Christian Unity, Church Unity, Christian Friendship

Denomination: Baptist

Charles Schwab's Challenge

Contributed by David Swanger on Jan 19, 2024

Dale Carnegie tells of a mill manager whose men were not producing. The owner, whose name was Charles Schwab, asked why. The manager had no idea. "I've coaxed the men; I've punished them; I've sworn and cursed; I've threatened them with damnation and being fired. But nothing ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:10

Tags: Challenge, Motivation

Kindness That Echoes Eternity

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 13, 2025

A few years ago, a sports columnist named Steve Rushin wrote about a moment at a baseball game that stuck with me. It didn’t involve a home run or a dramatic win—but something much quieter and more meaningful. Steve and his teenage son were at a Minnesota Twins game, sitting among the crowds when ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:35

Tags: Humble, Giving, Kindness

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Eric Liddell

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

Isaiah 40:31 says But those who hope in the Lord, Will renew their strength They shall soar on wings like eagles They will run and not grow weary They will walk and not be faint This Scripture is best illustrated up by the true story of Eric Liddell You may recall his life story was told in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:20

Tags: Obedience, Principle, Eric Liddell

Denomination: Anglican

When Your Back Is Against The Wall, Pat Riley, ...  PRO

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Feb 19, 2005

WHEN YOUR BACK IS AGAINST THE WALL, PAT RILEY, NBA COACH The Los Angeles Lakers were dominating the Boston Celtics in the final round of the 1984 National Basketball Association championship. The Lakers beat Boston on their home floor in Game 1. They beat them by 33 points in Game 3. They were ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Endurance

Denomination: Pentecostal

Finishing Well

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

John Baker was too short and too slight to be a runner for his high school track team but he loved to run. His best friend was tall and lanky and had the perfect build to be a runner but wanted nothing to do with the sport. So John went to the track coach to convince him to let John on the team ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24

Tags: Finish, Running The Race, Overcoming, Ending Well

Denomination: Methodist

Practice Makes Perfect Tjbts

Contributed by Blake Henson on Jun 6, 2023

Practice makes perfect shows that without good practice you can't expect to succeed in sports, but the same is true in your Christian life also. You can't just half prepare and expect to be a successful Christian. URL: https://youtu.be/eI92sWLcDIo SUMMARY In this video we see two teams. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 5:14

Tags: Christian Walk, How To Get Stronger

Evangelism And Football  PRO

Contributed by Paul Dietz on Sep 28, 2008

Evangelism and Football We are now in the midst of one the hottest seasons of the year. No, I'm not talking about the weather and its accompanying temperatures. After all we have just finished having summer this past week and autumn is upon us. And also some trees up on the mountains in Grant and ...read more

Tags: Youth Day, Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: *other

One Of My All-Time Favorite Scenes Out Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 29, 2001

One of my all-time favorite scenes out of Hollywood. (They are few and far between for me...) It’s a scene from one of the Star Trek TV series. Worf, the Klingon, is captured by the evil Dominion. They intend to use him as a practice dummy in hand-to-hand combat for their lethal ground troops, and ...read more

Tags: Faithfulness, Cross, Demons, Victory, Persevere, Satan  (view more)  (view less)

Famous Last Words In History  PRO

Contributed by David Barnes on Jul 20, 2002

Famous last words in history. 1. Entrepreneur, P. T. Barnum, d. 1891 “How were the receipts today at Madison Square Garden?” 2. John Barrymore, actor, d. May 29, 1942 “Die? I should say not, dear fellow. No Barrymore would allow such a conventional thing to happen to him.” 3. Humphrey Bogart, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Tags: Temptation Pride, Humility, Death

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

World's Biggest Liar Contest  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 14, 2002

World’s Biggest Liar Contest LONDON (Nov. 14) - The World’s Biggest Liar will defend his title against a small but devious group of challengers in a pub in northern England Thursday. George Kemp beat five-time winner John Graham last year with a string of tall tales including one about his ...read more

Tags: Faith, Truth, Sin General

A Teenage Boy Found Himself In A Parked Car With ...  PRO

Contributed by Donald Carpenter on May 9, 2003

A teenage boy found himself in a parked car with a few other rather unscrupulous friends. He knew that he was where he shouldn’t be. The car was tucked away in a private location to keep their deeds secret. Soon, a bottle of 151 rum made its way around the car. Each teen took a large gulp and ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Holiness

Denomination: Baptist

When The United States Women's Softball Team Won ...  PRO

Contributed by Mitchell Skelton on Oct 21, 2003

When the United States Women’s Softball team won the gold medal in Atlanta’s 1996 Olympic games, they lost only one game, but from that loss came a remarkable story about perseverance. In the fifth inning against Australia, Danielle Tyler hit a home run over the center-field fence. The American ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ, Basics Of Christianity

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ