In Sermon Illustrations: "Wise Decisions"

We All Want To Be Wise, We All Want To Know. ...

Contributed by John Boquist on Jul 18, 2008

We all want to be wise, we all want to know. Incidentally, the English word sophomore also comes from two Greek words: sophos means wise, and moros means foolish. In other words, a sophomore is a wise ...read more

Tags: Wisdom

Denomination: Baptist

When We Become "Wise In [our] Own Eyes" (Prov. ...

Contributed by Michael West on Nov 22, 2008

When we become "wise in [our] own eyes" (Prov. 3:7), then ...read more

Tags: Wisdom

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Helping People Help Themselves

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 24, 2019

From Parade magazine comes the story of self-made millionaire Eugene Land, who greatly changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in East Harlem. Mr. Lang had been asked to speak to a class of 59 sixth-graders. What could he say to inspire these students, most of whom would drop out of school? He ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:4-8, Revelation 1:17-18

Tags: Wise Generosity, Benevolance, Help, Success

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Magi -- Who Were They?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 25, 2019

Lambert Dolphin writes: “The ancient Magi were a hereditary priesthood of the Medes (known today as the Kurds) credited with profound and extraordinary religious knowledge. After some Magi, who had been attached to the Median court, proved to be expert in the interpretation of dreams, Darius the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Tags: Wise Men, Magi, Kinds, Seers

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Saving On Parking Shrewdly

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 22, 2025

A woman goes to a bank in NYC and takes out a loan for $5,000. She leaves her Rolls Royce as collateral. They carefully park it in their garage, confused as to why a millionaire would take out a loan for only $5,000. Two weeks later, she returns. She pays off the loan plus $15.55 interest. The ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:1-9, Luke 16:1-9, Matthew 10:16

Tags: Wise, Shrewd, Creative, Clever, Conniving  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Who Will Do The Need-Meeting?

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 11, 2011

WHO WILL DO THE NEED-MEETING? One preacher told of shopping at the supermarket when a lady came down the aisle heading straight for him. She screeched to a halt within a few feet of him, wagged her finger, and said, "I left your church. I left your church". So I said, "Well, if it’s my church, I ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-5

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Savior Or Judge?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 14, 2014

A young man was drinking heavily and decided to go for a swim at a California beach. Fortunately, an older man was watching the young man as he entered the water and did not come back up for air. The older man ran to the struggling young man and saved his life. A few years later, that same ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-18

Tags: Evangelism, Christ, Decision, Judgment Day

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Funny Epitaph On Tombstone

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 20, 2019

I am told that an Indiana cemetery has a tombstone that is over 100 years old which bears the following epitaph: "Pause, stranger, when you pass me by. As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you will be. So prepare for death and follow me." An unknown passerby read those ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-7

Tags: Hell, Death, Eternity, Decision, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If I Had But One Sermon To Hear

Contributed by David Parks on Jun 16, 2021

IF I HAD BUT ONE SERMON TO HEAR In 1906 Charles Reynolds Brown was preaching in the San Francisco Bay area of California. That spring, on the Sunday generally designated as Easter, he and the other preachers of the region spoke to full houses. Years later, he mentioned that particular Sunday in his ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-14

Tags: Death, Decision, Judgment, Natural Disasters

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Would You Look At That...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 10, 2009

"WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT..." The story is told of an old man whose grandson rode a donkey while they were traveling from one city to another. The old man heard some people mumbling, "Would you look at that old man walking, suffering on his feet, while that strong young boy is totally capable of ...read more

Scripture: James 1:5

Tags: Complaining

Denomination: Baptist

Poinsettia

Contributed by David Simpson on Dec 19, 2014

There are a lot of symbols at the Christmas season. All represent something. Santa Claus, mistletoe, wreaths, candles, etc. I’ve always admired the beauty of poinsettias, and decided to do a little research on them. You may know that they were named after Joel Poinsett, who happened to be the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Tags: Christmas, Wise Men, Star Of Christmas, Poinsettia

Denomination: Christian Church

The Parable Of The Pearl

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 28, 2022

Once there was a man who collected and traded in pearls. He had a fine collection of his own. But one day, while he was away on business, he spotted a beautiful pearl in a Jeweler's window. It was a pearl such as he had never seen, perfect in shape, size, and color. He thought to himself, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-35

Tags: Sacrifice, Commitment, Discipleship, Kingdom Of God, Decisions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Most Of Us Have Experienced What Happens To ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 27, 2004

Most of us have experienced what happens to motorists when one of those huge graders goes to work on a highway repair job. when the machine is operating on a busy road, traffic is halted and the cars lined up in opposite directions are allowed to proceed alternately. A veteran operator of one of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3-10

Tags: Frankincense, Epiphany, Human Body, Gold, Wise Men  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Only True Wisdom  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Aug 7, 2013

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." (Socrates) You cannot learn Godly wisdom in a University and get a degree in it. It can only come to a ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 14:9

Tags: Wise, Wisdom Of God, Godly Wisdom, Real Wisdom

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Magi And Zodiac

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 25, 2019

Henry Morris [When They Saw the Star] goes on to postulate, as have others, that the original signs of the Zodiac painted a picture of the Gospel. The virgin (Virgo) would give birth to the Messiah (pictured by Leo the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Tags: Wise Men, Magi, Zodiac, Stars, Astronomers, Astrologers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

At The Crossroad  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

At the Crossroad “I encountered a man on the Road of life, so sure of himself – so convinced he was right. He had (his) religion, but he didn’t know God, And though he had eyes, I thought that rather odd: He only could see what he wanted to see. So, blind to the truth that could set his soul ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:21

Tags: Decision, Salvation, Cross, Choice, Easter Palm Sunday  (view more)  (view less)

Managing Time

Contributed by David Simpson on Jan 30, 2018

No matter what changes, no matter how much changes, TIME remains the same. And even though we know that, we never seem to have enough time. Consider the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon. Calvin says to Hobbes, "God put me on earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now I am so far behind I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 39:4-6

Tags: Investing Your Life, Spending Time Wisely, Time Management

Denomination: Christian Church

One Key To Patton's Success Was That He Learned ...  PRO

Contributed by Alan Braun on Mar 22, 2002

One key to Patton’s success was that he learned how to deal with his fear. He declared, “The time to take counsel of your fears is before you make an important battle decision. That’s the time to listen to every fear you can imagine. When you have collected all the facts and fears and made your ...read more

Tags: Faith, Fear And Worry, Christian, Decision, Doubt, Endurance, Trust  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Someone Once Said…"I Made 6 Resolutions Last ...  PRO

Contributed by Jonathan Busch on Jan 6, 2003

Someone once said…”I made 6 resolutions last year and I kept them all Year long. They are in an ...read more

Tags: Decision, New Year, New Life, New Year's Day, Resolution  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Seizing Opportunity

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 16, 2024

The ancient allegory of 'Occasio' or 'Opportunity' is represented by a unique statue. This figure is often depicted as a youth with a peculiar hairstyle: lush and long in the front but completely bald at the back. The imagery is profound in its symbolism. The long lock of hair at ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:10

Tags: Moment, Decisive, Hesitation, Consequence, Fleeing, Opprotunity, Commitment, Action, Seize  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist