In Sermon Illustrations: "Wolves Among Us"

Good ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2008

GOOD FIGHTS A good fight with your spouse may be good for your health, according to preliminary results of a University of Michigan 17-year study. The study looked at how suppressed anger and the resulting buildup of resentment in a marriage affect overall mortality rates. Couples in which both ...read more

Tags: Marriage Struggle

Too Much ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

TOO MUCH TROUBLE A site foreman had ten very lazy men working for him, so one day he decided to trick them into doing some work for a change. "I’ve got a really easy job today for the laziest one among you," he announced. "Will the laziest man please put his hand up." Nine hands went up. "Why ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Select The Greatest Gift

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Dec 11, 2011

SELECT THE GREATEST GIFT Even people of this world know the value of a thoughtful gift. When Pastor John Bisagno was working as chaplain to the Houston Oilers, the players gave him an autographed football which every player had signed inscribed with a Scripture from the Bible. Whenever he looks ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Counterfeit Christmas

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 12, 2011

COUNTERFEIT CHRISTMAS According to a British Paper (Romsey Advertiser): "Christmas shoppers looking for a bargain should be wary of counterfeit goods which flood the market in the run-up to the festive season," the UK Border Agency has warned. "Fake Ugg Boots, GHD hair straighteners, iPhones and ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Independent/Bible

There Once Was A Brier Growing In A Ditch When A ...  PRO

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Feb 12, 2004

There once was a brier growing in a ditch when a gardener came along with his spade and dug it up. He dug around it and gently lifted it out of the ground, bringing the brier to ask itself, “What is he doing? Doesn’t he know I’m a worthless brier?” But the gardener took it and placed it in his ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Lutheran

Nfl Quarterback's Pre-Game Generosity Impacts ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2010

NFL Quarterback’s Pre-Game Generosity Impacts Family There was a time when the bread-winner of the family worked a night shift in a low paying job and relied on food stamps to feed their large family. But that all changed after the Saint Louis Rams won the Super Bowl in 2000. And because of those ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:1

Tags: Generosity, Giving General

Peace Child  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

Peace Child In 1962, missionaries named Don and Carol Richardson went to New Guinea to bring the Good News of Christ to a group of people known as the Sawi. The Sawi was a headhunting, cannibalistic tribe who used the skulls of their victims as pillows. He wrote a book about his experience called ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:14

Tags: Atonement

Soren Kierkegaard, The Great Danish Theologian Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

Soren Kierkegaard, the great Danish theologian of another century, tells the story of a prince who was running an errand for his father one day in the local village. As he did so, he passed through a very poor section of the town. Looking through the window of his carriage, he saw a beautiful young ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Five Finger ...

Contributed by John Browning on Jan 31, 2009

Five Finger Prayer This is so neat. I had never heard this before. This is beautiful - and it is surely worth making the 5 finger prayer a part of our lives. 1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1-13

Tags: Prayer How To

Denomination: Baptist

Joy Vs. Happiness

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Dec 15, 2019

Joy (used in "Joy Born at Christmas" sermon - 12/11/2019) From Isaiah 35:8-10 (verses below) Someone once said, “The difference beween happiness and joy is that happiness comes from happenings and joy comes from Jesus.” A few years ago Michael Bublé wrote a song that became very ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 35:8-10, Philippians 4:4

Tags: Christmas, Advent, Joy

Denomination: Baptist

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

I Recently Read The Story Of A Man Who, In 2006, ...  PRO

Contributed by Chris Surber on Sep 9, 2008

I recently read the story of a man who, in 2006, was driving along a road in Pune India, a city located in the Maharashtra province of central India. The man was driving a common mode of transportation in India, his motorcycle with its mighty 2 stroke engine, through torrential rains on a road that ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1-12

Tags: Gospel Of John, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Christian Church

After The Battle Of The Bulge During World War ...

Contributed by Allan Quak on Dec 6, 2005

After the Battle of the Bulge during World War II, one German officer described the capture of an American unit early in the fighting. Among the booty was a box that contained a cake. What was remarkable about the cake is that it had been sent to an American soldier from Boston and it was still ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:9, Matthew 5:9-10

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Baptist

Believers Lack Biblical Understanding: A Barna ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 10, 2006

Believers Lack Biblical Understanding: A Barna poll reveals that many born again Americans hold beliefs contrary to Scripture. Among the most disturbing is that 68% think the Bible teaches that God helps those who help themselves. Other alarming beliefs are; that the Holy Spirit does not exist ...read more

Tags: Bible Study

Abortion Losing Favor: Americans Appear To Be ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Abortion Losing Favor: Americans appear to be shifting their attitudes on abortion. A new survey by Zogby International, found that 22% of Americans have views that are less favorable toward abortion than they held 10 years ago—nearly twice the number who say they’ve become more pro-choice over the ...read more

Tags: Abortion

Religious Beliefs: In '03 A New Harris Poll ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Religious Beliefs: In ’03 A new Harris Poll reveals that, while the majority of Americans say they believe the basic concepts of the Bible, there’s also a growing acceptance of other religious beliefs—even among those who call themselves "Christian." · 89% believe in miracles. · 68% believe in the ...read more

Tags: Faith General

A Young Preacher-To-Be, Having Passed His ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 19, 2006

A young preacher-to-be, having passed his doctrinal examinations, faced his trial sermon. In a cavernous auditorium sat three ministers and 75 others who came to listen. When he stepped into the pulpit, the vast room and the searching, critical eyes caused him to falter. Two weeks later his name ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:8-16

Tags: Promises Of God, Rejection, God's Love

Denomination: Lutheran

Martyrdom Of Polycarp  PRO

Contributed by Eric Peloquin on Dec 1, 2006

Martyrdom Of Polycarp Polycarp, venerable bishop of Smyrna was a personal friend and pupil of John the Apostle. When he was age 86, he was urged by the Roman proconsul to reproach Christ and be set free. “Eighty and six years have I served Him and He never did me any injury. How then can I ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Focus On The Family Compiled The Following ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 23, 2000

Focus on the Family compiled the following conclusions of the effectiveness of 25 years of addressing the search of intimacy with "safe sex" ideology. (From Fresh Illustrations) Ten percent of all 15 to 19 year-old females become pregnant each year. ("Kids Having Kids," A Robin Hood Foundation ...read more

Tags: Disappointment, Everyone, Evangelism The Lost, Finding Fulfillment, New Life, New Start, New Year, New Year's Day, Sin Deceptive, Special, Resolution  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

A Certain Persian King Was Elevated From A ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on May 16, 2001

A certain Persian king was elevated from a poverty-stricken home to the glory of a royal throne. After he became king he sent his servants to the old shack where he was reared, with orders to gather every relic of those days. They brought fragments of his home: many broken toys, his patched ...read more

Tags: Emotions, Joy, Humility

Denomination: Wesleyan