In Sermon Illustrations: "Wonder"

Feed Them

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Sep 12, 2016

The thing is that Jesus did perform the miracle, but he didn’t feed the five thousand. You may be thinking here; Andrew you’re just being a bit silly about this. But for Jesus disciples this was one of those great learning moments. The disciples rock up with a problem and Jesus says we'll solve it, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:35-44

Tags: Equipped For Service, Miracle, Hands On, Service, Feeding 5000  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Who Needs Twitter!

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Aug 20, 2019

We all want our lives to matter, and we believe they only matter if they are noticed by someone. I wonder if this desire for a witness isn't what fuels a lot of blogs, Facebook, and especially Twitter. We want someone, anyone, to take notice … to care about us … to watch us and by their ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-12

Tags: Communication, Self Esteem, Relationship

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Defaced From Family Will

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Mar 14, 2021

I was told by a wonderful woman who had married a negro man after falling in love with him during the 1940s. She met him in Pittsburg, PA, and later moved to Chicago, IL for the safety of their family. Her father was filled with bitterness and anger and defaced her from the will. He disowned her ...read more

Scripture: James 2:8-9, Matthew 22:37-40

Tags: Prince Harry, Racism, Transgression, Respect Of Persons, Royal Law Of Love, Family Will, Meghan Markle, Sin, Bigotry, Brotherly Love, Prejudice, Hatred  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Unplugging From The Matrix

Contributed by Rickey Bennett on Dec 30, 2021

Have you ever wondered why sin has such an appeal, stranglehold and blindness quality to it? Trinity a character, heroine and Neo’s sidekick from the Matrix saga but in Matrix 4 she spends most of the movie stuck in the Matrix living as Tiffany, Neo is finally able to remind Trinity of who she ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:12

Tags: Holy Spirit, Salvation, Gospel, Holiness, Identity, Sanctification, Glorification  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: *other

Once Shaved, Always Shaved!!!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 23, 2022

After twenty years of shaving himself every morning, a man in a small southern town decided he had been doing that long enough. He told his wife that from then on he’d let the local barber shave him each day.The man went to the barbershop which was owned by the pastor of the local Baptist church. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39, 1 John 5:10-13

Tags: Grace, Salvation, Humor, Eternal Security, Jokes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Willie Stargell And The Pittsburgh Pirates' Family

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 2, 2023

Teammates of the late Willie Stargell called him "Pops" because of his leadership both on and off the baseball field. In 1979, when Stargell led the Pittsburgh Pirates to their second World Series title, the team was nicknamed "The Family" because of their close relationship and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-11, Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Prejudice, Diversity, Body Of Christ, Baseball, Family Of God, Love, Fellowship, Holy Spirit, Team, Unity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He Would Not Leave Mt. Saint Helens

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 6, 2024

Harry R. Truman was a caretaker of a recreational lodge on Spirit Lake about five miles north of Mt. Saint Helens. For two months there had been a series of small earthquakes and steam venting episodes on the volcano located in Skamania County in Washington State. All the evidence predicted that ...read more

Tags: Revelation, End Times, Prophecy, Repentance, Second Coming, Last Days, Rapture, Signs, Return Of Christ, Days Of Noah, Warnings  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Matthew 24 Is Knocking On Our Door!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 6, 2024

In Matthew 24, Jesus provides insights into the signs of His return and the end times. Let’s explore some of these significant signs: False Christs and Deception: Many will come claiming to be the Messiah (Christ), deceiving people. Jesus warns against being misled by such ...read more

Tags: Revelation, Deception, Gospel, Judgment, Second Coming, Antichrist, Signs, Return Of Christ, Natural Disasters, Earthquakes, Last Days, Rapture, War, False Teachers, Tribulation, Apostasy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If Jesus Was Born Today

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

If Jesus was born today, it would be in a bed and breakfast A traffic warden, working late, would be the first on the scene. Later a TV network would arrive with their good wishes. The whole Occasion would be filmed as part of *Is this the Son of God” one hour special If Jesus was 30 today, ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25

Tags: Jesus, Born, Modern Day

Denomination: Anglican

Remission

Contributed by Lou Butterfield on Sep 5, 2011

REMISSION While a graduate student at Indiana University and also serving as youth minister at the North Central church in Bloomington, I had an experience I will never forget. I woke up early on this particular Sunday morning to get to the building in time to drive one of the church buses to ...read more

Tags: Born Again

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Those Used To Be The Days

Contributed by James Snyder on Jun 20, 2020

Being limited as to travel and outside activities can sometimes get rather boring. You can be inactive only so long, and then you get in that car that drives you to crazy land. Finding something to do to keep me from being bored has become somewhat of a challenge. However, the Gracious Mistress ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:51

Tags: Humor, Change

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Another Christmas Tree In The Bag

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 26, 2020

It's hard to believe, but another Christmas has come and gone. It comes so slow but leaves so fast. I guess I'll never understand that. This Christmas was probably the most unusual that I have ever experienced. When I was young, I remember those first Christmases; they were so slow in ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:35

Tags: Christmas, Humore

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

What Would The World Be Without Apple Fritters?

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 24, 2021

Stress is not something new in my life or anybody else's, for that matter. The thing about stress is that you never get used to it, or at least I don't. I don't know what I would do if one week I had no stress at all. When that happens, I'll let you know. This past week has not ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33

Tags: Stress, Pleasure

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

It’s My Tongue I’ll Wag It If I Want To

Contributed by James Snyder on May 29, 2021

Like everybody else, I have my share of trouble. It’s not that I want to get into trouble, but trouble always seems to be somewhere near where I am at the time. I regret that time when I was first introduced to trouble. Some trouble I can't prevent. It just happens, and no matter what I do, ...read more

Scripture: James 3:5

Tags: Tongue, Trouble

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

As If I Really Could

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 24, 2023

Have you ever had the feeling that you've been hoodwinked? You can't point out the specifics, but something deep inside suggests you have been. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I had a wonderful vacation at St. Augustine, one of our favorite places to go. Something happened ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:17

Tags: Fixing, Hoodwink

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Another Turkey On The Table

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 30, 2024

It was a Monday morning, and I was busy starting my week by organizing my schedule and organizing some of my projects. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage came to my door, looked in, and said, "Are you ready for the week?" I don't recall her ever asking me that question, but I ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:17

Tags: Thanksgiving, Celebration

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

How Coffee Has Changed My Life

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 1, 2025

Recently, I was sitting drinking a nice hot cup of coffee. It's the first thing I do, and I can't get anything done until I do. I was thinking about this coffee as I was drinking it and remembered there was a time when I did not like coffee at all. When I was young, my parents made coffee ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-32

Tags: Life Change, Coffee

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

How Much Sleep Is Too Much?

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 19, 2025

I have noticed recently that sleeping has become a very important part of my life. This just snuck up on me overnight. When I was young and living at home, I tried to come up with excuses and reasons for not going to bed at night. My parents had an early bedtime schedule that they enforced rather ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 127:2

Tags: Sleep, Energy

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Looked About Some More And Saw A Huge Maple ...

Contributed by Lisa Delay on Aug 10, 2005

I looked about some more and saw a huge maple tree. Magnificent, tall and strong it had many leaves like a flowing royal garment. It was lush and full of gorgeous green foliage so not a branch could be seen. It was in all its glory. -Lisa DeLay, wrier and founder of wit4life.com As I continued my ...read more

Tags: Creation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Western Heavens Were Alight With The Soft ...

Contributed by Manuel Amparo on May 10, 2006

The western heavens were alight with the soft afterglow of the long summer day. The last stirrings of the afternoon sea wind murmured drowsily in the moss-hung maples along the drive. Inside the old house, a small fire burned slowly on the stone hearth, while above it, comfortably set on the wide ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist