In Sermon Illustrations: "Wording"

Good Friday: Sunday's Comin'  PRO

Contributed by Danny Presswood on Jan 26, 2009

GOOD FRIDAY: SUNDAY'S COMIN' Tony Campolo tells a story of preaching on Good Friday at his church in Philadelphia. He got up to preach to his predominantly black congregation-–and he was "ON"! The folks were encouraging and hepping him along, and he got excited. He could hear some saying, "Help ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Baptist

Cheer Him, Boys!  PRO

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Feb 6, 2009

"Cheer Him, Boys!" There was a fire in the big city, and the firemen flung their ladders together, and went up in their brave fashion to the very topmost story to rescue the people that were trapped. One after another was rescued by the brave firemen. All had been rescued, it seemed, No! As the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:6

Tags: Encouragement, John Mark

Denomination: Christian Church

A Message Delivered But Not Received

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Feb 25, 2009

A MESSAGE DELIVERED BUT NOT RECEIVED Back in April of 1865, a telegraph office was thrown into consternation by hearing the paperboys outside the office crying out the news that President Lincoln had been shot. After a few angry words, the telegraphers realized that the only way news could have ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Pentecostal

Sociological Community

Contributed by Troy Borst on Mar 5, 2009

SOCIOLOGICAL COMMUNITY I would like to begin this morning with the definition of the word community. A community is "a local grouping within which people carry out a full round of life activities." A community includes: (1) a grouping of people (2) within a geographical area (3) with a ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Your Face Gives It Away  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Mar 12, 2009

YOUR FACE GIVES IT AWAY There's a story of three prospectors who found a rich vein of gold in California during the gold rush days. They realized what a great discovery they had, and they decided, "We’ve a really good thing going here, as long as no one else finds out about it." So they each took ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

What Alcoholics Can Teach Us

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 31, 2014

Philip Yancey interviewed a young alcoholic who had formerly been an active church member, but had allowed Alcoholics Anonymous to replace the church. When questioned why, the young man responded, "Mainly I'm trying to survive, and AA helps me in that struggle far better than any church." ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:5

Tags: Accountability, Authenticity, Dependency, Self-Righteousness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Door Of Hope

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2015

There is a small metal door painted white in the side of a tiny mission church in Johannesburg South Africa. This door is changing lives. On it are painted the words “door of hope.” That is exactly what it is for various babies within the city. On average some forty to fifty babies were being ...read more

Scripture: John 10:7-10

Tags: Hope, Jesus The Door, Rescuing Babies

N.t. Wright Quote On Christian Artists

Contributed by Matthew Redder on Sep 21, 2018

I love this quote as I believe it is hard for the Christian artist to always understand their place in the church. Truth be told, artists have an incredible gift and responsibility in the community to illuminate the realities of the Word and of this life we live. Wright puts it well: "The ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23, Exodus 35:35, Proverbs 22:29, Romans 12:2, Romans 12:6, 1 Timothy 4:14, Ephesians 2:10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Christian Artist, Musician, Painter, Poet, Dancer, Music, Creator, Dance, Art, Creative, Artist  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christmas Eve Communion Confession

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Nov 23, 2019

Confession O Lord, we remember you, O Lamb of God Born this day to take away the sin of the world; O Word become flesh, Who came down to share our humanity; You alone are worthy. Help us remember You not only with our lips, But with our hearts as well; Help our lives proclaim Your truth. As we ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Tags: Christmas, Communion, Christmas Eve, Confession

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Is It A Weight Or A Wing?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 2, 2020

“The race of the Christian life is not fought well or run well by asking, "what's wrong with this or that?" but by asking, "is it in the way of greater faith, greater love, and greater purity? Not: “Is it a sin?” But: “Does it help me run the race! Is it in the way? ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1

Tags: Purity, Christian Life, Running The Race, Habits, Weights, Hindrances  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Boy Eating Apple

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 17, 2021

A four-year-old boy was eating an apple in the back seat of the car, when he asked, "Daddy, why is my apple turning brown?" "Because," his dad explained, "after you ate the skin off, the meat of the apple came into contact with the air, which caused it to oxidize, thus ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:28

Tags: Bible, Understanding

Denomination: Methodist

Children Learn What They Live

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 19, 2022

I wish every one of us had inscribed on the walls of our home the words of Dorothy Law Nolte’s work, “Children Learn What They Live,” and then kept this constantly before us in our daily activities: If a child lives with criticism, He learns to condemn. If a child lives with hostility, He learns ...read more

Tags: Home, Example, Education, Children, Mothers, Mother's Day  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The World Needs Followers Of Jesus...

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 2, 2023

THE WORLD NEEDS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS... who cannot be bought; whose word is their bond; who put character above wealth; who possess opinions and a will; who are larger than their vocations; who do not hesitate to take chances; who will not lose their individuality in a crowd; who will be as honest ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Disciples, Witnesses, Examples

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Goal Of Spiritual Gifts

Contributed by John Bright on Sep 24, 2025

Spiritual Gifts were documented in Class Meetings within the Wesleyan tradition. It was there that members shared their lives – the successes and the struggles. They would search the Scriptures for answers, and they would pray for each other. Those prayers included listening for a Word from the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11, 1 Corinthians 12:28

Tags: Small Groups, Class Meeting, Love, Spiritual Gifts

Denomination: Methodist

Pledge -- Prayer

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 6, 2025

Two men were arguing at work one day about religion. Neither really knew what they were talking about. Finally one said, “Man, you don’t know anything about religion. I’ll bet you ten dollars you can’t even repeat the Lord’s Prayer.” The other grinned. “Oh yeah? It’s a bet!” He straightened up ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:105

Tags: Scripture, Discipleship, Truth, Authority

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Jesus Satisfies

Contributed by David Dunn on Jan 22, 2026

More than a century ago, a young woman named Clara Tear Williams lived in a shack far from luxury. A dirt floor. A thin roof. A day’s supply of food. No prospects. No wealth. No comfort. By Solomon’s standards, she had nothing. But she possessed something Solomon spent years searching for—the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 107:9

Tags: Contentment, Sufficiency

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Lay Aside

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 17, 2026

Psalm 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. When I was in high school our basketball coach noticed his best player was a little bit lazy. The coach made this player wear 10 pound weights on each foot. All week long this player carried the extra ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 120:7

Tags: Weight, Lay Aside

Denomination: Assembly Of God

[325]. A Message From A Poem - Vanitas Vanitatum – Part 3 Of 3

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 27, 2026

[325]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - VANITAS VANITATUM – PART 3 of 3 This poem begins with the story of a man who is committed to so many things but in the end he became worn out and finally could not find fulfillment in what he was doing. He began to despair and could not see the purpose of life. ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:2-3, 1 Timothy 6:7, Ecclesiastes 1:14, Ecclesiastes 2:11, Ecclesiastes 10:1, Ecclesiastes 9:13-18, Ecclesiastes 3:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Vanity, Wisdom, Despair, Foolishness, Under The Sun, Appointed Time, Remember Your Creator, Vanity Of Vanities, Vanitas Vanitatum, Christian Poems, Under Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Last Year I Came Across The Story Of Frida ...

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Feb 1, 2010

Last year I came across the story of Frida Gashumba. Her autobiography is called ‘Chosen to Die, Destined to Live – A miraculous escape from the Rwandan Genocide’. Her best friend Claudette was Hutu. Frida was Tutsi. One day at school the Head Teacher asked Hutus to stand. He then asked Tutsis to ...read more

Tags: Racism

Denomination: Anglican

Jesus Seems To See The Whole Story Of His People ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jun 10, 2008

Jesus seems to see the whole story of his people coming to fulfillment in his time and in his own person...He is claiming to be a new David...In talking of liberation...he is identifying himself as a new Moses, a new lawgiver who gives the people a new law?...In calling people to faith...In ...read more

Tags: Jesus Teachings

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational