In Sermon Illustrations: "Worry"

An Answered Prayer  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jun 26, 2002

AN ANSWERED PRAYER John Maxwell writes in his book, Partners in Prayer; "In the summer of 1876, grasshoppers nearly destroyed the crops in Minnesota. SO in the spring of 1877, farmers were worried. They believed that the dreadful plague would once again visit them and again destroy the rich ...read more

Tags: Prayer Supplication, Prayer General, Prayer Answered, God's Omnipotence

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

20 Signs That You're Getting Old  PRO

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jul 30, 2002

20 SIGNS THAT YOU'RE GETTING OLD 1. You’re asleep, but others worry that you’re dead. 2. Your back goes out more often than you do. 3. You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room. 4. You buy a compass for the dash of your car/truck. 5. You’re proud of your ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Family, Giving Yourself

Denomination: Baptist

The Fiancee: A Young Woman Brought Her Fiancee ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles Salmon on Sep 7, 2003

The Fiancee: A young woman brought her fiancee home to meet her parents. After dinner, her mother told her father to find out about the young man. The father invited the fiancee to his study for a talk. "So what are your plans?" the father asked the young man. "I am a biblical scholar," he ...read more

Tags: Examples Of Faith, Faith

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Fly Doing The Impossible  PRO

Contributed by Tylor Cates on Jan 24, 2004

A Fly Doing The Impossible Prop: Toy fly I was driving down the road at about 75 mph on the interstate the other day and something happened that happens a lot unfortunately. There was a fly in my car. You know how annoying that can get with the fly just buzzing back and forth in the car. I was ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God, Assurance Of Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

The Strangle-Hold Of Wealth  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 12, 2004

THE STRANGLE-HOLD OF WEALTH There was an article in the Wednesday, June 26, 2002 issue of the Colorado Springs Gazette by Michelle Singletary titled “How Much is Enough in the Pursuit of Money?” She began by writing about Karen Hughes, counselor to President Bush, who decided to leave the White ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Tags: Parable Sower And Seed

Gold Medalist

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 18, 2007

Gold Medalist In Seoul Korea—At his father’s funeral, American Carl Lewis placed his 100-meter gold medal from the 1984 Olympics in his father’s hands. “Don’t worry,” he told his surprised mother. “I’ll get another one.” A year later, in the 100-meter final at the 1988 games, Lewis was competing ...read more

Denomination: Other

Dr. M. R. Dehaan Is The Source Of This Final ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Dr. M. R. Dehaan is the source of this final story: The expression "face the music" is said to have originated in Japan. According to the story, one man in the imperial orchestra couldn’t play a note. Being a person of great influence and wealth, he had demanded that he be given a place in the ...read more

Tags: Faith

J. Wilbur Chapman Was A Great Preacher Of The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

J. Wilbur Chapman was a great preacher of the past but he wasn’t always that way When he started preaching in one church, the leaders got together and said, “This man can’t preach for sour grapes. We’re going to have to fire him.” The chairman of the board asked who would go tell him that he was ...read more

Tags: Unity

The Buzzard  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 7, 2007

THE BUZZARD If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6’ x 8’ and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10-12’. Without space to run, as is its habit, it ...read more

On Thursday, Carolyn Chou Came By To See Me. You ...

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Dec 3, 2007

On Thursday, Carolyn Chou came by to see me. You may remember her. She and her husband, Yuan, were married here and we baptized their children, Matthew and Sabrina, who is now 20 month old daughter. Carolyn brought Sabrina with her. Sabrina is in the throws of separation anxiety. As Sabrina ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

For Many Of Us, Our New Years Resolutions Seem To ...  PRO

Contributed by Jay Winters on Jan 10, 2008

For many of us, our New Years resolutions seem to resemble carbon dating – where we can establish the date of our resolution by how many “half lives” it has had. Here are some examples: 2003: I will read at least 10 books a year. 2004: I will read 5 books a year. 2005: I will finish Portals of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-16

Tags: Money, Diet, Resolution, New Year, Carbon Dating  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

How Easy It Is To Give Credit And Thanks To ...

Contributed by Keith Broyles on Nov 24, 2008

How easy it is to give credit and thanks to everything and everyone but the real source of al our blessings! God deserves our thanks. For some of us there may be many reasons to be thankful this coming Thursday. Perhaps we may even see it as the best year we have ever had. For others of us, it ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Methodist

Happiness Vs. Joy

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Dec 15, 2008

HAPPINESS VS. JOY There is a pretty common belief that differentiates between happiness and joy. This is one that I believe. Happiness is based on circumstances. Expensive gifts and good food and parties and celebrations and Christmas lights can bring happiness. But they are only temporary. They ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Church Of God

Girls Growing Up Too Fast

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 14, 2009

GIRLS GROWING UP TOO FAST A study by Girlguiding reveals 3 leading potential "triggers" for serious mental health problems in girls: premature sexualization, commercialization and alcohol misuse. The report reveals a loss of childhood innocence and says girls today experience high levels of ...read more

Tags: Children

Your God Is Too ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 27, 2009

YOUR GOD IS TOO SAFE The words that Mark Buchanan wrote of his own experience in his book entitled "Your God Is Too Safe." He wrote that when he was saved, "I hit the ground running. Immediately, I volunteered for everything, anything, that I felt vaguely interested in and marginally qualified ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:41-45

Tags: Zeal

Ninety-Nine Balloons

Contributed by Scott Bayles on May 13, 2009

NINETY-NINE BALLOONS Eliot was born with an undeveloped lung, a heart with a hole in it and DNA that placed faulty information into each and every cell of his body. However, that could not stop the living God from proclaiming Himself through this boy who never uttered a word. Even though doctors ...read more

Tags: Comfort

Denomination: Christian Church

Let Me Just Say That When In My Mother’s ...

Contributed by Jim Blevins on May 14, 2009

Let me just say that when in my mother's house, you do not have to worry about ever moving if you don't want too. I grew up not doing anything around the house. Oh, I worked outside some but my mom was a perfectionist and still is, so we kids never had to do anything because we exploited her desire ...read more

Tags: Mother's Day

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How To Get Attention  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

HOW TO GET ATTENTION This is the story of George Phillips of Mississippi, who was going to bed when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the shed. George opened the door to go turn off the light but saw there were people in the shed in the process of stealing things. He immediately ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:27-29

Tags: Communication General

Your Best Isn't Good Enough

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 28, 2010

YOUR BEST ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH A pastor once went to a barber to get a haircut. All through the haircut, the pastor wanted to witness to the barber, but the barber kept talking non-stop and gave the pastor no chance to interrupt. Later, when the pastor was paying for the haircut, he asked the barber ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Faith Vs. Works

Drinking From My Saucer (By John Paul Moore) ...

Contributed by Dennis Selfridge on May 22, 2010

Drinking From My Saucer (By John Paul Moore) “ I've never made a fortune and it's probably too late now But I don't worry about that much I'm happy anyhow and as I go along life's way I'm reaping better than I sow I'm drinking from my saucer 'Cause my cup has overflowed. Haven't got a lot of ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ, Blessings

Denomination: Wesleyan