In Sermon Illustrations: "Worry"

The Seven Stages Of A Cold—for Married Couples

Contributed by Christopher Gregas on May 16, 2011

THE SEVEN STAGES OF A COLD--FOR MARRIED COUPLES Though marriages are meant to last a lifetime, they can deteriorate rather quickly. I like what someone calls the seven stages of a cold for a married couple. The First year of marriage, the husband says, "Honey, I’m worried about my little girl. ...read more

Tags: Marriage General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

My Friend Will Find Me

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 16, 2012

MY FRIEND WILL FIND ME Sam was a great bird dog. If he pointed to a clump of bushes, there surely was a bird in there. He was much more than just a bird dog. Often we’d share together lazy lunches in an abandoned apple orchard, and the snooze that followed. Late one afternoon, Sam and I became ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:7-9

Tags: Trust

Mowing Your Yard In The Midst Of A Flood!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2020

Glen and Jo Ann live in Orange County, California in a low lying area. It flooded one year and the local newspaper sent a reporter in a boat out to Glen and Jo Ann’s neighborhood. The reporter found Jo Ann, sitting on their roof watching large objects floating by, so he climbed up on the roof to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33

Tags: Humor, Priorities, Seeking The Kingdom First

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Secret To Happiness

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on May 22, 2024

Ecclesiastes tells us that the secret to happiness is to choose happiness. Don't kid yourself into believing that if you're not feeling good all the time then there is something wrong. Olympic athlete, poet, and filmmaker Alexi Pappas has some great advice to keep us grounded. One lesson ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:24, Ecclesiastes 3:12, Ecclesiastes 5:19, Ecclesiastes 6:9

Tags: Pain, Happiness, Joy, Happy, Satisfaction, Expectations  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Parking Spot In Heaven! (06.16.05--The Tie That ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 14, 2005

A Parking Spot in Heaven! (06.16.05--The Tie That Binds--Psalm 51:12 ) What motivates you? Why do you go to work every day? What causes you to get out of a warm bed where you may have been dreaming contentedly and plant those feet down on the hard floor ready to launch into another day? I am an ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:12

Tags: Promises Of God

Denomination: Lutheran

If Only We Would Turn Around! ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 26, 2005

If Only We Would Turn Around! (06.28.05--Direction--John 21:7-9 ) It’s a funny thing about life isn’t it that when we find ourselves off course we very seldom consider reversal the right direction to take. I guess it is just human nature to assume that where we’ve been already was a good choice ...read more

Scripture: John 21:7-9

Tags: God Brings Purpose, Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Lutheran

Many Turns–one Road! (07.01.05--Direction--John ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 29, 2005

Many Turns–One Road! (07.01.05--Direction--John 21:20-25) Like life, most highways that we find ourselves on aren’t always straight and true. In fact, what makes some highways fun to drive is that they give you the opportunity to make a turn here and there from time to time, just to break up the ...read more

Scripture: John 21:20-25

Tags: Knowing God's Will

Denomination: Lutheran

Filled To The Brim! (07.05.05--Joy Every ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 4, 2005

Filled To The Brim! (07.05.05--Joy Every Day--Ecclesiastes 5:1-9) When I was younger I remember being moved on more than one occasion, either by laziness or a predisposition to want to do something more “rewarding” on a Sunday morning, to prompt my dad with this question: “Why do we have to go to ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:1-9

Tags: Worship Purpose, Worship Benefits

Denomination: Lutheran

Too Easily Pleased! (07.06.05--Joy Every ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 5, 2005

Too Easily Pleased! (07.06.05--Joy Every Day--Ecclesiastes 9:7-10) I was happy with things the way they were. Why should I go to any great length to make them any better when, as it were, I was contented with how my car looked and drove? This was my response about a year ago when my wife ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:7-10

Tags: Fulfillment

Denomination: Lutheran

The Time Is Now! (07.07.05--Joy Every ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 5, 2005

The Time Is Now! (07.07.05--Joy Every Day--Ecclesiastes 7:13-14) I stood in front of the used book shelf for what seemed like the longest time holding two books. The one, an anthology in nearly new condition seemed too good to pass up. Even though it contained much of the same material that ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:13-14

Tags: Poverty, Human Body

Denomination: Lutheran

Toilets And Stamps! (07.19.05--Pride--Nehemiah ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 17, 2005

Toilets and Stamps! (07.19.05--Pride--Nehemiah 3:5) The goal was now in sight! What I had worked so hard for, was suddenly staring me in the face and it was so great to have achieved what I had worked so hard for. Potential realized, the prize won, perhaps now, I could let up a bit. I had been ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 3:5

Tags: Humility, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Lutheran

Sometimes I Feel Like A Nut! ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 25, 2005

Sometimes I Feel Like a Nut! (07.27.05--Appreciation--Isaiah 12:1-6) Sometimes you feel like a nut-- and sometimes you don’t. Just another one of those advertising jingles that has bored its way deep into my subconscious. As innocuous as many of these little ditties might seem (and as irritating ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 12:1-6

Tags: Joy, Peace

Denomination: Lutheran

Holy Sway Bars! (08.02.05--Boldness Too!--2 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 31, 2005

Holy Sway Bars! (08.02.05--Boldness Too!--2 Samuel 4:1) Have you ever followed behind one of those pick-up trucks pulling a hay wagon? Around these parts that can be an every day experience especially during hay baling time. You’re driving along the highway and then, as you come over the crest of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 4:1

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Lutheran

Swallowed Alive? (08.22.05--Under ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 18, 2005

Swallowed Alive? (08.22.05--Under Pressure!--Genesis 25:32-33) When you are captive to pressure, there are only two ways to go. You can either lose you temper and flail against the wind or you can wait it out and eventually overpower it. I lost the chock to my power drill the other day. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 25:32-33

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: Lutheran

A Prayer Nag! (09.28.05--Teach Me To ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 26, 2005

A Prayer Nag! (09.28.05--Teach Me to Pray!--Colossians 1:9) Does god ever weary of hearing our prayers? I mean, it’s the same old, same old–day in and day out. Does He really need to hear the same things over and over again? Being a “broken record,” the one that just can’t get over the rut in ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:9

Tags: Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Lutheran

Game's Only Half Over! (10.04.05--Beginning ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 3, 2005

Game’s Only Half Over! (10.04.05--Beginning Again!--2 Samuel 12:20-24) Is there anyone who hasn’t felt the sting of regret and discovered just how bitter it is to live with the thought that if only we hadn’t done this or said that we’d be a whole lot happier at the moment? Beginning again is one ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:20-24

Tags: God's Provision, Regret, Remorse, God's Forgiveness, Face Your Fears, Embarrassment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

They Knew That They Had A Serious Problem Before ...

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Jul 7, 2004

"They knew that they had a serious problem before they even pulled over to the side of the highway to check it out. The car shrieked and shuttered. Something was dragging on the pavement- and whatever it was, it sounded expensive. They got out of the car to survey the damage and sure enough it ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General, Christian Disciplines, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Lutheran

A Fencing Contractor Was Talking With A Rich ...  PRO

Contributed by Allan Quak on Dec 6, 2005

A fencing contractor was talking with a rich property owner about his chances of going to heaven. The rich man believed that God would be pleased with his efforts. He said, “I’ve lived a good life and been hardworking and giving to worthy causes. Sure, I hide some of my income so it doesn’t get ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Baptist

I Recently Read An Article Entitled The "The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 26, 2007

I recently read an article entitled the “The Seven Ages of the Married Cold,” this article revealed the reactions of a husband to his wife’s colds during their first seven years of marriage: First Year: “Sugar dumpling, I’m really worried about my baby girl. You’ve got a bad sniffle and there’s no ...read more

What Are Fathers Made Of?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

WHAT ARE FATHERS MADE OF? A father is a thing that is forced to endure childbirth without an anesthetic. A father is a thing that growls when it feels good--and laughs very loud when it’s scared half to death. A father never feels entirely worthy of the worship in a child’s eyes. He’s never ...read more

Tags: Father's Day, Parenting