In Sermon Illustrations: "Worst Possible Moment"

Hope In Anguish

Contributed by Richard Francis on May 10, 2009

HOPE IN ANGUISH I remember times of betrayal that cut deep into my heart, pain beyond a flesh wound. These are the deepest cuts that never seem to heal, a soul wound like Frodo stabbed by the ring-wraith's sword, an ache that will not heal. I remember times of fear wondering how the money would ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Robert J. Morgan Once Told The Story Of A ...

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Jun 2, 2009

Robert J. Morgan once told the story of a preacher who was approached by a man who wanted to join the church. “But,” the man said, “I have a very busy schedule. I can’t be called on for any service, like committee work, teaching, or other such things. I just won’t be available for special projects ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Christian Church

The Concept Of

Contributed by David Hodgin on Jun 30, 2009

The concept of “The Six Degrees of Separation” is worth bringing up here. In this concept, people who study such things say that everyone in the world is at most six acquaintances apart from every other person in the world. It is referred to as “The Human Web” and works like this, I know someone, ...read more

Tags: Unity

Oxen, Nuts And Shells  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 31, 2009

OXEN, NUTS AND SHELLS All of us, at one time or another, have heard humorous stories of people who in a moment of frightful crisis will make extravagant promises to Almighty God, to other people; or, to themselves! Then, when the crisis is over or has subsided, they reduce the levels of their ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 30:1-2

Tags: Gratitude

Donald Gary Barnhouse Was A Powerful Preacher ...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Nov 23, 2009

Donald Gary Barnhouse was a powerful preacher with a mind like a steel trap. One New Year’s Eve, back in the late forties or fifties, at the church’s watch night service, Barnhouse was administering a communion service when there was a noisy disturbance outside. A group of loud, drunken voices ...read more

Tags: Alcohol

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Was In Milton Keynes On Friday; Meeting With A ...

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Jan 24, 2010

I was in Milton Keynes on Friday; meeting with a potential guest speaker for our Church weekend away in the autumn of 2011. We were chatting away; I had just mentioned that the peace of Jesus was to be a major theme this morning, and at that moment we noticed that outside there was a flock of doves ...read more

Tags: Peace

Denomination: Anglican

In The Play A Raisin In The Sun, There's A Scene ...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 25, 2010

In the play a Raisin in the Sun, there’s a scene where Walter has lost all of the family’s savings, savings that were going to make his family’s dream come true. His sister, Beneatha, is so disgusted with him she says, “There ain’t nuthin’ left to love.” In an emotion filled moment, Mama puts her ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Four Sets Of Teeth  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 1, 2010

FOUR SETS OF TEETH Simon was an Orthodox Jew. He had a Gentile friend, James, who noticed that Simon owned four sets of false teeth. One day James asked his friend why he had so many sets of false teeth. Surprised by the question, Simon explained, "My friend, as you know, I keep kosher. I have ...read more

Tags: Hypocrisy

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Classical Artist Renoit Is Revered In The ...

Contributed by Grant Sisson on Aug 29, 2010

The classical artist Renoit is revered in the world of art. He left many works of art that are respected and admired the world over. But Mr. Renoit had a problem later in life that caused him terrible pain – he had arthritis in his hands. Arthritis in an artist’s hands is about like a musician ...read more

Tags: Suffering Joy In

Obedience, Not Understanding

Contributed by Chris Kelly on Sep 29, 2010

OBEDIENCE, NOT UNDERSTANDING Our denomination has a Pastor’s Retreat every year up in the mountains of S. Cal. As I was walking to breakfast one morning, I came across a monument that explained that when Billy Graham first started preaching, he was confused and had some doubts about God’s Word. ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Denomination: Wesleyan

Because I'm A Gentleman  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 23, 2011

BECAUSE I'M A GENTLEMAN A middle-aged business executive once approached the front entrance of the office building in which he worked. A young feminist came up at the same moment, so he stepped back and held the door open for her to pass on through. She looked at him and said with annoyance, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:7

Tags: Character

The Post-It Note

Contributed by Paul Barreca on May 23, 2011

THE POST-IT NOTE In his book, "Built to Last," Jim Collins describes how 3M employee Art Fry invented the Post-It Note: "One day in 1974, while I was singing in the church choir, I had one of those creative moments. To make it easier to find the songs we were going to sing at each Sunday’s ...read more

Tags: Tenacity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Searching For The Treasure  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 23, 2011

SEARCHING FOR THE TREASURE When Betty Goldstein of Staten Island, New York, entered the hospital, her husband Ron wrapped her 3.5-carat diamond ring in a napkin for safekeeping. But in a forgetful moment, the 63-year-old Goldstein threw the napkin in the trash. When he realized his mistake, he ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 2:1-15, Luke 15:8

Tags: Wisdom

Picking The Wrong Door

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 31, 2011

PICKING THE WRONG DOOR Stuart Briscoe, in his book Everyday Discipleship for Ordinary People, tells the story about a fellow pastor who was officiating at the funeral of a war veteran. The dead man’s military friends wanted to have a part in the service at the funeral home, so they requested that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-5

Tags: Leadership General

Worship Is More Than Experience

Contributed by Perry Greene on Oct 17, 2011

WORSHIP IS MORE THAN EXPERIENCE There was a woman who went on a short term missions trip to Kenya, helping the missionaries there. Before she left, she stopped at a remote village where she attended a medical clinic. As the native women outside the clinic began to sing together, she found herself ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Destiny...?

Contributed by Perry Greene on May 6, 2013

DESTINY...? During a momentous battle, a Japanese general decided to attack even though his army was greatly outnumbered. He was confident they would win, but his men were filled with doubt. On the way to the battle, they stopped at a religious shrine. After praying with the men, the general took ...read more

Tags: Goals

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Forgiveness For Everyone?

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 11, 2015

Lloyd Prator writes, “Take Adolph Hitler or better Joseph Stalin because he killed more people. What if, at the last minute, as Stalin lay dying, he turned his heart to Jesus and confessed his sins? Suppose he repented at the last minute, repented of the 14 million Russians Stalin killed… Would he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-43

Tags: Forgiveness, Repentance

Denomination: Methodist

God Hears Everything We Say

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Nov 20, 2020

There was a man who had a habit of grumbling at the food his wife placed before him at family meals. Then he would pray a blessing to the Lord. One day after his usual combination of complaint and prayer, his little girl asked, “Daddy, does God hear us when we pray?” “Why, of course,” he replied. ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:6-7

Tags: Prayer, Complaint, God Hears

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Opening Illustration: Song And Clip From

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 12, 2010

Opening Illustration: Song and clip from "Jesus take the wheel." This little clip we just heard reveals how prayer is only a breath away. It’s really more natural to pray than not to pray. Thesis: We need to understand the importance of prayer and the impact of prayer in our lives. The song you ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When A Thief Was Surprised At Church!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 13, 2023

When I was pastoring in Texas, something strange happened one Christmas that I will never stop laughing about. Because it was a Christmas holiday, we were at home with our family taking a break from our normal ministry schedule. We did not go to the church campus for the weekend. But, while we ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:10-11, Proverbs 3:9-10, 1 Timothy 6:10, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Tags: Pastors, Tithing, Robbing God, Stealing, Surprises, Church, Giving, Humor  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational