In Sermon Illustrations: "Young"

In The Greek Islands, You Can See The Home Of ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Oct 24, 2007

In the Greek Islands, you can see the home of Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine. Near his house there is an olive tree, supposedly dating from his time. The trunk of this tree is very large but completely hollow; it is little more than thick bark. There are a few long, straggling ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Swindoll Challenges Us With This Thought: "Our ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 27, 2007

Swindoll challenges us with this thought: “Our friend Solomon, with a limitless supply of money and without any sense of accountability to others, took that trail as far as one could take it. And when it was all said and done, he said, ‘What an empty, futile trip!’ will every young person hearing ...read more

Tags: Solomon

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Star Wars Films I Love The Character Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Nov 28, 2007

In the Star Wars films I love the character of Yoda. He is from an alien race of small creatures about 3 feet high, with a green-brown complexion. Yoda is old. He hobbles around on a walking stick and yet his words are full of wisdom for his pupils. In many ways he is a pitiful sight. At one point ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Evil Rasputin

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Feb 2, 2008

Evil Rasputin Gregory Rasputin, the “Mad Monk of Russia” managed to get a strong hold on the royal family of his day. Some believe the corrupting power he exerted was a contributing factor in the takeover of communism. By currying the favor of the court he was able to influence many decisions ...read more

Denomination: Other

As A Boy, Larry Crabb Stuttered But Now He Is A ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Feb 19, 2008

As a boy, Larry Crabb stuttered but now he is a popular speaker and psychologist. He recalls one time as a young man when felt pressure by expectation to pray out loud because that was the tradition of his church. In a terribly confused prayer, he recalled “thanking the Father for hanging on the ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

Consider The Life Of A Certain ...

Contributed by Reylourd Reyes on Mar 26, 2009

Illustration: Consider the life of a certain man. At 16, his family was forced out of their home. He had to work to support them as a young boy. At 32 he ran for State Legislature. He lost the election, then his job. At 33 he borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business and by the end of ...read more

Tags: Worry

Denomination: Adventist

Divorce Barbie

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 25, 2009

DIVORCE BARBIE Too many times, we are more concerned with what we get out of giving than what we are trying to give in the first place. A father was sitting in his chair one night reading the paper. All of a sudden, he realized it was his young daughter’s birthday, and he had forgotten to get her ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42

Tags: Giving Yourself

The Key To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 14, 2009

THE KEY TO FREEDOM The great "prince of preachers," Charles Haddon Spurgeon, used to tell the story of a duke who boarded a galley ship and went below to talk with the criminals manning the oars. He asked several of them what their offenses were. Almost every man claimed he was innocent, blaming ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:38-40

Tags: Salvation

The Devil Is A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 16, 2009

The Devil Is A Liar A well-paid, recently-promoted young executive dreamed he died and stood at the Pearly Gates. Peter asks: "Do you want to go to heaven or to hell?" "Let me know my options," he says. "Show me hell." Up pops a giant screen with a video playing. Girls in bikinis and well-built ...read more

Scripture: John 8:44

Tags: Satan

Long Walk Part Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2009

"Long Walk Part of Gift" A young boy once came up to a missionary and said, “I love you and I want you to have this.” He pulled from a straw basket the most beautiful shell the missionary had ever seen. As she admired its beauty, she recognized it as a special shell only found on the far side of ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Birth Of Jesus

A Christmas Story: Filling The Hole

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 30, 2009

A CHRISTMAS STORY: FILLING THE HOLE One of the most popular films [of this season] is a little vignette set in the 50s called A Christmas Story. In the plot, young Ralphie sets his heart on an air rifle for Christmas, enduring ridicule and scorn in his quest for this gift he believes will make him ...read more

Tags: Desire

Denomination: Catholic

Legendary Baseball Player Jackie Robinson's ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 30, 2009

Legendary Baseball Player Jackie Robinson’s Humble Act of Kindness to a Boy As a 7-year-old, Richard Bernstein admired Jackie Robinson’s athletic ability and courage as the first African-American man to play Major League baseball in the modern era. A few years later, while working at a small-town ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:26-28

Tags: Humility

Back When The Generals Led Their Troops Into ...

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jan 4, 2010

Back when the generals led their troops into battle rather than directing them from a ‘situation room’ half a world away, it is said that Alexander the Great’s position was about to be over-run by the enemy. Turning to a valiant young soldier at his side, the great military genius implored the boy ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

According To Psychologist William Damon, Respect ...

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Jan 25, 2010

According to psychologist William Damon, respect for the parent who exercises proper authority leads to respect for legitimate social institutions and to respect for law. In his book The Moral Child, Damon writes, “The child’s respect for parental authority sets the direction for civilized ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Denomination: Baptist

Vance Havner On How To Reach The Masses  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 28, 2010

VANCE HAVNER ON HOW TO REACH THE MASSES Preacher Vance Havner used to tell this story: Years ago a convention met in Indianapolis to discuss "How to Reach the Masses." One day during that convention a young man stood on a box on a corner and began to preach. A crowd gathered, mostly workingmen ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:14-15

Tags: Evangelism How To

The Idea Of The Cloven Tongues Has Always ...

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on May 29, 2010

The idea of the cloven tongues has always bothered me. At least, that’s the way we usually see this phrase translated. When I was young, that really used to bother me. I’d watched all those old westerns where the Native Americans would say, “White man speak with forked tongue.” I didn’t like the ...read more

Tags: Tongue, Gifts

Denomination: *other

The Counsel Of The Wicked

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 28, 2011

THE COUNSEL OF THE WICKED I remember talking with a young man in jail. He was telling me that his family had hired a lawyer to get him out (whom I always heard was a good attorney) but he wasn't sure he wanted to trust the lawyer. I asked him why. He responded that the other guys in his jail ...read more

Tags: Fool

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Not If Jesus Is Like Dad  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 21, 2011

NOT IF JESUS IS LIKE DAD Some months ago I heard a touching story about a humble, consecrated pastor whose young son had become very ill. After the boy had undergone an exhaustive series of tests, the father was told the shocking news that his son had a terminal illness. The youngster had accepted ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-3

Tags: Father's Day

Smelly Collections

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 28, 2011

SMELLY COLLECTIONS He may dress like a skid-row bum and smell like a dead rat, but Andy Smulian is a hit among London businessmen plagued by those who won't pay their bills. Employed by the London-Manhattan Debt Collection Agency, the 20-years-old youth will stumble into a deadbeat's office for ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Are You Ready To Rescue The Perishing?

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 5, 2012

ARE YOU READY TO RESCUE THE PERISHING? I read a story of a man that got saved as a young, adult. He was so excited about Christ for the first couple of weeks, he told everybody the difference Jesus had made in his life. One Sunday night he was at his church and they sang this song, "Rescue the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:2-6

Tags: Evangelism Urgency