In Sermon Illustrations: "Youthful"

I Remember Something That Happened Just After I ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Sep 4, 2010

I remember something that happened just after I moved to Texas from New Mexico in 1974. I was driving down a street in Alvin and was pulled over by a city policeman. He asked me if I was aware that I was driving over the speed limit in a school zone. Having just moved to Texas, I didn’t know ...read more

Tags: Law

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Common Bitterness

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Mar 11, 2011

COMMON BITTERNESS When I was in college, I worked as a youth director at a little church out in the country about an hour’s drive away. There were two families in that congregation that didn’t get along. When they came to worship, they would take up their positions on opposite sides of the room ...read more

Tags: Bitterness

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Treat Each Other Like The Answer To A Prayer  PRO

Contributed by Dave Clark on Dec 11, 2012

TREAT EACH OTHER LIKE THE ANSWER TO A PRAYER I can still see one of the great provokers in my life. I met her on a work trip to Kentucky. Our youth group was working on a woman’s house, but it wasn’t very much fun. We hated where we were. Porches and front yards littered with old cars, sofas ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:43-48, Acts 10:30-33

Tags: Prayer Of Faith

Denomination: Disciples Of Christ

Faith In Action

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 13, 2019

Here is one of othe greatest illustrations of how faith in action brings the favor of God. George Muller of Bristol exemplified the nitty-gritty of a life of faith. After being a wild youth, he was converted in his early twenties. He obeyed God’s call by living a life of faith and obedience. He ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-6

Tags: Faith, Trusting God, Hebrews 11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Twilight Of The Book In 1937, 29% Of American ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 7, 2008

Twilight of the Book In 1937, 29% of American adults told the pollster George Gallup they were reading a book. In ’55, only 17% were. In ’78, a survey found that 55% had read a book in the previous 6 months. The question was even looser in ’98 and ’02; 71% of Americans had read a novel, short ...read more

Return Good For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

RETURN GOOD FOR EVIL Let me share with you the story of a lesser known man, Rev. John Perkins. He was a black minister in the South "lived through the worst nightmares of the civil rights movement." Perkins started a church, then a Bible Institute, a radio program, followed by a health clinic, a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Sermon On The Mount

Actions Speak Louder  PRO

Contributed by Tim Smith on Dec 10, 2008

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER Andy Stanley tells the story of when he was 13 and learning the meaning of the phrase, "Actions speak louder than words." His dad was the Associate Pastor of First Baptist in Atlanta when the senior pastor was asked to resign. Charles Stanley was asked to preach on Sundays ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:12-23

Tags: Character

Denomination: Methodist

Consumed With Consumerism

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Mar 4, 2009

Consumed with Consumerism We Americans are CONSUMED with the CONSUMER mentality! We’re used to choosing whatever gives us the most "perks and bennies" at any given time. We look for a restaurant with the best price and menu and atmosphere and location. We go to the clothing store that carries ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:10-12

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Death

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Feb 29, 2016

IN LATE WINTER DURING THE FIFTY-NINTH YEAR of his life, John Donne braved the weather and rough roads of the English countryside to keep his final preaching engagement before the king in London. He had spent most of that winter, what would be his last, battling “consumption,” and on several ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13

Tags: Death, Dying

Denomination: Baptist

I Doubt You'll Recognize This Man. His Name Is ...

Contributed by Darren Mccormick on Nov 7, 2006

I doubt you’ll recognize this man. His name is Heinrich Schliemann. In 1871, Heinrich Schliemann began to fulfill a dream he’d had since his youth----he started excavating an ancient city in Turkey. He was looking for the lost city of Troy---and to the amazement of many, this retired ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Minister The Word  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Nov 28, 2010

MINISTER THE WORD There are valid ministries which are pleasing to the Lord such as, missions, youth ministries, local church services and ministerial alliances. However, there are two ministries that are often set on the back burner. The ministry of truly preaching the whole council of God's ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:4

Tags: Bible Influence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Leads His Dear Children Along

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 12, 2010

GOD LEADS HIS DEAR CHILDREN ALONG Haldor Lillenas, founder of a noted music-publishing company, made his way to the United States from Scandinavia. His first years in this country were hard, but a kind lady befriended him and taught him the English language. More importantly, perhaps, she told ...read more

Tags: God's Sovereign Will

Denomination: *other

Please Come Back  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 6, 2011

"PLEASE COME BACK" Max Lucado tells us about a girl named Christina. She lives in a small dusty village in Brazil. She’s bored. She feels like her strict parents have cheated her out of the joys of life. She longs for the excitement of the big city of Rio. One morning her mother Maria finds ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32, Mark 4:1-9

Tags: Parable Prodigal Son, Parable Sower And Seed

Sacrifice On The Mission ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 27, 2012

SACRIFICE ON THE MISSION FIELD Let me leave you with this true story I read about two faithful women, who were cross-bearers for Christ. Irene Ferrel graduated from the Bible Institute of Los Angeles with a burden for overseas missions. She found her place in the Congo, where for 10 years she ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:19-23

Tags: Missions

Let Me Share With You The Story Of A Lesser Known ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

Let me share with you the story of a lesser known man, Rev. John Perkins. According to Philip Yancey in his book "Soul Survivor", John Perkins, a black minister in the South "lived through the worst nightmares of the civil rights movement"(Philip Yancey, Soul Survivor, p 31). Perkins started a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43, Matthew 13:14-40

Tags: Hatred

Andy Stanley Tells The Story Of When He Was 13 ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

Andy Stanley tells the story of when he was 13 and learning the meaning of the phrase, “Actions speak louder than words.” His dad was the Associate pastor of First Baptist in Atlanta when the senior pastor was asked to resign. Charles Stanley was asked to preach on Sundays until a suitable ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

The Homeless Man

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

THE HOMELESS MAN There is a big church in North Carolina that has classes every summer to help train people in different ministries. During one such period a few years ago, a young man appeared on campus where hundreds of others were. But this young man didn’t take part in any classes. He was ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Results Of Materialism--Bankruptcy, Prison And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 26, 2009

Results of Materialism--Bankruptcy, Prison and Suicide Let me share a story with you about how Satan attacks a Christian. First, Satan shot a poisonous dart at his heel; but the Christian was unharmed because his feet were protected with the message of God’s peace. Next, Satan shot an arrow at his ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 18:9-24

Tags: Materialism

Sowing Seeds Of Peace  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Feb 11, 2002

SOWING SEEDS OF PEACE In Europe, 1934, Hitler’s plague of anti-Semitism was infecting a continent. Some would escape it. Some would die from it. But eleven-year-old Heinz would learn from it. He would learn the power of sowing seeds of peace. Heinz was a Jew. The Bavarian village of Fourth, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:11-15

Tags: God Brings Hope, Peace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Busy Schedule

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 11, 2002

BUSY SCHEDULE Kim Larence, age 42, is a wife and a mother of three boys. She heads the math department at the private John Cooper School in The Woodlands, Texas. Here is her typical daily schedule. I wonder if it sounds anything like yours. 5:00 a.m. Wake Up 5:15 - 6:50 a.m. Wakes her three ...read more

Tags: Workplace Balance, Giving Yourself, Finding Fulfillment