In Preaching Articles: "Sermon Illustrations"

10 Commandments Of Sermon Illustrations

By Yuri Doroshuk on Sep 8, 2025

Thou shall be interesting! Here's guidance.

Scripture: John 1:1-20

Tags: Preaching, creative, Sensitive, diverse, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How To Find New Sources For Sermon Illustrations

By Erik Raymond on Jun 16, 2021

Are you constantly mining the same sources for your sermon illustrations? Here are five suggestions to keep things fresh.

Tags: Read, biography, newspaper, Classic

Are Your Sermon Illustrations Really Indecent Exposure? 10 Critical Checkpoints

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Nov 12, 2024

Sermon illustrations should be like letting sunlight into a window, not like putting a spotlight on a stage.

Scripture: Amos 5:4-15

Tags:

Change Your Sermon By Changing Your Spices

By Erik Raymond on May 18, 2023

Are you constantly mining the same sources for your sermon illustrations?

Scripture: Psalm 38:1-10, Colossians 4:1-5

Tags: Read, Preaching, Devotional, Spices, Classic, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

10 Ways To Avoid Indecent Exposure In The Pulpit

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on May 13, 2025

Sermon illustrations can clarify truth or distract from it. Here are ten principles to help preachers use personal stories with wisdom and restraint.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5, Proverbs 11:13, James 3:1, Ephesians 4:29, 1 Corinthians 10:31  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, pulpit, Modesty, Exposure, preaching, Pulpit, Sermon Illustrations  (view more)  (view less)

Why Illustrations Make Preaching Unforgettable

By Dr. Larry Moyer on May 21, 2020

Illustrations turn speakers into communicators. They clarify truth, reveal the preacher’s understanding, awaken attention, and help listeners see biblical realities clearly.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, John 6:44, Matthew 13:34, Proverbs 25:11, Psalm 78:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, illustration, sermon prep, Sermon Prep, preaching, Sermon prep  (view more)  (view less)

Illustration Variation

By Peter Mead on Aug 31, 2023

Be careful that you don’t get stuck in a rut with your illustration material.

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-48

Tags: Communication, Preaching, illustration, Quotes, communication, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

One Major Thing You Can Do To Improve Your Worship Service

By Joe Hoagland on Apr 8, 2022

What if I told you there is one main thing you can improve to make people want to come back time and time again.

Tags: Preaching, illustration, Time of Reflection, sermon prep, Sermon Prep, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

3 Building Blocks Of A Truly Memorable Sermon

By Sherman Haywood Cox on May 25, 2023

Help your listeners connect with your preaching points--and their purpose!

Scripture: Hebrews 11:35-40

Tags: Preaching, Building Blocks, memorable sermon, strong points, illustrate, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

7 Popular Sermon Stories That Aren’t Actually True

By Trevin Wax on Feb 5, 2025

Pastors often repeat memorable illustrations that sound helpful but aren’t historically accurate. Here are seven common sermon legends worth retiring for the sake of truth.

Scripture: Mark 10:25

Tags: Preaching, Integrity, false teaching, urban legend, Illustrations, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Jesus Illustrated His Sermons: Shouldn't We Follow His Example?

By Justin Trapp on Dec 27, 2024

Discover how one of our Lord's faous sayings was actually a vivid, up-to-date illustration.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

When Illustrations Become Sermon-Killers (And What To Do About Them)

By Joe Mckeever on Dec 4, 2025

The smart preacher never tells a story that clobbers his sermon and destroys the point he is trying to make.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Why Illustrations Matter In Preaching: Learning From Jesus’ Use Of Parables

By Leslie Holmes on Jan 14, 2024

Parables and illustrations bring preaching to life. These seven tests help pastors use stories wisely to clarify truth, reduce resistance, and make sermons memorable.

Scripture: Matthew 13:34, Nehemiah 8:8, 2 Timothy 4:2, Psalm 78:2, Luke 8:10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Expository Preaching, expository preaching

Finishing (Your Sermon) Well

By Michael Voll on Dec 4, 2022

Come Sunday morning many times we preachers fill our sermons with funny stories, but forget to point to the ultimate story of Jesus Christ.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, illustration, application, pastoral leadership, sermon prep, preaching Christ, preaching the gospel, Sermon Prep, preaching, teaching, Sermon prep  (view more)  (view less)

The 10 Commandments Of An Effective Sermon Introduction

By Brandon Kelley on Aug 25, 2022

If you haven’t grasped this yet, your sermon introduction is vitally important. But what does it look like to knock the introduction out of the park? What are some things to avoid? What are some things to ensure are a part of it? Let’s dive into the 10 commandments of an effective sermon introduction!

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, Introduction, illustration, Teaching God's Word, Attention Grabber, Effective Teaching, Sermon Introduction, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)