Sermon Illustrations

A recent survey shows that fewer than one in four Americans (24%) now believe the Bible is "the actual word of God, and is to be taken literally, word for word," and 26% who view it as "a book of fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by man."

This is the first time in Gallup's four-decade trend that biblical literalism has not surpassed biblical skepticism.

Meanwhile, about half of Americans -- a proportion largely unchanged over the years -- fall in the middle, saying the Bible is the inspired word of God but that not all of it should be taken literally.

Related Sermon Illustrations

  • Death Of The Son

    Contributed by Scott Bayles on Jun 4, 2004
    based on 1 rating
     | 13,078 views

    DEATH OF THE SON There is an old story about a man by the name of John Griffith, who lived in Oklahoma in 1929 and lost all he had in the stock market. He moved to Mississippi where he took a job as bridge tender for a railroad trestle. In 1937 he was involved in a horrific accident. One day his ...read more

  • A Simple Story Told By James Pleitz Illustrates ...  PRO

    Contributed by Ed Wood on Jun 10, 2005
    based on 2 ratings
     | 7,481 views

    A simple story told by James Pleitz illustrates how easily we forget how blessed we are. Two children dressed in ragged and outgrown clothes, huddled inside the storm door. “Any old papers, lady?” The woman was busy and wanted to say so— until she looked down on their feet and saw their sandals ...read more

  • Praying For People  PRO

    Contributed by Ralf Bergmann on May 4, 2002
    based on 9 ratings
     | 7,305 views

    Praying for People A hospital chaplain visited a delightful old lady in the hospital. As he approached her bed he noticed that with the index finger of one hand she was touching, one by one, the fingers of the other, with her eyes closed. When the chaplain spoke to her she opened her eyes and ...read more

  • On The Evening Of April 25, 1958, A Young Korean ...

    Contributed by Christian Cheong on Mar 29, 2004
    based on 1 rating
     | 4,823 views

    On the evening of April 25, 1958, a young Korean exchange student, a leader in student Christian affairs in the University of Pennsylvania, left his flat and went to the corner to post a letter to his parents in Pusan. Turning from the mailbox he stepped into the path of eleven leather-jacketed ...read more

  • William Carey, The "Father Of Modern Missions," ...

    Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 6, 2005
    based on 1 rating
     | 4,676 views

    William Carey, the “father of modern missions,” wanted to translate the Bible into as many Indian languages as possible. He established a large print-shop in Serampore where translation work was continually being done. Carey spent hours each day translating Scripture, often while his insane wife ...read more

Related Sermons