Sermon Illustrations

Suppose there was a knock on your door at 11 pm, and there were two policemen standing there, and they ask, "are you so-and-so?" Do you think you might be feeling some stress in that moment? Some fear and anxiety? But what if at 10 pm you had received a phone call: “Somebody found a wallet with your driver’s license and some money. We’re going to have a squad car come by to return it to you.” If that were the situation, you would probably have no fear, no anxiety, and therefore no stress.

So, stress is not caused by the situation itself – in this case policemen knocking on your door late at night. Instead, stress has to do with NEGATIVE EMOTIONAL PRESSURE due to our PERCEPTION of there being something adverse or threatening to us in that situation.

Related Sermon Illustrations

  • The Power To Evangelize

    Contributed by Don Hawks on Mar 3, 2004
    based on 1 rating
     | 5,104 views

    THE POWER TO EVANGELIZE "I’m not a preacher, and I’m not a pastor. But I really feel my career was leading me to make this," Mel Gibson has said in reference to The Passion of the Christ. "The Holy Ghost was working through me on this film, and I was just directing traffic. I hope the film has ...read more

  • My Part

    Contributed by Don Hawks on Mar 3, 2004
    based on 1 rating
     | 2,303 views

    MY PART But, when you look at the reasons behind why Christ came, why he was crucified, he died for all mankind and he suffered for all mankind, so that, really, anybody who transgresses has to look at their own part or look at their own culpability. SOURCE: ...read more

  • A Jewish Lady Named Mrs. Rosenberg Who Many Years ...  PRO

    Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005
    based on 14 ratings
     | 3,418 views

    A Jewish lady named Mrs. Rosenberg who many years ago was stranded late one night at a fashionable resort - one that did not admit Jews. The desk clerk looked down at his book and said, "Sorry, no room. The hotel is full." The Jewish lady said, "But your sign says that you have vacancies." ...read more

  • The Wichita Eagle Newspaper Recently Ran An ...

    Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Aug 1, 2004
    based on 2 ratings
     | 2,777 views

    The Wichita Eagle newspaper recently ran an interesting story. There was a pond in the middle of a housing development that was kept stocked with fish. Evidently, a child had thrown a toy basketball and it rolled into the pond. One of the residents saw the ball bouncing around in a strange ...read more

  • In One Of His Books, James Emery White Tells Of ...  PRO

    Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 4, 2005
    based on 4 ratings
     | 2,616 views

    In one of his books, James Emery White tells of the Russian-American comic, Yakov Smirnoff’s, initial response to the incredible variety of instant products available in American grocery stores. He said, "On my first shopping trip, I saw powdered milk--you just add water, and you get milk. Then I ...read more

Related Sermons

Browse All Media

Related Media