In Sermon Illustrations: "King Of Kings"

Second ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2009

SECOND THOUGHTS An angel appeared at a faculty meeting and told the dean that in return for his unselfish service, he will be rewarded with his choice of wealth, wisdom, or beauty. Without hesitating, the dean selects wisdom. "It is done!" the angel said, and then disappeared into a cloud of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 3:1-28

Tags: Wisdom

Deadly ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

DEADLY PROFESSION Every year, between 300 and 400 doctors take their own lives (roughly one per day). No other profession has a higher suicide rate. And, in sharp contrast to the general population where male suicides outnumber female suicides 4 to 1, the rate among male and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-5

Tags: Stress

Unsung Heroes: Naaman's Servants

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 27, 2021

Introduction: Leprosy was and is a very serious disease, affecting the skin in any number of ways. Anyone who ever came down with the disease faced a sad future. Leviticus 13 has detailed information how the people of Israel were to be examined and declared either "clean" or ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:11-14

Tags: Naaman, Elisha, Unsung Heroes

Denomination: Baptist

Coveting Too Early

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 1, 2022

I was admiring my aunt’s necklace when she surprised me by announcing,“I’m leaving it to you in my will.”I was overjoyed, perhaps too much.“Oh!”I shouted.“I’m looking forward to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 21:1-29

Tags: Money, Prestige, Stealing, Cruelty, Ethics, Covet, Power, Desire, Selfishness, Dishonesty  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Unsung Heroines-Naaman’s Maid

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 30, 2022

Introduction: Sometimes children know more than we think they do. This “little maid” knew about Elisha the prophet, and how God performed miracles through him. We know nothing more about her than what’s mentioned in these verses but through her one recorded sentence, she brought hope to a hopeless ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-4

Tags: Leprosy, Naaman, Unsung Heroines, Maids

Denomination: Baptist

Unsung Heroines-The Widow Of Zarephath

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 4, 2022

Introduction: this widow woman probably wasn’t even an Israelite but she believed the words of Elijah, the prophet of the LORD, God of Israel. She received much more than she gave Elijah! Text: 1 Kings 17:8-16, KJV: 8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:8-16

Tags: Elijah, Widow Of Zarephath, Unsung Heroines

Denomination: Baptist

Unsung Heroines-Huldah, The Prophetess

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 10, 2022

Introduction: When King Josiah of Judah heard the Word of God from Shaphan, he immediately tore his clothes and asked a group of men to “inquire of the LORD”. These men found Huldah, a prophetess, and God gave His message to them through her. Text: 2 Kings 22:14-20. KJV: 14 So Hilkiah the priest, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 22:14-20

Tags: Judgment, Josiah, Huldah, Unsung Heroines

Denomination: Baptist

Solomon's Insightful Judgment: Looking For The Reaction Of Hearts

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 16, 2024

King Solomon, known for his God-given wisdom, faced a challenging situation recorded in 1 Kings 3:16-28. Two women, both claiming to be the mother of the same baby, brought their case before him. Solomon's response was both shocking and insightful. He suggested dividing the baby in two, giving ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 3:16-28

Tags: Discernment, Prolife, Biblical Wisdom, True Motherhood, Love, Morality, Wisdom  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Lasting Lessons On Prayer From Elijah's Small Cloud

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 17, 2024

The passage from 1 Kings 18:41-46 offers profound lessons on persisting in prayer, as demonstrated by the prophet Elijah. Here are some key takeaways: Expectant Faith: Elijah prayed with the expectation that God would answer. He told Ahab to prepare for rain even before there was any sign of it, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:41-46

Tags: Elijah, Faith, Humility, Prayer, Miracles, Trusting God, Persistence, God's Timing, Watchfulness, Answers To Prayer, Bowing Before God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unintentionally Humorous Texts: "Uh, Don’t Forget The Teacher!”

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 24, 2024

Introduction: In Elisha’s day, just after Elijah was taken to Heaven, much of Israel was still deeply committed to Baal-worship, courtesy of Ahab and Jezebel. A large number of Israelites also worshiped the golden calves which Jeroboam I had installed soon after becoming king. In spite of that, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:1-4

Tags: Elisha, Prophets

Denomination: Baptist

Unintentionally Humorous Texts: The "Bad Axe” Incident

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 3, 2024

Introduction: This is a follow up to the story of Elisha being asked, maybe as an afterthought?, to go with student prophets as they built a new facility. One of these men had borrowed an axe but something awful happened. By the way, this story has nothing whatsoever to do with the city of Bad ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:1-7

Tags: Elisha, Jordan River, Sons Of The Prophets, Axes

Denomination: Baptist

Unsung Heroes: Elijah’s First Servant

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Sep 26, 2024

Introduction: One of the least-known unsung heroes was Elijah’s first servant. He’s only mentioned in a couple of Scripture passages, but he was faithful to Elijah. We need more such men with that spirit even today. First, this servant is not named, and besides that, we don’t know anything about ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:41-46

Tags: Elijah, Servants, Unsung Heroes

Denomination: Baptist

Unwanted Items-Fresh Meat On The Street?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 2, 2025

Introduction: This illustration is the first in a series about things that either aren’t wanted, left behind, or otherwise abandoned. Here’s hoping some of these illustrations will be useful! Text: 2 Kings 7:7, KJV: 7 Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 7:7

Tags: Caution, Meat, Unwanted, Abandoned Things

Denomination: Baptist

The Battle Is Not To The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 8, 2009

THE BATTLE IS NOT TO THE STRONG A few centuries before Christ, Alexander the Great conquered almost all of the known world with his military strength, cleverness, and diplomacy. One day, Alexander and a small company of soldiers approached a strongly defended, walled city. Alexander, standing ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:31

Tags: Power

Long Ago, There Ruled In Persia A Wise And Good ...  PRO

Contributed by Jason Cole on Mar 2, 2004

Long ago, there ruled in Persia a wise and good king. He loved his people. He wanted to know how they lived. He wanted to know about their hardships. Often he dressed in the clothes of a working man or a beggar, and went to the homes of the poor. No one whom he visited thought that he was their ...read more

Tags: Christmas Advent

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Will You Give Him Your Best?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 18, 2005

WILL YOU GIVE HIM YOUR BEST? There is a legend about an ancient village in Spain. The villagers learned that the king would pay a visit. In a thousand years, a king had never come to that village. Excitement grew. "We must throw a big celebration!" The villagers all agreed. But, it was a poor ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11

Tags: Easter Palm Sunday

What's That?' Said Lucy, Clutching Susan's Arm. ...

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Nov 2, 2005

"’What’s that?’ said Lucy, clutching Susan’s arm. ’I - I feel afraid to turn around,’ said Susan; ’something awful is happening.’ The rising of the sun had made everything look so different - all colours and shadows were changed - that for a moment they didn’t see the important thing. Then they ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:44-45

Denomination: Christian Church

Long Ago, There Ruled In Persia A Wise And Good ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

"Long ago, there ruled in Persia a wise and good king. He loved his people. He wanted to know how they lived. He wanted to know about their hardships. Often he dressed in the clothes of a working man or a beggar, and went to the homes of the poor. No one whom he visited thought that he was their ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

There Is An Old Story About A Lighthouse Keeper ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 25, 2001

"There is an old story about a lighthouse keeper who worked on a rocky stretch of coastline. Once a month he would receive a new supply of oil to keep the light burning so that ships could safely sail near the rocky coast. One night, though, a woman from a nearby village came and begged him for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:1-7, 1 Kings 17:8-16, Matthew 25:1-13

Tags: Excuses, Responsibility, Integrity

Let's Begin Understanding This Name, /Adonai/ ...

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Jun 15, 2010

Let’s begin understanding this name, /Adonai/ (אֲדֹנָי), meaning /Lord/, by going back to the Middle Ages. Picture a medieval manor. Peasants worked the surrounding fields. Craftsmen lived in the village. The manor house, maybe with a moat and watchtower, ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Lutheran