In Sermon Illustrations: "2 Corinthians 4"

Ravi Zacharias: Symbols Of The Pursuit Of God  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Mar 11, 2013

RAVI ZACHARIAS: SYMBOLS OF THE PURSUIT OF GOD 2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ." Ravi Zacharias said: "The pursuit of the Hebrews was ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:6

Tags: Illusion, Truth Absolute

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Take Off And Never Come Back

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 29, 2020

The New York City transit company was missing a bus and a driver some years ago. For over a week, authorities searched with no success. Finally, 10 days after they had disappeared, the bus and driver were found- in Miami, Florida. The driver said, “I’d had it with the cold weather, the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1

Tags: Quit, Run Away, Losing Heart

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Indian Martyr

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Oct 31, 2020

Devasahayam Pillai was the first Indian martyr to be beatified. He was born in Nilakandan Pillai (1712-1752) into a Hindu family in the Kingdom of Travancore. Pillai, an upper-caste Hindu nair convert to Christianity, was a member of the royal service and was close to King Marthanda Varma, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:6

Tags: Saints, Santihood, Santihood Lives

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living In Light Of Eternity

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 8, 2021

Over the triple doorways of the Cathedral of Milan there are three inscriptions spanning the splendid arches. Over one is carved a beautiful wreath of roses, and underneath is the legend, “All that which pleases is but for a moment.” Over the other is sculptured a cross, and there are the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Tags: Eternity, Heaven, Materialism, Judgment Seat Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Never Despair (What A Hilarious Story!)

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

Robert Morgan has the following humorous illustration to encourage us to emulate Paul and "never despair". I read about a man whose route to work every day took him through a particular park in the city, and every day he saw an old fellow sitting on the park bench. This fellow was an ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Tags: Depression, Despair, Humor, Discouragement

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Steinway Pianos Are Crafted

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

THE POUNDER ROOM The Steinway piano has been preferred by keyboard masters such as Rachmaninoff, Horowitz, Cliburn, and Liszt and for good reason. It is a skillfully crafted instrument that produces phenomenal sound. Steinway pianos are built today the same way they were 140 years ago when Henry ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Tags: Discipline, Trials, Tests Of Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Vessel God ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

THE VESSEL GOD USES The Master was searching for a vessel to use; on the shelf there were many--which one would He choose? "Take me", cried the gold one, "I’m shiny and bright, I’m of great value and I do things just right. My beauty and luster will outshine the rest And for someone like ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

Tags: Servanthood

Army Paratrooper Takes Comfort And Hope Listening ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 9, 2009

Army Paratrooper Takes Comfort and Hope Listening To Taps During the Vietnam War A story from a Vietnam veteran testifies of God’s transforming work. I served as an airborne Ranger platoon leader (paratrooper) in the First Air Cavalry Division during the Vietnam War. Our company was hacked up ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Tags: Battle, War

The Cross At Ground Zero After ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 9, 2009

The Cross at Ground Zero After 9/11 A testimony from a worker at ground zero on 9-11 testifies of God’s transforming power. I’m an excavation laborer, and a member of union local 731. Pick-and-shovel work is my trade. I live in New Jersey, but I’m a New York City native, Brooklyn born and bred. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Tags: Cross

Brother Reassure His Sister In Carlsbad Caverns ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 20, 2009

Brother Reassure His Sister in Carlsbad Caverns When Lights Turned Out Bob Woods tells the story of a couple who took their son, 11, and daughter, 7, to Carlsbad Caverns. As always, when the tour reached the deepest point in the cavern, the guide turned off all the lights to dramatize how ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Tags: Salvation, Cup Of Salvation

Keeping Faith In The Midst Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 1, 2010

Keeping Faith in the Midst of Trials The story is told of a man who was walking across the road when he was hit by a car. The impact knocked him on his head which caused him to be in a coma for a couple of days before he finally regained consciousness. When he opened his eyes, his loving wife was ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-18

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

A Nation Of Bible Illiterates  PRO

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Jan 25, 2010

A Nation of Bible Illiterates George Barna wrote The State of the Church in 2002. Barna conducted a survey of self-pronounced Christians and here’s what he found about their knowledge of the Bible. These are Christians. • 48% could not name the four Gospels. • 52% cannot identify more than two ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-36, Psalm 125:1-5, Genesis 1:1-19, Galatians 5:18-22, Ephesians 6:10-17, Romans 15:1, Daniel 3:12-23, Isaiah 55:10-12, Romans 12:15, Acts 5:12-42, 1 Peter 1:13-25, Galatians 6:6-10, Psalm 119:11, Revelation 8:1-17, 1 Corinthians 2:1-16, 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, Acts 2:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Bible Study, Crossroad, God's Promises, Soul Winning, Diarrhea, Healing, Perseverance, Abraham, Help  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Martyrdom Of Missionary Doctor Paul ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 29, 2010

Martyrdom of Missionary Doctor Paul Carlson Don Carson has written a book which is also titled, “How Long O Lord: Reflections on Suffering & Evil.” At the beginning of the book, he recounted this real-life story. A pastor is cutting his front lawn. He looks up from his task just in time to see a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Tags: Missions

More Beyond  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 15, 2010

MORE BEYOND The Strait of Gibraltar is the strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. On either side of the Strait of Gibraltar there are two mountains, which were known in ancient times as the Pillars of Hercules. According to Greek mythology, Hercules built these pillars ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:13-18

Tags: Heaven

Sound Biblical Thinking

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

SOUND BIBLICAL THINKING There is no substitute for sound, biblical thinking. John Gardner: "An excellent plumber is infinitely more admirable than an incompetent theologian. The society which scorns excellence in plumbing because plumbing is a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in theology ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-2

Tags: Doctrine

Never Satisfied, More!

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 23, 2024

REMEMBER THE STORY ABOUT THE DOG AND HIS BONE? There was a real smart dog that had searched and searched for just the right bone. After several hours the dog found a real big wonderful bone. He picked the good bone up and started home with his prized bone. On the way home the dog had to pass over a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:18

Tags: Comparison, Satisfied

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Blindness

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 22, 2025

Aero Condor was experiencing money problems in Peru and needed to cut back expenses. So, rumor had it they hired two blind pilots. Story soon spread about these pilots, but no one believed it. So one day the plane was loaded and up came the two pilots, with dark glasses and walking sticks. The ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:10, Matthew 15:14, Matthew 23:16-19, Matthew 23:24-26, Luke 6:39, John 9:39-41, John 12:40, Romans 2:19, 2 Corinthians 4:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Blind, Spiritual Blindness, Hard Hearts, Not Understanding, Lack Of Discernment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

[094]. A Message From A Poem – Forgetting The Past, Look Ahead

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 1, 2025

[094]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FORGETTING THE PAST, LOOK AHEAD Someone posted to a Christian forum I was on, a four line stanza once, that in effect said that you can not go back and fix the past, i.e. to go back and alter the beginning but you can start from here and make a brand new end. I ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16, Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Regret, Hope, Past, End, Failure, Start, Look Ahead  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Renewal

Contributed by David Tack on May 31, 2025

WE TRADE OUR CURRENT TODAY AS an outward and perishing status of a sinner condemned to eternal separation from God FOR an inwardly renewed, saved by grace (day by day), redeemed and adopted ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Tags: Eternity, Renewed

Denomination: Baptist

The Cork And The Whale

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Jul 6, 2025

2 Corinthians 4:7-18 offers a portrait of spiritual buoyancy. Paul, in other places, invites us to follow him as he follows Christ (1 Cor 11:1). His spiritual practices caused him to float above the difficulties that he faced over and over again in his life and ministry. One of the greatest things ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:1, 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Tags: Poem, Buoyancy

Denomination: Pentecostal