In Sermon Illustrations: "3 John 38 15 16"

Exceeding Expectations

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Jun 25, 2025

Last Sunday I preached about heaven. I love preaching about heaven but I always feel like any description I give falls so far short of what it will actually be like. And I must admit, I have many questions. What exactly will it be like? What will we be doing? Will the bonds we've formed here ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Tags: Heaven, Expectations

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Story Of Hudson Taylor

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

Hudson Taylor began the study of medicine as well as Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. He realized, however, that the most important preparation of all must take place in the realm of his own soul. In China he would have to depend utterly upon his Lord for protection, supplies -- everything. Lest a ...read more

Scripture: John 14:13-26

Tags: Hudson Taylor, Trust

Denomination: Anglican

One Solitary Life

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

I’d like to read you a little piece written by an unknown author called One Solitary Life He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in still another village, where he worked in a carpenter’s shop until he was thirty. Then for three years he was an itinerant ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6

Tags: Son Of God, One Solitary Life, Jesus

Denomination: Anglican

If Jesus Was Born Today

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

If Jesus was born today, it would be in a bed and breakfast A traffic warden, working late, would be the first on the scene. Later a TV network would arrive with their good wishes. The whole Occasion would be filmed as part of *Is this the Son of God” one hour special If Jesus was 30 today, ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25

Tags: Jesus, Born, Modern Day

Denomination: Anglican

C.t. Studd

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 25, 2025

CT Studd is reputed once to have said Some people love to live Within the sound of chapel 🔔 I'd rather ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Hell, Yard

Denomination: Anglican

Truth Is As The Truther Says

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 8, 2025

One thing I have learned in life is that for many people, truth is a relative thing. The truth is what they say it is, and you can't convince them otherwise. I wrestle with telling the truth all the time. If you tell the truth, you do not have to remember what happened. But when you lie, you ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-32

Tags: Family, Truth, Lies

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Basketball Theology

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 18, 2026

Basketball theology Center/forward — Where nobody usually sits on Sunday mornings. Free throw — A toddler's toss of toys. Timeout A sermon gone too long. On the bench — The organist (pia- nist). Three-point play The structure of any good sermon. Offensive foul — A newly discov- ered baby's ...read more

Scripture: John 4:23-24

Tags: Worship, Sermon

Denomination: Methodist

If The Ant Believes

Contributed by David Dunn on Jan 20, 2026

(Say it rhythmically, not singing yet) “Do you know this story?” The ant and the rubber tree, The ant and the rubber tree, The ant and the rubber tree, And the ant… went marching on… (Pause) “Do you remember what happens next?” (Let them say it together: ‘And the ant… went marching ...read more

Scripture: John 14:15

Tags: Obedience, Choice

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

I Quit

Contributed by David Dunn on Jan 22, 2026

It was the six-year-old boy’s first day of school. His one life ambition? Have as much fun as humanly possible. He marched through the gate with the bold confidence that only a child possesses, ready to squeeze joy out of every moment. But at noon there was a knock at the front door. There ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33

Tags: Perseverance, Reality

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Follower Or A Fan? - Humor

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 2, 2026

A man named Charlie Moore ... moved with his family ... into a new community. He wanted to make some new friends, ... so he decided ... to join the local softball league. For the opening game of the season ... Charlie brought along the whole family, ... so they all could meet some of the other ...read more

Scripture: John 6:35-64

Tags: Family, Fan, Follower

Denomination: Anglican

Unrealistic Expectations

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 2, 2026

Often times ... we may have ... unrealistic expectations. For example, ... if I have an expectation ... that my wife Lee will cook a 4-course meal every night. And she expects ... that I will take her out to eat every night. Well ...we are both going to be ... very disappointed. Not because ...read more

Scripture: John 6:26-64

Tags: Disappointed, Commitment, Image, Expectations

Denomination: Anglican

Moonlight

Contributed by Kelly Benton on Feb 3, 2026

The moon doesn’t produce light. It has no power source of its own. No battery. No glow stick taped to the back. It simply reflects the sun. That’s us. We don’t generate love through effort, emotion, or religious hustle. We reflect Christ’s love as we remain in Him. When we stay close, obedience ...read more

Scripture: John 15:9-10

Tags: Loving Others, Reflections

Denomination: Other

Apples And The Things We Usually Miss

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 20, 2026

I brought something with me today. (Bring out the apples.) These are apples. Nothing fancy. Not miraculous. Not smuggled out of the Garden of Eden. Just apples. But here’s what I want you to notice. An apple is sweet. An apple is useful. An apple is good. But the apple is not the point. The point ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Tags: Faithfulness, The Church, Remain, Abide, Fruitfullness, Discipleship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Hunger Games: Laying Down Your Life

Contributed by Jeff Morrison on Mar 30, 2012

THE HUNGER GAMES: LAYING DOWN YOUR LIFE In the movie, "The Hunger Games," 16 year old Katness is faced with a dramatic choice when her 12 year old sister is chosen by lottery to fight for their district. She knows her sister is small and frail, and that she would not last in the life or death ...read more

Tags: Giving Yourself

Denomination: Baptist

God Made Himself Understandable  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 15, 2011

GOD MADE HIMSELF UNDERSTANDABLE I read of a story from the famous Danish philosopher from the mid 1800s, a Christian theologian named Soren Kierkegaard. It is a familiar story, a story rewritten by many over the ages in many different forms, yet it is still relevant today. Here’s what he wrote: A ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14, Habakkuk 1:1-5

Tags: Christmas, Understandable

Buried In The Deepest Sea  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Mar 8, 2002

BURIED IN THE DEEPEST SEA Several years ago Rick Stacy baptized a man in Lake Superior. It was late October and about 9:00 PM. Rick had been talking with Myron and his wife about accepting the Lord as their personal savior and sealing that decision with baptism into Jesus. Myron was hesitant ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3:3, Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:11-15

Tags: Grace, God's Forgiveness, Forgiveness, Baptism, Atonement, Born Again, Redemption, New Life, Sin  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Testimony About God's Comfort After A Suicide

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jun 26, 2012

Mot Richey was one of the precious senior adults at McClendon Baptist Church in West Monroe. She went home to be with the Lord in 2006. Mot was a lovely Christian lady. She was also a wonderful singer, wife and cook. In my whole life, I never met a more loving couple than Jack and Mot Richey. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:1-4, John 16:33, John 14:1-6

Tags: Grief, Suicide, God's Comfort

Denomination: Baptist

Wonderful Burden

Contributed by Mark Ferrante on Jan 20, 2007

Wonderful Burden One morning R. C. Chapman, a devout Christian, was asked how he was feeling. "I’m burdened this morning!" was his reply. But his happy countenance contradicted his words. So the questioner exclaimed in surprise, "Are you really burdened, Mr. Chapman?" "Yes, but it’s a wonderful ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Wonderful Burden

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 12, 2007

Wonderful Burden One morning R. C. Chapman, a devout Christian, was asked how he was feeling. “I’m burdened this morning!” was his reply. But his happy countenance contradicted his words. So the questioner exclaimed in surprise, “Are you really burdened, Mr. Chapman?” “Yes, but it’s a wonderful ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Crying In The Wilderness -Billy Graham Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 3, 2025

In 1948, ...a remarkable religious phenomenon occurred... in the United States. It began in a tent ... near Hollywood California, ...under the preaching ... of a young evangelist. The crowds were sparse at first ... but as the preaching continued, ... the crowds began to grow. At first, ... ...read more

Scripture: John 1:6-7, John 1:19-21, Malachi 4:5, John 3:30, John 1:25, Deuteronomy 18:15-19  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Baptizing, Evangelism, Witness, Wilderness, Baptize, Crying  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican