In Sermon Illustrations: "A Picture Of Heaven"

But In These Last Days He Has Spoken To Us By ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 3, 2008

“But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” Ingmar Bergman is a celebrated Swedish filmmaker. He tells the story of how one day he was listening to the works of classical composer Igor Stravinsky. As he was listening to the music, he began to daydream about a 19th-century cathedral. ...read more

There Have Been Many Practical Jokes Pulled On ...

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Apr 12, 2008

There have been many practical jokes pulled on folks in recognition of this day. In 2005, the media reported that NASA had discovered water on Mars, and had actual pictures on the official NASA website. Those who went to the NASA website to check it out, found a picture of a glass of water ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

For One Couple It Went Like This: She Said, "Dear ...

Contributed by Dave Kinney on Sep 27, 2008

For one couple it went like this: She said, “Dear what would you do if I died?” The husband said, “I would be at my wits end and very upset!” His wife said, “Would you remarry?” Her husband said, “No, of course not!” Then she said, “Don’t you like being married?” He said, “Of course I do” So she ...read more

Tags: Marriage Commitment

Denomination: Baptist

O Let Him ...

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Mar 19, 2009

“O Let Him In!” A picture of the Lord Jesus knocking at the door of a heart was taken one day by a parish visitor to a house where a father and mother lived with their small son. Some impulse made the mother pin the picture up in their little kitchen and when the small boy came in from school, he ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Christian Church

Torn Away: Baby Richard

Contributed by Scott Kircher on Oct 11, 2009

TORN AWAY: BABY RICHARD When Paul says that they were "torn away" from them, that word translated as "torn away" means bereaved or made an orphan. He feels like he has been torn away from his children. When I hear this word, I get a certain picture in my head. Baby Richard – 1995 (picture of ...read more

Tags: Disappointment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Le Crocodile

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 12, 2010

LE CROCODILE Rene Lacoste, the world's top tennis player in the late 1920s, won seven major singles titles during his career, including multiple victories at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the French Open. His friends called him "Le Crocodile," an apt term for his tenacious play on the court. ...read more

Tags: Cross

Denomination: *other

Oh, Let Him In!

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Dec 25, 2010

OH, LET HIM IN! A picture of the Lord Jesus knocking at the door of a heart was taken one day by a parish visitor to a house where a father and mother lived with their small son. Some impulse made the mother pin the picture up in their little kitchen, and when the small boy came in from school, ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Christian Church

Deceiver  PRO

Contributed by Michael Walther on May 25, 2011

DECEIVER Ephesians 6.10-12 Especially, "schemes of the devil..." Here Paul explains the realities of evil in this world. How different this is from popular ideas about evil. There is a comical view of evil -- the character who wears a red suit and carries a pitch fork. Then there is the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-12

Tags: Satan

Denomination: Lutheran

Lamb Over Me

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 8, 2011

"LAMB OVER ME" In his book “Eternity in their Hearts”, Don Richardson a Missionary writes of cultural compasses in other cultures and their language that point to one and only one person, Jesus, preparing the way for the Gospel to be heard. He tells the story of Robert Morrison who landed in ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Methodist

Cross Is The Attraction

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Sep 8, 2016

The famous first national Salvationist here in Sri Lanka, Arnolis Weerasooriya whose picture we all walk past every day said something about the cross. Can you remember reading it, it is on his picture. That’s right he said, “Cross is the attraction.” He died from cholera some years later on the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

Tags: Suffering, Enduring Suffering, Proclaiming

Denomination: Salvation Army

They Will Know What Jesus Looks Like Now

Contributed by Timothy Lueking on Apr 3, 2023

Maybe you have heard the story of a young boy who was given an assignment in his elementary art class. He was asked to draw a picture of something that was priceless to him. He thought about all things he valued and then the idea came to him as to what was most important and valuable. Throughout ...read more

Scripture: John 1:18, 1 John 4:12, 1 Timothy 6:15-16, Mark 16:15

Tags: Image Of God, Share Your Faith

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When A Mother Saw A Thunderstorm Forming In ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 8, 2005

When a mother saw a thunderstorm forming in mid-afternoon, she worried about her seven-year-old daughter who would be walking the three blocks from school to home. Deciding to meet her, the mother saw her walking nonchalantly along, stopping to smile whenever lightning flashed. Seeing her mother, ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

George Barna Did A Survey And Wrote A Book About ...

Contributed by Bradford Robinson on Sep 18, 2002

George Barna did a survey and wrote a book about the status of today’s church, and it was shocking. He found that the divorce rate for non-Christians was 23%, and the divorce rate for Born Again Christians was 27%. That’s right, the Christians had a higher divorce rate than the non-Christian. ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Methodist

The Name Of The Month That Starts The Year? ...

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Nov 10, 2002

The name of the month that starts the year? January. Do you know how it got its name? It comes from the Roman god, Janus. Look at his picture. Isn’t it strange - he’s got two faces! He’s looking both forward and backwards - at the past and into the future. He was known as the god of ...read more

Tags: Repentance, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Baptist

Dead Poets Society

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 19, 2003

Opening illustration: Dead Poets Society Time 14:00-18:22 Mr. Keating gathers his English class in the hallway of the school, telling them to look closely at the pictures of the alumni on the wall: all photos of once invincible, hopeful students, now dead. Mr. Keating asks the students what they ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bob Dylan Once Sang "I Did Not Know That The ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 11, 2004

1. Bob Dylan once sang "I did not know that the Devil could come to my door with blond hair blue eyes and tight fitting jeans." 2. Mel Gibson in his movie The Passion of the Christ portrays evil as in some sense beautiful and alluring. Watch the picture of evil dressed in black in the movie you ...read more

Tags: Satan

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Some Years Ago, A Painting Was Shown In A London ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Some years ago, a painting was shown in a London art gallery. As you viewed it from a distance, it seemed to be a monk with head bowed and hands clasped in prayer. But, upon close inspection, you would see that the monk was just squeezing an orange over a small glass as he looks down upon ...read more

Tags: Sin Bondage To

Love Of The Adopted

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Sep 16, 2008

Love of the Adopted We capture a picture of our relationship with God in Chrissy's story about her adoptive parents. "My adopted father still, to this day, recalls the overwhelming emotion he had the moment he held me in his arms and saw my tiny, pink face. They gave me the best life any child ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Salvation Army

Godly Vision

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 31, 2010

GODLY VISION The capacity to create a compelling picture of the desired; state of affairs that inspires people to respond; that which is desirable, which could be, should be; that which is attainable. A godly vision is right for the times, right for the church, and right for the people. A godly ...read more

Tags: Knowing God's Will

Denomination: *other

79% Of Americans Believe Someone Of A Faith Other ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

79% of Americans believe someone of a faith other than their own can attain salvation or go to heaven. (Foster ...read more

Tags: Truth