In Sermon Illustrations: "Ask"

A Light In Dark Places

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 1, 2008

A LIGHT IN DARK PLACES A young girl once consulted with her minister. "I cannot stick it out any longer. I am the only Christian in the factory where I work. I get nothing but taunts and sneers. It is more than I can stand. I am going to resign." "Will you tell me," asked the minister, "where ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

We Need Fixing

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

WE NEED FIXING There was a barber in a small local town who had been the only barber in town for years. Everyone went to this barber to get their hair cut. Then, one day a big hair salon franchise came to town and opened up shop. They advertised, "All Haircuts for $3.00" Slowly, the barber's ...read more

Tags: Character

Authentic ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 11, 2009

Authentic Christianity A small child, sitting in church asked his father, “Dad, what is a Christian?” The father replied, “A Christian is a person who loves and obeys God. He loves his friends and neighbours, and even his enemies. He prays often, is kind, gentle, and holy, and is more interested ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:34-40

Tags: Christian Witness

English Deist, Anthony Collins' Question To A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 30, 2009

English Deist, Anthony Collins’ Question to a Commoner, "Is your God a great or a little God?" A well-known English deist, Anthony Collins of the seventeenth century, was walking one day when he crossed paths with a commoner. “Where are you going?” asked Collins. “To church, sir.” “What are you ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Worship General

An Interesting Thing Happened One Day In A ...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Dec 14, 2009

An interesting thing happened one day in a church where the great American businessman Samuel Colgate was a member. During an evangelistic campaign a prostitute came forward and confessed her sins. She was broken-hearted and wept openly. She asked God to save her soul and expressed a desire to join ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Man Was Sitting On The Edge Of The Bed, ...  PRO

Contributed by Johnny Creasong on Dec 28, 2009

A man was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching his wife, who was looking at herself in the mirror. Since her birthday was not far off he asked what she'd like for her birthday. "I'd like to be six again", she replied, still looking in the mirror. On the morning of her birthday, he arose ...read more

Tags: Aging

Denomination: Church Of God

I'm Now Just Another Number In The System Of

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Feb 22, 2010

I'm now just another number in the system of "New Start". I made a phone call for Unemployment Benefits yesterday, while I am looking for a ministry opportunity. It took me a long time to get through and I was asked by a computer a series of questions before speaking personally to someone. Then the ...read more

Tags: Unconditional Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Lord's ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 26, 2010

“The Lord’s Answer” A man once said to a servant of the Lord: “I am such a helpless, miserable sinner; there is no hope for me. I have prayed, and resolved and tried, and vowed until I am sick of my unavailing efforts.” “Do you believe that Christ died for our sins, and rose again?” was the ...read more

Scripture: John 10:27-30

Tags: Forgiveness, Assurance Of Salvation

Commitment And Loyalty To Christ Likened To A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 7, 2010

Commitment and Loyalty to Christ Likened to a Trapeze Artist John Ortberg (Faith & Doubt, p. 169-170) says the word trapeze describes the bar between the ropes of a trapeze artist in the circus. It’s a Greek word, meaning table. It’s used in the New Testament when Jesus gathers his friends around ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:26-27

Tags: Discipleship

Let God Put It Together

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 14, 2010

LET GOD PUT IT TOGETHER One night a father heard his young daughter speaking, although she was alone in her room. The door was open just enough that he could see that she was kneeling beside her bed in prayer. Interested to find out what subjects a child would bring before God, he paused outside ...read more

Tags: Prayer How To

Denomination: Brethren

No Record Anywhere

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 27, 2010

NO RECORD ANYWHERE My friend Dr. Roy Gustafson has the finest illustration of justification I have ever heard. It seems that there was a man in England who put his Rolls-Royce on a boat and went across to the continent to go on a holiday. While he was driving around Europe, something happened to ...read more

Tags: Justification

Denomination: Brethren

St. Augustine On The Trinity

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 29, 2010

ST. AUGUSTINE ON THE TRINITY One day when St. Augustine was at his wits' end to understand and explain the Trinity, he went out for a walk. He kept turning over in his mind, "One God, but three Persons. Three Persons--not three Gods but one God. What does it mean? How can it be explained? How can ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-23

Tags: Trinity

Denomination: Brethren

What Would They Say About You?

Contributed by Guy De Swardt on Feb 18, 2011

WHAT WOULD THEY SAY ABOUT YOU? I want you to imagine the following scene. You’re going for the most important job interview of your life. You’re nervous. In your hand you’re holding your all-important CV, and in the other hand you’re holding onto some of your best work samples. The interview ...read more

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Baptist

It Is Finished

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Jul 27, 2011

IT IS FINISHED I was raised on a tobacco farm and when Dad would ask me to do some chores while he was gone.... it was for my best interest and the seat of my pants that I did it. But when I finished it and did the very best I could to please my Dad there was a great satisfaction in seeing his ...read more

Scripture: John 19:30

Tags: Sin, Obedience, Neglect, Disobedience, Forgive, Forgiveness In Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Start With Just One

Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on May 8, 2012

START WITH JUST ONE Dawson Trotman, founder of the Navigators, tells the story of a 23 year old Sailor that he spent time discipling. He spent many hours with this young man in the Word and the importance of being a witness for the Lord and leading other sailors to Jesus. A month later the ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Lutheran

Communication: A Cowboy Named Fred  PRO

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Nov 19, 2012

COMMUNICATION: A COWBOY NAMED FRED A cowboy lay sprawled across three entire seats in the posh Amarillo Theater. When the usher came by and noticed this, he whispered to the cowboy, "Sorry, sir, but you're only allowed one seat." The cowboy groaned but didn't budge. The usher became more ...read more

Tags: Communication General

Denomination: Baptist

Misunderstandings Can Be Hilarious

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 6, 2022

Misunderstandings happen all the time. Here are some: My toddler was about to hit her head on a bar at the playground, so I told her to duck. She quacked at me and then hit her head. A guy ran into a service station and said he needed some 710. They had no idea what he was talking about. So he ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-11

Tags: Humor, Literal, Misunderstanding, Too Literal, Miscommunication  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Who Are We Here For??

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 9, 2023

The story has often been told about the message the founder of the Salvation Army sent to their international convention. General William Booth was unable to attend personally because of ill health, so he cabled the delegates a message containing one word: "OTHERS!" In the popular comic ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-10

Tags: Service, Ministry, Selflessness, Others, Bearing Burdens, One Another  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Trust In The Lord To Fix It

Contributed by James Ledbetter on Feb 3, 2015

A friend pastor of mine once told me a story about trusting in the Lord to fix what is broken. A certain man and his pastor traveled to preach a sermon at another church. And when finished they went to a store to look around. The man bought a doll for his daughter and took it home and gave it to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 40:1-4, Psalm 40:1-40

Tags: All-Powerful God, Book Of Psalms, Trust Jesus

Denomination: Apostolic

Relaxing Our Grip On Troubles

Contributed by Jerry Stephens on Mar 18, 2017

Recently I was praying at bedtime. I felt overwhelmed by the things I didn’t get done that day; things that would be facing me the moment I opened my eyes the following morning. As I recited my litany of woes, I sensed the Holy Spirit asking me which among them I thought he couldn’t handle. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7

Tags: Prayer General, Trouble, Trust, Prayer

Denomination: Vineyard