In Sermon Illustrations: "Big Picture"

Church Without The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 19, 2022

David Platt in his book, Radical, has a chapter entitled, "Beginning at the End of Ourselves -- The Importance of Relying on God's Power (Subsection entitled - “Dependent on Ourselves or Desperate for His Spirit?”). This is where I am most convicted as a pastor that I am part of a system ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:11

Tags: Church, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Power, Pastors, Programs  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Earlier This Month, The Siegfried & Roy Show In ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Oct 26, 2003

Earlier this month, the Siegfried & Roy show in Las Vegas was brought to a dramatic close when a seven-year-old, white Bengal tiger attacked Roy and drug him off the stage before an audience of 1500 people. It was Roy’s 59th birthday, and shortly after introducing the Tiger, it bit Roy on the ...read more

Tags: Sin Deceptive, Sin General

Denomination: Methodist

Reading Has Become Very Cool For Kids, Says Joe ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 20, 2007

Reading has become very cool for kids, says Joe Monti, a B & N Children’s Book Buyer. “The stereotype of being a big loser if you have your nose stuck in a book is completely gone. There’s an atmosphere of ...read more

Tags: Children

A Kelton Research Study Found 80% Of Americans ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 15, 2008

A Kelton research study found 80% of Americans knew "two all-beef patties" were among the ingredients of a Big Mac, while just 60% could identify “Thou shalt not kill” as one of the Ten Commandments. Just 34% recognized "Remember the Sabbath" ...read more

Tags: Commandments General

A Pastor Was Invited To Dinner. During The Meal ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A pastor was invited to dinner. During the meal he was astonished to hear the younger daughter state that a person must be very brave to go to church these days. “Why do you say that?” asked the bishop. “Because,” she answered, “I heard Dad tell Mom last Sunday that there was ...read more

Tags: Marriage Struggle

The Children Worked Long And Hard On Their Own ...

Contributed by Steve Ely on Oct 1, 2008

The children worked long and hard on their own little cardboard shack. It was to be a special spot; a clubhouse where they could meet in solemn assembly or just laugh, play games, and fool around. As they thought long and hard about their rules, they came up with three rather ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Chuck Mistler Testifies  PRO

Contributed by Izak Shipman on Jun 13, 2002

Chuck Mistler testifies A few years ago, we flew back to California late one Sunday night from a seminar in Washington State. Tired and hungry, we still had to face another one-hour drive home from the airport. Trying to check out of the airport parking lot, we found at least 30 cars in ...read more

Tags: Holiness, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Since Jesus Is God And Has Been Since Before ...

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Jan 20, 2007

Since Jesus is God and has been since before creation, he is responsible for whatever is created. As John says in verse 3, “All things came into being through him…” That means that Jesus is the creator, and that everything else is a creation. As difficult as it is to believe that the universe was ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

There's A Great One Inside You  PRO

Contributed by Steve Ely on Oct 1, 2008

There's a Great One Inside You During a practice session for the Green Bay Packers, things were not going well for Vince Lombardi’s team. Lombardi singled out one big guard for his failure to "put out." It was a hot, muggy day when the coach called his guard aside and leveled his awesome vocal ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-11

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Pentecostal

Sin No Nym

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 29, 2025

Sin No Nym Josie loved words. She liked to clap their sounds and spell them out. One day she wrote a big word on her paper: S I N N O N Y M She giggled. “Listen! It sounds like sin–no–name.” --- Word Play at Home Daddy peeked over. “That’s funny,” he said. “What do you think it ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9, Psalm 103:12

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Rick Warren Says, "Worry Is The Warning Light ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Aug 2, 2004

Rick Warren says, "Worry is the warning light that God is really not first in my life at this particular moment." Because worry says that God is not big enough to handle my troubles. Jesus says in Mt. 6:33: "Set your heart first on God’s kingdom and His goodness.." And He ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-8

Tags: Guilt

Denomination: Christian Church

I Like Peanuts Cartoons. I Remember One Where ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Apr 3, 2007

I like Peanuts cartoons. I remember one where Linus and Charlie Brown are chatting with one another. Linus says, "I don’t like to face problems head on. I think the best way to solve problems is to avoid them. In fact, this is a distinct ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Like Peanuts Cartoons. I Remember One Where ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

I like Peanuts cartoons. I remember one where Linus and Charlie Brown are chatting with one another. Linus says, "I don’t like to face problems head on. I think the best way to solve problems is to avoid them. In fact, this is a distinct ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God

Change Of Perspective

Contributed by Samuel M on Apr 26, 2025

Without God, even the smallest problem can become a Goliath. With God, a challenge like Goliath becomes a small problem. There is a change of perspective when do things with God. What appears big and large becomes small because God is so powerful that everything shrinks ...read more

Tags: Faith, Hope

Just Call Me Vince

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 16, 2025

Vince Lombardi—legendary NFL coach—was said to have a healthy ego. After a big win he crawled into bed late; his wife was already asleep. His feet brushed her legs and she murmured, “God, your feet are ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 131:1-3, Philippians 2:3-5

Tags: Humility, Perspective

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

What An Orphan Boy Learned About John 3:16 On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 14, 2009

What An Orphan Boy Learned About John 3:16 on Christmas Eve In far away cold country a number of years ago there was a young orphaned boy selling papers on a cold, freezing Christmas Eve afternoon. Toward the close of the afternoon the little boy went up to a policeman and said, "Sir, I’m real ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Christmas

Where Oh Where Is My Hair?

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 10, 2021

I must confess I sometimes get so busy that certain things have slipped my mind. I don't do this intentionally, but I try to prioritize things in my life. With so many things going on, it is tough to keep up-to-date with everything, even personal items. This is not true with the Gracious ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:29

Tags: Humor, Change

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Ugly Isn’t For Sissies

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 4, 2023

Over the years of marital bliss, we’ve not had many disagreements. She likes broccoli. I like Apple Fritters. We’ve never been able to come to any agreement with that. But, outside of that, everything has been rather smooth. There’s one controversy that has plagued our house for the last few ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7

Tags: Appearance, Mirror

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

G. Campbell Morgan Said That At A Great Meeting ...  PRO

Contributed by Evie Megginson on Aug 3, 2001

G. Campbell Morgan said that at a great meeting in Manchester, England, Holman Hunt’s beautiful picture of "Christ Knocking at the Door" was thrown upon the screen. "Why don’t they let Him in?" a twelve-year-old boy excitedly asked his father. "I suppose they don’t want to," his father answered. ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General, Faith Vs. Works

Denomination: Baptist

A Small Boy Riding A Bus Home From Sunday School ...  PRO

Contributed by John Beehler on Aug 27, 2001

A small boy riding a bus home from Sunday school was very proud of the card he had received, which had a picture and a caption that read: “Have Faith in God.” Then to his dismay the card slipped from his hand and fluttered out the window. “Stop the bus!” he cried. “I’ve lost my ‘faith in God!’” The ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:1-14

Tags: Faith General, Faith

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed