In Sermon Illustrations: "Buried With Him"

John Newton Was A Rough, Dirty Sailor With A Foul ...

Contributed by Tim White on Jun 19, 2009

John Newton was a rough, dirty sailor with a foul mouth and an appetite for rotten living. He hated life and life hated him. He was captain of a slave ship. Then someone placed in his hands a copy of Thomas a Kempis’ The Imitation of Christ. He also had the gift of a good mother who told him about ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

You Know What It Reminds Me Of? Remember The ...

Contributed by Sean Harder on Jun 25, 2009

You know what it reminds me of? Remember the first Indiana Jones Movie, where for several seconds this crazy and skilled guy is threatening Indiana by whirling this sword around with incredible flash, then in an instant, Jones calmly, with mild irritation, pulls out his gun and bang its over. ...read more

Tags: Trust

Prayed Into The Kingdom

Contributed by Michael Walther on May 25, 2011

PRAYED INTO THE KINGDOM Chuck Sackett did not grow up in a Christian home. But he joined the Boy Scouts and wanted to complete the “God and Country” merit badge. So he walked a few blocks to a small church for several weeks. He filled out his papers, and did what he had to do get that badge. ...read more

Tags: Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Lutheran

The Beautiful Country: Predestination

Contributed by Michael Walther on Jun 6, 2011

THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY: PREDESTINATION A few years ago, a movie came out about a boy in Vietnam who’s father had been an American GI (The Beautiful Country). His life was miserable because no one in Vietnam accepted him. He was a half-breed. His mother wanted him to try to escape to America to ...read more

Tags: Election

Denomination: Lutheran

An Art Gallery Testimony

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 29, 2012

AN ART GALLERY TESTIMONY There is the story about an old English farmer who went to London and visited one of the great art galleries in the city. There he was attracted by a painting of the crucifixion. He sat before it, studying each detail with intense interest. At last, forgetful of his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:45-56

Tags: Crucifixion

I Was At Calvary 2000 Years Ago

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 6, 2022

Once during a trip to Israel, Dr. R.G. Lee visited the site where many believe Jesus Christ was crucified. He told his Arab guide that he wanted to walk to the top of the hill, but the guide tried to discourage him. The preacher was determined to climb the hill, so the guide accompanied him. When ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20, Romans 5:8

Tags: Cross, Calvary, Golgotha, Identification With Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Life Sucks You In

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 6, 2025

Chippie the parakeet never saw it coming. One moment, he was perched in his cage singing his little heart out. The next, his whole world collapsed. It started when his owner decided to clean his cage with a vacuum cleaner. She took the nozzle off, stuck the hose inside, and at that very moment the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 40:2, Romans 8:28

Tags: Faith, Resilience

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Arrest

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 11, 2009

THE ARREST A young man was sitting at a stop light in downtown New Orleans one evening, when the lady in front of him was distracted as she was going thru some papers on her front seat. The red light changed to green and the young woman did not move. The young man was a bit put off by this and ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Four Ways To Minister Like The Good Samaritan

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 2, 2022

As we study the characteristics of the Good Samaritan, let’s ask ourselves if these qualities are true of us as well. He opened his eyes. Although all three men physically saw the critically wounded man, only the Samaritan looked and stopped to help. Before we can meet needs, we must be aware of ...read more

Tags: Service, Ministry, Parables, Neighbor, Kindness, Good Samaritan  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Get Rid Of Your Pastor!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 9, 2023

What a blessing it is to have a pastor who loves the Lord, who teaches the Word, and who leads his "flock" aright. I thank God we have a man like that in the church which I attend. In these days of apostasy, when there is such a tragic departure from an emphasis on the Word, how we ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-11

Tags: Division, Preachers, Ministry, Pastors, Apostasy, Man Of God, Churches  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Has The Right

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Oct 13, 2004

• Henry Blackaby writes, "He has a right to interrupt your life. He is Lord. When you accepted Him as Lord, you gave Him the right ...read more

Tags: God The Father

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Glory Of Friendship Is Not The Outstretched ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else ...read more

Tags: Compassion

I Would Rather Try To Persuade A Man To Go ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"I would rather try to persuade a man to go along, because once I have persuaded him, he will stick. If I scare him, he will just stay ...read more

Tags: Temptation General

It’s Too Late To Hide

Contributed by Mark Beaird on Dec 31, 2015

It’s Too Late to Hide I first noticed him as he shuffled past me while making his way through the crowd of excited children swarming around the room at the school for deaf and blind children outside Saigon, Vietnam. He moved slow, but steady. His arms and legs were twisted and drawn in such a ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:15-16

Tags: Blessings In Christ, Accepted By Grace, Acceptance In Christ

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Was No Longer The Dirty American

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

I was no longer the Dirty American I read a story the other day on the Internet by a missionary to India named Doug Nichols. Nichols was serving as a missionary in India when a bout with tuberculosis landed him in a public hospital for a spell. It wasn’t like hospitals here. It was a big ward ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

A Mother Dies So Her Boy May Live

Contributed by Dwight L. Moody on Jun 11, 2009

A MOTHER DIES SO HER BOY MAY LIVE When the California gold fever broke out, a man went there, leaving his wife in New England with his boy. As soon as he got on and was successful he was to send for them. It was a long time before he succeeded, but at last he got money enough to send for them. The ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8

Tags: Atonement

Denomination: *other

Works-Oriented Salvation Verses Saving Faith

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2009

Works-Oriented Salvation verses Saving Faith Muhammad Ali was once asked what his faith meant to him. Ali replied: "[it] means [a] ticket to heaven. One day we’re all going to die, and god is going to judge us, [our] good and bad deeds. [if the] bad outweighs the good, you go to hell; if the good ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23

Tags: Faith Vs. Works

You Could All Have One If You Wanted  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2012

YOU COULD ALL HAVE ONE IF YOU WANTED In Gipsy Smith's book The Beauty of Jesus, Gipsy Smith told about Peter Apples, a man (during the Civil War) who went into the enemy's territory. Peter Apples did not know much about being a good soldier. He just knew that when his superior officer said, ...read more

Scripture: John 4:34-38

Tags: Evangelism How To

A Newspaper Columnist Named George Crane Told ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Feb 1, 2001

A newspaper columnist named George Crane told once of a woman who was full of hatred toward her husband. Someone counseled the woman to act as if she really loved her husband, to tell him how much he meant to her, to praise him for every decent trait, to be kind, considerate, and generous whenever ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Marriage Obligations, Romantic Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No Higher Duty  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 26, 2002

No Higher Duty Henri Nouwen, the great spiritual writer was going to a monastery for a retreat. The monks observed vows of silence and the retreat was to be meditative and prayerful. Nouwen was delayed and was late getting to the monastery on that miserable, rainy night. He rang the bell, well ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational