In Sermon Illustrations: "Called Out"

A Boost For Not Boasting!!!

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Oct 21, 2016

A Boost for not Boasting!!! Probably you have heard this story before but here it goes again...a tale involving a frog prone to self-boasting and his two crane friends who planned to “live happily together ever after” inhabiting as they were a pond overflowing with rich flora and fauna but that ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 9:23-24

Tags: Power, Prudence, Boasting In Christ

Denomination: *other

Isaiah's Prophecies And The Dead Sea Scrolls

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Jan 14, 2017

There was a time when skeptics claimed that the prophecies in Isaiah 53 were too detailed, too specific, too accurate to be mere coincidence. I agreed. But then the skeptics argued that the ONLY logical explanation was that Isaiah was written after the gospels and patterned the suffering Servant ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-12

Tags: Dead Sea Scrolls, Prophecy, Reliability Of Bible, Fulfilled Prophecy

Denomination: Baptist

Basic Training

Contributed by John Telgren on Feb 11, 2017

I hated shining shoes in Basic Training. There were other things I would rather be doing instead of sitting on the floor with a brush and mounds of cotton balls stained with black Kiwi shoe polish! If our boots and dress shoes were not perfect we paid for it dearly! During one of our trips to the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Diligence, Diligently, Diligent

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Daddy, Tell Me About The Facts Of Life.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 18, 2017

Corrie Ten Boom’s father was being pursued by German authorities for housing Jews, which was a punishable crime under Hitler. He had to hurry away from the home one evening after packing his bag for a long, unknown trip to hide away. At the train station and in the middle of a highly tense ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Father In Heaven, Will Of God, Where Is God, Father God, Waiting On God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Where's The Bagel?

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 6, 2019

On one occasion during my college days in Peterborough I was invited to the Dean of Students residence for a social gathering. Hoping to find food aplenty I was disappointed to see the large dining room table containing a lonely plate of bagels. I quickly grabbed one, but my first bite was more of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Tags: Faith, Mistakes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tour Of The Art Museum

Contributed by Phillip Holbrook on May 29, 2019

Suppose you take a tour of an art museum that is advertising a look at the most important work in all of history. The curator points out some famous and priceless works by Picasso, Rembrandt and others. Then, he says to you, "I want you to see the most significant painting ever created", ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:19-20

Tags: Faith, Creation, Evolution

Denomination: Christian Church

It's Never Too Late To Start Over

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 28, 2019

At age 5 his father died. At age 16 he quit school. At age 17 he had already lost four jobs. At age 18 he got married. Between ages 18 and 22, he was a railroad conductor and failed. He joined the army and washed out there. He applied for law school, he was rejected. He became an insurance sales ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-7

Tags: Success, New Birth, Don't Quit, Never Too Late

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Easy Yoke

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 15, 2020

A yoke was a wooden frame which was put on the backs of animals and around their necks joining the two animals for a common task, such as plowing or pulling a load. If you were yoked with Jesus Christ, who do you think would "pull the load"? Obviously the Lord. And so in order to manifest ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Discipleship, Beatitudes, Christian Life, Surrender, Yoke, Following Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Auctioneer And The Old Violin

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 20, 2020

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer Thought it scarcely worth his while To waste much time on the old violin, But held it up with a smile. ‘What am I bidden, good folks,’ he cried, ‘Who’ll start the bidding for me? A dollar, a dollar,’ then ‘Two; Only two? Two dollars, and who’ll make it ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, John 3:1-7

Tags: New Birth, Jesus, Salvation, Cross, Redemption, Change, Transformation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Horse Won't Stop!

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 17, 2021

There's this guy who had been lost and walking in the desert for about 2 weeks. One hot day, he sees the home of a missionary. Tired and weak, he crawls up to the house and collapses on the doorstep. The missionary finds him and nurses him back to health. Feeling better, the man asks the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:35

Tags: Supplication, Prayer

Denomination: Methodist

The Power Of Doubling

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 19, 2021

COME HOME PRODIGAL! COME HOME! COME IN HOPE! COME IN JOY! GOD HAS A BONUS FOR HIS CHILDREN. Zechariah 9:12 Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; By faith we are prisoners, prisoners that are filled with a hope out ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 9:12

Tags: Double, Blessings

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Pardoned Fugitive

Contributed by Roger Byrd on Jul 17, 2021

He was an unlikely criminal. In the difficult days after World War I, many veterans like Robert Elliot Burns had taken to “riding the rails” in search of work. A native of New Jersey, Burns had found the times very trying so when a friend told him of a job, he immediately agreed. The problem was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28

Tags: Pardon, Historical

Denomination: Baptist

The Touch Of The Master's Hand

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 14, 2021

The Touch of the Masters Hand Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin, but held it up with a smile; "What am I bidden, good folks," he cried, "Who'll start the bidding for me?" "A dollar, a ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:16-17

Tags: Salvation, New Creation In Christ, The Master, Anointing Of The Spirit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Remember The Duck! (Stop Living In Bondage To Satan)

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 27, 2022

A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot made by his grandfather. He practiced trying to hit a tin can, but he could never hit it. As he walked across the yard, he saw Grandma’s pet duck. On an impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck fell dead. The ...read more

Tags: Spiritual Warfare, Confession, Covering Sin, Delieverance, Forgiveness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Was Bathsheba Guilty Or Was She Forced?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 27, 2022

Did Bathsheba betray her husband? The Bible does not tell us anything about the character of Bathsheba before her adulterous relationship with David. Scholars are not agreed on whether Bathsheba was a victim or an agent. There is controversy on whether she willingly committed adultery with David or ...read more

Tags: David, Sin, Sexual Abuse, Rape, Bathsheba, Uriah, Adultery, Psalm 51  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Does Mom Get Done During The Day?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 28, 2022

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the yard. The door of his wifes car and front door to the house were open and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:1-31

Tags: Honoring Moms, Child Rearing, Mother, Toddlers, Housework, Domestic, Stress At Home, Wife, Mom, Appreciation, Mothers Day  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Funniest Funeral Sermon Ever!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 4, 2022

Two brothers had terrorized a small town in Alabama for decades. They lied, they cheated, they stole and they were two of the sorriest persons in the entire town. Then, unfortunately, one of the brothers died unexpectedly. The surviving brother went to the pastor of the local Baptist church. He ...read more

Tags: Death, Lies, Pastors, Churches, Funerals  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Preparing To Fall Into Temptation!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 8, 2024

Some people fall into temptation, but a great many make plans for disaster ahead of time. "Son," ordered a father, "Don't swim in that canal." "OK, Dad," he answered. But he came home carrying a wet bathing suit that evening. "Where have you been?" ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Deceit, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, Preparation, Lies, Disobedience, Defeat, Sin, Satan  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Love Expressed At Christmas

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Nov 23, 2024

When I was in the third grade (1963) the hot toy for boys that year was “The Riffleman’s Riffle”. It was a Loop-Lever-Winchester 44 caliber Rifle just like Lucas McCain’s rifle on the show….and every kid wanted one. I used to watch the show and fantasize that I was Marc McCane, Lucas McCain’s ...read more

Tags: Christmas, God's Love

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Just Listen Please!

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

Could You Just Listen? When I ask you to listen to me and you start giving me advice, you have not done what I asked. When I ask you to listen to me and you begin to tell me why I shouldn’t feel that way, you are trampling on my feelings. When I ask you to listen to me and you feel you have to do ...read more

Scripture: Job 2:11-13, James 1:19

Tags: Quietness, Listening, Grieving

Denomination: Independent/Bible