In Sermon Illustrations: "Come Up Here"

Ok Here, Banned Overseas

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jun 2, 2010

OK HERE, BANNED OVERSEAS When I was a child, this advertisement would not have had a dog's show of making it onto the tele. It's a picture of this young lady on an Australian beach, saying "We've saved a spot on the beach," and I think there's a bit that says, "We've had the camels shampooed." We ...read more

Tags: Culture

Denomination: Salvation Army

When My Hat Is Here...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 21, 2010

WHEN MY HAT IS HERE... So, it’s not true that you can be just as good a Christian without going to church. You can’t simply say "Well, I’m there in Spirit… but I don’t have to be there in body." It’s kind of like the true story of an incident that took place at a University. This university had a ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:23-25

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Sure Is Hot Down Here  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 3, 2007

We have many jokes about the subject of hell. Consider the supposed story of the Illinois man who left the snow-filled streets of Chicago for a vacation in Florida. His wife was on a business trip and was planning to meet him there the next day. When he reached his hotel, he decided to send his ...read more

Tags: Vacation

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Who Are We Here For??

Contributed by Garris Hudson 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

Made For Each Other...

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Nov 3, 2015

Cross without the Spirit, you dry-up (Psa 106:15), Spirit without the Cross, you puff-up (2 Cor 12:7) With ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10

Tags: Scripture, Puff-Up, Grow-Up

Denomination: *other

They Who Come To Christ, Do Not Only Come To A ...

Contributed by Dylan Potter on Jul 18, 2003

“They who come to Christ, do not only come to a resting-place after they have been wandering in a wilderness, but they come to a banqueting-house where they may rest, and where they may feast. They may cease from their former troubles and toils, ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?, God's Provision, Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Methodist

When Sorrows Come, They Come Not Single Spies, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"When sorrows come, they come not single spies, ...read more

Tags: Disappointment

Here Is A Parody Of Luke's Account Of The Birth ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Nov 13, 2001

Here is a parody of Luke’s account of the birth of Christ, that really underscores just how far our world has let the true meaning of Christmas slip away from them. "And there were in the same country children keeping watch over there stockings by the fireplace. And lo! Santa Claus came upon ...read more

Tags: Birth Of Jesus, Christmas

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Realize There Are Many Pastors Here This ...

Contributed by Douglas Duvall on Nov 13, 2006

I realize there are many pastors here this afternoon that are frustrated. How do I know? I hear your sermons. Let me share something with you that not even my wife knows about. Sometimes in the ministry I’m sure that as a pastor you feel that things come at you from all sides. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Currently Rudy Is Locked Up And Locked Up Is What ...

Contributed by Sam Wrisley on Oct 24, 2007

currently Rudy is locked up and locked up is what he deserves. I met Rudy 4 years ago. He was drunk at a bus station. He wanted a bus ticket and I bought it for him. It would not be the last ticket i would buy for Rudy. Rudy was arrested for robbery when he was 17. The judge sentanced him to ...read more

Scripture: John 8:34-36

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Measuring Up  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 25, 2002

MEASURING UP In Washington D.C. there is a building called the "National Institute of Standards & Technology." This facility is responsible for storing perfect samples of weights and measurements. They have what are called “prototypes” of pound weights and kilograms. Measuring rods for ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-4, John 5:1-10

Tags: Faith, Holiness, Leadership General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It's Up To ...

Contributed by Tony Abram on Sep 4, 2009

It’s Up to You…………… One song can spark a moment, One flower can wake the dream. One tree can start a forest, One bird can herald spring, One smile begins a friendship, One handclasp lifts a soul. One star can guide a ship at sea, One word can frame the goal. One vote can change a nation, One ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:31-37

Tags: Christian Values

Giddy-Up

Contributed by Shawn Kelly on Nov 2, 2008

"Giddy-Up." There was a group of students in Texas taking a class on the psychology of emotions. The professor wanted to know what the opposite of happy was. One student raised their and said, "Sad." Then the professor asked, "What's the opposite of depression?" "Elation,” another student ...read more

Tags: Happiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Growing Up

Contributed by Tony Abram on Jan 21, 2018

I am not what I might be, I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I wish to be, I am not what I hope to be. But I thank God I am not what I once was, and I can say ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-3

Tags: Sanctified, Holiness Walk

If It Was Up To Me

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 13, 2021

Fifty years ago, I was a teenager. Boy, do I miss those Days of Yore. It's not that I would like to relive them, but I was a much different person back then. As a teenager, I knew everything, and all you had to do was ask me. Even if you didn't ask me, I still would tell you what was on my ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:19

Tags: Wisdom, News, Politics

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Buckle Up

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 25, 2025

During the days when Mohammed Ali was a great boxer, he would go around in his arrogance and say that, "He was the greatest." Humility was never his strong suit. One day, back in his prime, he was on an airplane and the plane was ready to take off and the flight attendant had repeatedly ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:3, Micah 6:8, Proverbs 16:18, James 4:6, Luke 14:11  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Strength, Pride, Humility, Submission, Character  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Second Coming Of Jesus

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

In the 19th century, there was a wave of enthusiasm for prophecies predicting the actual date for the Second Coming of Christ. One such prophecy was an Adventist leader name William Miller. After studying Daniel 8, Miller predicted that Christ would return on March 21, 1842, but then revised the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1

Tags: Second Coming, Jesus Return

Denomination: Methodist

Please Come Home.

Contributed by Ken Henson on Jul 5, 2012

"PLEASE COME HOME." There was a girl named Christina, who lived in a dusty village of Brazil. In her late teens she was upset with her parents because she thought she was restricted. She had this dream of going to Rio De Janeiro, but her mother knew that she will not be able to take care of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:12-14

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: *other

Filled Up Anew  PRO

Contributed by Cameron Horsburgh on Mar 10, 2003

FILLED UP ANEW Imagine a sponge that has been used to wash the dishes. It’s all full of dirt and food and old water. It needs to be filled with clean water! But how can you do that? Easy. You wring it out, rinse it off, and wring it out again. Only when you have done this can you fill it with ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit General, Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Holiness

Please Come Back  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 6, 2011

"PLEASE COME BACK" Max Lucado tells us about a girl named Christina. She lives in a small dusty village in Brazil. She’s bored. She feels like her strict parents have cheated her out of the joys of life. She longs for the excitement of the big city of Rio. One morning her mother Maria finds ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32, Mark 4:1-9

Tags: Parable Prodigal Son, Parable Sower And Seed