In Sermon Illustrations: "Come Up Here"

Radical Faith  PRO

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jan 24, 2011

RADICAL FAITH I want to read to you the opening story from David Platt's book "The Radical Question" (Multnomah Press). Imagine a scene that took place in Asia not so long ago: A room in an ordinary house, dimly lit, all the blinds on the windows closed. Twenty leaders from churches in the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:10-17

Tags: Persecution, Better Together

Denomination: Nazarene

At Liberty University This Summer, I Shared An ...

Contributed by Jeffery Russell on Dec 24, 2007

At Liberty University this summer, I shared an apartment with a Navy chaplain who was taking the same course I was. He is assigned to a Marine battalion, and had recently come back from Iraq. One of the many things he did was have prayer with his men before they went out on patrol. I asked, “Did ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Are You Ready?

Contributed by Brad Henry on Aug 11, 2011

ARE YOU READY? Are you ready to dwell in the “house of the Lord forever”? If not then ask yourself why? Most of us cling on to something that is sinful just because we are comfortable here. That is like asking a baby to experience life outside the womb. They would say “No Way” I have a great ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Two Different Perspectives  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 17, 2005

It’s remarkable how two people can look at the same problem and come up with two different perspectives. A man was driving in the country one day and he saw an old man sitting on a fence rail watching the cars go by. Stopping to pass the time of day, the traveler said, “I never could stand living ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 4:10-13

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

Missionaries Teaching Indians Of ...

Contributed by Scott Epperson on Apr 1, 2007

Illustration: Missionaries teaching Indians of Gospel of Peace. No word for peace. Finally concluded with a heart that sets down. Parallel: Some have know answer or word for what they are feeling only they feel the loss inside them and in their life. Many times we try to feel the void, only making ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Master's There

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jul 12, 2008

THE MASTER'S THERE In one of his books, A. M. Hunter, the New Testament scholar, relates the story of a dying man who asked his Christian doctor to tell him something about the place to which he was going. As the doctor fumbled for a reply, he heard a scratching at the door, and he had his answer. ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Other

Parable Story  PRO

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Jun 22, 2010

PARABLE STORY Theological belief is sometimes a murky matter. A candidate for ordination as a minister was asked, "What part of the Bible do you like best?" He said: "I like the New Testament best." Then he was asked, "What Book in the New Testament is your favorite?" He answered, "The Book of the ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Sinner's Friend

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on May 6, 2023

There's the story told by Watchman Nee, the Chinese evangelist where he was talking to another Christian in his home. They were downstairs, as was his friend's son. The friend's wife and mother were in an upstairs room. All at once the little boy wanted something and called out to his ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-26, Luke 19:1-10, John 1:14

Tags: Evangelism, Incarnation, Friend Of Sinners

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Strength Through Humility

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Jul 7, 2014

And I must say here, this does not come automatically, we have to work at it and develop it, and many times we grit our teeth as we think we fail every now and again, but I will end with this analogy, it is the best I can up with, it is crude … but think of yourself when you give your offering, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:16-30

Tags: Humility, Strength

Denomination: Episcopal

In 1915, Colonel T. E. Lawrence Was Traveling ...

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Mar 15, 2006

In 1915, Colonel T. E. Lawrence was traveling across the desert with some Arabs. Things were desperate. The food was almost gone, and the water was down to its last few drops. Their hoods over their heads to shelter them from the wind which was like a flame, and which was full of the stinging ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

Commitment

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

Dave Hood tells the story of training to run a 5K run. Every time his wife and he would go running on their favorite trail, they’d walk a little faster, and with a little more gusto. One day, a half mile in and a young lady came at them sprinting towards them. They jumped out of the way so she ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14

Tags: Commitment, Spiritual Growth, Running The Race

Denomination: Methodist

There’s An Old Story Of A Man Who Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Jan 6, 2001

There’s an old story of a man who was walking at night, and saw another man searching for something near a lamp post. Approaching, he asked the man what he was looking for, and the man, without looking up, replied, “My watch”. The first man asked, “Well, precisely where were you standing when ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:5-10

Tags: Knowing God's Will, Love Of The Disciples, Sermon On The Mount

Denomination: Orthodox

During One Of His Great Campaigns, D L Moody Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Jonathan Campbell on May 20, 2011

During one of his great campaigns, D L Moody was approached by a man who had been to a number of the services and who, although convicted of his need for Christ, had kept on postponing a decision. Now the last night had come. The appeal was over, the people were going home, the work crew was busy ...read more

Scripture: John 19:30

Tags: Salvation, Justification

A Few Good Men –col Jessup, Guantanamo Bay Cuba - ...

Contributed by Curt Cizek on Sep 15, 2007

A Few Good Men –Col Jessup, Guantanamo Bay Cuba - “I eat breakfast 300 yards from 4,000 Cubans who are trained to kill me so don’t think for one second that you ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Throwing In The Towel

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on Dec 30, 2008

THROWING IN THE TOWEL I don't know whether you are a lover of boxing as a sport or not, but when a boxer has had enough, the trainer can 'throw in the towel." This signifies we just can't go on any further... We often use the turn of phrase to say were giving up. If were honest, there may be ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Baptist

Needing A Push  PRO

Contributed by Sean Harder on Sep 30, 2010

NEEDING A PUSH A man and his wife are awakened at 3 o'clock in the morning by a loud pounding on the back door. The man gets up and goes to the door where a drunken stranger, standing in the pouring rain, is asking for a push. "Not a chance," says the husband, "It is three o'clock in the ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-17

Tags: Service, Compassion, Giving, Servanthood

G. K. Chesterton: The Christ-Child

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2006

The Christ-child lay on Mary’s lap, His hair was like a light. (O weary, weary is the world, But here is all aright.) The Christ-child lay on Mary’s breast, His hair was like a star. (O stern and cunning are the kings, But here the true hearts are.) The Christ-child lay on Mary’s heart, ...read more

Tags: Christmas Eve

Helen Rosavere Is An English Woman Who Had ...  PRO

Contributed by Darren Ethier on May 7, 2002

Helen Rosavere is an English woman who had interests in becoming a doctor and serving Do. Upon completion of her medical training at Cambridge University, Helen began to ask God where he would want her to serve. Before long, God directed Helen to an area in the Congo (Africa) which had a population ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-10

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Discipleship

Denomination: Pentecostal

But As We Leave Today I Want You To Forget ...

Contributed by Sean Harder on Jun 16, 2010

But as we leave today I want you to forget everything I said for a minute, and think about this (hold up a bag of coins). I have two dollars in change here and I’m giving it away to the first adult that runs up here and gets it. Hey let’s not trample each other. The majority of the world, 53% of ...read more

Tags: Money, Welfare

A U.s. Volunteer Nurse Does What She Can In Haiti ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 28, 2010

A U.S. Volunteer Nurse Does What She Can In Haiti After an Earthquake John Wesley had this for his rule of life: Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can. We ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:14

Tags: Compassion