In Sermon Illustrations: "Crucify Him"

A Savior, Not An Example

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 12, 2011

A SAVIOR, NOT AN EXAMPLE D.M. Stearns was preaching in Philadelphia. At the close of the service a stranger came up to him and said, "I don’t like the way you spoke about the cross. I think that instead of emphasizing the death of Christ, it would be far better to preach Jesus, the teacher and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:10-11

Tags: Jesus Christ

Four Weeks Away From The Spirit

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jun 13, 2011

FOUR WEEKS AWAY FROM THE SPIRIT An Anglican bishop was asked to preach at a conference in England. For many weeks he did not respond to the invitation. Finally, the corresponding secretary for the conference wrote him a note which said, "We must know if you are coming. We need to make our plans." ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Giving Back

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 19, 2011

GIVING BACK Yesterday Marylu and I went to the Ko-ko-mah encampment as we do every year. We love the smell of campfires cooking food, crafts and arts done in an 1800's style, the music, the costumes, the re-enactments. When parking car, I thanked the attendant and said, "This must be a pretty ...read more

Tags: Giving Yourself

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Good God, Good News

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 3, 2011

GOOD GOD, GOOD NEWS Promoting his recent book "Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived", Rob Bell asked these questions: "How could that God (who condemns people to eternal punishment) ever be good? How could that ever be good news?" Well, let’s ask the ...read more

Tags: Hell

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Terrible Grip

Contributed by Johnny A. Palmer Jr. on Dec 8, 2011

THE TERRIBLE GRIP Lucas Sibanda, a South African was walking along a remote path, was minding his own business when a python slithered out from behind some shrubs. Sibanda froze. Within a few seconds the snake had wrapped itself around him and began constricting. Pythons are large snakes that ...read more

Tags: Satan

Denomination: Baptist

The Problem With Being Deceased

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 13, 2012

THE PROBLEM WITH BEING DECEASED ABC News reported a strange story this week: Arthur Livingston, of Prosperity, S.C., may feel prosperous and alive, but his credit report says, "File not scored because subject is deceased." That's because Livingston's bank, Bank of America, has been reporting him ...read more

Tags: Born Again

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Commitment?

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jul 1, 2012

WHAT COMMITMENT? When I was in my first year of ministry, I walked into our District preachers meeting at the same time as Bobbie Potter, who was pastor of Munholland UMC in Old Metairie. He asked if I preach last Sunday which I did. Then he asked, "What did you ask them to commit to?" I said I ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Methodist

In The Ice Age Movies A Squirrel Is On A Neve...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 5, 2015

In the Ice Age movies a squirrel is on a never ending quest for the acorn. He tries and he tries to get that acorn, and meets with a variety of misadventures along the way. He never succeeds in getting the acorn. In one of these movies, the squirrel has a "near death" experience, and finds himself ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:13-16

Tags: Heaven, Alien, Better Life, Better Home, Temporary Home  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Captain Is My Daddy

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 24, 2018

A little boy was standing on the banks of the Mississippi River waving and shouting at a steamboat that was going by. He was beckoning the steamboat to come to shore. A stranger came by and said, “That's foolish young man. The boat will never come ashore for you. The captain is too busy to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:16

Tags: Father, Answered Prayer

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Missing Pieces

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 25, 2020

A not-so- bright gal calls her boyfriend and says, “Please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can’t figure out how to get it started.” He asks, “What is it supposed to be when it’s finished?” The girl says, “According to the picture on the box, it’s a tiger.” Her ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:1-10, Acts 18:24-28

Tags: Wisdom, Learning, Ignorance, Immaturity, Thinking, Gaps, Missing Information, Dunning Kruger  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Motivation

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 31, 2021

. A group of Frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other Frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the two Frogs that they were as good as dead. The two Frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:18-22

Tags: Faithful, Encouragement, Quitting, Persevering, Motivation, Words, Discouragement, Peer Pressure, Effort, Giving Up  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Only Time Jesus Did Not Use "father" In Prayer!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 8, 2022

“Father” is probably the most common term we use in prayer, and rightly so, because that is how Jesus addressed His prayers, using the phrase more than 70 different times. The only prayer Jesus ever prayed without using the name, "Father", was when He was on the Cross and cried out, “My ...read more

Tags: Cross, Prayer, God The Father, Heavenly Father, Holiness Of God, Prayers Of Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Door Is Always Unlocked When You Come Home...

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 15, 2022

J. C. Ryle tells of a mother whose daughter ran away and lived a life of sin. For a long time, no one knew where she was, but she finally came back, turned to Christ in repentance, and believed in Him. Someone asked the mother what she had done to bring her daughter back and she replied, “I prayed ...read more

Tags: Parables, Rebellion, Lost, Lost Sheep, Prodigal Son, Daughters, Parents, Mothers, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Means Business

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on May 28, 2022

Little Johnny was going to a public school and he was doing very poorly in math. So his mother decided to put him into a Catholic school. When she got his report card at the end of the term, his grades in math had improved tremendously. So she asked him why. He replied, "When I saw that ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Cross, Hope In Jesus, Sin's Penalty, Law Upheld

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Door To The Father's House Is Always Open (Father's Day Story)

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 7, 2023

JC. Ryle tells of a mother whose daughter ran away and lived a life of sin. For a long time, no one knew where she was, but she finally came back, turned to Christ in repentance, and believed in Him. Someone asked the mother what she had done to bring her daughter back and she replied, “I prayed ...read more

Tags: Fathers, Families, Children, Father's Day, Prayer, Mothers, Prodigal Son  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hank Aaron And Yogi Berra

Contributed by David Swanger on Jan 19, 2024

There is a story involving Yogi Berra, the well-known catcher for the New York Yankees, and Hank Aaron, who at the time was the chief power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves. The teams were playing in the World Series, and as usual Yogi was keeping up his ceaseless chatter, intended to pep up his ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Tags: Goals, Distractions

The Watchman And His Lamp

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 16, 2025

A watchman was stationed at a railroad level crossing. His duty was simple yet critical: to wave a lantern armed with a light, warning approaching motorists or engineers about an oncoming train. One tragic night, a fatal accident occurred despite his presence. In court, he was asked ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14, Colossians 1:27

Tags: Responsibility, Duty, Authentic

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Have You Heard About The Dog Named ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 13, 2001

ILL. Have you heard about the dog named "August" who was always trying to chase a mule named "Conclusion?" One day he jumped at Conclusion & bit him, & Conclusion kicked back at August. ...read more

Tags: Anger, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When Narvaez, The Spanish Patriot, Lay Dying, His ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 5, 2001

When Narvaez, the Spanish patriot, lay dying, his father-confessor asked him whether he had forgiven all his enemies. Narvaez looked astonished and said, ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Eugene Peterson Comments, "You Live In A World ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jan 12, 2003

Eugene Peterson comments, “You live in a world ruled by the God of Exodus and Easter. He will do things in you that neither you nor your friends would have supposed possible. ...read more

Tags: God The Father, Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Congregational