In Sermon Illustrations: "Cup Of Salvation"

Grab The Rope

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Aug 1, 2018

Main Idea: To be saved, you must let go of what you are trusting in and grab onto Jesus. Verse: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:30-31 NKJV). Illustration: One time there was a man who ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:30-31

Tags: Trust In Jesus, Faith, Salvation

Denomination: Charismatic

Faith Is More Than Mental Assent

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Aug 2, 2018

Main Idea: Putting your faith in Jesus is more than just believing Jesus once lived. Verse: “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” (James 2:19 NLJV) Illustration: Have you ever heard of George Washington or Abraham Lincoln? They were both American ...read more

Tags: Faith, Salvation, Belief In Christ

Denomination: Charismatic

False Converts

Contributed by Rick Palmer on Oct 5, 2018

As an archery deer hunter I walk a lot out in nature. Yesterday as I was walking across a corn field I found a small branch of pretty colored leaves. My wife loves collecting leaves and doing crafts with them. I looked around and there were no trees with in a great distance from the leaves. How ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6, Matthew 4:17, John 3:16-18

Tags: Grace, Believe, Salvation, Repentance

Faith

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Aug 20, 2022

“In the last resort faith is an act of will, inspired by love. Our love may be chilled and our will eroded by the spectacle of the shortcomings, folly, and even sins of the Church and its ministers, but I do not think that one who ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1, John 20:27

Tags: Faith, Doubt, Belief, Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Moody's Attitude Toward Death

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 13, 2022

Thousands came to faith in Christ through Moody’s meetings. As he approached the end of his life, he viewed Heaven as something to anticipate. Moody wrote: “Some day you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody of East Northfield, is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:27

Tags: Death, Heaven, Salvation, Funerals

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Redemtion - The Bank Ledgers

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 3, 2023

Hear Gods Word: BIBLE God made him who had no sin ....to be sin for us ... so that in him ... we might become ... the righteousness ... of God. END (2 Corinthians 5:21) Years ago ...... when I was a young banker in Ohio, ... we used large leather-bound ledgers ......where all accounts... were ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 1:3-14

Tags: Blood, Salvation, Redemption, Ledgers

Denomination: Anglican

I Don't Believe In Hell

Contributed by Raymond Petzholt on Jul 5, 2023

Illustration: “I don’t believe in Hell.” The fact that a lot of people have a tough time believing in a literal Hell was brought home to me in a very meaningful way. When I pastored in Chino, CA we lived in a parsonage right next to the Church. I soon noticed that a certain man was walking up ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:28, Mark 9:43-45, Luke 16:23

Tags: Hell, Salvation, Facing Death

Denomination: Baptist

From Boxer To Preacher

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Mar 22, 2025

George Foreman died in March 2025 at age 76. Foreman was a heavyweight boxer for the USA in the 1968 Olympic Games - winning the Gold medal. He later became a professional Boxer and world Champion. In 1977 after a fight with heavyweight Jimmy Young, Foreman had a crisis experience. He thought he ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10, Luke 19:1-10

Tags: Salvation, Gospel, Born Again

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Charlie Peace

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jun 3, 2026

Story: Charlie Peace was a notorious English criminal who lived in the 1800’s. He was eventually captured and sentenced to death by hanging When he was being taken to the gallows, a priest followed him reading about heaven and hell. At the mention of hell, Peace reportedly said: “Sir, if I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Tags: Hell, Salvation By Walking On Glass

Denomination: Anglican

I Aint The One Who Is Lost!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 12, 2023

A businessman was traveling through the country and stopped to ask a young boy for directions. "Son, I seem to be lost. Do you know how to get to next town?" The boy was eating an ice cream cone and slowly replied, "Nope." "Do you know far it is to the next ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, 1 John 5:1-13

Tags: Children, Salvation, Humor, Lost, Eternal Life, Saved, Plan Of Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Before It's Too Late—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 6, 2002

BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE--COMMUNION MEDITATION USA Today had an article on the front page about those who escaped the World Trade Center on September 11. After interviewing over 300 survivors and family members of victims, USA Today concluded that in the South tower those who didn’t delay but ran ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:2, Acts 2:37-40

Tags: Bread, Blood Of Christ, Becoming A Christian, Adjustment, Cup, Communion, Repentance, Sacrifice, Wine, Lord's Supper  (view more)  (view less)

[233]. A Message From A Poem - Remember Me Until I Come

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 21, 2025

[233]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - REMEMBER ME UNTIL I COME This poem was written as a Communion meditation with the view of being a Communion hymn. It uses a Metre 12 in the four lines. I adapted this for another poem based on this one using a Metre 10 that can be sung to various tunes. At the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20, 1 Corinthians 11:24-26

Tags: Passover, Cup, Remember Me, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Until I Come, Communion, Bread, Remember  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dr. Barnhouse Used This Illustration To Portray ...  PRO

Contributed by Lynell Friesen on May 24, 2001

Dr. Barnhouse used this illustration to portray this simple truth to his congregation and I would like to share it with you. A young man, suffering from amnesia, lived a new life amid his old surroundings; he could remember nothing that had happened before he fell off a haywagon. As he fell, ...read more

Tags: Sin Fall Of Man, Assurance Of Salvation

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Man Was Watching The News One Night When It ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Sutherlin on Jun 5, 2001

A man was watching the news one night when it was reported that a car was going the wrong direction on the freeway. The man knew his wife was on that freeway and became very concerned so called her on her cell phone. She answered and he said, "Dear, there’s one car going ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:12

Tags: Universalism, Assurance Of Salvation, Sermon On The Mount

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

John Vassar Won A Blacksmith To The Lord While ...  PRO

Contributed by Evie Megginson on Aug 13, 2001

John Vassar won a blacksmith to the Lord while working at the blacksmith's shop. As he was putting the horseshoe he was working on into the fire, John Vassar told him about hell, and it ...read more

Tags: Second Coming, Hell, Assurance Of Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

Martin Luther: Feelings  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Mar 12, 2002

Feelings come and feelings go And feelings are deceiving; My warrant is the Word of God, Naught else is worth believing. Attributed to Martin Luther, ...read more

Tags: Emotions, Assurance Of Salvation, Apologetics The Bible

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Saved From Our Rubble Of Sin- Communion ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Sep 10, 2002

SAVED FROM OUR RUBBLE OF SIN- COMMUNION MEDITATION The September 11, 2002 issues of TIME magazine has a touching article about 31-year old Genelle Guzman. Genelle was the last of just four people caught in the debris of the Twin Towers to be found alive. After the planes hit the World Trade ...read more

Tags: Lord's Supper, Lordship Of Christ, Salvation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Term "Golden Hour" Was Originally Coined By ...

Contributed by Troy Brewer on Dec 19, 2002

The term "golden hour" was originally coined by Dr. R Adams Cowley of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services, who is regarded as the pioneer of modern trauma care. Dr. Cowley advocated that most trauma patients die of shock, which comes from sluggish or non-existent circulation ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Evangelism Urgency, Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On The 4th Of July, My Family Went To A Drive In ...  PRO

Contributed by James Chandler on Jul 7, 2003

On the 4th of July, my family went to a drive in movie theater. We saw the movie "Finding Nemo". The movie was about a little fish named Nemo who swam too close to a boat. He was captured by a scuba diver and put in a fish tank in the office of a dentist. The whole movie was about Nemo’s ...read more

Scripture: John 8:36

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, God's Forgiveness, Salvation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Did You See The Move Shallow Hal? It Is A Movie ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Oct 19, 2003

Did you see the move Shallow Hal? It is a movie about an unattractive, really shallow middle-aged man named Hal Larsen who judges women on how “hot” they are. But then one day, Hal gets stuck on a stalled elevator with a motivational guru who helps him overcome his shallowness by hypnotizing him ...read more

Tags: Salvation, Promises Of God, God The Father

Denomination: Methodist