In Sermon Illustrations: "Death on a cross"

Last Lecture

Contributed by Don Hawks on Aug 2, 2008

LAST LECTURE You may have heard about the death of 47 year old Carnegie Mellon University computer-science professor Randy Pausch last week from pancreatic cancer. Pausch was most famous for his "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" speech made last fall just after he learned he had months to ...read more

Tags: Death Nearness

Denomination: Methodist

Meaningless Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 6, 2008

Meaningless Life Mark Twain expressed thoughts about the meaningless of life in view of man’s inevitable death. Shortly before his death, he wrote, "A myriad of men are born; they labor and sweat and struggle;...they squabble and scold and fight; they scramble for little mean advantages over each ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1-18

Tags: Death Nearness

The Last Invitation

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Feb 14, 2009

THE LAST INVITATION While pastoring at the FBC of Cherryville, North Carolina, a disturbance was observed, and shortly afterward a man was taken from the balcony of the church [and placed] in an ambulance. He was dead before they got him to the hospital. He died before the invitation could be ...read more

Tags: Death Nearness

Denomination: Baptist

Over The Past Few Years The Bbc Have Run A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Over the past few years the BBC have run a number of series called the 101 things before you die. 101 places to visit before you die, 101 things to do before you die and 101 things to eat before you die. What they do is get people to write in and suggest their favourite and then they put them ...read more

Tags: Death Nearness

What Do You Want On Your Tombstone?,

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Aug 14, 2007

"What do you want on your Tombstone?," Do you remember the 1995 ads where an executioner asks a condemned man. "Cheese and pepperoni," the man replies in a memorable television commercial for the fastest-growing frozen pizza manufacturer in the United States. Seriously what do you want on your ...read more

Tags: Death Nearness

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Next One

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Aug 16, 2013

THE NEXT ONE Eugene Peterson wrote about visiting a monastery. While on the way to the refectory for lunch, he and the monks he was visiting walked past a graveyard with an open grave. He asked one of the monks which member of the community had died recently, and he was told, "Nobody. That grave ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:12

Tags: Death, Time

Denomination: Baptist

Casualties Of War

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 13, 2014

In the movie Casualties of War, Michael J. Fox plays Private Erikson, a soldier in Vietnam who is part of a squad that abuses a young Vietnamese girl. Though Private Erikson doesn’t participate in the crime, he still struggles with what has happened. He tells "Just because each of us might at any ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:14

Tags: Death, Judgment

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Man Who Made A Pet Out Of A Rattlesnake

Contributed by David Goering on Nov 2, 2019

ILLUSTRATION: the story of the man who made a pet out of a rattlesnake. The "Memphis Commercial-Appeal" tells of a man across the river in Arkansas who had a pet rattlesnake. He had found it as a baby snake, taking it, fed it, and made a pet of it. The reptile would come when he ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Tags: Death, Sin

Praying For Enemies

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

I once invited a guest lecturer to speak to a counseling class I was teaching and asked him to specifically discuss the topic of forgiveness. He told a powerful story from his own life that day to illustrate his point that we should forgive. His brother had many struggles, and one day there was a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-45

Tags: Death, Forgiveness

As She Awoke This Day, Thoughts Of Sunday Danced ...  PRO

Contributed by Ian Biss on Sep 30, 2001

As she awoke this day, thoughts of Sunday danced through her mind, Nancy was looking forward to Easter, the whole family would be coming over to visit this year because they were all close to home. Now that the grandchildren were getting older, the Easter egg hunts became more lively with all the ...read more

Tags: Death, Death Nearness, Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Grace Brethren

An Old Preacher Was Dying. He Sent A Message For ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 8, 2005

An old preacher was dying. He sent a message for his doctor and his lawyer, both church members, to come to his home. When they arrived, they were ushered up to his bedroom. As they entered the room the preacher held out his hands and motioned for them to sit, one on each side of his bed. The ...read more

Tags: Jesus, Crucifixion, Death, Death Nearness

Finish Strong

Contributed by Jeffrey Rowe on Dec 29, 2012

In 2 Tim 4:7 Paul said that death was like finishing the race. Like crossing the finish line. That all of life is really about one thing – finishing well. Accomplishing the dreams and goals that God has for your life. I ran cross country in high school. We’d go out to these golf courses and ...read more

Tags: Death, Running The Race

Denomination: Holiness

He Chose The Nails By Max Lucado (Dust Jacket)  PRO

Contributed by Sean Smuts on Jan 15, 2003

He Chose the Nails by Max Lucado (Dust Jacket) Much has been said about the gift of the cross itself, but what of the other gifts? What of the nails, the crown of thorns? What about the garment taken? What about the garments given? Have you taken the time to open these gifts? He didn’t have ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ, Cross

Denomination: Mennonite

During World War Ii, A Young Paratrooper, David ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Doebler on Apr 16, 2003

During World War II, a young paratrooper, David Webster of E Company, 101st Airborne wrote his mother, “Stop worrying about me. I joined the parachutists to fight. I intend to fight. If necessary, I shall die fighting, but don’t worry about this because no war can be won without young men ...read more

Tags: Cross, God's Provision

Denomination: Lutheran

My Kids Love To Put Their Hand In Mine As We ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jun 6, 2003

My kids love to put their hand in mine as we wander through the park, go to the car, or as we walk through the mall. From time to time I will squeeze their hand twice. When I do, instantly a big smile encompasses their faces. Why? Because two squeezes mean, “I love you.” The Father reached down ...read more

Tags: Cross, Jesus Christ

Denomination: Pentecostal

One Day A Father And His Daughter Were Out For A ...  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jul 11, 2003

One day a father and his daughter were out for a leisurely drive in the country. It was a hot summer day and the windows were rolled down. Suddenly the daughter began screaming and fidgeting in her seat. A bee had just flown inside the car through the open window. This would not have been a problem ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ, Cross

Denomination: Baptist

One Lady Wrote In To A Question And Answer ...  PRO

Contributed by Jason Cole on Mar 30, 2004

One lady wrote in to a question and answer forum. "Dear Sirs, Our preacher said on Easter, that Jesus just swooned on the cross and that the disciples nursed Him back to health. What do you think? Sincerely, Bewildered. Dear Bewildered, Beat your preacher with a cat-of-nine-tails with 39 ...read more

Tags: Cross, Jesus Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

British Clergyman Repudiates The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 6, 2010

British Clergyman Repudiates the Church’s Traditional Understanding of the Cross The Very Reverend Dr. Jeffrey Philip Hywel John believes that the church’s traditional understanding of the cross of Christ is both “repulsive” and “insane.” His comments in the spring of 2007 about the cross ignited a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Tags: Cross, False Doctrine

I Came Across An Interesting Story About A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

I came across an interesting story about a legendary lawyer by the name of Sir Lionel Luckhoo. He was the flamboyant Guyanese barrister who died at the age of 83 and was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s most successful advocate with 245 consecutive successful defenses in murder ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:1-2

Tags: Advocate, Cross Agony

M51 Whirlpool Galaxy

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 12, 2014

M51 Whirlpool Galaxy -- Source: www.hubblesite.org The Hubble Telescope has been orbiting the earth since 1990 taking pictures into deep space. On June 8, 1992 it took a picture of the center of the M51 Whirlpool Galaxy which is 23 million light years from our galaxy. The picture of the core ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:27-56

Tags: Cross, Galaxy, Astronomy