In Sermon Illustrations: "Delivered From Sin"

When A Bar Had More Faith Than The Church!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 8, 2022

DO YOU BELIEVE IN PRAYER? A tale is told about a small town that had historically been “dry,” but then a local businessman decided to build a bar. A group of believers from a local church were concerned and planned an all-night prayer meeting to ask God to intervene. It just so happened that ...read more

Tags: Church, Prayer, Humor, Jokes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Easter, Easter

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Mar 11, 2023

Is Easter just a holiday, with dyed eggs and yummy candy? Is it a time when children play and all dress so fine and dandy? Is Easter when adults find some much-needed relaxation? Is it a break from their work to enjoy a short vacation? Or does Easter remind us how Christ died our debt to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-10

Tags: Holiday, The First Day Of The Week, Easter, Resurrection, Calvary  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Why Study The Book Of Esther?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 21, 2023

WHY STUDY THIS BOOK? • To learn important lessons about the Providence of God – especially His ability to preserve His people, despite the severity of threats from formidable adversaries. • To encourage us to continue to trust in God and His Providence when circumstances around us seem darkest ...read more

Tags: Trials, Sovereignty Of God, Faith, Esther, God, Persecution, Israel, God's Providence  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 9, 2024

Lead us not into temptation! A driver tucked this note under the windshield wiper of his automobile for a police officer to read. "I've circled the block for 20 minutes. I'm late for an appointment, and if I don't park here, I'll lose my job. Forgive us our trespasses, ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15, 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Faith, Forgiveness, Lust, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Prayer, Temptation, Trial, Test, Police Officers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Winnowing Fork

Contributed by Subasini Peter on May 8, 2024

God's winnowing fork Imagine God being so good, loving and kind now will have a winnowing fork in His hand to separate the chaff from the grain. All our works in a lifetime we have done will be judged by God. All the works that do not glorify the name of Jesus Christ will be separated. We ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:12

Tags: Grain, Seed, Winnowing Fork

The Sheep Who Went "moo"

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 22, 2025

A flock of sheep are grazing in a field, happily going "baa baa" to one another and discussing life as usual when suddenly they hear a "moo mooooooooooo!" They look around &see only sheep. They carry on grazing as before. "Moo moo!" One sheep can hear it all too ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:26-31, 1 Corinthians 9:19-22, Nehemiah 8:8, Acts 2:5-13

Tags: Language, Midrash, Reading, Paraphrasing, Translating  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

There Were 15 In Sunday School -- Counting Jesus

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Oct 3, 2025

A little girl returning from Sunday School was asked by her grandmother how many had been in her class that day. And she replied, "There were 15 of us, -- Counting Jesus." *Rejoice in the Lord, Christians! He is here with us, and in us this morning. And Jesus wants to change our lives ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Tags: Evangelism, Paul, Salvation, Missions, Silas, Crisis, Christian Service, Philippian Jailer, Demon Possession, Spiritual Transformation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Taxi Driver

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

A taxi passenger tapped the driver on the shoulder to ask him a question. The driver screamed, lost control of the car, nearly hit a bus, went up on the footpath, and stopped centimeters from a shop window. For a second, everything went quiet in the cab, then the driver said, "Look mate, ...read more

Tags: Hearse, Taxi

Denomination: Anglican

God Knows Where We Are  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 23, 2011

GOD KNOWS WHERE WE ARE Ken Gaub wrote about an experience he had back in the 1990s: "Do you believe that God not only loves you, but knows where you are and what you’re doing every minute of the day? I certainly do after an amazing experience I had several years ago. "At the time I was driving ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-18

Tags: God's Omniscience, Love Your Enemies

The Mission Of David Livingstone  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 30, 2011

THE MISSION OF DAVID LIVINGSTONE The modern missionary movement really got started about 150 years ago with people who were concerned about the continent of Africa. There was a Scottish preacher by the name of Robert Moffatt who was serving in South Africa. He returned to Scotland to try to enlist ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:14-24

Tags: Missions, Intercessory Prayer

A Little Girl's Prayer  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Oct 15, 2001

A LITTLE GIRL’S PRAYER One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do she died, leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity ...read more

Scripture: James 5:17, Hosea 6:2

Tags: Faith, Prayer General, Prayer Answered, Prayer

Denomination: Lutheran

Pursuing Butterflies!" Luke 22:24-30 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 1, 2005

“Pursuing Butterflies!” Luke 22:24-30 Key verse(s) 24:“Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.” We live to benefit ourselves and not others. Are you offended by this statement? It certainly isn’t what the Bible teaches. The Bible teaches us to put others ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:24-30

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Lutheran

May 5, 2004 "You Can Walk Boy!" John 16: 19-24 ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 4, 2004

May 5, 2004 “You Can Walk Boy!” John 16: 19-24 Key verse(s): 21 “‘A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.’” Why do Christians have to suffer? If I had ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-11

Tags: Hardship Of Life

I Was Fortunate To Grow Up In A Home Where My ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 22, 2004

I was fortunate to grow up in a home where my father was both a loving and disciplining presence. I guess I would have to say that if there is anything I really remember about my dad is this, he possessed a presence unlike any other person in my life. To me he was always larger than life. He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 16:1-12

Tags: Father's Day, Parenting

Denomination: Lutheran

It Was An Unusually Cold Day For The Month Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Nov 1, 2004

It was an unusually cold day for the month of May. Spring had arrived and everything was alive with color. But a cold front from the north had brought winter’s chill back to Indiana. I sat with two friends in the picture window of a quaint restaurant just off the corner of the town squire. The food ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 107:5-7

Tags: Faith, Christian Disciplines, Consequences, Choice

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Wish I Had Torn It To Pieces  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

“I WISH I HAD TORN IT TO PIECES” On December 26, 2002, Jack Whittaker’s life changed forever Jack had grown up in West Virginia and he knew that it was like to be poor. At the age of 55 all of that had changed. It had changed with a lot of hard work and perseverance. He had managed to scrape ...read more

Tags: Parable Prodigal Son

Every Grandparent Can Testify That If Someone ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

Every Grandparent can testify that if someone would have just told them that grandchildren were so much fun, the choice would have been made to have them first! **** She was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup, under the watchful eyes of her young granddaughter as she'd done many times before. ...read more

Tags: Family

Anzac ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 27, 2010

ANZAC Day For those who do not know, ANZAC day is not the day to celebrate Australia’s victories, nor do we celebrate how great our country is. Rather we celebrate the sacrifice and loss of the young men and women who protect other people’s freedom. Australia has never been seriously attacked or ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 22:26-51

Tags: War

Sully And Second Nature

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 30, 2011

"SULLY" AND SECOND NATURE Thursday, January 15, 2009, was another ordinary day in New York City. Or so it seemed. But by that evening people were talking of a miracle. They may have been right. But the full explanation is, if anything, even more interesting and exciting. And it strikes just the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit

Unintentionally Humorous Texts: Micah’s Misfortunes, Part 1

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 7, 2024

Introduction: The days of Israel’s judges, before Samuel and the kingdom, were known as ‘seesaw days”: Israel alternated between being true to the God of Israel, then abandoning Him to worship the idols of other nations. Israel would be oppressed, and then cry out to their God for help, but then ...read more

Scripture: Judges 17:1-6

Tags: Micah, Ephraim, Idols, Teraphim

Denomination: Baptist