In Sermon Illustrations: "Doing"

Why Its Called An Idiot Light

Contributed by Larry Hinkle on Jun 12, 2020

Six months after I bought my first car, the "service engine" light came on. I called my dad from college, "What does that service engine light mean? Can I still drive it, or do I need to fix something?" He chuckled and said, it was an idiot light, "It is set to trigger ...read more

Scripture: John 16:8, Acts 2:38

Tags: Discipleship, Warning, Conscience, Conviction, Maintenance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Cycles Of Dying Churches

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 16, 2022

Almost all churches go through “lifecycles” - they start with a MAN, a visionary leader has a passion to to accomplish a God-given Vision -- then they become a MOVEMENT. At this stage the people are nearly 100% committed. They spend time together at each other’s homes and in Bible studies. Then ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Tags: Dying Churches, Church, Revival, Seven Churches

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Like A Glove

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 23, 2022

Here’s a story of how I explain the Holy Spirit in us to children. I take an empty glove and tell the kids that it's a magic glove. I tell them it is amazing because it can pick things up. Then, I drop it on a hymn book or Bible and tell it to pick up the book. When it doesn't move, I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Holy Spirit, Abiding

The Tithe Belongs To God!

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 13, 2022

You don’t give the tithe, you return it back to God. It belongs to Him! There is a cartoon that shows four frames! 1. In the first frame a man looks at a new car! The salesman says, "10% down and low, low payments for 48 months." The man asks, "Where do I sign?" 2. In the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Tags: Giving, Tithing

The Legacy Of Haddon Robinson

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Oct 7, 2022

Haddon Robinson wrote the classic book on preaching called, “Biblical Preaching.” It has sold more copies than any other preaching textbook. He taught and practised expository preaching to thousands. I had the privilege of being one of his students from 1996-1999 in the Doctor of Ministry program ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:12, 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Tags: Death, Family, Remember, Legacy

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Obituary Of Someone Else

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 20, 2022

Our church was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most valued members, Someone Else.   Someone’s passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Else has been with us for many years and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person’s ...read more

Tags: Service, Sacrifice, Church Members, Volunteers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Meekness When Inconvenienced

Contributed by Richard Tow on Mar 20, 2023

Charles Spurgeon tells the story of an archbishop who lived in a small house in Scotland. He had only one employee, but the employee tended to be forgetful. One day the employee got up before the bishop and decided to go fishing. As he headed out, he locked his Archbishop Leighton in the house with ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:5, Matthew 11:28-29, 1 Timothy 6:11

Tags: Gentle, Humility, Meekness, Contentment, Meek, Gentleness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Everybody Ought To Know!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 17, 2023

I had a friend who pastored in Texas years ago who was going door-to-door to invite people to church and to know Christ. The pastor knocked on one door and an elderly woman answered. He said, “I am here to invite you to our church and to tell you about Jesus Christ. “ The woman said ...read more

Tags: Demons, Rebellion, Lucifer, Spirits, Hell, Satan, Devil, Spiritual Warfare, Angels  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

She Did Not Know Who She Was Talking To

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Mar 2, 2025

One day I called at the counter of the tiny post office in rural Arkansas to pick up a package they were holding for JPH (my company). When the lady bringing my package looked at the PO Box address on it, she said Oh good, you work for JPH. And I said Yes maam I do. She had been watching for ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 13:3, Ephesians 4:29

Tags: Words, Speech, Tongue

Denomination: Charismatic

Charles Blondin

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 21, 2025

Story: In the late 19th century (1859), Charles Blondin (born Jean François Gravelet, 28 February 1824 – 22 February 1897)a famous tightrope walker had a tightrope placed across the Niagara Falls in the USA. He then proceeded to walk across it with a wheelbarrow in front of him. Having ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:22-30

Tags: Blondin, Niagara Falls, Wheelbarrow

Denomination: Anglican

Amazing Grace

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

Amazing Grace Paul wrote of a higher righteousness that comes from God himself and never depends on our doings. Whenever we know that righteousness of God firsthand, it always changes our lives. One man tells that one day he blundered into an affair with someone else’s wife. He was weak and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-16

Tags: Higher Righteousness, Amazing Grace

Denomination: Anglican

Paul Little Made This Observation "I Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Oct 30, 2000

Paul Little made this observation “I was frustrated out of my mind, trying to figure out the will of God. I was doing everything but getting ...read more

Tags: Disciplines Meditation, Knowing God's Will

Denomination: Wesleyan

Experts Know What Should Be Done; Leaders Know ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Experts know what should be done; leaders know what should be done and how to get people to do it. Quoted in C. Barber, ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bruce Bickel And Stan Jantz In Their Book God Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Jul 23, 2005

Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz in their book God is in the Small Stuff for Your Marriage, say, “At the wedding you say, “I do.” ...read more

Tags: Marriage Commitment

Denomination: Church Of God

Nothing In Vain

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 8, 2006

God and nature do nothing in vain. Aristotle (384–322 B.C.), Greek philosopher. Politics, bk. 1, ...read more

Tags: God The Father

When W. C. Fields Was On His Deathbed, A Visitor ...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 8, 2006

When W. C. Fields was on his deathbed, a visitor found him reading the Bible. Asked what he was doing, he replied, "Looking for ...read more

Tags: Death Nearness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Unprotected A New Harris Poll Finds While 88% Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 19, 2007

Unprotected A new Harris Poll finds while 88% of PC owners have anti-virus software, 65% do not update it ...read more

The Strength Of The Constitution Lies Entirely ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

The strength of the Constitution lies entirely in the determination of each citizen to defend it. Only if every single citizen feels duty bound to do his ...read more

Tags: America

If You Want To Make Enemies, Try To Change ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"If you want to make enemies, try to change something. You know why it is: to do things today exactly the way ...read more

Tags: Change

The Expression Of Christian Character Is Not ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"The expression of Christian character is not good doing, but God-likeness. If the Spirit of God has transformed you within, you will exhibit Divine ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ