In Sermon Illustrations: "Doing"

Grow Out Of Your Shell

Contributed by Donny Granberry on Jun 21, 2008

GROW OUT OF YOUR SHELL From time to time lobsters have to leave their shell in order to grow. They need their shell to protect them, yet if they do not abandon it the old shell would become their prison – and finally their casket. We are not much different from lobsters. To change and grow we ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Polycarp, The Bishop Of Smyrna Was Brought Before ...

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Aug 25, 2008

Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna was brought before the Roman authorities and told if he cursed Christ he would be released. He replied, "86 years have I served him, and he has done me no wrong: how then can I blaspheme my king who saved me?" The Roman officer replied, "Unless you change your mind, I ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Perhaps The Most Effective Way To Demonstrate ...

Contributed by Brian Harvison on Sep 30, 2008

Perhaps the most effective way to demonstrate God's values and Christ's love to others is to invite and welcome guests into our homes. I can’t help but think of the movie Christmas Vacation. The Griswalds are having Christmas at their home this year; that means everybody will intrude in a way on ...read more

Tags: Hospitality

Denomination: Baptist

Opinions ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

OPINIONS VARY In 1858 a scientific expedition passed through a vast area in the Southwestern United States. A young lieutenant by the name of Ives made this entry in his report: The region we explored is completely without value. It can be approached only from the south and after entering it, ...read more

Tags: Possibilities

I Read Of A Candidate For Ordination Into The ...

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 25, 2008

I read of a candidate for ordination into the ministry. He was having an interview with the bishop on the day before the ordination service. Feeling his unworthiness he said, "Bishop, if you knew how unworthy I am to be ordained by you, you would never lay hands on me." The dear bishop replied, ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Baptist

Some Years Back, The Company With The Brown ...

Contributed by John Herrmann on Nov 14, 2008

Some years back, the company with the brown trucks and brown uniforms - UPS, went public on the stock market for the first time in its 92 year history. The Chairman and CEO then, Jim Kelly said, “We’ve discussed the benefits of private ownership for a long time, but this is something we had to do ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Lutheran

Don't Ignore The Child

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

DON'T IGNORE THE CHILD Recently, I read the story of a traveler in China who remarked on the fact that all the time he was there, some two and a half years, he never saw a single monument or tombstone marking the grave of a child. This is very remarkable, remembering the people's ancestor and ...read more

Tags: Christmas

What A Friend We Have In Jesus  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS One time a rabbi, a priest and a Christian minister were talking about how each of them celebrated Christmas. The minister and priest said that they give thanks for all of God's blessings and on Christmas morning they open their gifts. "We do it a little ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Boat People

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 26, 2009

BOAT PEOPLE There are three kinds of people -- rowboat people, sailboat people, and steamboat people. Rowboat people need to be pushed or shoved along. Sailboat people move when a favorable wind is blowing. Steamboat people move continuously, through calm or storm. They are masters of themselves, ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

What Holiness Is Not

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

WHAT HOLINESS IS NOT John Charles Ryle, Anglican bishop of Liverpool in the 19th century speaks of holiness. He says, "It is not knowledge...nor great profession...nor doing many things...nor zeal for certain matters in religion..." He continues that holiness is not "morality and outward ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:14

Tags: Holiness

Compassion, Lack Of

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 11, 2022

Reading a book called Compassion: A Reflection on the Christian life and the book said, “Compassion is neither our central concern nor our primary stance in life. What we really desire is to make it in life, to get ahead, to be first, to be different. We want to forge our identifies by carving ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38

Tags: Competitive, Pain, Compassion, Suffering

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Prerequisite To Forgiveness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

A pastor finished his message early one Sunday and he wanted to check his congregation’s understanding. So he asked, “Can anyone tell me what you must do before you can obtain forgiveness of sin?” There was a short pause and then, from the back of the room, a small boy spoke up, “You have to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:32-35

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

Let The Lion Out

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 23, 2023

Charles Spurgeon on preaching the Word: There seems to be to have been twice as much done in some ages in defending the Bible as in expounding it, but if the whole of our strength shall henceforth go to the exposition and spreading of it, we may leave it pretty much to defend itself. I do not ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 19:7-11, Deuteronomy 8:1-5

Tags: Bible, Gospel, Truth, Preaching

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pride Is Deceitful

Contributed by Brian Harvison on Oct 4, 2023

You can even have pride in the fact that you aren’t proud • An Amish farmer put on a new pair of overalls • Of course the Amish are famous for their simplicity • So, as he was shaving his mustache one morning he stepped back and admired his new clothes in the mirror • He said This will never do, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 11:12

Tags: Pride, Proud

Denomination: Baptist

Excuses

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 4, 2025

Police officers probably get more excuses than anybody (other than God). Here are some I found around the internet: “Sorry officer, I was throwing those beer cans out the window so my wife won’t see how much I drank tonight.” 😊 “If you are going to write me a ticket, please do it quickly ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:18-20

Tags: Excuses, Police

Denomination: Methodist

Is Comfortable The Goal?

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 22, 2026

Now, it’s tempting to think that you and I don’t have too many things. We only have what we need to live comfortably. That was the goal you and I were sold a long time ago. Is the goal of a Jesus Follower to have a comfortable life? Where do you find that in God’s Word? Last week, one of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:15, Matthew 16:24

Tags: Comfort, Take Up Your Cross

Denomination: Methodist

Michael Is The Kind Of Guy You Love To Hate. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Selfridge on Jan 16, 2003

Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!" He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was ...read more

Tags: Learning, Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Wesleyan

Tipos Y Figuras De La Palabra De Dios ...

Contributed by Major Gerardo Balmori on Mar 23, 2010

TIPOS Y FIGURAS DE LA PALABRA DE DIOS (translation follows) ESPADA. La palabra de Dios es capas de llegar hasta los lugares mas escondidos y profundos del corazón como una espada o bisturí que penetra y opera dejado al descubierto el problema que nadie ve. Porque la palabra de Dios es viva y ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Salvation Army

Spurgeon Quote

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on Aug 17, 2022

I want to read something to you. It’s from a sermon preached by Charles Spurgeon… listen to what he says here… it’s kind of a long quote, but man it’s good. “Everybody admires Luther! Yes, yes, but you do not want anyone else to do the same today. When you go to the Zoological Gardens you all ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Perseverance, Faithfulness

Denomination: Independent/Bible

[328]. A Message From A Poem - Wake Up And Read The Signs!

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 30, 2026

[328]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WAKE UP AND READ THE SIGNS! Those who might follow my writing know that sometimes I address current events and prophetic subjects (eschatology). The reason for doing that is that we might understand the signs of the times. Look at what Jesus said in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, Matthew 16:1-3

Tags: Increase, Rapture, Wake Up, Wickedness, Return, Alert, Signs Of The Times, Read The Signs, Christian Poems, Darker Days  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational