In Sermon Illustrations: "Effectual Calling"

The Beginning Of Marilyn Manson

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Feb 27, 2012

THE BEGINNING OF MARILYN MANSON Brian Warner started going to church with a friend years ago. Brian was a skinny pizza faced nerdy looking kid that nobody liked. He was also a loner who looked out of place most of the time. The youth group took a trip to an amusement park one weekend and when ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Loving Neighbour

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Feb 29, 2016

A Little Pointer on Keeping a Balance Here’s a little bonus tip that I’ve found helpful to keep my wits about me as I live next to these wild Vikings we call sinners, pagans, and wacko unbelievers while keeping my vertical relationship with God strong. It’s called “whimsical holiness,” which is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:34

Tags: Witnessing Tools, Loving Neighbor

Denomination: Baptist

Rejoice, We Conquer!

Contributed by Roger Byrd on Jul 18, 2021

In the year 490 B.C., the Persian Army, seeking to invade Greece, landed a large force 26 miles outside of Athens. The huge army disembarked from their warships and gathered on the plains of a place called Marathon. There they prepared to attack the Greek Army and establish their presence in ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:15

Tags: Victory, Historical

Denomination: Baptist

A Kiss That Changed A Prodigal Into A Preacher!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 15, 2022

The late Joe Bayly was a gentle, godly Christian leader. I once heard him tell how one of his sons rebelled back in the days of the hippie movement. He grew his hair long and moved into a communal flophouse. Late one night, Bayly received a call informing him that his son was being held at one of ...read more

Tags: Prodigal Son, Fathers, Fathers And Sons, Luke 15, Parables, Lost, Father's Love, Unconditional Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sailing Into A New Harbor (Funeral)

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 1, 2023

BIBLE For I am already being poured out ... like a drink offering, ... and the time has come for my departure. ..... I have fought the good fight, .... I have finished the race, .... I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, .... which the Lord, .... the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Tags: Death, Ship, Funeral, Departure, Harbor, Horizon  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Moved By Grace

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 20, 2023

The word itself... grace... has become trite and debased through misuse and overuse. It does not move us the way it moved our early Christian ancestors. In some European countries, certain high ecclesiastical officials are still called, Your Grace. Sportswriters spoke of Michael Jordan's easy ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:17

Tags: Grace, Lacking In Grace, Scandal Of Grace

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Story About Graduation Car

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 21, 2025

Story: The son of a wealthy man expected to receive a sports car for his graduation. Instead his Dad called him into his study, told him that he loved him and handed him a wrapped-up present. When he opened it, he found it to be a box containing a leather bound Bible, with his name inscribed on ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:9-14

Tags: Treasure, Graduation Present

Denomination: Anglican

One Line Sermons

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 25, 2025

Be Fishers of Men … You catch ‘em, He’ll clean ‘em. A family altar can alter a family. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing. Don’t put a question mark where God put a period. Don’t wait for six strong men to take you to church. Exercise daily. Walk with the Lord! Forbidden fruits ...read more

Tags: Wisdom, One Line Sermons

Denomination: Anglican

My Friend Allen

Contributed by Jesse Bennett on Nov 19, 2008

MY FRIEND ALLEN After many years of prayer by friends and family, Allen finally surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. Initially when I met Allen he hadn’t surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. There was just something about Allen, even when he was upset with you, you couldn’t help but like the ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Baptist

Those Little Maybe's! (08.12.05--Character ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 11, 2005

Those Little Maybe’s! (08.12.05--Character Counts!--Romans 5: 3-4) A drought tests the metal of a man. It tests his fortitude and his faithfulness. It also tests his resourcefulness and his ingenuity. I come from a long line of “resourceful” folks who seemed to see in every bleak and forlorn ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-4

Tags: Perseverance, Character, Diligence, Faith

Denomination: Lutheran

Those Nasty Redo's! (10.06.05--Beginning ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 4, 2005

Those Nasty Redo’s! (10.06.05--Beginning Again!--Genesis 16:7-10) Time is one of the most precious commodities that God gives us daily. The time to do things is always limited. And, we need to balance the things we want to do with the things we need to do. Therein is the tension. I start each ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:7-10

Tags: God's Forgiveness, Promises Of God

Denomination: Lutheran

Stop The Bleeding But Heal The Wound! ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 4, 2005

Stop the Bleeding But Heal the Wound! (10.07.05--Beginning Again!--Genesis 16:7-10) There is one good rule for starting over. If something’s broken, don’t try to fix it with anything less than your best effort. The odds are that the more you try to “band-aid” things, the longer it will take for ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:7-10

Tags: God's Provision, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Lutheran

Thief Gets The Bird  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 30, 2002

THIEF GETS THE BIRD A man in Ontario, Canada returned home one evening to find his more valuable and easily-fenced goodies stacked neatly beside the door. When the homeowner saw the living room was also spattered with blood, he feared the worst for his beloved house pet, a large African parrot. The ...read more

You Are My Sunshine  PRO

Contributed by Johnny Creasong on Dec 20, 2004

You Are My Sunshine Karen was expecting another child and so she worked to prepare little three year old Michael for the birth of his baby sister. Every night Michael saying to his sister in his mother’s tummy. During the delivery of the baby serious complications developed. After many hours of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1

Tags: Christmas, Children

Denomination: Church Of God

The Land Of Beginning Again!" Philippians 3: ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 24, 2005

“The Land of Beginning Again!” Philippians 3: 12-14 Key verse(s): 13-14:“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Lutheran

Order Of The Bath

Contributed by Gary Kins on Jun 25, 2007

Order of the Bath "The Most Honorable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. However, the origin of the Order is said to be medieval, the earliest mention being in 1128. The name derives from the ancient ceremony wherein individuals participated in a ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

They Will Give You Up  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Landry on Mar 31, 2008

THEY WILL GIVE YOU UP Donald Grey Barnhouse led the son of a prominent American family to the Lord. He was in the service, but he showed the reality of his conversion by immediately professing Christ before the soldiers of his military company. The war ended. The day came when one of the ...read more

Tags: Friendship New Friends

Denomination: Baptist

Consistent Christians

Contributed by Paul Dietz on Sep 20, 2008

Consistent Christians I was getting ready to do some research for my weekly sermon so I entered my office and flipped the light switch to the "on" position. It seemed that as soon as I had touched the toggle there was an instantaneous burst of bright light from the light bulb for a millionth of a ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: *other

Francis Chan: Radical Christian Living

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 1, 2010

FRANCIS CHAN: RADICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING Pastor Francis Chan, the senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California wrote in his latest book entitled, "Crazy Love". He has already sold one million copies worldwide; a figure he says demonstrates the extent to which he is not alone in ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38

Tags: Discipleship

Joe Bayly, A Christian Author And Leader, Had A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 2, 2012

Joe Bayly, a Christian author and leader, had a son named Tim who was not following the Lord. This caused great tension in the home until one day Joe told his son he had to move out. Taking Tim aside, he said, "Tim, you're not living for God and you need to leave our home." Tim left, but his ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:4-5

Tags: Parenting