In Sermon Illustrations: "Faith And Obedience"

Faith When Faced With Death?  PRO

Contributed by Michael Sechler on Jan 25, 2014

My son, Micah died in 2012 from kidney disease and complications. As he lay dying I wrote this in my journal: "Sitting at the bedside of my dying son at 3:48 in the morning. Weeping like crazy. Bertrand Russell once said that 'no one can sit at the bedside of dying child and believe in God.' Well ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1

Tags: Faith, Trial, Child Death, Belief In God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Inspired To Share Your Faith

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Tom Mercer writes, “Years ago, I heard an incredible story about a guy who, while walking through an intersection in a large city, noticed a police officer directing traffic in the middle of the street. As he walked by, the man sensed the Holy Spirit prompting him to go up to the officer and tell ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4

Tags: Evangelism, Witnessing, Sharing Your Faith

Denomination: Methodist

Faith In God’s Abilities

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Sep 23, 2019

Circumstances will always try to dictate doubt and unbelief every time. Remember this...”Faith isn’t swayed by circumstances, however ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:18-20

Tags: Faith, Doubt, Circumstances, Abilities

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Semper Fi - Forever Faithful

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 12, 2023

One of the most tragic events during the Reagan Presidency was the Sunday morning terrorist bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, in which hundreds of Americans were killed or wounded as they slept. Many of us can still recall the terrible scenes as the dazed survivors worked to dig out their ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Holy Spirit, Commitment, Faithfulness, Fruit Of The Spirit, Works Of The Flesh, Spirit Filled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Faith Becomes Love In Action

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 5, 2023

FAITH IS AN ACTION WORD… Is this real? I place a metal chair in front of the crowd. I talk about how strong the chair appears to be? Then I ask the crowd do you think this chair is strong enough to hold one of us? We discuss why we think this chair could possibly hold a human’s weight. What would ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-9, John 15:13-16, Luke 24:7

Tags: Faith, Love, Action

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Children's Faith

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

"Children’s Letters to God" series, actual authentic letters written by kids to God: "Dear God, I read the Bible. What does ’begat’ mean? Nobody will tell me. Love, Alison." "Dear God, did you mean for the giraffe to look like that or was it an accident?" - ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11, Matthew 18:3

Tags: Childlike Faith, Questions

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Understanding Isn’t Faith

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 16, 2025

The universe is vast. God is infinitely wise. We will never master every “why.” Years ago, I told a friend how much the problem of evil troubled me. “I want to understand how God could permit it.” He listened, then asked—bluntly—“Why do you think you’ll solve what the greatest minds haven’t? Who ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 55:8-9

Tags: Trust, Mystery

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Let Your Faith Be Known

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Mar 31, 2026

The apostles were scared to death when Jesus was being crucified. They were running, denying, hiding, scared. But after they saw with their own eyes that Jesus was now alive, they boldly went into the streets of Jerusalem preaching Jesus declaring the gospel. And all but John died as a martyrs ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1, Acts 10:42, Acts 26:22-23, Matthew 10:32-33

Tags: Witness, Faith, Confess, Testimony, Outspoken, Charlie Kirk, Frankie Muniz  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Growing A Beard At The School I Attended Was Not ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Mar 28, 2010

GROWING A BEARD at the school I attended was not an option. It was written into the rules and policies - don’t grow one or be suspended or expelled. I decided at 14 that I would grow a beard to test this policy (I know, your opinion of me has been damaged but you’ll eventually get over it). I was ...read more

Tags: Obedience, Rebellion

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

True Faith - An Outline Of The Book Of James

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 21, 2023

A good outline of the Book of James and what true faith produces in our lives: 1. True faith responds with practical godliness under testing (Jas 1:2-27). A. True faith responds with joy when it faces testing (Jas 1:2, 3, 4). B. True faith seeks God for wisdom in times of testing (Jas 1:5, 6, 7, ...read more

Tags: Faith, Suffering, Difficulties, Works, Tests, Trials, Problems, Tribulations  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Church Influence On Teens Nominal: New Barna ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 3, 2006

Church Influence On Teens Nominal: New Barna research finds that 56% of teens say they attended church-related activities an average of two or more times per month prior to turning 13. Most likely attendees were those living in the South or Midwest. 26% received general information about God, such ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1, 1 Timothy 4:12-13

Tags: Children, Obedience

Jesus, The Man, Was Thirsty. Pastor And Author, ...

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Apr 10, 2009

Jesus, the man, was thirsty. Pastor and author, Max Lucado reminds us “That’s not THE CHRIST that’s thirsty. That’s the carpenter. And those ...read more

Tags: Obedience, Incarnation

Denomination: Salvation Army

There Was A Tyrannical Husband Who Demanded That ...

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jan 31, 2010

There was a tyrannical husband who demanded that his wife conform to rigid standards of his own choosing. She was to do certain things for him as wife, mother, and homemaker. In time she came to hate him as much as she hated his list of rules. He died and in time she came to love another man whom ...read more

Tags: Love, Obedience

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Bigger ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 13, 2010

THE BIGGER PICTURE In How Life Imitates the World Series, Dave Bosewell tells a story about Earl Weaver, former manager of the Baltimore Orioles. Sports fans will enjoy how he handled star Reggie Jackson. Weaver had a rule that no one could steal a base unless given the steal sign. This upset ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-9

Tags: Obedience, Baseball

Jesus Had A Cup In His Hand, Not A Sword, But ...

Contributed by Tim Spear on Dec 6, 2012

Jesus had a cup in his hand, not a sword, but that cup was His scepter. He was in complete control. --Brian Bell, ...read more

Tags: Obedience, Sword

Denomination: Baptist

God's Doing Something

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 14, 2019

GOD IS DOING SOMETHING Gas Station Business Card A few years ago, I was impressed of God to design a business card that had a picture of hell on the front with the words “GET OUT OF HELL FREE” on the back I placed Salvation Scriptures. I was driving to work early one morning and nearing my exit, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:27

Tags: Obedience, Unexpected

Denomination: Pentecostal

Obscurity

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Aug 20, 2019

In his book Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places, Eugene Peterson recounts the story of the fourth century church father Gregory of Nyssa whose brother Basil had arranged for him to be made bishop of Cappadocia. "Gregory objected," Peterson writes. "He didn't want to be stuck ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-12

Tags: Obedience, Identity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Your Cheatin' Heart

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Aug 12, 2020

Your Cheatin’ Heart is a song written and recorded in 1952 by country music singer and songwriter Hank Williams. However, the song was released after his death in 1953. Your Cheatin’ Heart is considered one of the greatest songs of country music. The song is a slow ballad, telling an ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-27

Tags: Obedience, Compromise

Denomination: Baptist

Your Cheatin' Heart

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Aug 12, 2020

Ft. Knox guards $13 billion in gold. During WWII, the original Declaration of Independence, the original copy of the U.S. Constitution, the first printing of the copy of the Guttenberg Bible, and the original copy of Magna Carta were all moved to Ft. Knox. The security is updated constantly. Not ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-27

Tags: Obedience, Compromise

Denomination: Baptist

The Little Word That Changes Everything

Contributed by David Dunn on Dec 26, 2025

Opening (attention hook) (Hold up a big card with the word IF written on it) “Does anyone know this word?” (Let them shout: IF!) “This is a tiny word… but it can change what happens next.” >> The Story There was a little girl named Lily, and Lily loved to ask questions. One morning her ...read more

Scripture: John 14:15, James 1:22

Tags: Obedience, Choice

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist