In Sermon Illustrations: "Faith General"

Hope Ain't Hoping

Contributed by John Bright on May 27, 2023

I want to give you a shorthand way of remembering the difference between the hope in our Bibles and the hope out in the world. Hope ain’t hoping. Today, folks plan outside events and say, “I sure hope it doesn’t rain.” Every Sunday, some folks may show up here and say, “I sure hope PJ doesn’t ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-5

Tags: Faith, Hope, Hoping

Denomination: Methodist

Stop Look And Listen

Contributed by David Parks on Oct 11, 2023

Stop Look and Listen Early in the 20th century, with the advent of the automobile, the country's largest railroad became concerned about the many collisions at crossings. The company offered $2,500 for the three best words to use on a warning sign. The top prize winner was paid $833 for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:15-21, Romans 10:17, Psalm 19:1

Tags: Faith, Spirituality, Materialism

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Palm Sunday Is Important

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Mar 26, 2024

In 1997 I traveled to Pittsburgh to attend a Promise Keepers Meeting at Three Rivers Stadium. Men from the Ashland Area Churches rented a bus and traveled there together. Promise Keepers was created to issue a calling to men to live up to their biblical responsibilities to be good Husbands, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11, Isaiah 50:5-7

Tags: Faith, Palm Sunday

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Knowledge Of Jesus

Contributed by Samuel M on May 16, 2024

The knowledge of you (Jesus) changes my understanding of who I am. The words I speak, the way I think, the life I live will radically change when I see you and get to know you Jesus. ‘I’ in me will alter (change or destroy) to become more like you (Jesus). Knowing and seeing you Jesus helps me to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:8

Tags: Faith, Knowledge Of God

Little Is Much If ...

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Aug 22, 2025

LITTLE IS MUCH IF GOD IS IN IT --- BY KITTIE L. SUFFIELD, 1924 IN THE HARVEST FIELD NOW RIPENED, THERE IS A WORK FOR ALL TO DO; HARK! THE VOICE OF GOD IS CALLING, TO THE HARVEST CALLING YOU. LITTLE IS MUCH WHEN GOD IS IN IT, LABOR NOT FOR WEALTH OR FAME; THERE IS A CROWN AND YOU CAN WIN IT ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:4

Tags: Faith, Little Is Much

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Soul Food

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 8, 2025

A certain man who had been absent from church for a long time received an inquiring visit from the Pastor. The man told the Pastor, "I've attended nearly every Sunday for 30 years. In that time, I have heard something like 1,500 sermons. In all of those years, people were shouting ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5, Isaiah 40:31, John 6:35

Tags: Worship, Faithfulness, Nourishment

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Girolamo Savonarola

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

At the very start of his ministry there, Savonarola noticed an elderly woman who used to come and pray regularily before that statue of the Virgin Mary. One day, he took an elderly priest aside who had been serving in the cathedral for many years and said, "Look how devoted this woman is. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Tags: Girolamo Savonarola, Faith

Denomination: Anglican

Corrie Ten Boom

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Nov 28, 2025

Corrie Ten Boom was a Jew that worked with the underground resistance against Hilter. 6 million died. Corrie, her dad Caspar and sister, BETSY were arrested. They were taken into captivity by the Germans in the Jewish Death Camps. Corrie and her sister were captives. In her book THE HIDING PLACE, ...read more

Scripture: Job 42:10, Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Faith, Plan, Trust

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Power Steering

Contributed by Kelly Benton on Feb 3, 2026

Before power steering, turning a car was basically CrossFit. Two hands on the wheel. Face red. Whole body involved. You didn’t turn—you wrestled that thing like it owed you money. Then power steering came along. And suddenly a pinky finger could do what used to take a full upper-body workout. Same ...read more

Tags: Faith, Obedience, Power

Denomination: Other

Heart Transplant

Contributed by Kelly Benton on Feb 3, 2026

A heart transplant doesn’t make a sick heart healthier. It removes the failing heart completely and replaces it with a living one. After surgery, the patient doesn’t just act alive— they are alive. They don’t breathe because they’re disciplined. They breathe because they have a new source of life ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Tags: New Creation, Faith

Denomination: Other

You Can't Have A Triumph Without A Trial, You ...

Contributed by John Davis on Nov 25, 2008

You can’t have a triumph without a trial, You can’t have a Testimony without a test and you can’t have a great Victory until you’ve gone through a great Battle! It’s like the Andre Crouch song "Through it All" one line in the song says "If I never had a problem I wouldn’t know that God could solve ...read more

Tags: Faith, Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Pentecostal

Wesley's Peace  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

WESLEY'S PEACE Although Charles Wesley had been engaged in preaching the gospel with much diligence and earnestness, he did not know what it was to enjoy peace with God until he was in his thirtieth year. Being laid low by an alarming illness, and seeming as if he were going to die, a young ...read more

Tags: Faith Vs. Works

Soft-Iron Magnets

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2009

SOFT-IRON MAGNETS There are two kinds of magnets, steel magnets and soft iron magnets. The steel magnet receives its magnetism from the load stone, and has it permanently; it can get along very well alone in a small way; it can pick up needles and do many other little things to amuse children. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 9:30-33

Tags: Faith Vs. Works

Buechner's Unique Look At Forgiveness

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Mar 19, 2010

BUECHNER'S UNIQUE LOOK AT FORGIVENESS Frederick Buechner is a Presbyterian minister and an author, and he has delightful little book called The Alphabet of Grace. It is somewhat like a dictionary of terms that people of faith commonly use, only Mr. Buechner offers some very uncommon reflections on ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Apologetics Hot, Thom Rainer, Dean Of Billy ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Apologetics Hot, Thom Rainer, Dean of Billy Graham School of Missions says Christian apologetics is a coming hot book genre during CBA’s Independents Day event Cultural conflicts between religions, heightened by the war on terrorism, will drive churches to understand other faiths while defending ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General

Religious America: Because Wealthier Nations Tend ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Religious America: Because wealthier nations tend to place less importance on religion—with the exception of the U.S., Americans’ views are closer to people in developing nations than to the publics of developed nations finds a new Pew Research study. With 6 in 10 Americans saying religion plays a ...read more

Tags: Church General

As We Read This Text, According To Dr. Schmit, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 11, 2008

As we read this text, according to Dr. Schmit, and I quote, "We know that we too are individual members of a large flock of faithful disciples who seek to live as citizens of the kingdom of heaven. In other words, the work we do is never ours alone to accomplish. We do our part and trust that God ...read more

Tags: Church General

The Late Great American Jurist, Judge, Author, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

The late great American jurist, judge, author, and Christian apologist, Simon Greenleaf (1783 - 1853), once said: "There should be a readiness on our part, to investigate with candor to follow the truth wherever it may lead us, and to submit, without reserve or objection, to all the teachings of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15

Tags: Apologetics General

Another Great Man, President Franklin D. ...  PRO

Contributed by Vernon Murray on Mar 4, 2004

Another great man, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, said, “It is hard to lead, when you look over your shoulder and there isn’t anyone there.” Well, that is what happens to Jesus. He comes to his own home town, and he looks over his shoulder and there isn’t anyone there. Well, that isn’t exactly ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

In Front Of Our Own Church, Our Church Sign Has ...

Contributed by Jeff Simms on May 21, 2003

In front of our own church, our church sign has been tampered with. Today, on it is the phrase, “Jesus Loves You”. Kids recently jumbled up all the letters and made it read other things. I placed it back in correct order and found 6 letters missing. I think a christians life is to say to others ...read more

Tags: Communication General

Denomination: Baptist