In Sermon Illustrations: "Faith Vs Works"

We Saw Your Smoke Signal!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 15, 2019

I read a story about a shipwreck. When the sole survivor reached a small, uninhabited island, he prayed for God to rescue him, but help didn't come. Eventually he built a hut out of driftwood for protection from the elements. One day he returned from scavenging for food and found his hut in ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Will Of God, God's Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Humanism

Contributed by Richard Tow on Nov 17, 2020

"During the construction of Emerson Hall at Harvard University, president Charles Eliot invited psychologist and philosopher William James to suggest a suitable inscription for the stone lintel over the doors of the philosophy department. After some reflection, James sent Eliot a line from ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:20, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Jude 1:25, Ephesians 3:21, 2 Corinthians 10:17, Romans 16:27, Psalm 8:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Glory, Man, God, Doxology, Glorifying, Perspective, Pride, Worldview, Orientation, Humanism, Boast  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Funny Marriage Proposal

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

FUNNY LOVE STORY Ruth Chudrow stated that she met her husband “while I was working in a science library. He came in every week to read the latest journals and eventually decided to take out the librarian instead of the books. After a year and a half of dating, he showed up at the library and ...read more

Tags: Love, Marriage, Humor, Weddings, Proposals  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Parable From A Peanuts Cartoon

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 19, 2022

We need another revival like Pentecost! It will come when walking and working together! As Vance Havner said, “Snowflakes are fragile things, but when they stick together... they can stop traffic!” In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist ...read more

Tags: Unity, Jokes, Cartoons, Church, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Revival, Humor  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Poor Short-Term Memory

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

A man was working in his backyard one day when his neighbor began talking to him over the fence. He said, “Yeah, my wife and I went to one of those seminars yesterday, you know, where they teach you ways to improve your memory and such.” His neighbor commented, “Really? What was the name of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:19

Tags: Communion, Lord's Supper

A Whole New Understanding Of Patience

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 22, 2024

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to "run with endurance" the race set before us. George Matheson wrote, "We commonly associate endure or patience with lying down. We think of it as the angel that guards the couch of the invalid. Yet, there is a patience that I believe to be harder -- the ...read more

Tags: Patience, Prophets, Waiting On The Lord, Job, Endurance, Second Coming  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Surprise Surprise!

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

Blog stories: “Today, I went to my new job at a pre-school. I was really excited because everything was going so well, and a little boy even said he was drawing a picture of me. He even gave it to me when he was finished. Well it was me, but I was also on fire and being stabbed and shot multiple ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:13-17

Tags: Anger, Reaction, Surprise

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Little Things Add Up

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 15, 2025

MY SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER TOLD A STORY OF A MAN THAT WORKED IN THE COAL MINES IN EAST TENNESSEE. The man drove a coal truck from the coal temple to the rail road loading dock. It was a short quick trip. Each time the driver drove by the house where he lived. He made a quick stop threw a very large ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:13

Tags: Small, Little

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Goal Of Spiritual Gifts

Contributed by John Bright on Sep 24, 2025

Spiritual Gifts were documented in Class Meetings within the Wesleyan tradition. It was there that members shared their lives – the successes and the struggles. They would search the Scriptures for answers, and they would pray for each other. Those prayers included listening for a Word from the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11, 1 Corinthians 12:28

Tags: Small Groups, Class Meeting, Love, Spiritual Gifts

Denomination: Methodist

Pledge -- Prayer

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 6, 2025

Two men were arguing at work one day about religion. Neither really knew what they were talking about. Finally one said, “Man, you don’t know anything about religion. I’ll bet you ten dollars you can’t even repeat the Lord’s Prayer.” The other grinned. “Oh yeah? It’s a bet!” He straightened up ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:105

Tags: Scripture, Discipleship, Truth, Authority

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Crowd Jumps To Its Feet. Many Clench Tissues ...  PRO

Contributed by Everette Pafford on Apr 15, 2002

The crowd jumps to its feet. Many clench tissues or wipe tears on their sleeves. The applause is thunderous, intermingled with cheers and praise to God. Who would have guessed a developmentally challenged teen could invoke such a response? For my son, Christopher Kline, from Madison ...read more

Tags: Jesus Teachings, Children

Denomination: Pentecostal

Whoever Takes The Son  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Dec 2, 2003

Whoever Takes the Son Many years ago, there was a very wealthy man who shared a passion for art collecting with his son. They had priceless works adorning the walls of their family estate. One day, the nation was at war and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, ...read more

Tags: Christmas Advent

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Dad's Coming Home--Mom's In The Kitchen!" John ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 16, 2004

“Dad’s Coming Home--Mom’s in the Kitchen!” John 16: 1-16 Key verse(s): 7: “But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” Growing up, one thing that I always was pretty sure of was ...read more

Scripture: John 16:1-16

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Lutheran

Have You Heard The Story Of Charlie Riggs? Over ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 13, 2005

Have you heard the story of Charlie Riggs? Over 50 years ago, he came to Christ and was discipled by a young man named Lorne Sanny, who himself was being discipled by Dawson Trotman, founder of the Navigators. Charlie was willing to grow in Christ, but he was a bit rough around the edges and ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

When I Was A Little Girl, I Can Still Remember ...

Contributed by Elizabeth Stutler on Jul 14, 2007

When I was a little girl, I can still remember seeing a picture of Jesus. He had curly blonde hair, blue, blue eyes and skin as fair as fair can be. Is that how we picture our Jesus? Do we really grasp how Jesus looked the battering and scars that he bore for us? Sure we see the crown of thorns ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

The Auction

Contributed by Darrin Fish on Dec 7, 2007

Years ago, there was a very wealthy man • Who, along with his devoted son, shared a passion for art collecting. • Together they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. • Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of ...read more

Tags: Rooted In Christ

Denomination: Christian Church

The Resurrection Of Debbie" (From The Case For ...  PRO

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Jan 2, 2008

“The Resurrection of Debbie” (from The Case For Christ – Strobel, Pg.325) Habermas rubbed his graying beard. The quick fire cadence and debater’s edge to his voice were gone. No more quoting of scholars, no more citing of Scripture, no more building a case. I had asked about the importance of the ...read more

Tags: Dad, Father, Sincere, Talent, Time  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

John Wesley's ...

Contributed by Andy Grossman on Jun 3, 2008

John Wesley’s Diary: July 7, 1739. — I had an opportunity to talk with him (some preacher friend) of those outward signs which had so often accompanied the inward work of God. I found his objections were chiefly grounded on gross misrepresentations of matter of fact. But the next day he had an ...read more

Tags: Supernatural

Denomination: Holiness

Auto Body Repair Ministry--I Have A Friend Back ...

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Feb 9, 2010

- AUTO BODY REPAIR MINISTRY--I have a friend back home, Michael. Michael is without a doubt a man with a call from Jesus Christ into ministry. Michael ministry is owning and running an auto body repair shop. Running an auto body repair shop may sound like the farthest thing there is from a church, ...read more

Tags: Workplace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Pitcher Of Grace

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 28, 2010

A PITCHER OF GRACE This past week I read this story about grace that I would like to share with you all this morning. This story is about a man named Henry Moorehouse One evening as Henry was walking along the street he saw a little girl coming out of a basement store carrying a pitcher of milk. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Grace