In Sermon Illustrations: "Finding Jesus"

No Believing Without Following

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 12, 2013

John 3:16 and Luke 9:23 have to go together in order for there to be an accurate understanding of the gospel’s invitation. John 3:16 emphasizes believing. Luke 9:23 focuses on following. Those two things must necessarily go together. There is no believing ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Obedience, Jesus Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Whose Side Are You On?

Contributed by Perry Greene on Mar 20, 2013

WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON? One day in 1943 thousands of soldiers were preparing to leave for Europe. The Army, the Navy, and the Marines were preparing to load on the ships. The General decided to have a huge parade through New York City to seek prayer and honor for the men. Many of these brave men ...read more

Tags: Testimonies About Jesus

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Impossible

Contributed by Robert Leroe on May 14, 2013

Madeline L’Engle writes, "If Mary had the courage to take the impossible into her body, can we not have the ...read more

Tags: Mary Jesus Mother

Denomination: Congregational

A Bad Business Meeting

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 28, 2014

A church called a special business meeting of all of its members to vote on a very heated issue. Things got out of hand so badly that one elderly woman of the congregation stood up and said, "I am so ashamed of every one of you here tonight. This is a disgrace! If Jesus knew about this......He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:1-33

Tags: Jesus, Church, Theology

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cast Your Net On The Right Side

Contributed by Herb Pulse on Jun 28, 2017

I come from a fishing family. When I became old enough to walk, I became old enough to experience the wonderful world of fishing. One of things I particularly love is throwing a shad net. Often times it becomes very draining work, and at the tender age of 12 I became the primary go-to-guy for ...read more

Scripture: John 21:6

Tags: Jesus, Net, Cast

Denomination: Christian Church

Two Boys

Contributed by Ray Mckendry on Mar 12, 2019

Two Boys Two young boys are playing happily in the garden and are great companions for some time, but then something bad happens. One boy gets ill and is stunted and is never the same again, while the other one grows to full and healthy mature manhood even though he suffers far more than his sick ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:15, Ephesians 2:16

Tags: Reconciliation, Jesus' Cross

Denomination: Baptist

Not Afraid To Offend God

Contributed by Jw Worcester on Feb 8, 2021

The true “Lord’s Prayer” is John 17, also sometimes called the High Priestly Prayer. In verses 1 – 20 Jesus had already prayed for Himself and His mission. He also prayed for His disciples. Jesus prayed this prayer before Jesus and the disciples left for the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: John 17:22, John 17:24

Tags: Grieve, Knowing Jesus

Calling Me Home

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 13, 2023

I want you all to go back in time with me for a moment when you were a child. We didn’t have xbox, or playstation, or video games. We actually went outside and played face to face with our friends. If you were like me, you'd gather with your friends in the neighborhood and would be out most ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:23-31

Tags: Expectant, Jesus' Voice

Denomination: Baptist

Look!

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 30, 2024

E. Stanley Jones, Methodist Doctor and Missionary to India once wrote: The early Christians did not say: "Look what the world has come to!" - but, "Look what has come to the world." They saw not merely the ruin, but the resource for the reconstruction of that ruin. They ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Jesus, Gospel, Incarnation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Joseph: The Portrait Of Christ (Bible Gateway)

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jan 4, 2025

Joseph: the Portrait of CHRIST (Bible Gateway) The Life of Joseph Genesis 30:24 – Genesis 50:26 1. A shepherd. 2. Loved by his father. 3. Sent unto his brethren 4. Hated by his brothers. 5. Prophesied his coming glory. 6. Rejected by his brothers. 7. Endured unjust punishment from his brothers. 8. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 30:24, Genesis 50:26

Tags: Jesus, Joseph, Comparison

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lead By Example

Contributed by John Bright on Oct 3, 2025

Lead by example. This is different than ordering folks around. When James and John ask for places of authority, Jesus warns them against acting like the world. Jesus describes what it will look like in the church: Mark 10:43-45 “43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:43-45

Tags: Jesus, Example, Authority

Denomination: Methodist

The Pit

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 18, 2026

The Pit man fell into a pit and couldn't get himself out. A subjective person came along and said: "I feel for you down there." An objective person came along and said: "It's logical that someone would fall down there." A Pharisee said: "Only bad people fall into ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22-27

Tags: Jesus, Helping Others

Denomination: Methodist

After An Evening Out, Some Parents Returned Home ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 7, 2002

After an evening out, some parents returned home to their children, whom they had left with the baby sitter. They were pleasantly surprised to find the kids fast asleep. When the sitter had been paid—just as she was walking out the door—she communicated this detail: "Oops—almost forgot to ...read more

Tags: Second Coming, Jesus Teachings

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Makes A Hero? Webster’s Defines A ...  PRO

Contributed by Don Haselhuhn on Mar 20, 2001

What makes a hero? Webster’s defines a hero as a person “of distinguished courage, moral or physical; chief character in a play, novel, poem, etc.” One of my wife and my favorite movies is “The Princess Bride.” One character of the movie, Inigo Montoya, fits the definition of hero found in the ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Christian Love

Denomination: Lutheran

I'm Sure Many Of You Will Know The Story Of ...

Contributed by Patrick Malone on Mar 20, 2005

I’m sure many of you will know the story of Victor Hugo’s epic tale LES MISERABLES. Well let me remind you this morning of the opening picture. Jean Valjean, our hero, is released on parole from 19 years of hard labour on a chain gang? His crime, he was caught trying to steal a loaf of bread. And ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Scarab Beetles  PRO

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on Apr 29, 2008

SCARAB BEETLES Many people find beetles and bugs somewhat creepy, but if here’s one beetle in the world that could turn you into a beetle lover - the jewel scarab. Jewel scarabs live in the jungles of Honduras and have the shape of your regular Christmas beetle. But their colours are so dazzling ...read more

Scripture: John 3:3-21

Tags: Christmas, Jesus, Born Again

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lewis Ran From God

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Jan 26, 2009

LEWIS RAN FROM GOD C. S. Lewis, the author of Prince Caspian, did not rejoice to find Jesus. He had been running from Him for his entire life. After a long search into what Christianity was and whether it could be trusted as truth, he said of himself: "The fox had been dislodged from Hegelian ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Mennonite

Looking For The Father  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 30, 2001

LOOKING FOR THE FATHER Author Michael Green writes: Only Jesus fully understands God the Father. Great people have discovered and taught many true and noble things about God. Nobody has known him with the intimacy of Jesus, who could call him Abba, "dear daddy." When that holy man, Mahatma ...read more

Tags: World Religions, Testimonies About Jesus, Jesus Teachings

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Crosses Are Heavy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 11, 2002

CROSSES ARE HEAVY In March of 1997, Scott Mathews wanted the young people of Carthage, Missouri to understand the love of God. The theme for youth group that month was, “The Cross.” So they built a 500 lb, 8 by 14 foot redwood cross. It took ten students to move it. Crosses are heavy, you ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Easter Good Friday, Jesus Christ

A Stone From The Old West

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 11, 2014

THE PRECIOUS STONE NO ONE SAW Back when the Old West was being settled, pioneers flocked across the country to California and Oregon. In one particular spot on the Eastern slopes of the Rockies there was a large, dirt covered rock protruding in the middle of the trail. Wagon wheels were broken on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46

Tags: Jesus Christ, Capstone, Rejecting Christ, Jesus Is Cornerstone