In Sermon Illustrations: "Follow Jesus"

The Cross Made The Difference

Contributed by David Simpson on Apr 20, 2020

I (David Simpson) grew up as part of the spiritual family of Hardwick Christian Church. Along with my parents and sisters, I learned about Jesus and Bible there. I don’t ever remember a Sunday throughout my childhood and into my teen years when I was not in that church building and doing life with ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:5, John 3:16

Tags: Good Friday, Cross, Lord's Supper, Blood Of Jesus, Cross Of Jesus, Sacrifice Of Jesus, Communion  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Church

One Saturday Afternoon A Father And His Six-Year ...  PRO

Contributed by Brent Zastrow on Apr 18, 2001

One Saturday afternoon a father and his six-year old son Mickey were fishing near a bridge by the Kokomo Reservoir when a woman lost control of her car, slid off the bridge and hit Mikey at a rate of about 50 mph. Sheriff Marr, the boys grandfather, had seen the results of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:10

Tags: Saint, Miracles Of Jesus, Jesus Christ, God's Provision

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Crisis Of All Religion  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Jul 23, 2001

THE CRISIS OF ALL RELIGION Jesus is unique....This is highlighted in the ministry of a well-known missionary in India, Dr. E. Stanley Jones. Jones often lectured to Hindu audiences having Hindus as chairmen of the meetings. On one such occasion the chairman was a chief minister of state. During ...read more

Tags: Apologetics Jesus, World Religions, Testimonies About Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

In May 1897 The Demise Of Author Mark Twain Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim George on Jan 8, 2002

In May 1897 the demise of author Mark Twain was reported a bit too early. When the news reached Mr. Twain he was reported to have said, “The news of my death has been greatly exaggerated.” Had someone thought to go to Mark Twain himself they would have know he was ...read more

Tags: Apologetics Jesus, Testimonies About Jesus, Messianic Prophecies

Denomination: Baptist

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

Staring At The Great Stone Face

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 2, 2023

Perhaps you remember Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story about the great stone face. A little lad lived in a village where there was a mountain with a rock formation which they called the great stone face. The people had a legend that someday someone would come to the village who would look like the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4, Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Glory, Jesus, Worship, Vision, Focus, Looking To Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Was Salome?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

By comparing Matt. 27:56 with John 19:25, it seems likely that Salome was sister to Mary (Jesus’ mother). “By inference from the other Gospel accounts, Salome is also identified with the mother of the sons of Zebedee (Mt. 27:56) and with the sister of Mary the mother of Jesus…. (John 19:25)… If ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:56, John 19:25, Mark 10:35-40

Tags: Jesus' Family, Mary's Sister, Jesus' Aunt, Salome

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How Many Of Us Have Watched Trading Spaces On Tlc ...  PRO

Contributed by Mitchell Skelton on Jun 10, 2003

How many of us have watched Trading Spaces on TLC or seen Bob Villa and became inspired to finally do something about our own tired and outdated homes? It’s easy to get inspired to do something. Once inspired by seeing a weeks work condensed into a one hour TV show we can easily envision the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, Hebrews 6:1-12

Tags: Growth In Christ, Basics Of Christianity

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

There Was A Church That Had A Young Lady That Had ...  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Jones on Jun 10, 2003

There was a church that had a young lady that had started attending the church. She had more than a checkered past to say the least. She had turned her life over to the Lord and had dedicated the rest of her life to serving and following Jesus. She had worked very hard to not let her past get in ...read more

Tags: New Creation, God's Provision, God The Father, Forgiveness, Born Again  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

An Honest Question  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 24, 2002

AN HONEST QUESTION Ravi Zacharias, in "Questions I Would Like to Ask God," writes: I have often referenced the quote by the talk show host Larry King, in his response to a particular question: "If you could select any one person across all of history to interview, who would it be?" Mr. King’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Tags: Mary Jesus Mother, Christmas

Does Your God Bleed?  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 4, 2014

DOES YOUR GOD BLEED? A little boy went up to a missionary Sunday School leader in another country. The boy said, "I like what you say about the God of the Bible but I can’t see him. But if I go to the temple I can see my God." The missionary said to the little boy, "Son, may I ask you a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8

Tags: Salvation, Cross, Blood Of Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On Sunday, August 16,1987, Northwest Airlines ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Mar 29, 2004

On Sunday, August 16,1987, Northwest Airlines flight 225 crashed just after taking off from the Detroit airport. 155 people were killed. One survived: a 4-year-old from Tempe, Arizona, named Cecelia. News accounts say when rescuers found Cecelia they assumed she had been a passenger in one of the ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Promises Of God

Denomination: Congregational

Burma Shave And The Church  PRO

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Jun 15, 2010

BURMA-SHAVE AND THE CHURCH Dan Betzer told about the old Burma Shave commercials alongside the roadside. Some of you remember how advertisers would use several well-placed slogans on signs to promote their product. Burma Shave was famous for their billboard advertisements. For example, one ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Baptist

There Could Have Been Peace Instead Of War In ...

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Aug 16, 2009

There could have been peace instead of war in 1939. Great Britain and France could have just let Hitler have Poland. That had worked the year before when they let Hitler have part of Czechoslovakia, and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returned from Munich declaring "peace for our ...read more

Tags: Peace, War

Denomination: Lutheran

I Once Read A Story About A Mother Whose Love ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Apr 11, 2002

I once read a story about a mother whose love went the distance for her child. The mother in this story went to help out during harvest time. She took her child with her. She was following the custom of harvest time in Scotland, where the women would help. She placed her child in reach. But, ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Mother's Day

Denomination: United Methodist

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

Don't Fear Your Capture

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Jan 26, 2009

DON'T FEAR YOUR CAPTURE We may not see it clearly, but we are ultimately safe. Following Jesus may not always seem like the wisest thing to do, but the trap is the best place to be. Think of yourself as a precious, endangered species. There are few of you left, but you are ill, and the ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Mennonite

Why Did The Magi Come?  PRO

Contributed by William Matthews on Nov 20, 2001

Why did the Magi come? They were looking for “Messiah the Prince” of Daniel’s prophecy An examination of Daniel’s prophecy shows why they expected Jesus at this time Daniel 9:24-26 - “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make ...read more

Tags: Messianic Prophecies, Birth Of Jesus

Denomination: Baptist