In Sermon Illustrations: "Following Instructions"

Never Alone

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 13, 2023

I'm not sure if I am the only one that does this or not. Growing up, if I was ever walking down a dark country road by myself, I found myself whistling, or singing, or humming an old familiar gospel song. It seemed like it made everything safer. It made me feel protected as I drew myself ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:9-17

Tags: Alone, God's Presence

Denomination: Baptist

The Deceitfulness Of Sin

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 12, 2023

Radio personality Paul Harvey tells the story of how an Eskimo kills a wolf. The account is grisly, yet it offers fresh insight into the consuming, self-destructive nature of sin. "First, the Eskimo coats his knife blade with animal blood and allows it to freeze. Then he adds another layer of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Deliverance, Sinners, Sin Nature, Death, Sin, Satan, Salvation, Temptation, Justification  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dirty Windows

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 12, 2023

"A friend of mine, Bud Wood, founded Shepherds Home in Wisconsin for boys and girls with developmental disabilities. The original ministry opened its doors in 1964 to 36 children, providing them a loving residential environment and a school that would focus on their unique needs, helping them ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6, Philippians 3:20, 1 John 3:1-3

Tags: Revelation, Children, Heaven, Second Coming, Rapture, Return Of Christ, Disabled Children  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bloopers In The Bulletin

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 11, 2023

The following are actual church bulletin board bloopers found in churches across the United States. The outreach committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people who are not afflicted with any church. The Pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:1-7

Tags: Church, Humor, Secretaries, Failure, Pastors, Unconditional Love, Love For Others, Bloopers, Bulletin  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When God Opened An Unexpected Door For Cliff Barrows

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 10, 2024

Dr. James Dobson wrote a book entitled When God Doesn’t Make Sense, and, in his book, he shared an illustration that is very applicable to the point being drawn from this particular verse. Take a moment and reflect upon the following story: In 1945, a young associate pastor named Cliff married his ...read more

Tags: Will Of God, Call To Ministry, Open Doors, Sovereignty Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Can We Know That We Are Truly Saved

Contributed by Hylton Davidson on Aug 13, 2025

Having assurance that one is saved is linked to the process called regeneration. Regeneration is not something a person initiates; it is a sovereign act of God. A person is born again when the Holy Spirit imparts spiritual life, enabling them to repent and believe in the gospel. This transformation ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Assurance, Saved

Denomination: Christian Church

Charles Blondin

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 21, 2025

Story: In the late 19th century (1859), Charles Blondin (born Jean François Gravelet, 28 February 1824 – 22 February 1897)a famous tightrope walker had a tightrope placed across the Niagara Falls in the USA. He then proceeded to walk across it with a wheelbarrow in front of him. Having ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:22-30

Tags: Blondin, Niagara Falls, Wheelbarrow

Denomination: Anglican

Building Bridges

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 8, 2026

WILL ALLEN DROMGOOLE, 1860 TO 1934. She wrote over 7,500 poems and 5,000 essays. Her works are recorded in 13 books. My Dad, Wade M. Hughes (1931) committed this poem to memory and would often use it when speaking to leaders. I love this poem. ***THE BRIDGE BUILDER AN OLD MAN, GOING DOWN A LONE ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:6-12, Philippians 4:11-13

Tags: Bridge, Build

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Trust God And You Will Be Firm

Contributed by Arulselvam Rayappan on Jan 13, 2026

Trusting the Lord is a recurring theme in the Prophet Isaiah. “Unless your faith is firm, you shall not be firm” Is 7: 14. Advent is a time of trusting the Lord. God alone can save those who place their trust in Him. At times we are confused concerning the choices we have to make. On the one hand ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14

Tags: Fear, Trusting God, Afriad

Denomination: Catholic

Basketball Theology

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 18, 2026

Basketball theology Center/forward — Where nobody usually sits on Sunday mornings. Free throw — A toddler's toss of toys. Timeout A sermon gone too long. On the bench — The organist (pia- nist). Three-point play The structure of any good sermon. Offensive foul — A newly discov- ered baby's ...read more

Scripture: John 4:23-24

Tags: Worship, Sermon

Denomination: Methodist

The Prodigal Son In The Key Of F  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Jun 13, 2001

The Prodigal Son in the Key of F Feeling footloose and frisky, a feather-brained fellow forced his father to fork over his farthings. Fast he flew to foreign fields and frittered his family’s fortune, feasting fabulously with floozies and faithless friends. Flooded with flattery he financed a ...read more

Scripture: James 2:9

Tags: Faith, Promises Of God, God The Father

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

For Years I Have Seen And Heard About The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 12, 2002

For years I have seen and heard about the division in churches over "correct" and "incorrect" forms of worship. I have seen it all from "you shouldn’t smile in church because you should fear the Lord" to the Ringling Brothers Circus service. Each group seems to think the other has missed the mark ...read more

Tags: Church Practices, Worship Definition

During Telemachus' Life The Gladiatorial Games ...  PRO

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Nov 13, 2003

During Telemachus’ life the gladiatorial games were very popular. People were fascinated by the sight of blood and gore upon the arena floor. And that alone was enough to bring the criticism of bishops and priests from within the church. But worse than all of this was the fact that most of the ...read more

Tags: Faith, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Lutheran

Cut To Fit!  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 25, 2005

Cut To Fit! (08.29.05--Sickness!--Hebrews 12:6) Arthritis is a real drag. As active as you would like to be this day or any, if you are weighted down with joints that are sometimes swollen and often stiff, the day always seems sometime a bit longer, somehow harder to bear. I’ve been an arthritis ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:6

Tags: God In The Hardships, Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Lutheran

Grading Papers  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 21, 2006

On the Lighter Side of life: Can you imagine yourself to being the nun that is sitting at her desk grading these papers all the while trying to keep a straight face and trying to maintain her calm and posture! PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WORDING AND SPELLING. IF YOU KNOW THE BIBLE EVEN A LITTLE, ...read more

Tags: Church General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Brother Lawrence And Disciplines

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 10, 2009

BROTHER LAWRENCE AND DISCIPLINES Around 1610, a child was born in France by the name Nichols Herman. Later in life, he would become known as Brother Lawrence. As a young man, he fought in the Thirty Years War and sustained a near fatal His injury to his sciatic nerve. The injury left him quite ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:9

Tags: Discipleship, Recognition, Seeking Christ

Pastor Makes A Tough ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 21, 2010

Pastor Makes A Tough Decision In his book The Jesus Revolution, pastor and author Leith Anderson shares a story about the tension that sometimes comes between obeying God and obeying the law of the land. A number of years ago, he and three others were traveling to a Communist country where ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:17

Tags: Obey God, Christian Values

Zacharias: Changed Lives Show The Truth Of ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 11, 2011

ZACHARIAS: CHANGED LIVES SHOW THE TRUTH OF CHRIST In his book Has Christianity Failed You? Ravi Zacharias points to one of the greatest proofs for the truth of Christ and the reality of his resurrection: the changed lives of Christians. He writes: "During the course of nearly 40 years, I have ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Ranger Creed

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 7, 2011

THE RANGER CREED Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps of my Ranger Regiment. Acknowledging the fact that a Ranger is a more elite soldier who arrives at the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:3-4

Tags: Christian Values

The Mirror  PRO

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on May 21, 2008

THE MIRROR Author Robert Fulghum tells this story of one of his professors, a wise man whose name was Alexander Papaderos: At the last session on the last morning of a two week seminar on Greek culture, Dr. Papaderos turned and made the ritual gesture: "Are there any questions?" Quiet quilted ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational