In Sermon Illustrations: "For One Films"

You Don't Have To See To Believe

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Mar 10, 2009

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEE TO BELIEVE Mt. Diablo is only about 3,500 feet, but it is very noticeable as it sits all alone in the Concord, California valley. Before I called them "God sightings" I found myself caught up in an "aha" moment as I looked at the cloud covered Mt. Diablo. I couldn’t help but ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

If You Really Want To Earn The Respect Of Others, ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Mar 17, 2009

If you really want to earn the respect of others, you begin by respecting yourself. This means doing what is right in God’s eyes. Not cutting corners. Not engaging in lifestyles and activities that you know would be wrong in God’s eyes. Lying, cheating, stealing, being selfish, outbursts of rage ...read more

Tags: Righteousness

Denomination: Church Of God

The "Stream Of Forgiveness"  PRO

Contributed by Ken Pell on Apr 14, 2013

THE "STREAM OF FORGIVENESS" Mirosalv Volf wrote a fantastic book on forgiveness titled "Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace." In the book he uses the beautiful imagery of a stream to show how God's character (love) is poured into us by His Spirit and becomes our ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:13

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Nazarene

Wild Bill Resurrected?

Contributed by Perry Greene on Apr 15, 2013

WILD BILL RESURRECTED? In 1876, Wild Bill Hickock was killed in Deadwood, SD by Jack McCall while playing poker at the Nuttal and Mann's Saloon. You may recall that he was holding what has been referred to as the "Dead Man's Hand" (2 8s and 2 Aces -- all black with an unknown 5th card). He was ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Standing Up On The Inside  PRO

Contributed by Perry Greene on Sep 17, 2013

STANDING UP ON THE INSIDE A five year old girl was having one of those trouble-filled days with her mother. It seemed they spent the day arguing back and forth. Finally the mom had enough. "Jenny, go sit in the corner, right now! Don’t get up until I tell you to!" Jenny went to the corner and sat ...read more

Tags: Evil, Rebellion, Defiance, Compliance

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Visiting Preacher  PRO

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 13, 2014

A pastor went out visiting his church members on a Saturday afternoon. At one house, it was obvious that someone was home, but nobody came to the door even though the preacher knocked several times. Finally, the minister took out his church business card and wrote out "Revelation 3:20" on the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-10

Tags: Temptation, Adam And Eve, Sin

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Sure Wish Jesus Could Have Been There!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 28, 2014

I SURE WISH JESUS COULD HAVE BEEN THERE! A church had a special concert and the worship center was packed. The congregation had one of their greatest times of worship ever! Later that evening, a young mother from the church was putting her little boy to bed. He had enjoyed the concert so much ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:1-20

Tags: Jesus, Children, Prayer, Presence Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Real Story Of Unequally Yoked.  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 31, 2015

David Slagle, a minister at a small church in Atlanta, tells the story of a woman in her late 20’s. The woman had befriended a man living in her apartment complex. Slagle and his wife asked whether the two were dating. The man in question was a known atheist. The young woman answered, “No, I’m ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Tags: Marriage, Premarital, Unequally Yoked, Pre-Marital Counsel

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Death Without Blinking An Eye

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 11, 2015

During the civil wars in feudal Japan, an invading army would sweep into town and take control. In one particular village, everyone fled just before the army arrived, except the Zen Master. Curious about this old fellow, the general went to the temple to see for himself what kind of man this master ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-43

Tags: Death, Hope In Death

Denomination: Methodist

In A Recent Book, Presidential Praise: Our Pr...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jul 30, 2015

In a recent book, Presidential Praise: Our Presidents and Their Hymns authors C. Edward Spann and Michael E. Williams Sr. note that the title of President George W. Bush’s autobiography, A Charge to Keep, was drawn from Charles Wesley’s hymn. 
The choice of this title is but one indication of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-2

Tags: Charge, Charged Up To Preach

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Light For My Path

Contributed by Casey Sabella on Jan 28, 2016

Psalm 118:105: Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. (NLT) While in India on a brief missions trip, I was summoned to a the home of an official who was sick. He wanted me to agree with him in prayer. On the way, we traveled along a river in the dead of night. We carried ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:105

Tags: Bible, Path, Snake, Flashlight

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Conformity

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Feb 29, 2016

I first noticed this in leading people to Christ. They were beautiful before they were “church broke.” Great young converts often start out as radiant Christians and end up only as carbon-copy Baptists. Great young ministers start out as adorable mavericks, but after a business meeting or two and a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, Romans 12:2-5

Tags: Conformity, Accepting

Denomination: Baptist

A Little Piece On Jesus' Incredible Journey

Contributed by John Gullick on Mar 17, 2016

What season are you in. . Jesus had an incredible journey. He was born in dramatic circumstances surrounded by heavenly testimonies and worldly violence lived in a remote and often scorned village - grew up in anonymity a carpenters son and apprentice at thirty years of age he struck out in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-11

Tags: Jesus, Actions Of Jesus

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Where Adam Used To Live

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 18, 2017

Adam and his two sons, Cain and Abel, were out hunting one day when Adam turned and started staring at something beautiful afar off. It was the Garden of Eden. Then Adam broke down and starting weeping. The boys didn’t understand. Finally, Abel asked his father, "Dad, why are you crying over ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12

Tags: Marriage, Sin, Adam And Eve, Garden Of Eden

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Salvation Is About Relationship

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 18, 2017

On May 31, 1975 Jeanie and I were legally married. A record of that translation is documented at Potter County in Amarillo, Texas. Because of that, I can introduce her as my wife. She can sign papers as Jeanie Tow. A legal transaction occurred. But what if that were all there is to our marriage? We ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:11-14, 2 Corinthians 6:1

Tags: Grace, Relationship To God, Love And Faith

Denomination: Charismatic

F.e.a.r

Contributed by Alexier Mayes on Aug 8, 2017

Theres a song written by Ian Brown, known most famously as the Lead Singer from Manchester Band 'The Stone Roses' The song simply entitled FEAR uses the letters of the word to describe a sentence and the most poignant one of all states:- FINAL EXECUTION AND RESURRECTION Four words which mean ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:18

Tags: Love, Fear, Resurrection, Trust, Perfect Love, Death  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

The Death Of Billy Graham

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 11, 2018

It is indisputable that Billy Graham was the biggest name in Christendom for the last half-century. A few numbers that speak to the span of his influence: - 2.2 billion – the number of people who heard him preach (in person and broadcasts). - 185 – the number of countries and territories where ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Impact, Billy Graham

Denomination: Baptist

The Monkey In The Quicksand

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Jul 25, 2018

Main Idea: You cannot pull yourself out of sin. Verse: “…no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law…” (Romans 3:20 NIV). Illustration: A little monkey fell in the quicksand. As he was sinking into the sand, a monkey on the bank started giving him advice. He said, ...read more

Tags: Need For Christ, Sin, Salvation

Denomination: Charismatic

The Use Of Wine

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Dec 22, 2018

An aged brother told me jokingly one time regarding the difference between the elders and deacon’s use of wine, in 1 Timothy 3:3. He said Brother Freeman: “It’s simple. The deacon can drink, ‘a little wine’; however, the elder can only sip it, swish it around in his mouth, and then spit it out.” He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-4

Tags: Preacher, Drink, Deacon, Member, Wine, Elder  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Preachers Who Make You Throw Up!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 12, 2019

A Pastor was doing his Children's Church sermon where all the kids come down to the front & hear a story. The Pastor was discussing the story of Jonah. He quoted the Scripture from Jonah: "The Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah upon the dry land." When the Pastor ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 2:1-7

Tags: Jonah, Bad Preaching, Children's Church, Embarrassing Moments

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational