In Sermon Illustrations: "Force"

Waiting 20 Years For The End Of The Story

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 28, 2011

WAITING 20 YEARS FOR THE END OF THE STORY In her book The God Who Hung on the Cross, journalist Ellen Vaughn retells a gripping story of how the Gospel came to a small village in Cambodia. In September 1999, Pastor Tuy Seng (not his real name) traveled to Kampong Thom Province in northern ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:46-48

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Persecution Of Baptists In The Colonies

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 25, 2011

PERSECUTION OF BAPTISTS IN THE COLONIES Throughout their long history as a people of faith, Baptists have consistently opposed any diminution of the rights of the individual to seek and to pursue their own faith, or for each person to decide to be without faith if that is the choice. Though ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:13-17

Tags: Persecution

Christian Conviction: Roger Williams

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 30, 2011

CHRISTIAN CONVICTION: ROGER WILLIAMS Roger Williams was a graduate of Cambridge University, where in order to receive his degree he was forced to sign articles declaring that the king was by right the head of the English Church, that worship according to the Book of Common Prayer and church ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:1-7

Tags: Christian Witness

Inoculations From The Great Physician

Contributed by Sam Higgs on Sep 27, 2011

INOCULATIONS FROM THE GREAT PHYSICIAN The summer of 1980 was a very different summer for many of us. Most had just graduated High School and were away from home for the first time. Up till this time we had chosen our own clothing and color schemes, but that was a distant memory to us now. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18

Tags: War

Denomination: Baptist

Saving Private Ryan Tells Us About Our Need For Grace

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 24, 2022

Saving Private Ryan is one of my favorite World War II movies. Three out of four brothers are killed in action, and then a search is launched to find the fourth, Private James Ryan, so that he is not killed, leaving his mother childless. Eight men are sent out to find Private Ryan, who is missing ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Death, Grace, Fear, Salvation, Legalism, Works  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You've Got To Earn This!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 20, 2022

Saving Private Ryan is one of the best World War II movies. Three out of four brothers are killed in action, and then a search is launched to find the fourth, Private James Ryan, so that he is not killed, leaving his mother childless. Eight men are sent out to find Private Ryan, who is missing ...read more

Tags: Salvation, Gospel, Merit, Works, Grace, Law  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Redemption And Restoration In Real Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

Many years ago at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, there was a shooting of several people in the church parking lot and building that left three dead and three wounded. The young man, who had done the shooting, killed himself after being shot by a security guard. Earlier that day, he had ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:8-14

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

Where Did God Come From?

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jan 15, 2024

ILLUSTRATION: WHERE DOES GOD COME FROM? FROM A DEBATE WITH PASTOR KENT HOVIND Source: https://www.wordproject.org/bibles/resources/where_does_God_comes_from/index.htm A Student asked the question, Where does God come from? The following is the answer given by Pastor Kent Hovind [Transcription] ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1

Tags: In The Beginning, Origin Of God, Genesis

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Excellence Of Giving With Joy

Contributed by Saumiman Saud on Feb 19, 2025

THE EXCELLENCE OF GIVING WITH JOY Heavenly Father, You are so good to me, You gave Your Life to redeem my sins. Oh Lord, give me the opportunity to give to others as well. Sometimes I think about giving, but my faith is so weak, I'm still afraid that if I give, I will be in want. Forgive me, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7

Tags: Joy, Excellence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Emperor Napoleon Said About Jesus

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

Emperor Napoleon I of France (1769-1821), was one of the greatest military commanders of all time. He conquered the larger part of Europe and did much to modernize the nations he ruled. What did Napoleon say about Jesus? "I know men and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 5:1-15

Tags: Jesus, Napoleon

Denomination: Anglican

[272]. A Poem Message – The Infant Christ Has Come (Christmas) (Version 1)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 23, 2026

[272]. A POEM MESSAGE – THE INFANT CHRIST HAS COME (Christmas) (Version 1) Most Christians think of the Nativity at Christmas time but it ought not be like that. In one way the birth of Christ; His ministry; His death, burial and resurrection; and His ascension, are all equal in importance for ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:6-7, Philippians 2:10-11

Tags: Christmas, Jesus Christ Is Lord, Manger Scene, The Nativity, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, The Infant Christ, Babe In The Manger  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[273]. Poem Message – The Infant Christ Has Come (Christmas) (Version 2)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 23, 2026

[273]. A POEM MESSAGE – THE INFANT CHRIST HAS COME (Christmas) (Version 2) Most Christians think of the Nativity at Christmas time but it ought not be like that. In one way the birth of Christ; His ministry; His death, burial and resurrection; and His ascension, are all equal in importance ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:6-7, Philippians 2:10-11

Tags: Christmas, Jesus Christ Is Lord, Manger Scene, The Nativity, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, The Infant Christ, Babe In The Manger  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Napoleon On Christ

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Nov 18, 2011

NAPOLEON ON CHRIST Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor Napoleon I of France (1769-1821), was one of the greatest military commanders of all time. He conquered the larger part of Europe and did much to modernize the nations he ruled. What did Napoleon say about Jesus? "I know men and I tell you that ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Anglican

Wesley: A Heart Strangely Warmed  PRO

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on Nov 28, 2011

WESLEY: A HEART STRANGELY WARMED At the first half of the 18th century, England was also in a mess. Gin and gambling were destroying the lives of poor and rich alike. This was the age of Dick Turpin - crime figures were so high, there was so much danger from highway men and footpads that Horace ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:34

Tags: Revival

Denomination: Anglican

Hush Puppies

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Aug 27, 2014

Are you familiar with the brush-suede shoe called Hush Puppies? It was popular when I was a kid. The brand was all but dead until late 1994. Sales were down to 30,000 pairs a year, mostly sold in backwoods outlets and small-town family stores. Wolverine, the company that makes Hush Puppies, was ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:10

Tags: Prayer Power, Importance Of Prayer

Denomination: Baptist

World Trade Center Hero

Contributed by Tim Smith on Sep 25, 2016

Matt Chandler tells the story of Dave Karnes. When the World Trade Center tumbled to the ground on that dreadfully dark day, more than 3000 people lost their lives. But a few who were buried beneath the rubble miraculously survived. Two of these were Will Jimeno and John McLoughlin, a pair of Port ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Tags: Evangelism, 911, Incarnation Of Jesus, Saving Others

Denomination: Methodist

Lo Ruhamah

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Dec 15, 2016

Lo-Ruhamah There is no Old Testament story more fascinating than that of the prophet Hosea, who at commands of the Lord, acted out a parallel of God’s love, yet severe warnings for his unfaithful people, the kingdom of Israel. Contrary to every healthy instinct and cautionary impulse, Hosea was ...read more

Tags: Hosea, Name, Pity

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Power Of Daily Scripture Reading

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

ian Hardin tells the story of traveling a lot for work with his friend Bobby. As they travelled, he’d read the Bible aloud to him. But he wasn’t reading the Bible to gain deep insights… or to solve theological quandaries. He was just reading it… yet even then, it often said something that got stuck ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:1-9

Tags: Scripture, Scripture Reading

Denomination: Methodist

The Living Word

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Ravi Zacharias tells of ministering in Vietnam in 1971, and one of his interpreters was Hien Pham, an energetic young Christian. He had worked as a translator with the American forces, and was of immense help both to them and to missionaries such as myself. Hien and I traveled the length of the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16

Tags: Scripture, Romans, Living Word, The Bible, Persevering Grace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Mad Mike Hughes

Contributed by Roberta Karchner on Feb 26, 2020

Mad Mike Hughes had a mission, to launch himself into outer space. He believed the earth was flat, and the only way to prove it was to go up into space and take a photo of the flat earth. He did not trust others to document the truth, he would only believe it if he saw it with his own eyes. In ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:11-13

Tags: Sin, Foolish, Self Importance, Self Righteousness, Flat Earth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed