In Sermon Illustrations: "Fullness"

Garlands Of Heaven

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 29, 2011

GARLANDS OF HEAVEN In India, whenever I preached I would get a garland made of carnations or roses or some other kind of flower. (This was done as a gesture of honor.) They smelled nice at first, but they were bulky and awkward (most of them would hang down almost to your knees), and after your ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Angel At Fredericksburg

Contributed by Perry Greene on Mar 25, 2013

ANGEL AT FREDERICKSBURG No longer able to withstand the wrenching moans of the suffering wounded and dying Union soldiers, 19 year old Confederate Sergeant Richard Kirkland of the 2nd South Carolina approached Brigadier General Joseph Kershaw, CSA, to seek permission to go to their aid. Initially ...read more

Tags: Angels

Denomination: Independent/Bible

No Slackers  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 2, 2013

NO SLACKERS A large company, feeling it was time for a shakeup, hired a new CEO. This new boss was determined to rid the company of all slackers. On a tour of the facilities, the CEO noticed a guy leaning on a wall. The room was full of workers and he wanted to let them know that he meant ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:6-12

Tags: Labor Day, Pride Before A Fall, Work Ethic

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Mother Teresa

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Mar 1, 2016

Mother Teresa was attending a party full of dignitaries. The guest list included presidents and statesmen from around the world. They came in their crowns and jewels and silks. Mother Teresa wore her ever-present sari, held together by a safety pin. True leadership must be for the benefit of the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1-10

Tags: Mercy, Pastoral Leadership, Showing Mercy

Denomination: Baptist

Square Fillers

Contributed by Doug Fannon on Oct 19, 2018

In the military we had a term that we called “square fillers.” We would have a check-list of requirements and before each requirement or inspection item, there would be printed a little square . When each requirement was completed, you would check off the appropriate square. The term came to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:13-36

Tags: False Religion, Unrighteousness, Outward Appearances, Minimum Requirements, Heart For God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Two Trees

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 15, 2019

TWO TREES Imagine you are walking through the woods on a path, one side of the path is in sunlight and one side is in darkness. On each side of the path is a tree. The tree on the left is in darkness and the tree on the right is bathing in the sunlight. The tree on the left is old, scary, and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6

Tags: Evil, Good

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Inn

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 25, 2019

The INN was full. The "inn" is mentioned in the Old Testament, and was still in operation in the New. The Inn was located on land that had been given to Chimham by DAVID (2 Samuel 19:32-40). It was a place to accommodate a number of TRAVELERS (Jeremiah 41:17). Holman Bible Dictionary ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:6-7

Tags: Christmas, Bethlehem, Inn, No Room At The Inn

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Watch Your Mind And Mouth

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jan 5, 2021

Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:9-11

Tags: Heresy, Shun, Arguments, Strivings

Denomination: Baptist

I Don't See The Evidence

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Mar 31, 2022

I was with a friend talking to a new acquaintance when she began touting the virtues of a weight loss book she had read a few years earlier. “It will completely change your relationship with food,” she exclaimed, insisting he take down the name of the book and its author. I saw the man glance at ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22, James 1:23, James 1:24, James 1:25, 2 Corinthians 8:21  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Doer Of The Word, Integrity, Honesty

Denomination: Charismatic

Four Reasons For Christmas

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 6, 2022

Text: Galatians 4:4 Did you ever wrestled with a problem that didn't exist? The Galatians were wrestling with a problem that had already been solved! What was the problem? The problem was, "What do we do with the Law! The Law was never meant to redeem mankind. Works were never meant to ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:4

Tags: Christmas, Bethlehem, Redemption, Virgin Birth, Deity Of Christ, Humanity Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

True Meaning Of Christmas

Contributed by Anitha Jabastion on Jan 3, 2023

A wealthy Boston family held a christening party after the baptism of their baby. Guests and friends swarmed into their palatial home. Soon the party was in full swing. People were having a wonderful time enjoying talking to one another, eating, drinking and being merry. Suddenly somebody asked, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:21, Luke 2:8-12

Tags: Christmas, True Meaning Of Christmas

What Are We Teaching?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Aug 22, 2025

WHAT ARE WE TEACHING OTHERS? I recently heard the story of a German shepherd that was expecting little ones. She ran out in front of a car and injured her back legs. The doctor said she would heal but it would take a long time. The dog had her litter of puppies. When their eyes were open, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13

Tags: Teach, Example

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Prison Release

Contributed by Kelly Benton on Feb 3, 2026

When a prison sentence is completed, the door open. Legally, the prisoner is free. But some inmates struggle to walk out because prison has trained them how to think, how to move, and how to live. The bars are gone, but the mindset remains. That’s a picture of many believers. Jesus paid the full ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1

Tags: Freedom, No Condemnation

Denomination: Other

Leadership Magazine Carried A Story About 4 Young ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 14, 2001

Leadership Magazine carried a story about 4 young men, Bible College students, who were renting a house together. One Saturday morning someone knocked on their door. And when they opened it, there stood this bedraggled-looking old man. His eyes were kind of marbleized, & he had a silvery stub of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34, Mark 12:1-17

Tags: Christian Love, Christian Disciplines, Giving, Giving General, Generosity, Good  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fishing Story  PRO

Contributed by Brent Williams on Jun 19, 2001

Fishing Story Story # 1: Jimmy an orphan from a foster home, is fishing by himself on the end of a pier. Full of curiosity like most ten year olds, he leans over the edge to look at an insect crawling next to him and falls into the water. Unable to swim, he frantically splashes and screams, ...read more

Tags: Children, Compassion, Parenting

Denomination: Baptist

Mavis Lays An Egg  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 7, 2003

MAVIS LAYS AN EGG On a bright, beautiful day, full of promise, Mavis laid an egg. This was not an extraordinary event since Mavis was a chicken, but Mavis was not pleased. "An egg? An egg? What do I want with an egg?" said Mavis to herself. "An egg is just not in my plans. I’ll have to get rid ...read more

Tags: Abortion

Leadership Magazine Carried This Story About 4 ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

LEADERSHIP MAGAZINE CARRIED THIS STORY ABOUT 4 YOUNG, BIBLE COLLEGE STUDENTS, WHO WERE RENTING A HOUSE TOGETHER. “ONE SATURDAY MORNING SOMEONE KNOCKED ON THEIR DOOR AND WHEN THEY OPENED IT, THERE STOOD THIS BEDRAGGLED-LOOKING OLD MAN. HIS EYES WERE KIND OF MARBLEIZED, AND HE HAD A SILVERY STUB OF ...read more

Which Desire Are You Feeding?  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Which Desire are You Feeding? Romans 8:13 says, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." (King James) Mortification is the special ministry that enables the child of God to overcome those evil desires that could ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:13

Tags: Overcome, Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Is Needed For Joy?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 22, 2011

WHAT IS NEEDED FOR JOY? Max Lucado tells the following story about Robert Reed: "I have everything I need for joy!" Robert Reed said. His hands are twisted and his feet are useless. He can't bathe himself. He can't feed himself. He can't brush his teeth, comb his hair, or put on his underwear. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-24

Tags: Joy

The Bottom Line

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

THE BOTTOM LINE A dairy farmer went to buy a new pickup truck. He had seen an ad in the paper about discounts and factory rebates, so he decided to trade in his old clunker. He chose a new model and was ready to write the check for the full amount. The salesman said, "Wait, I haven't given you the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-28

Tags: Discipleship