In Sermon Illustrations: "Give Your Time"

If People Are Coming.....the Product Must Be Good!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 1, 2016

In his awesome book, Selling Jesus, by Douglas D. Webster, the author gives an incredible quote about the lack of spiritual discernment in American church growth and marketing today: "American Christianity is increasingly tolerant of any and all methods, as long as they bring NUMERICAL results. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-17

Tags: Discernment, Truth, Church Growth, Marketing

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Almost

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 15, 2019

Almost Story It started out with a low rumbling; then there was the sound of the explosion. It seemed like the whole world was rocking and reeling under the blow of Mother Nature. The sky was filled with smoke as dark as a midnight; the ashes from the eruption were falling like snow in a winter ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:17

Tags: Almost, Delay

Denomination: Pentecostal

Here's A Funny New Approach To Evangelism!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 10, 2022

There was a barber that thought that he should share his faith with his customers more than he had been doing lately. So. the next morning when the sun came up and the barber got up out of bed he said, "Today I am going to witness to the first man that walks through my door." Soon after ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Sermon Intro, Barbers, Evangelism, Gospel, Humor, Witnessing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Keep It Short, Pastor!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 5, 2023

A pastor was scheduled to address a large Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. His wife, who often reminded him to preach shorter sermons, said to him, “I am giving you an envelope in which is a message for you. Open the envelope just before you speak and it will really help ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18-31, Ephesians 2:15

Tags: Sermon Introductions, Humor, Pastors, Churches, Husbands, Sermons, Wives, Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How The Zulus Catch A Monkey

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 8, 2024

Men who trap animals in Africa for zoos in America say that one of the hardest animals to catch is the ringtailed monkey. For the Zulus of that continent, however, it's simple. They've been catching this agile little animal with ease for years. The method the Zulus use is based on ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Deceit, Traps, Battles, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Greed, Temptation, Lies, Defeat, Sin, Lust  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Remembering Our Heavenly Connection

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 19, 2024

In one of the YouTube videos, Neil deGrasse Tyson shares his observation that humans, unlike most animals, sleep on their backs, naturally facing the sky. This position may have fostered a deep connection with the heavens. However, from a Christian perspective, this curiosity and upward gaze might ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:16-18

Tags: Celestial Connection, Spiritual, Genesis, Creation, Adam And Eve, Remembrance, Night Sky  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Unconditional Love In Marriage-Tertullian

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Sep 15, 2024

If the marriage is healthy, unconditional love moves the spouses to forgive each other and help one another overcome ingrained habits and difficult behavioural patterns. Church Father Tertullian wrote of this sort of marriage, “How beautiful, then, the marriage of two Christians, two who are one ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:38, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Tags: Love, Marriage, One Flesh, Unconditional Love

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Being Humble - Young Seminarian Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 24, 2026

A young seminarian ... was excited about preaching his very first sermon ... in the small church ... he grew up in. After three years in seminary, ... he felt adequately prepared, ... and when he was introduced to the congregation, ... he walked boldly ... to the pulpit, ...his head high, ... ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6, Matthew 6:16-21, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5

Tags: Pride, Boldness, Confidence, Embarrassed, Humble  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

[046]. A Message From A Poem – Christians In Response

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 6, 2025

[046]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHRISTIANS IN RESPONSE This is another poem where I make use of rhyming patterns. Each line has an internal rhyme separated by one syllable. Here it is explained – “My life was SPENT, and WENT its way, with worldly discord gained.” The rhyming scheme for the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:19, Revelation 5:11-13

Tags: Praise, Christians, Response, Poetry, Poem, Death Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

April 29, ...

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Sep 20, 2006

April 29, 2003 Because Trent Dilfer is a public figure, the death Sunday of his 5-year-old son Trevin is news. It’s sad news. Even those critical of Dilfer the football player surely feel for Dilfer the man and his family. Five-year-olds aren’t supposed to die, they’re supposed to go to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:1-10, Matthew 26:6-13

Denomination: Wesleyan

What’s So Peasy About Easy?

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 6, 2021

I am nowhere to be found when it comes to crafts, remodeling, and just plain fixer-uppers. My carpentry skills are nowhere to be found even though I've looked for a long time. If I try to fix something, I make it worse than it was. Fixing is not my strong suit. On the other side of the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18

Tags: Eve, Labor

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Truth Is As The Truther Says

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 8, 2025

One thing I have learned in life is that for many people, truth is a relative thing. The truth is what they say it is, and you can't convince them otherwise. I wrestle with telling the truth all the time. If you tell the truth, you do not have to remember what happened. But when you lie, you ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-32

Tags: Family, Truth, Lies

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

When General Patton, Of World War 2 Fame, Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Nov 21, 2000

When General Patton, of World War 2 fame, was commended for his great courage, he told a friend, "Frankly, every time I hear a gunshot, I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1

Tags: Veterans, Funerals Non-Christian, Death

Denomination: Baptist

Without Hope  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Mar 18, 2002

WITHOUT HOPE What is 750,000 miles long? It could wrap itself around the earth 30 times and it grows an additional 20 miles longer with each passing day? ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?, Evangelism The Lost, Great Commission

Angry Cynical People Die Young. Men Who Score ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Dec 3, 2001

Angry cynical people die young. Men who score high for hostility on standard tests are four times more likely to die prematurely than men whose scores are ...read more

Tags: Anger, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Angry Cynical People Die Young. Men Who Score ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 8, 2005

Angry cynical people die young. Men who score high for hostility on standard tests are four times more likely to die prematurely than men whose scores ...read more

Tags: Death Nearness

Income Of America's 72 Million Families, 74% Earn ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 10, 2006

Income Of America’s 72 million families, 74% earn less than $75,000 and 45% between $30,000 and $75,000, the middle-class ...read more

Tags: Money

Poverty Rises: The Total Percentage Of People In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 3, 2006

Poverty Rises: The total percentage of people in the U.S. in poverty increased to 12.4% (34.8 million) from 12.1% in ’01 according to the Census ...read more

Tags: Poverty

Angry Cynical People Die Young. Men Who Score ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

Angry cynical people die young. Men who score high for hostility on standard tests are four times more likely to die prematurely than men whose scores are ...read more

Tags: Anger

Quote: Eugene Peterson Describes, "Sabbath As ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 1, 2006

Quote: Eugene Peterson describes, “Sabbath as that uncluttered time and space in which we can distance ourselves from our own activities enough to see what God is doing” ...read more

Tags: Sabbath, Rest

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational