In Sermon Illustrations: "God Is Enough"

The Gossip Test

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 1, 2021

Another basic concept – sin creates spiritual blindness. Let me illustrate with my favorite sin to talk about… GOSSIP. I’ll stop right here and make sure you know how I define gossip. Before you tell someone a story about another person (even disguised as a prayer request), it needs to pass all ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:37-45

Tags: Sin, Gossip, Spiritual Blindness

Denomination: Methodist

Cloudy Days

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 18, 2021

My wife told me about a dream where she is looking up at a cloudy sky with two arms sticking through the clouds and says, I love you. The arms sign back to her, "I love you." I am cautious about dreams and interpretations because most are just our brains doing what we call in the IT ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5

Tags: Dark, Alone, Cloud, Silence, Sile, Arms, Love, Heart  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Narrow Definition Of Neighbor

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 20, 2022

With their passion for definition, Jewish Rabbis sought to define who a man's "neighbor" was. They confined the word "neighbor" to include only their fellow Jews. For instance, some of them said that it was illegal to help a Gentile woman in her time of childbirth for ...read more

Tags: Kindness, Good Samaritan, Levites, Priests, Rabbis, Parable, Neighbor  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Last Sermon D.l. Moody Preached

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 4, 2022

D.L. Moody was one of the greatest preachers in American history. On November 23, 1899 in the Civic Auditorium in Kansas City, Moody became very sick as he preached. “I must have souls in Kansas City,” he had told the students at his school in Chicago. “Never have I wanted so much to lead men and ...read more

Tags: Moody, Preach The Word, Great Supper, Evangelism, Faithfulness, Parables  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Spotless Puppy

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 19, 2023

A minister said that once he had a small, white Highland terrier puppy which he kept spotlessly clean by frequent washing, brushing, and powdering. One night a winter storm dropped a fresh blanket of snow on the countryside, and the next morning the whole world seemed to glisten under the splendor ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Conviction, Sinful Nature, Second Adam, Roman Road, Sinners, Jesus, Sin, Salvation, Justification, Holiness, Adam  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Beautiful America

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Jun 29, 2024

BEAUTIFUL AMERICA Oh my, what a lovely country. Americans, we are blessed. The wonders of this country could never be overstressed! Tall, majestic mountains boast glistening snow-crowned heads. Blue mysterious oceans gleam with sparkling water spreads. Green, luscious grassy meadows, refreshing ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Isaiah 18:1-2, Philippians 3:20

Tags: America, Patriotic, Independence Day, Poems About America

Denomination: Baptist

Are We Hypocrites?

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 13, 2025

I once saw a video of a pastor who had figures, covered with sheets, up in the front of the church. As he started to preach, they were uncovered and you could see monsters and scary characters related to Halloween. The preacher kept asking, “Should these be in the House of God?” The congregation ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:11-12

Tags: Holiness, Halloween, Hypocrite

Denomination: Methodist

What Can Wash Away My Sin?

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 4, 2025

Your hands are wonderful creations of God! Look at your hands. But if left to do whatever we want – those hands get us into trouble. Try telling a child, “Don’t touch that!” Eve used her hand to pick a forbidden fruit. Adam received the forbidden fruit from Eve. Cain used his hand to murder ...read more

Scripture: Acts 22:16, Genesis 4:11

Tags: Eve, Adam, Cain, Hand

Denomination: Methodist

The Church Is Not Selfish - President Kennedy Quote

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 9, 2025

Our society ... the world in which we live ... is a self-first ... a self-oriented society. The big question ... often asks by those in the world is ... "What's in it for me?" or "How will I benefit from this?" However, ... we as followers of the Christ ... are a new ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:4, James 3:8-10, John 13:15, Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Body, Self, Selfish, Individual, Benefit, Caring, Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

What Happens When You Die?

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 15, 2026

This body is only a temporary dwelling place for our eternal spirits. Peter calls this body a tent, just like Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:4-8: “4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13, 2 Corinthians 5:4-8

Tags: Tent, Hope, Body, Heresy

Denomination: Methodist

Garbage In - Garbage Out

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 4, 2026

Do you remember this kid’s song? Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear, Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear. There’s a Father up above looking down in tender love, Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear. We teach this to children because we know that what goes in will come out. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 2:1-3, Jude 1:1-4

Tags: Truth, Lies

Denomination: Methodist

Sowing And Reaping

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 20, 2026

I want to remind you of a basic truth of Scripture - the Law of Sowing and Reaping that we read about in Galatians 6:7: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” I always illustrate this with the same example: if I plant an apple tree, can I expect ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7

Tags: Peace, Sowing, Reaping

Denomination: Methodist

Don't Be Afraid!

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 20, 2026

Another book I would recommend is “The Screwtape Letters” (1942) by C.S. Lewis. This is from the preface: “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:8-10, 1 Peter 2:10-13

Tags: Holy Spirit, Satan, Cs Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

Denomination: Methodist

Two Dimensions Of Fellowship

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 11, 2026

Let me remind you of another benefit of salvation by the blood of Jesus. When you accept the free gift of salvation, you receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit is what makes all dimensions of our fellowship possible. What are those dimensions of ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4, John 15:5, John 15:12

Tags: Fellowship, Holy Spirit

Denomination: Methodist

A Call To Discipleship [ Taken From "Jesus In ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Buchner on Jul 24, 2004

A Call to Discipleship [ taken from “Jesus in Blue Jeans” by Laurie Beth Jones.] [“In this country, it is not only improper—it is technically illegal to be served with a dirty plate. Salad bars post signs indicating that the health department requires that each time you step up to the buffet, you ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment

Denomination: Methodist

Daniel Payne Got Angry. It Wasn't 1955, But ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 26, 2007

Daniel Payne got angry. It wasn’t 1955, but rather closer to 1835, when he was asked to get up out of his seat on the train. He was 70 years old, a distinguished bishop and professor at Gettysburg College, but he was black. Sixty years earlier, he had been there as Absalom Jones, an ordained ...read more

Results Of Materialism--Bankruptcy, Prison And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 26, 2009

Results of Materialism--Bankruptcy, Prison and Suicide Let me share a story with you about how Satan attacks a Christian. First, Satan shot a poisonous dart at his heel; but the Christian was unharmed because his feet were protected with the message of God’s peace. Next, Satan shot an arrow at his ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 18:9-24

Tags: Materialism

The Ambush Of John Wesley Powell

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2009

THE AMBUSH OF JOHN WESLEY POWELL John Wesley Powell, lost his arm in the Civil War. This, however, did not stop him from becoming a hero. "Back in 1869 conventional wisdom said that passage through the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River was impossible. It couldn’t be done. The back country ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:3, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Endurance

Rare Italian Automobile Good Only For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 24, 2009

Rare Italian Automobile Good Only for Show I heard this week about a very, very special automobile. It was built in the 1920’s by the Italian manufacturer Bugatti, and it was designed to be sold to the outrageously wealthy. This car was equipped with 450 horses under the hood; it was some 22 feet ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21

Tags: Materialism

Mother Rescues Son From Alligator And Leaves ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 2, 2009

Mother Rescues Son From Alligator and Leaves Scars on His Arms Some years ago, on a hot summer day in South Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-30

Tags: Lord's Supper