In Sermon Illustrations: "Gods Purposes"

Metamorphosis

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Mar 1, 2025

I thought of a book I read years ago in German class. We were assigned the task of reading the Famous Novel by Franz Kafka entitled “The Metamorphosis”. It was about a young man who woke up one day and realized he had been transformed into, of all things, a large Roach. The story line of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9

Tags: Transfiguration, God's Presence

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

For Thou Art With Me

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 17, 2025

In Psalm 23:4, we read: “4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” I often to talk to folks who are grieving the loss of a loved one to remember the “FIVE LITTLE WORDS” of Psalm 23:4 – For… thou… art… with… me. Jesus died so that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:4

Tags: Fear, God With Us

Denomination: Methodist

Forgiveness

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

One of my heroes of the faith is the late Richard Wurmbrand who died in February 2001. Wurmbrand was born in Rumania in 1920 as a Jew and became a Christian when he encountered Christ at an early age. He shared his faith with the occupying troops in the 1940’s and the Germans threw him in prison ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:4

Tags: God's Underground, Wurmbrand

Denomination: Anglican

The Church

Contributed by Mitchell Leonard on Jan 16, 2026

“The Church” “You don’t have to agree with me today. You don’t have to like me and what I have to say. You can go home ANGRY, but I really hope that you can See that I LOVE YOU, and that’s why I’ve shown you God’s plan. It’s a CHURCH, a group of BELIEVERS, that honor and glorify JESUS It’s NOT ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Tags: The Church, Glorifying God

Denomination: Baptist

Listening For The Car In The Driveway

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

Think about what it’s actually like to wait for someone you love to come home. Maybe your spouse is on a business trip, or your kid is coming home from college after a long semester. You’re not just waiting. You’re listening for the car in the driveway. You’re glancing at the clock. You’re ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25, Romans 8:25

Tags: Hope, Waiting On God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Ring In Witness Protection

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

Have you ever had one of those moments where, as the words are leaving your mouth, you know you're making a terrible mistake? I had one of those back in 2014. I had just started my first real job at an advertising agency, and I was so excited that I went straight from work and bought an ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:2-3, Isaiah 40:3

Tags: God's Timing, Waiting

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Missed The Sunrise

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

I recently had the chance to visit Acadia National Park in Maine. There's a place there, Cadillac Mountain, where you can be one of the first people in the entire country to see the sunrise. While the rest of America is still in darkness, light first makes its appearance on that mountaintop. I ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:2

Tags: Hope, God's Faithfulness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Breakfast Was Always Ready

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

Every morning before school, without fail, my mom had breakfast ready for me. It didn't matter how busy she was or what else was going on. There was always a warm meal waiting. It wasn't just about the food. It was her way of saying, "I'm thinking about you. I care about you. I ...read more

Scripture: John 21:9-13

Tags: Grace, God's Provision

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Navigtionally Challenged

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

When I was 16, I went to pick up my girlfriend to drive and meet my parents and grandparents for a hockey game downtown. Downtown was north of my house in Amarillo. You get on I-27, head north, fifteen minutes, done. We drove for a while. And a little while more. And nothing was looking familiar. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 5:22-24, Psalm 119:105

Tags: Guidance, God's Word

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When The Door Opened

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 18, 2026

Before Cassy and I moved to Middle Tennessee, we were in West Texas. I was running a pretty small graphic design business and driving for Uber and Lyft in the evenings, and I was frustrated overall. Not because anything was particularly wrong, but because I kept feeling like I wasn't doing what ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:8, 1 Corinthians 16:9

Tags: God's Timing, Calling

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

But One Time About Six Years Ago I Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Jan 17, 2001

But one time about six years ago I was complaining to someone about the Christian church, when suddenly an image flashed in my mind of a bride and a groom on their wedding day. In that mental image I walked up to the groom and said to him, "Your bride sure is ugly." Now no one would ever do that ...read more

Tags: Gift, Divinity Of Christ, Church Body Of Christ, Church Purpose Of, Spiritual  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Drug Problem  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 6, 2003

DRUG PROBLEM A little old lady was amazed at how nice the young man was next door. Every day he would help her gather things from her car or help her in her yard. One day, the old lady finally ask the young man, "Son, how did you become such a fine young man?" The young man replied, "Well, when ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:6-8, Hebrews 10:25

Tags: Body Of Christ, Attendance, Disciplines, Church Purpose Of, Commitment, Church, Goodbye  (view more)  (view less)

This Past Week, Josie Received A Rather ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

This past week, Josie received a rather interesting story via the e-mail that I would like to paraphrase for you this morning. Unfortunately, I do not know the name of the author. However, I do know that it was written by one of the students who witnessed this experiential sermon in a small ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:21

Tags: Grace, Character, Purpose, Adversity, Troubles, Anger, Misfortune, Commitment To Christ  (view more)  (view less)

It Was A Mild October Afternoon In 1982 And ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Hanchett on Dec 13, 2000

It was a mild October afternoon in 1982 and Badger Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin was packed. Over 60,000 die-hard University of Wisconsin fans were watching their beloved football team take a beating by Michigan State. What seemed odd was that as the score became more and more lopsided bursts of ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope, Human Body, Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Baptist

The Moravian Brethren, 200 Years Ago, Formed One ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

The Moravian Brethren, 200 years ago, formed one of the greatest missionary movements. Two of their members heard of a leper colony in Africa where no missionary was allowed to enter and then return home for fear that the disease might spread in Germany. They volunteered to go into that leper ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, God In The Hardships, Descriptions Of God, Follower

Denomination: Baptist

They Shoot Horses Don’t They". The Movie ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Dec 18, 2000

"They Shoot Horses Don’t They". The movie is about an actress who has a fallen career on the big screen during the 20’s. She enters a dance marathon hoping to win the jackpot and use the money to launch a new movie career. As the marathon draws closer to the end, she realizes that she and her ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, God Brings Hope, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Lutheran

I Remember Hearing The Director Of The George ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

I remember hearing the director of the George Muller Foundation telling of God’s perfect timing in the provision of guidance and resources. The Foundation had been requested to commence a new child-care project which would require a great commitment in time and resources. The trustees decided ...read more

Tags: Knowing God's Will, Prayer, God's Provision, Giving General

Denomination: Baptist

Many Years Ago, Executives Of The Time-Life ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Jones on Nov 1, 2000

Many years ago, executives of the Time-Life publishing organization discovered that the company’s profit margin had shrunk to an alarmingly low level. Consequently, they began an intensive effort to try to cut costs. Efficiency experts suggested that substantial savings could be effected in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

Tags: Love, Mercy, God's Forgiveness, Endurance, Promises Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Time-Lapse Of Sin  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Apr 4, 2001

THE TIME-LAPSE OF SIN Time-lapse photography compresses a series of events into one picture.Such a photo appeared in an issue of National Geographic. Taken from aRocky Mountain peak during a heavy thunderstorm, the picture captured the brilliant lightning display that had taken place throughout ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, God's Provision, Sin Hurtful To God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Of The Most Moving Passages In English ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on May 17, 2001

One of the most moving passages in English literature comes toward the end of Charles Dickens’ "Tale of Two Cities", a story of the French revolution. Each day there was a grim procession through the streets of Paris of prisoners on their way to the guillotine. In one of the processions was ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, God's Provision, Promises Of God

Denomination: Baptist