In Sermon Illustrations: "God Shows Up"

We Saw Your Smoke Signal!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 15, 2019

I read a story about a shipwreck. When the sole survivor reached a small, uninhabited island, he prayed for God to rescue him, but help didn't come. Eventually he built a hut out of driftwood for protection from the elements. One day he returned from scavenging for food and found his hut in ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Will Of God, God's Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Movie "Mighty Ducks" Is A David Vs Goliath ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Cassara on Sep 8, 2001

The movie "Mighty Ducks" is a David vs Goliath type of film. Gordon Bombay, a high priced lawyer with a prestigious law firm is arrested for DWI and ordered to perform 500 hours of community service. His assignment is to coach a pee wee hockey team made up of a bunch of misfits and troubled kids ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Faith, Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Legend Of A King And A Heavy Stone

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 12, 2010

LEGEND OF A KING AND A HEAVY STONE There are certain lessons of grace that can be learned only in the valley of pain and distress. Show me a Christian who has suffered much and deepened his dependence on God, and I will show you a sensitive soul full of compassion for others, and with a deep ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: *other

Whole World In His Hands

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 14, 2009

WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS Sam Cathey became a Southern Baptist evangelist in 1967. That first year, he had to rush back from a revival, because his daughter had gone in the hospital with acute appendicitis. They thought it might be ruptured. Sam got on a plane in Los Angeles about 2:30 in the ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

The Man Of God Who Preached At Bethel (1 Kings 13)

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 24, 2020

Text: [1Ki 13:1, KJV:] 1 And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. 2 And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 13:1-10

Tags: Man Of God, Bethel, Northern Kingdom

Denomination: Baptist

Sin Has Become Commonplace Among God's People. We ...

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 18, 2007

Sin has become commonplace among God’s people. We have become somewhat hardened to it, given the constant exposure we have to it through modern media. Sin is a problem in the life of a Christian, and unconfessed sin will hinder the prayer life of anyone. Consider the following example of a young ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Do You Think God Knows What He Is Doing?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 4, 2022

A young woman prepared for missionary service on foreign fields. She had been appointed by the mission board and was ready to sail when she received a telegram saying that her sister had died in a western state. She cancelled her reservation and went home. The sister left four little children ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Missions, Trusting God, Providence, Will Of God, Missionaries, Sovereignty Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Once Was A Not So Bright Fellow Who Saw An ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Oct 22, 2001

There once was a not so bright fellow who saw an advertisement for a cruise. The sign in the travel agency window read “Cruise -- $100 Cash.” I’ve got a hundred dollars, he thought. And I’d like to go on a cruise. So he entered the door and announced his desires. The fellow at the desk asked for ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will, God In The Hardships, God's Omniscience

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

At First I Saw God As My Observer, My Judge, ...  PRO

Contributed by Keith Broyles on Jun 9, 2001

At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like a president. I recognized his picture when I saw it, but I really didn’t know Him. But later on, when I met Christ, It ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will, Commitment To Christ, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Methodist

Martin Luther Once Had A Dream Where He Was In ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Jan 29, 2005

Martin Luther once had a dream where he was in his house and saw Jesus coming up the walk toward his door. Luther examined his surrounding and realized that everything was an absolute mess. Clothes were thrown over the furniture, old food was sitting out, trash was everywhere. And he thought, "How ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Tags: God's Provision, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Christian Church

During The Revolutionary War An American Officer ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

During the Revolutionary War an American officer felt led of the Holy Spirit to show love to an enemy who he felt should die. During a very dangerous assignment Duncan McColl, a British Soldier was protected from being shot and killed when an American officer gave an order “Do not to shoot Duncan ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Six -Year-Old Brandon Decided One Saturday ...  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Jones on Jul 15, 2005

Six -year-old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor. He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Tags: God's Provision, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Pentecostal

There Are Times When We Get In God's Way When He ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Jul 22, 2002

There are times when we get in God’s way when He is trying to tend to the business of His kingdom here on earth. "A man was struggling with a large box at the back edge of his truck. A passing neighbor saw his plight and came over to help him. He put his shoulder to the box. After a few tiring ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:16-39

Tags: Fire, God's Provision, Knowing God's Will

Denomination: United Methodist

When You Have Nothing Left But God, Then Fgod Is Enough

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Pastor Norm Johnson tells the story of Bill who was gravely ill in the hospital. Norm was visiting him when the doctor came in and point blank said, “Bill, you're dead. There’s no hope. You’d better get your things in order.” Just that bluntly, no hope, no comfort, no, “How are you doing?” After ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Tags: Hope, God Is Enough

Denomination: Methodist

Archie Moore A Heavy Weight Boxing Champion, ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Oct 12, 2002

Archie Moore a heavy weight boxing champion, once got knocked down early in a fight. He got back up and won the match by knock-out. Afterwards a reporter asked him, “Archie, what were you thinking while you were on the canvas?” He said, “I thought, Hey, I’m the champ! I don’t belong here!” And if ...read more

Tags: God's Forgiveness, Promises Of God

Denomination: Christian Church

There Is Story About A Chinese Artist, A New ...  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Selfridge on Feb 26, 2003

There is story about a Chinese artist, a new Christian who wanted to paint the parable of the prodigal son. In his first attempt, he painted the father standing at the gate with his arms folded looking sternly down the road at a son coming. Another Christian explained to him that was not the ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God

Denomination: Wesleyan

Our Faith In Jesus Christ And Our Love For Him ...

Contributed by Larry East on Feb 13, 2009

Our faith in Jesus Christ and our love for Him shows how much we love God. Let me illustrate. Let’s say that you tell me that you love me and that you care about me. But one day, my car won’t start, and I’ve got a really important appointment that I can’t miss. Now let’s suppose that I send my ...read more

Tags: Love For God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[103]. A Message From A Poem – God Speaks Through Colours

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 10, 2025

[103]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GOD SPEAKS THROUGH COLOURS I found this a difficult poem to write. I had the desire to write a poem on colours and thought about some of the prominent colours in the bible. Then I tried to fashion the application of them to biblical objects and concepts. I hope ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:18-21, Exodus 26:36

Tags: Scarlet, New Jerusalem, White, Blue, Colors, Purple  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The First Church I Served, There Was A Man ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

: In the first church I served, there was a man in the community named Lynn. I knew him only in passing. He showed up to church once in a while, but he obviously wasn’t all that interested in “religion” or church. I later found out that Lynn was not somebody you would want to make angry. He had ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

The Gift Of Standing By - Donald Grey Barnhouse ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

THE GIFT OF STANDING BY - Donald Grey Barnhouse told the story (supposedly true) about Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes. When he moved to Washington, D.C., to take up his duties as Chief Justice, he transferred his membership letter to a Baptist Church in the area. His father had been a Baptist ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will