In Sermon Illustrations: "Gospel Power"

Evolution Is The Problem - And The Solution?

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 19, 2023

Gov Pritzker (Illinois) gave the 2023 Commencement Address at North Eastern University "… Whenever we see someone who doesn't look like us, or sound like us, or act like us or love like us, or live like us - the first thought that crosses almost everyone's brain is rooted in either ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 3:23, Galatians 5:22-23, Psalm 139:14, Romans 7:21-25, Genesis 1:27, Genesis 3:17-19  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Kindness, Salvation, Humanity, Fruit Of The Spirit, Evolution, Compassion, Education  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Young 12 Year Old Girl Saved By Lions

Contributed by Timothy Lueking on Jul 1, 2025

Several years ago I read a headline straight out of the heart of Africa, a story that grips your heart and soul. It is the story of a 12-year-old girl, stolen from her village, snatched by cruel men who beat her, tormented her, and planned to sell her into the world of human trafficking. She was ...read more

Scripture: Zephaniah 3:17

Tags: The Lord Stands Guard, Protection, Salvation, Lion Of Judah, Mighty To Save  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Astronaut On Moon Sees The Love Of God

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 24, 2025

One of the best testimonies of God’s goodness and love you will ever hear is from astronaut Jim Irwin. He served as the Lunar Module pilot for Apollo 15. Jim was the eighth person to walk on the Moon. *And he told about an experience he had when he went to the moon. Jim said: "When I looked ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 144:1-15

Tags: Floods, High Tower, The Lord Our Rock, Righteous War, Brevity, Praise The Lord, Mortality, Traitors, Deceivers, The Lord Of Hosts, Joy, Rock, Fortress, God's Help, Deliverer, King David, Shield, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Emmanuel. God With Us.

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Dec 12, 2025

Before the angels broke their silence, Before the star began to shine, Before the virgin's womb held heaven, Before God crossed that boundary line— We waited in the darkness, heavy, With prophets' voices growing dim, Four hundred years of heaven's quiet, No burning bush, no ...read more

Tags: Joy, Poem

Denomination: Methodist

It Was May 7, And Roger Simms Was Hitchhiking His ...  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jun 28, 2004

It was May 7, and Roger Simms was hitchhiking his way home, having been discharged from the Army. He flashed his hitchhiking sign at a car, but almost lost hope for a ride when he noticed it was a black, sleek, new Cadillac. To his amazement the car stopped. As Roger entered the car from the ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

Two Old Saw Bucks On A Hill! ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 25, 2005

Two Old Saw Bucks on a Hill! (06.27.05--Direction--John 21:4-6 ) How often we see things dimly in the morning light only to confront something altogether different than what we thought we saw in the first place. Not long ago I was awakened early, much earlier than I normally venture out in the ...read more

Scripture: John 21:4-6

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Lutheran

Do Some Screaming! (09.15.05--Heavenly ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 13, 2005

Do Some Screaming! (09.15.05--Heavenly Citizens!--1 Cor 15:31) The hog-nose snake flipped over on its back and coiled itself up into a neat coil. It lay seemingly lifeless in front of us somehow waiting for us to either move on or dare to pick it up. Banking on the former, I am sure it was pleased ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:31

Tags: Discipleship, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Lutheran

Knock, Knock... Who's ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Knock, Knock... Who’s There? An excuse often given by those who refuse to receive the gospel of Christ is, “Later, I am not ready yet.” Nevertheless, Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with Me” ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:20

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Evidences Of ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Evidences of Salvation Repentance The truths relating to man’s acceptance of God’s great salvation are reflected through repentance, faith and obedience. The apostle Paul’s prayer for the church in Colosse was, “…That [they] live a life ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:10

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Father's Legacy  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

A Father's Legacy Jim Berg wrote about the state of the family: "The family, which should be the greatest refuge for the child, has become a domestic battlefield where a child is often caught in the crossfire of his parents' warfare. The time and energy that should be spent giving him the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:17-18

Tags: Father's Day

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Selecting A Christmas Gift

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Selecting a Christmas Gift It is that time of the year when people really start to get serious about selecting Christmas gifts. When purchasing Christmas gifts one must first remember what is being celebrated. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blessed Are The Merciful

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Blessed Are The Merciful In the Sermon on the Mount, we notice that Jesus' subject was not on how people are to be saved, but on the fruit of those who allow the Holy Spirit to work in their lives. One of the signs or evidences that a person has been converted is that he is now merciful. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Standing In The Doorway  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

STANDING IN THE DOORWAY John Todd was born in Rutledge, Vermont, into a family of several children. They later moved to the village of Killingsworth back in the early 1800s. And, there, at a very young age, both John’s parents died. The relatives wondered what they would do with so many ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-3

Tags: Death

U2 Song,

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 23, 2009

U2 Song, "I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” One of the most popular music groups over the past 25 years has been a band called U2. The lead singer of U2 is a man named Bono. It seems like every couple of years it gets reported that Bono is a professing Christian. I don’t know whether he ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-15

Tags: Unbelief

Airplane Traveler Who Knows His Bible Well, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 23, 2009

Airplane Traveler Who Knows His Bible Well, Finally Understands the Goal of the Gospel--To Know Christ And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” *There is no eternal life in trying to keep God’s rules, because you can’t keep them ...read more

Scripture: John 17:3

Tags: Evangelism, Christian Witness

Christina Recently Gave Birth To Our First ...

Contributed by Chris Surber on Jun 17, 2010

Christina recently gave birth to our first daughter. After three sons I am very pleased to have a little girl. Recently I was speaking to the academic dean of the seminary where I am pursuing doctoral studies. The school had asked for individual and family photos of students like me who are ...read more

Tags: Suffering Joy In

Denomination: Christian Church

Speaking The Same Language

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Jun 10, 2011

SPEAKING THE SAME LANGUAGE Back in 1991, I went on a mission trip to the former Soviet Union. Twenty-or-so of us arrived on a snowy November day in Samara, a city of more than a million people located on the Volga River. We were there for about ten days, and our mission was to help start a ...read more

Tags: Preaching

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Howard Hughes Vs. Jim Elliot

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

HOWARD HUGHES VS. JIM ELLIOT Howard Hughes' last years were spent in isolation, hidden on the top floor of the Xanadu Hotel in the Bahamas. One biographer wrote about Hughes' appearance before he died: "He was emaciated, practically skeletal, with only 120 pounds stretched over his six-foot, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-28

Tags: Discipleship

Euodia And Syntyche - Conflict At Philippi

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Dec 24, 2016

EUODIA AND SYNTYCHE We can’t help wondering what caused disharmony between two women in the church at Philippi, but we will not find the answer--only that Paul urged these women to live in harmony. That’s all we know. Yet until the Lord shall return, Bible-readers everywhere will know there was ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:2-3

Tags: Disagreement, Agree, Argument, Conflict

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Thomas Didymas - The Twin

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Jul 17, 2017

THOMAS DIDYMUS The Twin “Doubting Thomas” - was a more unfair moniker ever pinned on a person? For by taking into account the full account of his first encounter with the risen Christ, Thomas may just as rightly be styled as “Believing Thomas.” For reasons we cannot presume to know, the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:7, John 20:24-29

Tags: Doubt, Criticism, Thomas, Doubting

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ