In Sermon Illustrations: "Grace in Action"

Robes Of Righteousness

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Feb 28, 2015

Dr Ravi Zacharias came up with a true witty story of a New Zealand Shepherd who was happy on a Christmas morning, sad in the afternoon but once again happy in the evening. What exactly contributed to his mood swings? Here goes…in the morning two of his ewes’ “A” and “B” gave birth to two lambs “a” ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:10

Tags: Grace, Gratitude, God's Righteousness, Grimy

Denomination: *other

Salvation Is About Relationship

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 18, 2017

On May 31, 1975 Jeanie and I were legally married. A record of that translation is documented at Potter County in Amarillo, Texas. Because of that, I can introduce her as my wife. She can sign papers as Jeanie Tow. A legal transaction occurred. But what if that were all there is to our marriage? We ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:11-14, 2 Corinthians 6:1

Tags: Grace, Relationship To God, Love And Faith

Denomination: Charismatic

Example Of Extreme Forgiveness

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 17, 2020

Twenty years ago, Rwanda experienced a horrible genocide as one tribal group attacked and massacred another over tribal rivalry. Here is one story of forgiveness from that horrid era. “He killed my father and three brothers. He did these killings with other people, but he came alone to me and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:3-4

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Restitution, Apology  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

George Floyd

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jun 11, 2020

God can use you to make a difference in our broken world no matter your past. Just commit your way to the Lord like Jephthah did and depend on His Holy Spirit. When I think about Jephthah, I think about George Floyd, who was recently murdered in Minneapolis. George was a towering 6-foot by 6-inch ...read more

Scripture: Judges 11:1-3, Judges 11:29, 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Tags: Transformation, Grace Of God, George Floyd

Denomination: Evangelical Free

It's Too Late To Do Anything!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 8, 2020

Here is an illustration of these two basic approaches to righteousness: SAVIOR or SELF? An Englishman by the name of Ebenezer Wooten had just concluded a preaching service in the village square. The crowd had dispersed, and he was busily engaged in loading the equipment. A young man approached ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:5, Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Salvation, Righteousness, Witnessing, Works, Grace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tobymac On Faithfulness

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Aug 24, 2022

TobyMac wrote these words upon the tragic death of his 21 year old son; “My wife and I would want the world to knows this … We don’t follow God because we have some sort of under the table deal with Him, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-27

Tags: Salvation, Faith, Grief, Grace, Worship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

God Can Destroy Everything On Earth!

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Nov 12, 2022

Genesis 7:17-24 See Hebrews 11:7 – What can we learn from this? - faith includes God's instructions and obedience God gave Noah a huge task (almost an impossibility to load up all sorts of animals and necessities in 7 days!) We do not note God indicating to Noah that God was going to help, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 7:17-24

Tags: Noah, Judgement, God, Flood, Grace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Hound Of Heaven

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 2, 2023

In his book The Call, author Os Guinness writes: We cannot find God without God. We cannot reach God without God. We cannot satisfy God without God—which is another way of saying that our seeking will always fall short unless God’s grace initiates the search and unless God’s call draws us to Him ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-9, Titus 3:5

Tags: Works, Sovereignty Of God, Salvation, Grace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Gospel

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 9, 2024

Pastor Martin Niemoeller confronted Hitler’s corruption of the German church and spent 8 years in prison. In 1945 he was freed by American forces. Remarkably he lived to the age of 92. A few days before his death he wrote - "when I was young I felt ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Galatians 1:1-5, Romans 1:1-5

Tags: Grace, Gospel, Discipleship, Devotion, Justification  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

You've Got To Earn This!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 20, 2022

Saving Private Ryan is one of the best World War II movies. Three out of four brothers are killed in action, and then a search is launched to find the fourth, Private James Ryan, so that he is not killed, leaving his mother childless. Eight men are sent out to find Private Ryan, who is missing ...read more

Tags: Salvation, Law, Merit, Gospel, Grace, Works  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do You Believe Things About Christ Or Do You Believe On Christ?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 22, 2024

Herschel Ford once wrote, “There is a difference between believing something ABOUT Jesus and believing ON Him. We can believe that He is the Virgin-born Son of God, that He lived a sinless life, that He died on the cross, that He rose from the grave, that He is coming again—we can believe all ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25-34

Tags: Works, Trust, Salvation, Grace, Faith, Assurance, Believe  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Awesome Achievement (Moffatt's Law)

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jan 31, 2018

Awesome achievement And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. - Paul. (1 Corinthians 13:13) Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians writes about love in chapter thirteen, but he finishes the chapter by mentioning two other powerful things, ...read more

Tags: Achievement, Confident Belief, Faith, Love, Law, Hope, Action  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Max Lucado Says That One Of The Most Difficult ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Nov 21, 2000

Max Lucado says that one of the most difficult truths he has had to come to grips with is that God’s grace is big enough to extend to someone like Jeffery Dahmer. If you recall, Dahmer was the young murderer in Milwaukee a few years ago who cut up the bodies of his victims. While in prison, Dahmer ...read more

Tags: Faith Vs. Works, God's Forgiveness, Grace

Denomination: Baptist

Theologian Charles Hodge Explained The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 1, 2001

Theologian Charles Hodge explained the relationship between divine grace and the human heart. “The doctrines of grace humble a man without ...read more

Scripture: John 1:16-17, Romans 6:14, 1 Corinthians 15:10, Galatians 2:21

Tags: Grace, Hope, Humility, Pride, Slave To Sin  (view more)  (view less)

Beloved Christian Reader, In Matters Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Bart Leger on Mar 15, 2001

“Beloved Christian reader, in matters of grace, you need a daily supply. You have no store of strength. Day by day must you seek help from above. It is a very sweet assurance that a daily portion is provided for you in the word, through the ministry, by meditation, in prayer, and waiting upon God ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, Grace, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Father’s Reaction To The Prodigal Son ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Mar 23, 2001

THE FATHER’S REACTION TO THE PRODIGAL SON AND HIS ELDER SON MIRRORS THE ANSWER ABRAHAM LINCOLN GAVE TO A QUESTION HE WAS ASKED ABOUT HOW HE WOULD TREAT THE ALL THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS ONCE THE CIVIL WAR WAS OVER. EXPECTING VENGEANCE AND EVEN THOUGHTS OF EXECUTION BECAUSE OF ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:14-16

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Parable Prodigal Son, Grace

Denomination: Free Methodist

Let Me Suggest You Consider The Difference ...  PRO

Contributed by Scott Carson on Apr 10, 2001

Let me suggest you consider the difference between dogs and cats. The master pets a dog, and the dog wags its tail and thinks, “He must be a god.” But the master pets his cat, and the cat purrs, shuts its eyes and thinks to itself, “I must be a god.” Though Jesus in ...read more

Tags: Temptation Pride, Pride, Humility, Grace, Emotions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

During The Late 1800’s An English ...  PRO

Contributed by Tom Dooley on May 14, 2001

During the late 1800’s an English evangelist named Henry Moorhouse made several trips to preach in America. On one of those occassions he was taking a walk through a poor section of town when he noticed a small boy coming out of a store with a pitcher of milk in his hands. Just then, he ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-10

Tags: God's Forgiveness, God's Holiness, Grace, Transformation

Denomination: Baptist

Just Before The Death Of Actor W.c. Fields, A ...  PRO

Contributed by R. Darrel Davis on Jun 16, 2001

Just before the death of actor W.C. Fields, a friend visited Fields? hospital room and was surprised to find him thumbing through a Bible. Asked what he was doing ...read more

Tags: Grace, Faith Vs. Works, Apologetics General

Denomination: Baptist

Below Standard  PRO

Contributed by Marcus Naugler on Nov 21, 2001

BELOW STANDARD Two cows were grazing alongside a highway when a tank-truck of milk on its way to the distributor happened to pass. On one side of the truck in big red letters was a sign that read, "Pasteurized, homogenized, standardized, Vitamin A ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-21

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Faith Vs. Works, Grace

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ