In Sermon Illustrations: "Guilt Of Sin"

Think How Many Temptations You And I Face In An ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Mar 26, 2001

Think how many temptations you and I face in an ordinary day. Staying in bed late - the temptation to laziness. Growling at the breakfast table - the temptation to unkindness. Arguing over who should change the baby this time - the temptation to selfishness. Starting work 10 minutes late - the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:13-15

Tags: Lies, Temptation General, Sin Exposed, Sin General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It All Started With An Apple

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 24, 2025

In my backyard I have two apple trees. They grow low to the ground and in July the apples are plentiful but small and green. Harvest is not until late September here in Ontario. But the low hanging branches present an enticing temptation to pick the apples. One beautiful morning I noticed an ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:7-25, Romans 6:1-4, Romans 3:21-31

Tags: Original Sin, The Fall, Sin, Obedience, Temptation, Adam  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Praying The Beatitudes

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2020

PRAYING THE BEATITUDES Blessed are the poor in spirit. Matthew 5:3 Heavenly Father, I want the humility not to be impressed with myself and my accomplishments. Increase in me (John 3:30). More of You, God, none of me. I am overwhelmed with the sense of my spiritual need. I recognize my true ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Prayer, Beatitudes, Poor In Spirit, Blessed Are The Meek, Matthew 5, Blessed Are The Pure In Heart  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Stranger By Billy Joel  PRO

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Sep 21, 2001

"The Stranger" by Billy Joel Well we all have a face that we hide away forever And we take them out and show ourselves when everyone has gone Some are satin, some are steel, some are silk, and some are leather They’re the faces of the stranger, but we love to try them on Well we all fall in love, ...read more

Tags: Satan, Sin Against God, Temptation General, Sin Deceptive

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Floating Pumpkins

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 8, 2020

Satan will use the same type of tactics that hunters use in Africa. The story is told of a certain African tribe that learned an easy way to capture ducks in a river. Catching their agile and wary dinner would be a feat indeed, so these hunters formulated a plan. The tribesmen learned to go ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 Peter 5:6-9

Tags: Sin, Deception, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, Sexual Sins  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Does The Worm Get Inside An Apple?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 12, 2023

How does a worm get inside an apple? Perhaps you think the worm burrows in from the outside. No, scientists have discovered that the worm comes from inside. But how does he get in there? Simple! An insect lays an egg in the apple blossom. Sometime later, the worm hatches in the heart of the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Sin, Salvation, Temptation, Adam, Sinful Nature, Sinners, Death  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Evel Knievel Fell Short Of The Goal

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 19, 2023

One of the fads of 1970s America was the motorcycle jump. This trend reached its high (and low) point on September 8, 1974. Thousands of spectators gathered around the Snake River Canyon in Idaho to see if Evel Knievel could jump across the chasm in a specially designed “sky cycle.” In the end, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Sinners, Sin, Judgment, Failure, Sinful Nature, Glory Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Illustration – The Coffee Cup

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 18, 2024

AN ILLUSTRATION – THE COFFEE CUP I don’t prefer strong coffee for it has a couple of effects on me. My wife bought these coffee bags that had “intense” on the packets. I know I might horrify some people but I found I could use these coffee bags 4 times. They only need to be in hot water for a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1, 1 John 2:16-17, 1 John 1:8-10

Tags: Coffee Mug, Adulterated, Sin Is Subtle, Sin, Deceived, Coffee  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Book, Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 28, 2002

In the book, Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan describes how the pilgrim realizes his guilt and lostness. Saddled to his back is a heavy burden of sin and shame. "I fear that this burden upon my back will sink me lower than the grave," he says, staggering under its weight. But then he approaches a ...read more

Scripture: John 8:34-36

Tags: Sin Bondage To, Christian Liberty, God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

Second Chances

Contributed by Tim Smith on Sep 25, 2016

David Emory tells the story of baptizing a young father who had a 7 year old and 5 year old. They were close friends of his family and had never been a part of a church. But one Sunday, they came to worship, he gave his life to Christ and was baptized. At the end of the service, after everyone else ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8

Tags: Sin, Repentance, Woe, Second Chances

Denomination: Methodist

[078]. A Message From A Poem – Failure Leads To Hurt And Sorrow

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 12, 2025

[078]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FAILURE LEADS TO HURT AND SORROW This poem was written one Sunday morning while waiting for a church service to start. It flowed quickly. It was around the time I was speaking on a series in the life of Peter. Identify yourselves if you have never failed the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:7-10

Tags: Hurt, Forgiveness, Sin, Failure, Sorrow  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Iron Eyes Cody

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2002

Iron Eyes Cody Iron Eyes Cody is a native American actor who once did a TV spot for the Keep America Beautiful campaign. He was an Indian drifting alone in a canoe. As he saw how our waters are being polluted, a single tear rolled down his cheek, telling the whole story. This powerful public ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, Sin Deceptive

In 1900, In Bangor, Ireland, A Group Of Salvation ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Massey on Apr 8, 2002

In 1900, in Bangor, Ireland, a group of Salvation Army youth were conducting a street meeting. A young man named Billy Nicholson who had desired to do great things for God passed by. Several of the ones in the Salvation Army troop knew that Billy professed Christianity so they invited him to ...read more

Tags: Confession Of Sin, Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Church Of God

An Indianapolis Patrolman Ran Into Trouble While ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 15, 2002

An Indianapolis patrolman ran into trouble while investigating a routine traffic mishap. His problem began after he had interviewed witnesses, arrested one of the drivers, and written up the accident report. He suddenly noticed that the offending motorist was chewing on something that wasn’t gum. ...read more

Tags: God's Judgment, Sin Deceptive

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Most Of Us Spend The First Six Days Of The Week ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 11, 2002

"Most of us spend the first six days of the week sowing wild oats, then we go to church on Sunday and pray ...read more

Tags: Sin General, Temptation Resisting

About 40 Percent Of Americans Characterize The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 25, 2002

About 40 percent of Americans characterize the nation’s moral values as "poor" and 41 percent say the state of moral values is "only fair." Only 18 percent rank the situation as "good" or "excellent." Weekly church attendees had an even more negative perspective about the nation’s moral climate - ...read more

Tags: Christian Values, Sin General

Children Lined Up In The Cafeteria Of A ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on Jul 11, 2002

Children lined up in the cafeteria of a religious school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The teacher made a note: "Take only one, God is watching." At the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience, Sin General

Denomination: Baptist

Of The Many Things In Life That Are Certain One ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 8, 2002

Of the many things in life that are certain one of them is you always get found out in the end or, to use the old adage, ’Be sure your sins will find you out’. This young couple were about to get married. The young man went to his Dad and said, "I’m a bit apprehensive about getting married, Dad". ...read more

Tags: Sin Exposed, Marriage General

Kaiser Family Foundation: There Are 20 Million ...

Contributed by Mike Harris on Sep 24, 2002

Kaiser Family Foundation: there are 20 million new cases of STD’s each year…. --- of these 20 million new cases… 68% occurring between ages 15-24. --- more than 50 % of all teens 15-19 have had sex… ...read more

Tags: Holiness, Sin Punishment Of, Sexuality

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Re-Introducing The Devil  PRO

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Sep 27, 2002

RE-INTRODUCING THE DEVIL In a British radio broadcast circa 1943, reading one of his own essays, C. S. Lewis was discussing some of the basic Christian beliefs. In talking about the personal existence of the devil, Lewis anticipated the scoffing of the so-called enlightened modern thinkers who ...read more

Tags: Sin Fall Of Man, Satan

Denomination: Orthodox