In Sermon Illustrations: "Hip Pocket"

Ethics In Inaction

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 4, 2021

The Law Professor specialized in teaching ethics: “You’re currently failing your ethics course,” he told me. So I slipped him a $200 in crisp bills across the table. “How about now?” I asked. The professor pocketed the money and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:14-21

Tags: Hypocrisy, Honesty, Ethics, Character

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Book That Saves

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 12, 2025

A soldier once wrote home from the front lines. In his letter he said, “They gave me a helmet for my head and armor for my chest, but the best protection I’ve found is the Book in my pocket.” That small New Testament had stopped a bullet meant for ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:105, Hebrews 4:12

Tags: Protection, Power

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

A Sunday School Teacher Was Trying To Demonstrate ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 6, 2004

A Sunday school teacher was trying to demonstrate the difference between right and wrong to her young teen class. She chose stealing for her example. The teacher said: "All right let’s use this example. If I were to go into a man’s pocket and take his wallet with all his ...read more

The Following Illustrates That Point. "In A ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Jan 1, 2001

The following illustrates that point. "In a stately church a noticeably untidy man visited the church for the first time. He was met by one of the smartly-dressed ushers who immediately ushered him to a back pew so that his unkept appearance and foul odor would not upset the decorum of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:22-25, Luke 8:36-50, Luke 8:38-39

Tags: Compassion, Jesus Teachings

Denomination: Lutheran

Pearl Tree Parable

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 24, 2023

The kingdom of God is like a seed which a woman planted in her garden, and when the time came for the harvest, the tree branches were groaning under the weight of hundreds of large and beautiful pearls which rained down upon everyone who had taken shelter there, and they all became rich beyond ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-52

Tags: Fruit, Kingdom Of God, Reward, Hidden Future

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

When I Got Engaged, We Went To A Local Gemologist ...

Contributed by Darrin Hunt on Feb 19, 2007

When I got engaged, we went to a local gemologist at his home. He took us to his living room, pulled his hand out of his pocket and held it out with several stones and said, "Pick one." Gemologists/geologists are able to analyze and discern which gems/metals are ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Eternal Blessings In God

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Jul 23, 2010

ETERNAL BLESSINGS IN GOD Imagine George Vanderbilt has forgotten to pick up enough spending money on a given day. Imagine him sitting down and despairing! No! Is it a minor, temporary inconvenience? Yes! But he knows that he has far more resources that what will fit in his pocket! You may find ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

Baptize The Wallet, Too

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Mar 27, 2011

BAPTIZE THE WALLET, TOO A man who was about to be baptized by immersion was on his way into the pool when he realized that in his back pocket was his wallet. He stopped and was about to remove it when the preacher said, "Stop! Either I baptize you wallet and all or not at all!" Now the preacher ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Brethren

Albert Einstein - Ticket For The Journey

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Dec 22, 2008

Albert Einstein, the great physicist, was once travelling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of each passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn’t find his ticket, so he reached in his other pocket. It ...read more

Scripture: John 14:3

Tags: Heaven, Salvation, Destination

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Pastor Stood Before The Congregation And Said ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 9, 2001

The pastor stood before the congregation and said "I have bad news, I have good news, and I have more bad news." The congregation got quiet. "The bad news is: the church needs a new roof!" the pastor said. The congregation groaned. "The good news is: we have enough money for the new roof." A ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Alive, Church Practices, Rededication, Renewal  (view more)  (view less)

Fad Or Follower?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 8, 2010

FAD OR FOLLOWER? I was looking at a list of some fads from the 1990's. Among them were: spandex shorts, Pokemon, Grunge music and fashion, The Macarena, Bowl cut, What would Jesus do?, Pogs, Polly Pocket Toys, and Tickle Me Elmo. In that list, only one fad had long-term bearing, "What Would Jesus ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Yanking And Pulling.

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Jun 19, 2020

A woman that had boarded a plane to visit family struggled to wedge her suitcase into the tight overhead bin. Eventually triumphantly closing the door and taking her seat. When the plane landed, she got up opened the bin and found her suitcase was struck so she began yanking and tugging. The ...read more

Scripture: James 5:10-11

Tags: Persistence, Resilience

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Resilience When Faced With Insurmountable Problems

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 13, 2020

A woman that had boarded a plane to visit family struggled to wedge her suitcase into the tight overhead bin. Eventually triumphantly closing the door and taking her seat. When the plane landed, she got up opened the bin and found her suitcase was struck so she began yanking and tugging. The ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:28

Tags: Resilience, Insurmountable Problems

Denomination: Independent/Bible

An Elderly Man Was Desperately Ill. Knowing The ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Dec 10, 2001

An elderly man was desperately ill. Knowing the time for his departure was near, he called for his closest friends to come see him one last time. Attending him were his doctor, his pastor and his business manager. The old man said, “I know you can’t take it with you, but who knows for sure? ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:6-10, 1 Timothy 6:6-19

Tags: Money

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Day, President Abraham Lincoln Was Riding In ...  PRO

Contributed by Clyde Grimes on Dec 28, 2002

One day, President Abraham Lincoln was riding in a coach with a colonel from Kentucky. The colonel took a bottle of whiskey out of his pocket. He offered Lincoln a drink. Lincoln said, “No thank you, Colonel. I never drink whiskey.” After a little while, the colonel took some cigars out of his ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 1:8-9

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Call, Character, Promise

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

What Is Repentance? Gordon Macdonald Helps Us ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 16, 2005

What is repentance? Gordon MacDonald helps us to understand with these sobering words: “Repentance is not necessarily repentance for what I have done although it may necessitate that. Repentance is for, more significantly, what is in me as a sinner. I suggest to you that the Bible is teaching ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, Repentance

Denomination: Methodist

A Group Of Ministers And A Salesman's ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A group of ministers and a salesman’s organization were holding conventions in the same hotel, and the catering department had to work at top speed serving dinners to both. The salesmen were having spiked watermelon for dessert. But the chef discovered that it was being served to the ministers by ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Forcing Doors Or Build Bridges

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jul 12, 2009

FORCING DOORS OR BUILD BRIDGES There were two unmarried sisters who had such a bitter fight that they stopped speaking to each other. Unable or unwilling to leave their small home, they continued to use the same rooms and sleep in the same bedroom. A chalk line divided the sleeping area into two ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Is There Hope For The Next Generation Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 7, 2013

IS THERE HOPE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF EVANGELICALS? Russell Moore recounts a conversation with the evangelical theologian Carl Henry. As Moore and some of his friends were lamenting the miserable shape of the church, they asked Dr. Henry if he saw any hope in the coming generation of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-15, Acts 2:47, Romans 8:31-36, Proverbs 20:21, Luke 8:22-25, Matthew 16:18  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: God Brings Hope

Adoption Is The Process By Which A Person Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Dec 28, 2004

Adoption is the process by which a person who does not belong to a given family is formally brought into it and made a full, legal family member with the rights and responsibilities of that position. The practice of adoption was not common among the Jews, but was more widespread in the Greek and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:12-17

Tags: Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Baptist