In Sermon Illustrations: "How To Pray"

You Are Free To...

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Mar 20, 2021

I was thinking about my niece who just got her 1st car. While my memory may be deteriorating, I remember how awesome it was to have my 1st car. While I loved that old car, it gave me an attitude that got me in trouble more than once. I began to think that I was grown, and I could do whatever I ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:13-26

Tags: Freedom, Live For Christ

Denomination: Baptist

If I Had But One Sermon To Hear

Contributed by David Parks on Jun 16, 2021

IF I HAD BUT ONE SERMON TO HEAR In 1906 Charles Reynolds Brown was preaching in the San Francisco Bay area of California. That spring, on the Sunday generally designated as Easter, he and the other preachers of the region spoke to full houses. Years later, he mentioned that particular Sunday in his ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-14

Tags: Death, Decision, Judgment, Natural Disasters

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Stop Talking About Evangelism And Just Do It!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 20, 2022

While D. L. Moody was attending a convention in Indianapolis on mass evangelism, he asked his song leader, Ira Sankey, to meet him at six o'clock one evening at a certain street corner. When Sankey arrived, Mr. Moody asked him to stand on a box and sing. Once a crowd had gathered, Moody spoke ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Gospel, Hypocrisy, Good Samaritan

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Funny Sermon Intro For Easter!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 15, 2022

The pastor’s family was invited to Easter dinner at the Wilson home. Mrs. Wilson was widely known for her amazing contributions to church potlucks. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. As usual, it was a feast for the eyes, the nose, and the palate.   When ...read more

Tags: Saying Grace, Sermon Intro, Funny Story, Preacher's Kids, Easter, Prayer, Humor, Pastors  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is Your Ministry Making Any Difference?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 12, 2023

Sometimes we think that God is not using us if we are not preaching to thousands every weekend. If you think that, remember this story about the value of one soul! I recently read about an old man, walking the beach at dawn, who noticed a young man ahead of him picking up starfish and flinging ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Ministry, Holy Spirit, Faithfulness, Success, Fruit Of The Spirit, Spirit Filled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Faith Is Resting My Whole Weight On God!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 23, 2023

When missionary John Paton was translating the Scripture for the South Sea islanders, he was unable to find a word in their vocabulary for the concept of believing, trusting, or having faith. He had no idea how he would convey that to them. One day while he was in his hut translating, a native came ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Faith, Revival, Faithfulness, Spiritual Fruit, Fruit Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Idolatry Of Cell Phones

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 26, 2023

t’s no surprise that 45% of Americans say that their phone is the most valuable possession. What is surprising is how far our obsessions with cell phones go: Over one-third of Americans (36%) say they’d give up their pets to keep their cell phone. 53% say that in a house fire or other disaster, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, Galatians 6:1-2

Tags: Cell Phones, Lust, Faithfulness, Idolatry, Time, Fruit Of The Spirit, Self Control  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Daddy's Side Of The Family (Father's Day Joke!)

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 7, 2023

A little girl asked her Mom, “Where do human beings come from?” Mom answered, “I want to tell you a story from the Bible. God made Adam and Eve and they had children, and so was all mankind made.” Two days later the girl asked her Dad the same question. Dad answered much differently. He said, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-3

Tags: Fathers, Creation, Evolution, Family, Father's Day, Mothers, Atheism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Storm To Peaceful Scene.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jun 6, 2024

Another little me story, I went through a real struggle, mainly of my own making, thinking and due to anger and too much caffeine in Sri Lanka, where I was awake all night and ended up in hospital due to an atrial fibrillation that took 4 days to come right. Why do I share this with you, you are ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Tags: Anger, Awareness, Stupidity, Ill Health, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Social Consequences Of Sin

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Oct 13, 2024

Social consequences of sin. Jonathan Edwards in his book “The Nature Of True Virtue” lays out how sin destroys the social fabric. He argues that human society is deeply fragmented when anything, but God is our highest love. If our highest goal in life is the good of our family, then we will tend to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-24

Tags: Law, Sin, Idolatry, Virtue, Jonathan Edwards, 10 Commandments  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

People Generally Don't Like Change

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 30, 2025

People generally don't like change. As Mark Twain famously said, "The only person who likes change is a wet baby." There's a lot of truth to that quote. Many times, we think of change as being a bad thing, and we older people have seen a lot of bad changes in our lifetimes. *But ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Tags: Demon Possession, Spiritual Transformation, Paul, Salvation, Missions, Silas, Christian Service, Philippian Jailer, Evangelism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Pledge -- Prayer

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 6, 2025

Two men were arguing at work one day about religion. Neither really knew what they were talking about. Finally one said, “Man, you don’t know anything about religion. I’ll bet you ten dollars you can’t even repeat the Lord’s Prayer.” The other grinned. “Oh yeah? It’s a bet!” He straightened up ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:105

Tags: Scripture, Discipleship, Truth, Authority

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Grass On Your Path

Contributed by David Dunn on Jan 21, 2026

Prayer sharpens perception. It tunes the heart so you sense danger before it speaks. John Bunyan once wrote, “Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.” Both can’t thrive in the same heart. Early African believers understood this. Each had a path ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:41

Tags: Prayer, Vigilance

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Following Words Come From The Language Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Mar 24, 2002

The following words come from THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE, by Gary Smalley and John Trent: His leaving had been abrupt and unforeseen. His wife had come home from shopping one day and found the note on the refrigerator. The words were brief and cold. He was tired of trying to make their marriage work. He ...read more

Tags: Divorce, Marriage Struggle

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Other Woman By David ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 27, 2010

THE OTHER WOMAN by David Farrell. Prov. 23:22 - "Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old." After 21 years of marriage, I’ve discovered a new way of keeping the spark of love and intimacy alive in my relationship with my wife: I’ve recently started ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 23:22

Tags: Mother's Day, Honor Parents

Firestorms

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 10, 2011

FIRESTORMS I was at Boy Scout Camp when I discovered the terrible damage a fire storm could do to my life. It was a lazy afternoon very hot and dry. John and I were sent back to camp to start dinner for the guys. When I got back to camp, I discovered that the camp fire looked as if it had gone ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-22, 1 Samuel 11:3-7

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Good Won’t Get You There, Feda H. ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Oct 11, 2001

[Good Won’t Get You There, Feda H. Babinski] I’m standing there in front of gates like none I’ve ever found They shine like golden ribbons as they glide across the ground I see the stairs that never end how brilliantly they glow I start to climb and realize there’s nothing down below Then ...read more

Tags: Faith Vs. Works, Judgment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Always Hear "The Rules" From The Feminine ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Feb 22, 2002

We always hear "the rules" from the feminine side. Now you get to hear the guys’ point of view. These are our rules! Please note...these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE. 1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You’re a big girl. If it’s up, put it down. 1. Birthdays, Valentines, and Anniversaries are ...read more

Tags: Marriage Obligations, Romantic Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Crowd Jumps To Its Feet. Many Clench Tissues ...  PRO

Contributed by Everette Pafford on Apr 15, 2002

The crowd jumps to its feet. Many clench tissues or wipe tears on their sleeves. The applause is thunderous, intermingled with cheers and praise to God. Who would have guessed a developmentally challenged teen could invoke such a response? For my son, Christopher Kline, from Madison ...read more

Tags: Jesus Teachings, Children

Denomination: Pentecostal

Unexpected Grace  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2002

UNEXPECTED GRACE I left work early so I could have some uninterrupted study time right before the final in my Youth Issues class. When I got to class, everybody was doing their last minute studying. The teacher came in and said he would review with us for just a little bit before the test. We went ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:4-10

Tags: Grace, God's Provision