In Sermon Illustrations: "I Do"

I Don't Want To Be A Saint...  PRO

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Dec 1, 2011

"I DON'T WANT TO BE A SAINT..." So the Bible clearly teaches that everyone who has been sanctified and set apart by God is a saint. I read a story earlier this week about a Wisconsin mom who was trying to teach her kids how God sees them. She told them that when they receive Jesus as Savior that ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:32

Tags: Sanctification

Denomination: Christian Church

What I Wouldn't Give...

Contributed by Scott Jensen on Mar 29, 2012

WHAT I WOULDN'T GIVE... When Oliver Wendell Holmes was still on the U.S. Supreme Court, he and Justice Louis Brandeis took walks every afternoon. On one of these occasions Holmes, then ninety-two, paused to gaze in frank admiration at a beautiful young girl who passed them. He even turned to look ...read more

Tags: Aging

Denomination: Lutheran

Tell Them I Am Coming

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Apr 7, 2012

TELL THEM I AM COMING I really liked the movies that were made about a decade ago regarding the life of Wyatt Earp. One was made starring Kevin Costner and the other with Kurt Russell. I remember a scene in the one with Kurt Russell where after one of his brothers ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Kyle Idleman: I Cheapened The Gospel  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 15, 2012

KYLE IDLEMAN: I CHEAPENED THE GOSPEL "Many of the fans turn to go home. I was struck by the fact that Jesus doesn't chase after them. He doesn't soften his message to make it more appealing. He doesn't send the disciples chasing after them with a creative handout inviting them to come back for a ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-69

Tags: Easter Palm Sunday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Don't Want To Be One!

Contributed by Christopher Gregas on Sep 8, 2012

I DON'T WANT TO BE ONE! There was a pastor that was giving a "children’s sermon" to all the young children. And as they sate before him, a bright-eyed three-year-old girl listened intently as he explained that God wanted them all to get along and love each other. "God wants us all to be one," he ...read more

Tags: Unity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Will Give You Two Apples  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 29, 2014

I WILL GIVE YOU TWO APPLES An atheist and a little boy in his neighborhood were talking one day about God, church and faith. Finally, the old neighbor said to the little boy, "Son, I don’t see how there could be a God in this world with all of the problems we have. I will give you an apple if you ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 19:1-5

Tags: Faith, Apologetics, Atheism, Unbelief

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"I Love You, Daddy. Amen."

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 14, 2014

James Dobson tells of the time he was away on a business trip. While he was away, and his wife and 2 children were sitting down to eat, his wife turned to their two year old son Ryan and asked if he would like to pray before he and sister ate. The invitation startled the little boy, but he folded ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:4-5

Tags: Thanksgiving, Children, Fathers Day, Prayer Before Meals

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

Where I Used To Go To Church!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 4, 2022

A man was stranded on a deserted Pacific island for years. Finally, one day a boat comes sailing into view, and the man frantically waves and draws the skipper’s attention. The boat comes near the island and the sailor gets out and greets the stranded man. After a while the sailor asks, ...read more

Tags: Church, Worship, Humor, Strife, Division, Church Splits  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Was At Calvary 2000 Years Ago

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 6, 2022

Once during a trip to Israel, Dr. R.G. Lee visited the site where many believe Jesus Christ was crucified. He told his Arab guide that he wanted to walk to the top of the hill, but the guide tried to discourage him. The preacher was determined to climb the hill, so the guide accompanied him. When ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20, Romans 5:8

Tags: Cross, Calvary, Golgotha, Identification With Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

General Macarthur Said, I Will Return!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 6, 2024

General Douglas MacArthur, during World War II, famously declared to the people of the Philippine Islands, “I shall return.” This resolute statement was made after he was ordered to leave the Philippines, which were under Japanese invasion. His promise echoed the determination of our Lord Jesus ...read more

Tags: End Times, Prophecy, Second Coming, Last Days, Rapture, Signs, Return Of Christ, Promises  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Singing When I Am Hurt?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jul 16, 2024

WHEN I AM HURT? GO FIGURE? I LOVE BIRDS. I LOVE TO WATCH BIRDS. EACH FAMILY OF BIRDS HAVE THEIR OWN DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS. In my limited study of birds I ran across WHAT IS CALLED ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SONG BIRDS. This SINGING BIRD is unique in many ways. This special little bird is ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 137:1-3

Tags: Hope, Sing, Song In The Night

Denomination: Assembly Of God

I'm Going For Help

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 28, 2025

An airliner was making its way from New York to San Francisco. Midway across the country, one of the engines caught fire. The captain came on the intercom and calmly reassured the passengers, > “Don’t worry. The fire will be out soon. This aircraft can fly just fine with three engines.” Not ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-2, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 28:20, John 14:27, Hebrews 13:5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Trust, Sovereignty, Assurance, Providence, Faith  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

I Read One Psychologists Theory That Said, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"I read one psychologists theory that said, Never strike a child in anger. When should I strike him? When he is kissing me on my birthday? When he is recuperating from the ...read more

Tags: Children

As A Hospital Chaplain I Encounter Many Patients ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 9, 2005

As a hospital chaplain I encounter many patients that have upcoming surgeries and are stressed about anesthesia and the procedure they will undergo. It is not appropriate to tell a patient that they shouldn’t worry and that worry is a sign of poor faith. Instead I tell patients that God is aware ...read more

Tags: Guilt

If I'd Known You Had Him...

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Apr 19, 2011

IF I'D KNOWN YOU HAD HIM... Madeline Rockwell wrote of her grandparents: "My Grandmother was a ball of fire, while Grandpa was slow and deliberate. One night they were awakened by a commotion in the chicken house. Grandma sprang out of bed, ran to the chicken house and found the cause of the ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

I Believe That Any Mans Life Will Be Filled ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"I believe that any mans life will be filled with constant, unexpected encouragementsif he makes up his mind to do his level best each day of his life that is, tries to make each day reach as nearly ...read more

Tags: Attitude General

I Think That What's Most Disturbing About ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"I think that what's most disturbing about success is that it's very hazardous to your health, as well as to your daily routine. Not only are there intrusions on your time, but there is a kind of corrosion of your own humility and sense of ...read more

Tags: Workplace Success

I Design Purification Processes For Anti Venom ...

Contributed by Richard Francis on Feb 16, 2005

I design purification processes for anti venom drugs, its like taking a glass of clean fresh water, inverting it, placing it the bottom of a deep mid sized sea, then tryingt to recover all of the fresh water, ...read more

Tags: Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

This Past Week I Watched Part Of An Interview ...

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Jan 3, 2008

-This past week I watched part of an interview with a medical expert about this bird flu that is spreading around our world. The govt. has already suggested that people should stock a couple of month’s supply of such things as canned tuna and powdered milk. This is not to throw anybody into a ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God