In Sermon Illustrations: "Illustration"

One Of The Greatest Legends In Teaching Was A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

One of the greatest legends in teaching was a 17th century Czech man named Jan Komensky. He is sometimes called Comenius. He promoted the idea of universal education for all, came up with the idea of illustrated textbooks and interlinear books with columns in two languages -- and a host of other ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Qualifications For Ministry  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Mar 15, 2009

QUALIFICATIONS FOR MINISTRY What qualifies someone for a task? There is a story of the testing of a candidate for missions work: One snowy morning at 5:00 A.M., a missionary candidate rang the bell at a missionary examiner’s home. Ushered into the office, he sat three hours past his appointment ...read more

Tags: Humility, Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Other

West Point's "Harder Right"  PRO

Contributed by Sol Madlambayan on Nov 30, 2002

West Point’s "Harder Right" This quotation is from the "Cadet Prayer." It is repeated every Sunday in chapel services at West Point: "Make us choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be contented with half truth when whole truth can be won. Endow us with courage that is ...read more

Tags: Truth Absolute, Truth

Denomination: Methodist

Dreamers Have Always Had A Way Of Shaking Up ...

Contributed by Steve Boyd on Aug 20, 2003

Dreamers have always had a way of shaking up their world. One of the most infamous illustrations of this would be a speech that was given on those steps in Washington, DC, when Martin Luther King Jr. stood and said… “I have a dream”… No matter what your personal position is this morning, if you ...read more

Tags: Examples Of Faith

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Early Latin Writer, Tertullian Of Carthage, ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Aug 11, 2004

“The early Latin writer, Tertullian of Carthage, declared that the one thing that converted him to Christianity was not the arguments they gave him, because he could find a counterpoint for every argument they would present. “But they demonstrated something I didn’t have. The thing that ...read more

Tags: Love For God, Christian Love

Denomination: United Methodist

Wrong Way

Contributed by Ronald Thorington on Jan 1, 2008

Illustration: On New Years Day, 1929, Georgia Tech was playing California. Late in the second quarter, Roy Regals recovered a fumble for California, and in his excitement became confused and began running in the wrong direction. After racing 65 yards he was finally tackled by his own player at ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

There Are Three Huge Gates That Lead Into The ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 9, 2008

There are three huge gates that lead into the Cathedral of Milan. Over one gate there is an inscription in marble (under a beautiful flower bouquet) that says, "The things that please are temporary." Over the second gate, there is a cross with this inscription: "The things that disturb us are ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Other

Quote: "You Can Give Without Loving, But You ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Sep 22, 2008

Quote: “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving” (From Illustrations Unlimited). Quote: Love is the key. Joy is love singing. Peace is love resting. Long-suffering is love enduring. Kindness is love’s touch. Goodness is love’s character. Faithfulness is love’s habit. ...read more

Tags: Love For God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Puzzle Piece  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Dec 3, 2008

ILLUSTRATION POINT: (Hand each audience member a puzzle piece.) His specific plan involves you – look at your puzzle piece which was handed to you when you came in this morning! Here this word from the Lord, "You are an important piece to the vision and to the mission of Christian Hills." God’s ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Forgiveness Is Strength

Contributed by Lonnie Erwin on Sep 24, 2007

Illustrations: Forgiveness Is Strength Christian forgiveness should not be a refusal of strength, but rather ought to manifest an alternative power; Christian love, whether of neighbors or of enemies, should be a sign not of repressed anger and hatred but of anger and hatred confronted and, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Life

Contributed by Lonnie Erwin on Nov 2, 2007

Illustration: Life Augustus boasted that he found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble. Perhaps we cannot feel that we will leave the world much different than we found it, but each of us has had some influence, affected some life, and in some way can leave the world a better ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Christian Football!!  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 9, 2005

Humor Illustration: CHRISTIAN FOOTBALL!! Quarterback Sneak - Church members quietly leaving during the invitation. Draw Play - What many children do with the bulletin during worship. Half-time - The period between Sunday school and worship when many choose to leave. Benchwarmer - Those who do ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In A December 2002 Article By English Columnist ...

Contributed by Scott Weber on Dec 21, 2005

In a December 2002 article by English columnist Brendan O’Neill called “Eat Drink, Be Merry,” he wrote this: (Show Picture) “Guess who’s plastering posters around the UK this Christmas with the words ’I wish the baby Jesus had never been born’ on them? A Satanic group dreading another celebration ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Always More To Follow

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 29, 2010

ALWAYS MORE TO FOLLOW C. H. Spurgeon had an illustration he would use to depict ‘grace’. A large sum of money was given to a man called Rowland Hill; His job was to distribute the money to a particular Christian pastor. Thinking that the amount was too much to send all at once, Hill forwarded ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Brethren

Judgment Day Sooner Than You Think

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 26, 2011

JUDGMENT DAY SOONER THAN YOU THINK A Scottish lawyer was a wicked man. Once he hired a horse and, either through accident or ill-usage, killed the animal. Naturally the owner insisted on being paid its value, together with some compensation for the loss of its use. The man of law acknowledged his ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:1-18

Tags: Judgment

Jim Nicodem Is The Founding, Senior Pastor Of ...

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Mar 10, 2008

Jim Nicodem is the founding, senior pastor of Christ Community Church with campuses in St. Charles, Dekalb, and Blackberry Creek, Illinois. In his sermon “The Straight Scoop on Anger” Pastor Jim shares this illustration: “You’re watching a football game, your favorite team. We’ll assume it’s the ...read more

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: Methodist

Jonathan Edwards' ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 2, 2008

Jonathan Edwards’ Conversion One day when Jonathan Edwards was at home in his father’s house; some hindrances kept him from going to church one Sunday with the family. A couple of hours with nothing to do sent him listlessly into the library; the sight of a dull volume with no title on the leather ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Other

Do You Know What Sacrifice Means? Two Wealthy ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jul 14, 2007

Do You Know What Sacrifice Means? Two wealthy Christians, a lawyer and a merchant, joined a party that was going around the world. Before they started, their minister earnestly asked them to observe and remember any unusual and interesting things that they might see in the missionary countries ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Foxhole Christian  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jan 23, 2001

ILLUSTRATION…the foxhole Christian “’There are no atheists in foxholes,’ wrote William T. Cummings in 1942. ‘While crouched in a trench with bullets zinging overhead, even the most reluctant heart begins to bargain with God- just in case He might exist. ‘God if you only get me out of this alive, ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General, Faith General, Faith

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The African Impala Can Jump To A Height Of Over ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Simms on May 23, 2004

The African impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of greater than 30 feet. Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot wall. The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall. Faith is the ability to trust ...read more

Tags: Doubt, Fear And Worry

Denomination: Baptist