In Sermon Illustrations: "Illustration"

Meaning Of Christmas?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 24, 2002

MEANING OF CHRISTMAS? A television interviewer was walking the streets of Tokyo at Christmas time. Much as in America, Christmas shopping is a big commercial success in Japan. The interviewer stopped one young woman on the sidewalk, and asked, "What is the meaning of Christmas?" Laughing, she ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Birth Of Jesus

Dead Poets Society

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 19, 2003

Opening illustration: Dead Poets Society Time 14:00-18:22 Mr. Keating gathers his English class in the hallway of the school, telling them to look closely at the pictures of the alumni on the wall: all photos of once invincible, hopeful students, now dead. Mr. Keating asks the students what they ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Aw Tozer In "I Talk Back To The ...

Contributed by Troy Borst on Feb 17, 2004

ILLUSTRATION... AW Tozer in “I Talk Back to the Devil” "Money often comes between men and God. Someone has said that you can take two small ten-cent pieces, just two dimes, and shut out the view of a panoramic landscape. Go to the mountains and just hold two coins closely in front of your eyes--the ...read more

Tags: Money

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Matthew, In Recording A Section Of The Lord's ...  PRO

Contributed by Herman Abrahams on Nov 26, 2004

Matthew, in recording a section of the Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors,” used the word ‘aphiemi’ for ‘forgive’. It means to “send away”. This is the same word used in Luke 4:39 when Jesus rebuked the fever in Peter’s mother-in-law. That is the kind of forgiveness ...read more

Tags: Lord's Supper

Denomination: Charismatic

A Lasting Treaty?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 6, 2003

A LASTING TREATY? Since 1919, the nations of Europe have signed more than 200 treaties of peace. Each treaty, simply another scrap of paper, was broken more easily than consummated. From the year 1500 B.C. to A.D. 1860 more than 8,000 treaties of peace, meant to remain in force forever, were ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope, Forgiveness For Others, Peace

Good Friday  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Killam on Apr 18, 2003

Dennis Bratcher said, Good Friday is not a day of celebration but of mourning, both for the death of Jesus and for the sins of the world that his death represents. Yet, although Friday is a solemn time, it is not without its own joy. For while it is important to place the Resurrection against the ...read more

Tags: Easter Good Friday

Denomination: Holiness

Louis Albert Banks, In His Book ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Illustration: Louis Albert Banks, in his book Windows for Sermons, tells of a father who had to punish his little daughter. Later that day the youngster, who was upset at first, came to her daddy and climbed up onto his lap. Hugging him tightly around the neck, she said, “Daddy, I do love ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

In The "Peanuts" Comic Strip ...  PRO

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Sep 20, 2007

ILLUSTRATION: In the “Peanuts” comic strip Charlie Brown tells Linus, “My grandpa and grandma have been married for 50 years.” Linus says, “They’re lucky aren’t they.” But Charlie brown responds saying, “Grandma says it isn’t luck—it’s skill.” Now that Susie and I have celebrated 25 years of ...read more

Tags: Giving Yourself, Commandments Adultery, Marriage Commitment

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Worthy Of Praise Is Actually One Word, Our Word ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 19, 2007

Worthy of praise is actually one word, our word "Halal." The word can mean to shine, to praise, to boast, or to be worthy of praise, as in this instance. A good illustration would be a piece of iron that is magnetized. The magnet comes across iron shavings that are immediately drawn to it. God is ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Yesterday When I Was On The ...

Contributed by C Jordan on Jan 20, 2008

ILLUSTRATION: Yesterday when I was on the snowhill sledding with my kids, they were playing a game called ‘war’ where they would try to knock each other off of their sleds before they reached the bottom of the hill. My youngest daughter Hannah wanted me to ride on the sled with her because if I ...read more

Denomination: *other

Political Campaigns & Wrong Judgment

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 27, 2008

POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS & WRONG JUDGMENT Relationally, I think of assumptions as unproven conclusions. We draw conclusions based on our experiences, our perceptions, and limited information. Sometimes misinformation. In my opinion, much of this year’s political campaigning has been about ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Church Of God

Sermon Visual - Goliath's ...

Contributed by Nathan Ingram on Nov 30, 2009

SERMON VISUAL - Goliath’s Height Measurements: Cubit approx 18”, span approx 8”… Goliath stood roughly 9’6” (NBA hoop 10’ Goliath could slam flatfooted). I took a smiley face helium balloon and tied it to a pair of boots with a length of ribbon that put the top of the balloon at 9’6". I had a ...read more

Tags: Trust, David And Goliath

Denomination: Independent/Bible

For Prayer - Sir George Adam Smith ...

Contributed by Timothy Brown on Jan 23, 2010

Illustration for Prayer - Sir George Adam Smith tells how he and his guide were climbing the Weisshorn in the Swiss Alps. It was stormy and they were making their climb on the sheltered side of the peak. When they reached the summit, they were filled with the exhilaration. Sir George forgot about ...read more

Tags: Prayer Hardship

Denomination: Baptist

Gunny Sack Dresses

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Nov 10, 2010

GUNNY SACK DRESSES A lady looked all over a dress shop in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, for something that she liked and could wear. Her final selection startled the proprietor and gave her a new idea. The customer purchased a gunny sack that was covering one of the mannequins during the period between ...read more

Tags: Pride

Denomination: *other

Many Lovers But Few Cross-Bearers

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 12, 2010

MANY LOVERS BUT FEW CROSS-BEARERS Jesus hath now many lovers of His kingdom, but few bearers of His cross. He hath many desirous of consolation, but few of tribulation. He finds many companions of His table, but few of His abstinence. All desire to rejoice with Him; few are willing to endure ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14-16

Tags: Christian Values

Denomination: *other

Careless Living

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 12, 2010

CARELESS LIVING We must face the fact that many today are notoriously careless in their living. This attitude finds its way into the church. We have liberty, we have money, we live in comparative luxury. As a result, discipline practically ;has disappeared. What would a violin solo sound like ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: *other

Godly Vision

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 31, 2010

GODLY VISION The capacity to create a compelling picture of the desired; state of affairs that inspires people to respond; that which is desirable, which could be, should be; that which is attainable. A godly vision is right for the times, right for the church, and right for the people. A godly ...read more

Tags: Knowing God's Will

Denomination: *other

The Tortoise And The Hare

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 31, 2010

THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE A tortoise and a hare started to dispute which of them was the swifter, and before separating they made an appointment for a certain time and place to settle the matter. The hare had such confidence in his natural fleetness that he did not trouble about the race, but lay ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: *other

When A Christian Grows

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Apr 13, 2011

WHEN A CHRISTIAN GROWS Dr. Bonar once remarked that he could tell when a Christian was growing. In proportion to his growth in grace he would elevate his Master, talk less of what he was doing, and become smaller and smaller in his own esteem, until, like the morning star, he faded away before the ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: *other

The Heart In Scripture

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Jan 10, 2012

THE HEART IN SCRIPTURE Heart is used in Scripture as the most comprehensive term for the authentic person. It is the part of our being where we desire, deliberate, and decide. It has been described as "the place of conscious and decisive spiritual activity," "the comprehensive term for a person as ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 12:12, Romans 10:9

Tags: Heart

Denomination: *other