In Sermon Illustrations: "Illustration"

They Call It The Marshmallow Test. A Researcher ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 21, 2005

They call it the marshmallow test. A researcher gives this choice to a 4-year-old: “I am leaving for a few minutes to run an errand and you can have this marshmallow while I am gone, but if you wait until I return, you can have two marshmallows.” Researchers at Stanford University ran that test in ...read more

Tags: Peace

We Cannot All…

Contributed by Paul Humphrey on Mar 19, 2006

We cannot all be heroes, And thrill a hemisphere With some great daring venture, Some deed that mocks at fear; But we can fill a life time With kindly acts and true; There’s always noble service For noble hearts to do. We cannot all be preachers, And sway with voice and pen, As strong winds sway ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: United Methodist

A Person's Mental Attitude Has An Almost ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

A person’s mental attitude has an almost unbelievable effect on his powers, both physical and psychological. The British psychiatrist, J.A. Hadfield, gives a striking illustration of this fact in his booklet, The Psychology of Power. "I asked three people," he wrote, "to submit themselves to test ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Lillian Pearsall Of Moravia, N.y. Tells This ...

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Sep 19, 2006

Lillian Pearsall of Moravia, N.Y. tells this story of when she was a telephone operator. A customer talked overtime on a long-distance call from a pay telephone booth. Even with my friendly reminders, he refused to deposit his overtime coins. Instead he slammed down the phone, irate and verbally ...read more

Tags: Becoming A Christian

Denomination: Wesleyan

Return To The Cabin

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Sep 20, 2006

Illustration: RETURN TO THE CABIN A flight attendant spent a week’s vacation in the Rockies. She was captivated by the mountain peaks, the clear blue skies, and the beautiful forest. She also was charmed by a very eligible bachelor who owned and operated a cattle ranch and lived in a log cabin. ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Heard My Parent Complain Time And ...

Contributed by Scott Epperson on Nov 24, 2006

Illustration: I heard my parent complain time and time again of how tired they were yet they went to work any way , how much they wanted this or that , yet they never bought it. That didn’t make since to me, if I want something I just take it, why didn’t they? The Burden of Love. I know now about ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Advice

Contributed by Kenneth Anthony on Dec 31, 2006

ADVICE A man was on the practice golf course when the club pro brought another man out for a lesson. The pro watched the fellow swing several times and started making suggestions for improvement, but each time the pupil interrupted with his own version of what was wrong and how to correct it. ...read more

Denomination: Orthodox

Missionaries Teaching Indians Of ...

Contributed by Scott Epperson on Apr 1, 2007

Illustration: Missionaries teaching Indians of Gospel of Peace. No word for peace. Finally concluded with a heart that sets down. Parallel: Some have know answer or word for what they are feeling only they feel the loss inside them and in their life. Many times we try to feel the void, only making ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

A.w. Tozer Attempted To Reconcile These ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Henes on Jun 21, 2001

A.W. Tozer attempted to reconcile these seemingly contradictory ideas of God choosing or calling us and our choosing God with this illustration: "An ocean liner leaves New York bound for Liverpool. Its destination has been determined by proper authorities. Nothing can change it. This is at least ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1-10

Tags: Certainty, God's Sovereign Will, God's Omniscience, Sovereign

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Brand New Lawyer In His Brand New Office On ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Oct 15, 2001

A brand new lawyer in his brand new office on his first day in practice sees a prospective client walk in the door. He decides he should look busy, so he picks up the phone and starts talking: "Look, Harry, about that amalgamation deal. I think I better run down to the factory and handle it ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Faith, Truth

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I'd Like To Read You A List Of Phobias That Are ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Dec 2, 2001

I’d like to read you a list of phobias that are out there today. These are all very real, even if they might seem outlandish to someone who doesn’t have them: Peladophobia: fear of baldness and bald people (by the way, if any of you here have that fear, we will have a healing service for you ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Wesleyan

A True Story Is Told From The Time Of Oliver ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

A true story is told from the time of Oliver Cromwell in England. A young soldier had been tried in military court and sentenced to death. He was to be shot at the "ringing of the curfew bell." His fiancee climbed up into the bell tower. several hours before curfew time and tied herself to bell’s ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, God's Forgiveness

May The Forks Be With You  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2002

MAY THE FORKS BE WITH YOU Luke and Obi-Wan are in a Chinese restaurant having a meal. Skillfully using his chopsticks, Obi-Wan deftly dishes himself a large portion of noodles into his bowl, then tops it off with some chicken and cashew nuts. All this is done with consummate ease you’d expect ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence, Holy Spirit In Believers

During His Days As Guest Lecturer At Calvin ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

During his days as guest lecturer at Calvin Seminary, R.B.Kuiper once used the following illustration of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility: I liken them to two ropes going through two holes in the ceiling and over a pulley above. If I wish to support myself by them, I must cling to them ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will, Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Wealthy Businessman Hosted A Spectacular ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2003

ILL: A wealthy businessman hosted a spectacular party in which he had filled his swimming pool with sharks, barracuda, and other assorted dangerous fish. He announced to his guests that he would like to challenge any of them to try swimming across the pool, and he would offer a first prize of ...read more

Anthony Campolo, The Power ...  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on May 7, 2003

ILLUSTRATION… Anthony Campolo, The Power Delusion Too many times women are made to feel that they should apologize for being mothers and housewives. In reality, such roles can be noble callings. When I was on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania, there were gatherings from time to time to ...read more

Tags: Women, Parenting

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Clear Picture  PRO

Contributed by Bobby Mcdaniel on Sep 18, 2003

A CLEAR PICTURE There is a painting in a palace in Rome by Reni. It is painted into the ceiling of the dome, over 100 feet high. To stand at floor level and look upward, the painting seems to be surrounded by a fog that leaves its content unclear. But, in the center of the great dome room is a ...read more

Tags: Divinity Of Christ

Some Nine Year Old Children Were Asked What They ...  PRO

Contributed by Lynn Floyd on Jan 19, 2004

Some nine year old children were asked what they thought of death and dying. Jim said, “When you die, they bury you in the ground and your souls goes to heaven, but your body can’t go to heaven because it’s too crowded up there already.” Judy said, “Only the good people go to heaven. The other ...read more

Tags: Death, Children

Denomination: Baptist

The Best Bible Translation  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Jan 30, 2004

[Illustration] Four ministers were discussing the pros and cons of various Bible translations and paraphrases. Eventually each stated which version, in his opinion, was the best. The first minister said he used the King James because the Old English style is beautiful and produces the most reverent ...read more

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sir Christopher Wren, The Most ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 12, 2004

Illustration: Sir Christopher Wren, the most famous architect of his time, built St. Paul’s Cathedral. He began in 1676 and it took him 35 years to build it. He was 44 when he began and was 79 when he completed it in 1711. Sir Christopher Wren built St. Paul’s’ Cathedral, but actually he didn’t lay ...read more