In Sermon Illustrations: "Image Of God"

The Orphan Train

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Dec 15, 2016

THE ORPHAN TRAIN In the history of the westward migration in the United States, part of the story has been largely passed over. From 1850 to 1930, tens of thousands of those who populated the west were orphans--children from eastern cities who were without parents because of disease or the death ...read more

Scripture: John 14:18

Tags: Adoption, Rebirth, Orphan, Train

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sifted Like Wheat

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Dec 15, 2016

A rooster’s crow announced the dawn. This dawn was not the sunrise, still hours away, but the dawn of Peter’s realization of what he had done. Like the first rays of the sun slicing through the night’s darkness, Peter awakened to his sin and its gravity. It cut him to the core of his being, and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:31-32

Tags: Peter, Betrayal Of Christ, Sifted, Rehabilitation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Unsung Heroes: The Man Who Fed A Hundred Men

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 24, 2020

Introduction: A number of miracles took place in the Old Testament. In 2 Kings 4 alone, there are at least three such miracles mentioned: the pot of oil that kept flowing until all the vessels in town were full and the time, maybe just before this, when Elisha found some meal then used it to cure ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:42-44

Tags: First Fruits, Elisha, Unsung Heroes

Denomination: Baptist

Have You Discovered Christmas?  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Have You Discovered Christmas? "But the angel said unto them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.'" (Luke 2: 10 -11) One of the most beloved ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:10-11, Luke 2:1-15

Tags: Christmas, Creation, New, Visionary

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Don't Understand The ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

“I Don’t Understand the Bible...” Three types of people are described in 1 Corinthians 2 and 3: the natural man, the spiritual man, and the carnal man. The natural or unsaved person is spiritually dead and blind. He cannot understand the things of God. “The god of this age has blinded the minds ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:4

Tags: Satan

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Some Thoughts About Gifts

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 26, 2022

Text, 2 Corinthians 9:15, KJV: 15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. Thoughts: This is about the closest verse I can find to use as a text for this illustration. There may be others but please remember that God’s greatest gift ever was His Son, Jesus! Now I’ll share the illustration ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:15

Tags: Love, Gifts

Denomination: Baptist

An Observation About Eternity

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 5, 2024

Text, Ecclesiastes 3:11, American Standard Version: He hath made everything beautiful in its time: also he hath set eternity in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end. Every day we live takes us one day closer to the end of our ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:11

Tags: Hell, Eternity, Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

Brownies Teach Stewardship

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Nov 26, 2024

A 6th grade Sunday school teacher was struggling with a lesson. She was preparing to teach a lesson on how Christians manage their material blessings. She knew that when her students were in confirmation class the pastor would share what the Bible says about stewardship of time, talents, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9

Tags: Offerings, Giving, Stewardship, Tithing

Denomination: Lutheran

The Pastor

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Sep 26, 2025

The Pastor A Most Unusual Man (Dedicated to all who have answered the call to preach) The phone rings: another urgent call, but he’s ready, the task to meet; kisses his wife a quick goodbye and hurries down the street. A neighbor watches as he goes, thoughts running through his head: He's ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 3:15, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-5, Proverbs 27:23, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Timothy 4:4-16, 2 Timothy 4:1-8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Honor, Preaching, Pastor, Pulpit, Pastor's Appreciation Day, Honor Your Pastor  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

[232]. A Message From A Poem - Reflections On The Christian Life

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 20, 2025

[232]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - REFLECTIONS ON THE CHRISTIAN LIFE The poem explores some aspects of our faith. Each stanza makes a statement beginning with "What". STANZA 1 – Christ is glorified, and one day we will share in that glory. STANZA 2 – As perfect Man Jesus helps us in our ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 4:10-11, Titus 2:13, Romans 5:6, Hebrews 2:18, 1 Peter 1:21  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Helpless, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Comes To Our Aid, Glory, Worship, Hope, Help  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Be An Encourager, Fathers Day - My Relationship With My Son

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 25, 2025

God the Father ... Loves His Children ... and He is also quick to .... encourage His children. (Long Pause) And ... I learned that ... the hard way. As a father ... you want the best for your children ... you want them to succeed. To succeed ... at everything they do. Kristin ... our first ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:9, Ephesians 4:29, Romans 8:38-39, Romans 5:8

Tags: Prayer, Encouragement, Friend, Encourage, Father, Children, Son  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Westminster Shorter Catechism: What Is The Chief ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 25, 2001

Westminster Shorter Catechism: What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to ...read more

2 Out Of 3 Americans Communicate Belief In Jesus ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2006

2 out of 3 Americans communicate belief in Jesus as God. (Foster Letter ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?

Have You Ever Stood Where Joseph Stood That ...

Contributed by Steve Greene on Nov 29, 2006

Have you ever stood where Joseph stood that night? Caught between what God ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene

The Individual Who Learns To Practice ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"The individual who learns to practice thanksgiving activates within himself, and around himself, ...read more

Tags: Joy

The German Scholar, Goethe, Said, "If I Were ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The German scholar, Goethe, said, “If I were God, this world of sin and suffering would ...read more

Tags: Divinity Of Christ

I The (Pastor/Teacher) Have A Responsibility To ...

Contributed by Charles Jones on Aug 28, 2007

“I the (Pastor/Teacher) have a responsibility to you the (learner) to teach the Word of God ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Any Man Can Again Have The Joy Of His First ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Any man can again have the joy of his first meeting with God if he will ...read more

Tags: Joy

I Am Always Content With What Happens; For I ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

I am always content with what happens; for I know that what God chooses is ...read more

Tags: Peace

People Will Understand As Much Of The Love Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

People will understand as much of the love of God as they see in our own lives. The first Bible many ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To