In Sermon Illustrations: "Inner Battles"

Unsung Heroes At The 'battle Of The Ditches'!

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 30, 2024

Introduction: Ask any veteran or anyone who served in the military for the strangest duty they ever performed and you may get some interesting replies! The soldiers in this story were asked (!) to put down their swords and take up some shovels in order to dig a lot of ditches! This story also has ...read more

Tags: Jehoshaphat, Elisha, Unsung Heroes, Ditches

Denomination: Baptist

Audrey Hepburn's Beauty Tips

Contributed by Perry Greene on Aug 18, 2014

Below is a wonderful poem Audrey Hepburn wrote when asked to share her ’beauty tips.’ It was read at her funeral years later. For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8-9

Tags: Beauty, Hands, Inner Beauty

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Fear Of Aging

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what happened.” - Jennifer Yane As you grow older, what’s inside you doesn’t change but your body changes, and it’s confusing to look in the mirror. If you live your life as though you are a perpetual image contestant, your age is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:3-4

Tags: Aging, Serving, Inner Beauty

Denomination: Charismatic

Julie Ward Howell, Who Wrote The Battle Hymn Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Rick Shockley on Nov 16, 2001

Julie Ward Howell, who wrote the Battle Hymn of the Republic said one day as she slumped way down into a chair, "Oh, I’m tired. I’m ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Finding Fulfillment, Workplace Balance

At The End Of C. S. Lewis' Book, The Last Battle, ...

Contributed by Rick Bartosik on Dec 12, 2005

At the end of C. S. Lewis’ book, The Last Battle, on the last page of the last book in The Chronicles of Narnia, Aslan speaks to Peter, Edmund and Lucy: "There was a real railway accident," said Aslan softly. "Your father and mother and all of you are—as you used to call it in the ...read more

Tags: Narnia

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Two Baseball Teams Had Battled To A Five-All ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 15, 2005

Two baseball teams had battled to a five-all deadlock as darkness enveloped the diamond. In the last half of the ninth inning with the bases loaded and the count three and two, the pitcher called for a conference with the catcher. “I’ll wind up and pretend to throw the next pitch. You wham your ...read more

Tags: Sin General

If Someone Loves You, Your Battle Is A Lot More ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"If someone loves you, your battle is a lot ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

You Dont Hear Much About The Battle Of The Sexes ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

You dont hear much about the battle of the sexes anymore. Do you think this is because of the ...read more

Tags: Men And Women

It Doesn't Take A Hero To Order Men Into Battle. ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of ...read more

Tags: Heroism

You May Have To Fight A Battle More Than Once To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

You may have to fight a battle more than ...read more

Tags: Political Freedom

Lina Joy, 43, Lost The Court Battle To Change Her ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 25, 2007

Lina Joy, 43, lost the court battle to change her religion from Islam to Christianity on Wednesday when the Malaysian Federal Court ruled she should seek permission to officially change her religion from Islam to Christianity at Islamic Shariah courts. Joy had been engaged in a legal battle for six ...read more

Denomination: Other

[043] A Message From A Poem – Christ Upholds The Battling One

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 3, 2025

[043] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHRIST UPHOLDS THE BATTLING ONE (Longer Introduction) Do you face battles? Do trials and opposition buffet you and make the way ahead very hard? This poem partly addresses that. Well there is good news for you. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Your Saviour goes with you all ...read more

Scripture: John 10:2, John 10:11, John 10:14, 2 Timothy 3:12

Tags: Battling, Mary Stevenson, Comfort, Dreams, Poetry, Burdens, Footprints In The Sand, I Had A Dream, Grace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Soul

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 11, 2023

John Ortberg describes it this way, “We each have an outer life and an inner one. My outer self is the public, visible me. My accomplishments, my work, and my reputation lie there. But inside is my soul that part of me that speaks in silence to others but yells at me. It's the inside stuff of ...read more

Scripture: John 10:10, Matthew 16:26, Matthew 22:37

Tags: Spiritual Growth, Soul Care, Inner Health

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Hidden Mud And Leaves!" Ephesians 6:10-17 ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 14, 2004

“The Hidden Mud and Leaves!” Ephesians 6:10-17 Key verse(s): 10: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” We moved to Beech Springs valley some sixteen summers ago now. We had been looking for a place that could afford us peace, quiet and some room for our growing family to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-17

Tags: Doubt, Enemy, Battle, Strong, Stand  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Putting Up Faith Or Fight When It’s Most Important

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on May 14, 2025

Over the decades of my life, I have learned there are some things in life worth fighting for and some not. We have to choose our battles and then fight with all our might those battles that really matter. Years ago, I attended the wedding of my niece, a beautiful blonde cowgirl. She married her ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-12, 2 Corinthians 10:4

Tags: Standing In Faith, Battles Worth Winning

Denomination: Charismatic

Looking For A Loophole. W C Fields Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 3, 2026

It is a difficult thing... to look in the mirror of our soul... and see where we really stand ... in our relationship with God. Some hold back ... from a total commitment to Jesus... and in a way, ... are looking for a loophole ... to make them acceptable ... before God. (Pause) W. C. Fields ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-34, John 14:6

Tags: Spirit, Battle, Commitment, Flesh, Loophole  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

It Is An Extremely Hot Day In A Major Desert ...  PRO

Contributed by Royce Hendry on May 23, 2001

It is an extremely hot day in a major desert city. The city bus is crowded. The people are tired and miserable. Suddenly, a young man begins cursing. It’s one cuss word after another. The bus driver looks in mirror and can tell the people are ashamed for him. When the young man got off the bus, ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General, Inner Peace, Sharing My Testimony, Peace

Denomination: Baptist

The Grandfather In The Bones - Humor

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 25, 2025

There was a quote from an elderly Christian that hit home for me concerning this battle with sin.... He would say: .... "Kill the old man......Kill him every day." Paul calls it a battle.... A daily battle ... that is fought within. This battle with the old flesh.......is ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12, Hebrews 2:15, Romans 6:3, Romans 6:23

Tags: Battle, Sin, Sanctification, Grandfather, Old Man  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Greatest Spiritual Challenges We Face

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 8, 2024

A recent survey of Discipleship Journal readers ranked areas of greatest spiritual challenge to them: 1. Materialism. 2. Pride. 3. Self-centeredness. 4. Laziness. 5. Anger/Bitterness. 5. Sexual lust. 7. Envy. 8. Gluttony. 9. Lying. Survey respondents noted temptations were more potent when they ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Lust, Discipleship, Temptation, Pride, Anger, Spiritual Battles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer As Our Heavy Artillery

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 9, 2024

In Ephesians 6:18, Paul has completed the metaphor of Roman armor. But he is not finished teaching about spiritual warfare. In fact, he has come to the most important weapon in our spiritual arsenal. Prayer is the heavy artillery. Through prayer we call down the bombardment of God against our ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18

Tags: Spiritual Warfare, Prayer, Intercession, Victory, Armor, Battles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic