In Sermon Illustrations: "It Is I"

Counterfeit Christmas

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 12, 2011

COUNTERFEIT CHRISTMAS According to a British Paper (Romsey Advertiser): "Christmas shoppers looking for a bargain should be wary of counterfeit goods which flood the market in the run-up to the festive season," the UK Border Agency has warned. "Fake Ugg Boots, GHD hair straighteners, iPhones and ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Do You Have An Awareness Of Sin?

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 26, 2012

DO YOU HAVE AN AWARENESS OF SIN? John MacArthur: A basic mark of true spirituality is a deep awareness of sin. In Scripture those who most despised their sinfulness were often those who were the most spiritual. Paul said he was the chief of sinners. Peter said to Jesus, "Depart from me, for I ...read more

Tags: Death, Sin, Deception, Sanctification, Lies  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Communication Problems

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Aug 15, 2012

COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS A woman went to court and told the judge she wanted a divorce. "Do you have any grounds?" the judge asked. "Just two acres," she replied. "That's not it, lady. I mean, do you have a grudge?" "No, we park the car in the front of the house." Frustrated, the judge ...read more

Tags: Communication General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Wishing For Pascal's Brain  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Feb 17, 2013

WISHING FOR PASCAL'S BRAIN Biblical Education is the process by which Godly character is formed, strength of clear conscious and sound mind is amplified, and understanding is sharpened, as a result of which one can walk in divine wisdom. Someone once approached Blaise Pascal, the famous French ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-14

Tags: Attitude General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Quotations On Truth  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Mar 6, 2013

QUOTATIONS ON TRUTH Where I found truth, there found I my God, who is the truth itself (Augustine). Genuine spiritual knowledge lies not in wonderful and mysterious thoughts but in actual spiritual experience through union of the believer's life with truth. When a truth is unfolded by God it most ...read more

Scripture: John 16:13, John 16:33-38, Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 6:33, Philippians 4:4-5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Truth

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Kyle Idleman On Carrying Your Cross

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 18, 2013

There is no comfortable way to carry a cross; I don’t care how you position it. I often talk to people who are convinced that some suffering or pain in their lives is an indication that they must not be following Jesus. After all, if they are following Jesus, the Son of God, doesn’t it follow ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Surrender, Jesus Christ, Commitment To Christ, Carrying Your Cross

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Tozer On Ambition To Lead  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 8, 2013

A. W. Tozer said, "A true and safe leader is likely to be one who has no desire to lead, but is forced into a position of leadership by the inward pressure of the Holy Spirit and the press of the external situation." He continued to elaborate, "I think there was hardly a great leader from Paul to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:1-13

Tags: Leadership General

Raise The Cross In The Marketplace

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 1, 2013

RAISE THE CROSS IN THE MARKETPLACE George MacLeod wrote: "I simply argue that the cross be raised again at the center of the market place as well as on the steeple of the church. I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in cathedral between two candles, but on a cross between two ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-6, Luke 23:38

Tags: Ordinary People, Business And Marketplace

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Vacation For Seniors!

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 22, 2019

A number of years ago I attended a pastors gathering in Toronto. A retired Pastor, now crippled by a stroke, sat along the wall on a chair, all alone. In his prime he was a highly esteemed professor, author and preacher. Now, he sat alone and unnoticed. I walked across the room and lamented this ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-20

Tags: Loneliness, Community, Aging

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Good News Bad News

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 9, 2020

A woman walks into a doctor’s office. She schedules an appointment and sits down it the waiting room. Whem it’s her turn to talk to the doctor, she describes all of her symptoms, and they’re unlike anything he’s heard before. The doctor runs a few tests and steps out of the room. He comes back ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-27

Tags: Curse, Disease, Sickness, Illness, Redemption Of Body  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Funeral Illustration

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

I love that scene in The Pilgrim's Progress where Christian and Hopeful come to the final river of death. They are fearful that the water will be over their heads. But Hopeful goes first and calls back to Christian, “Be of good cheer, my brother; I feel the bottom, and it is good.” For every ...read more

Tags: Death, Heaven, Promises Of God, Valley Of The Shadow Of Death

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Unsung Hero

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Nov 7, 2021

When I was a boy there was a cartoon about a character called Hector Heathcote…….It was based on the colonial days of America and the Revolutionary War. The character Heathcote was always the unsung hero in each show. I remember one episode where General George Washington was preparing for his ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:1-10

Tags: Unselfishness, Unsung Hero

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Church Is Called To Minister In The Marketplace.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 4, 2022

Return the Cross to Golgotha I simply argue that the cross be raised again at the center of the marketplace as well as on the steeple of the church. I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles; But on a cross between two thieves: on a town garbage ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Church, Gospel, Cross, Great Commission, Marketplace, Wintessing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Charlie Peace

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jun 3, 2026

Story: Charlie Peace was a notorious English criminal who lived in the 1800’s. He was eventually captured and sentenced to death by hanging When he was being taken to the gallows, a priest followed him reading about heaven and hell. At the mention of hell, Peace reportedly said: “Sir, if I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Tags: Hell, Salvation By Walking On Glass

Denomination: Anglican

The Following Article Is Based On A Sermon By ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Sep 14, 2002

The following article is based on a sermon by missionary Del Tarr who served fourteen years in West Africa with another mission agency. His story points out the price some people pay to sow the seed of the gospel in hard soil. I was always perplexed by Psalm 126 until I went to the Sahel, that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 126:6

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Years Ago, A Very Wealthy Man Shared With His ...

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Dec 20, 2007

Years ago, a very wealthy man shared with his devoted young son a passion for art collecting. Together they travelled the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the family estate. The ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

The Invitation

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Bob Goff tells the story of he and his friend Brandon going to Washington DC on business and being close to Capital Hill at midnight. They saw a bunch of cars awkwardly parked around the Library of Congress and barricades and so they decided to investigate. They discovered that it was a set for the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:21

Tags: Invitation, Gospel, Chosen

Denomination: Methodist

[080]. A Message From A Poem – Faithfully He Is Watching

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 12, 2025

[080]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FAITHFULLY HE IS WATCHING The poem here you will read is one of my top favourites. It resonates so much with me. It just flowed and when it does that it is joyous. I truly hope you can relate to it. This poem was written on the day I received notification that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:6, Job 1:21

Tags: Watching, God Hears, Forsake, Poem, Orphans, Cares, Abandoned, Faithful, Friendship, Deliverance, Merciful, Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[282]. A Message From A Poem – The Lord Will Never Fail Me

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 31, 2026

[282]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE LORD WILL NEVER FAIL ME (possible song) This is a more unusual poem and in my mind, there was the possibility of a song. The poem has rhythm which is necessary for singing. The metre may defeat that though but not a problem for a good musician. I love ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33, Hebrews 13:5-6

Tags: Fail, Abide, Keep, Christian Poems, Failure  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[288]. A Message From A Poem – The Xxxxxx Public Service

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 15, 2026

[288]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE XXXXXX PUBLIC SERVICE Maybe some might think this is a harsh poem but we live now in harsh times and sometimes bluntness is needed to wake up the offenders. I have deliberately omitted the identification from the title, so what is said could apply to just so ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-4, 2 Timothy 3:12-13

Tags: Arrogance, Manipulators, Bureaucrats, The Public Service, Christian Poems, Government Officials, Civil Service  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational