In Sermon Illustrations: "Jesus Is Alive"

A 33-Year-Old Great

Contributed by Steve Wilson on Jun 6, 2012

A 33-YEAR-OLD GREAT About 2,300 years ago Alexander the Great marched his army from Greece to India. Though the distance was long, his army was unstoppable. The only reason he stopped was that his men became homesick and wanted to return to Greece. That march had long ranging influence. The Greek ...read more

Tags: Cross

Denomination: Baptist

A Peek At The Universe  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 11, 2012

A PEEK AT THE UNIVERSE In 2004, scientists pointed the Hubble telescope at a blank-looking patch of sky near the Orion Constellation. The Hubble stayed focused on that spot for 400 orbits over 11 days. The patch of sky they were looking at is no bigger than a grain of sand held out at arm’s ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:21-31

Tags: Creation

God Has Something Better For You

Contributed by Ken Pell on Mar 10, 2013

GOD HAS SOMETHING BETTER FOR YOU A daddy took his little girl to the park one Saturday afternoon. She was about 4 and was having such a good time in the sun and the presence of her daddy. The ice cream vendor came by and daddy bought her an ice cream cone. Then he noticed that his little girl had ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Nazarene

Wild Bill Resurrected?

Contributed by Perry Greene on Apr 15, 2013

WILD BILL RESURRECTED? In 1876, Wild Bill Hickock was killed in Deadwood, SD by Jack McCall while playing poker at the Nuttal and Mann's Saloon. You may recall that he was holding what has been referred to as the "Dead Man's Hand" (2 8s and 2 Aces -- all black with an unknown 5th card). He was ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Joseph Is A Type Of Christ

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 27, 2014

Unforgiveness is a cancer to our souls that carries many curses. However, somehow Joseph was able to overcome that cancer and forgive his brothers when he had the chance to take their lives (Genesis 49-50). His act of forgiveness is a foreshadowing of how Christ forgave his enemies from the Cross ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:15-20

Tags: Typology, Patriarchs Joseph

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Helping People Go Home

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 11, 2015

The conductor of a railroad was on his last day before retiring. As he was going through the cars punching tickets, he came to the third car and there was a man who had ridden that car through the years with the conductor. He stopped him by grabbing his shirt sleeve and said, “Hey Jim, how do you ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-18

Tags: Evangelism, Death, Salvation, Going Home

Denomination: Methodist

Betty's White Cake Is For Whoever

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 11, 2017

I walked into the kitchen one afternoon and saw a big white cake that had just been frosted. I love white cake. It’s my favorite. And my wife Betty can really make a mean one. So I found Betty and asked her, “Who is that white cake for?” She looked at me and shrugged, “Whoever.” Now she didn’t ...read more

Tags: Whosoever, Whoever, Anyone

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Monkey In The Quicksand

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Jul 25, 2018

Main Idea: You cannot pull yourself out of sin. Verse: “…no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law…” (Romans 3:20 NIV). Illustration: A little monkey fell in the quicksand. As he was sinking into the sand, a monkey on the bank started giving him advice. He said, ...read more

Tags: Need For Christ, Sin, Salvation

Denomination: Charismatic

Old Nature

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 15, 2019

OLD MAN Some time ago, a person I worked with came up to me and said, “if I didn’t know you, I would be terrified to meet you on the street”. If my coworker only knew half of what I’d been, He would never even talk to me. God took the most vile, evil, misguided person in the world and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:22-32

Tags: New Man, Old Man

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Called

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 15, 2019

The Called are those who have been summoned by God. Called to salvation (Rom. 8:30) Called both Jews and Gentiles (1 Cor. 1:24) Called "with a holy calling" (2 Timothy 1:9) Called with a heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1) Called out of darkness into His marvelous light (1Pet. 2:9) Called to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:30

Tags: Election, Calling, God's Sovreignty

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Starving For God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 23, 2020

BEATITUDE #4 - "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." “What Jesus is talking about is no mere reference to hunger which could be satisfied by a mid-morning snack. The thought is that of STARVATION. Are you longing for God like that? ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Beatitudes, Hungry For God, Thirsting For God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Freedom

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 11, 2020

Freedom: “You feel you were hedged in you dream of escape; but beware of mirages. Do not run or fly away in order to get free: rather dig in the narrow place which has been given you; you will find God there and everything. God does not float on your horizon, he sleeps in your substance. Vanity ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:39

Tags: Freedom, Future, Self

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If We Have Failed In Any Respect In This Matter ...

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Apr 13, 2007

If we have failed in any respect in this matter of “go…preach” it is probably related to our limited understanding of what the church is. Bishop Leslie Newbigin, labeled as “one of the leading influences on the theology of mission” (Wilbert R. Shenk) in the 20th century, was once quoted as saying, ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

In The Beginning Of The Twentieth Century A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In the beginning of the twentieth century a young graduate of Cornell University was engaged in a most amazing effort to win the entire world to Jesus Christ. His name was John R. Mott. During his years as secretary of the World Student Volunteer Movement, Mott’s travels took him everywhere: to ...read more

Tags: Prayer How To

Samuel Logan Brengle Was One Of The Truly Great ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Samuel Logan Brengle was one of the truly great leaders of the Salvation Army. A man of scholarship as well as of singular spiritual power, he outlined the road to spiritual authority and leadership in these challenging words: "It is not won by promotion, but by many prayers and tears. It is ...read more

Scripture: John 2:15

Tags: Prayer How To

I Once Read A Story About A Preacher's Son Who ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

I once read a story about a preacher’s son who was engaged to marry a woman in the church. She had been a woman of poor reputation before coming into the church and accepting Christ as her Lord and Savior. Her reputation preceded her. The church raised a fit over the engagement. They wouldn’t have ...read more

Tags: Parable Prodigal Son

Several Years Ago I Watched A News Story About ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Several years ago I watched a news story about the Boston Marathon. In the coverage they described the race, how many ran, the winner, the time, weather conditions and observations. At the end they covered a special human interest story. The reporter told about a wheel chair victim who was the last ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Brother James Bryan, A Presbyterian Minister In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Brother James Bryan, a Presbyterian minister in Birmingham, Alabama knew this. There were a lot of preachers who could preach better sermons from the pulpit, but none could match the sermons that Brother Bryan preached with his life. Like Jesus, Brother Bryan was known for his compassion and his ...read more

Tags: Faith General

It Is Said That 16th C. Theologian Martin Luther ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

It is said that 16th c. theologian Martin Luther once sat in his study for hours to meditate on this passage. For hours he sat oblivious to the world around him. Finally, someone heard him say, “God forsaking God . . . no one can understand that” and he went on about his business. The great 19th ...read more

Tags: Cross Agony

For Years Europeans Have Told The Story About ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

For years Europeans have told the story about citizens who prepared to crown their king. Crowds lined the streets to see the new king pass in procession. A 12 year old boy began pushing his way through the crowd. He was able to get as far as the guards and tried to get past them too. The guards ...read more

Tags: Lord's Prayer