In Sermon Illustrations: "Jesus The Light"

A Bad Business Meeting

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2014

A church called a special business meeting of all of its members to vote on a very heated issue. Things got out of hand so badly that one elderly woman of the congregation stood up and said, "I am so ashamed of every one of you here tonight. This is a disgrace! If Jesus knew about this......He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:1-33

Tags: Jesus, Church, Theology

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cast Your Net On The Right Side

Contributed by Herb Pulse on Jun 28, 2017

I come from a fishing family. When I became old enough to walk, I became old enough to experience the wonderful world of fishing. One of things I particularly love is throwing a shad net. Often times it becomes very draining work, and at the tender age of 12 I became the primary go-to-guy for ...read more

Scripture: John 21:6

Tags: Jesus, Net, Cast

Denomination: Christian Church

Two Boys

Contributed by Ray Mckendry on Mar 12, 2019

Two Boys Two young boys are playing happily in the garden and are great companions for some time, but then something bad happens. One boy gets ill and is stunted and is never the same again, while the other one grows to full and healthy mature manhood even though he suffers far more than his sick ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:15, Ephesians 2:16

Tags: Reconciliation, Jesus' Cross

Denomination: Baptist

Calling Me Home

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 13, 2023

I want you all to go back in time with me for a moment when you were a child. We didn’t have xbox, or playstation, or video games. We actually went outside and played face to face with our friends. If you were like me, you'd gather with your friends in the neighborhood and would be out most ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:23-31

Tags: Expectant, Jesus' Voice

Denomination: Baptist

Look!

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 30, 2024

E. Stanley Jones, Methodist Doctor and Missionary to India once wrote: The early Christians did not say: "Look what the world has come to!" - but, "Look what has come to the world." They saw not merely the ruin, but the resource for the reconstruction of that ruin. They ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Jesus, Gospel, Incarnation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Joseph: The Portrait Of Christ (Bible Gateway)

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jan 4, 2025

Joseph: the Portrait of CHRIST (Bible Gateway) The Life of Joseph Genesis 30:24 – Genesis 50:26 1. A shepherd. 2. Loved by his father. 3. Sent unto his brethren 4. Hated by his brothers. 5. Prophesied his coming glory. 6. Rejected by his brothers. 7. Endured unjust punishment from his brothers. 8. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 30:24, Genesis 50:26

Tags: Jesus, Joseph, Comparison

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lead By Example

Contributed by John Bright on Oct 3, 2025

Lead by example. This is different than ordering folks around. When James and John ask for places of authority, Jesus warns them against acting like the world. Jesus describes what it will look like in the church: Mark 10:43-45 “43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:43-45

Tags: Jesus, Example, Authority

Denomination: Methodist

The Tale Of The Star  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 10, 2002

THE TALE OF THE STAR Eusebius, a scholarly church historian of the early fourth century, evidently made a considerable study of the literature available to him, and came to this conclusion about the star: "The star was new and a stranger among the usual lights of heaven, a strange star, not one ...read more

Tags: Birth Of Jesus, Christmas, Grace

If Jesus Is Like My Daddy, I Don't Want Him In My Life.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 1, 2023

When I was pastoring in Texas, I was asked by one of our AWANA leaders to come to her group and talk to a little girl who really wanted to meet her pastor. She had a question for me. So, I paused what I was doing and found my way to where her group met in our church. The little girl was so ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Tags: Divorce, Assurance, Promises Of God, Fathers, Evangelism, Fear, Children, Parents, Trust  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Single Battle  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 11, 2001

Great introduction to sermon: A single battle can determine the outcome of an entire war. Like Gettysburg and the Invasion at Normandy, a telling battle of the future of England had came. General Wellington of the British Army represented the last formidable opposition to the French army under ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection, Apologetics Jesus

One Saturday Afternoon A Father And His Six-Year ...  PRO

Contributed by Brent Zastrow on Apr 18, 2001

One Saturday afternoon a father and his six-year old son Mickey were fishing near a bridge by the Kokomo Reservoir when a woman lost control of her car, slid off the bridge and hit Mikey at a rate of about 50 mph. Sheriff Marr, the boys grandfather, had seen the results of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:10

Tags: Saint, Miracles Of Jesus, Jesus Christ, God's Provision

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Crisis Of All Religion  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Jul 23, 2001

THE CRISIS OF ALL RELIGION Jesus is unique....This is highlighted in the ministry of a well-known missionary in India, Dr. E. Stanley Jones. Jones often lectured to Hindu audiences having Hindus as chairmen of the meetings. On one such occasion the chairman was a chief minister of state. During ...read more

Tags: Apologetics Jesus, World Religions, Testimonies About Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Looking For The Father  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 30, 2001

LOOKING FOR THE FATHER Author Michael Green writes: Only Jesus fully understands God the Father. Great people have discovered and taught many true and noble things about God. Nobody has known him with the intimacy of Jesus, who could call him Abba, "dear daddy." When that holy man, Mahatma ...read more

Tags: World Religions, Testimonies About Jesus, Jesus Teachings

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In May 1897 The Demise Of Author Mark Twain Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim George on Jan 8, 2002

In May 1897 the demise of author Mark Twain was reported a bit too early. When the news reached Mr. Twain he was reported to have said, “The news of my death has been greatly exaggerated.” Had someone thought to go to Mark Twain himself they would have know he was ...read more

Tags: Apologetics Jesus, Testimonies About Jesus, Messianic Prophecies

Denomination: Baptist

Crosses Are Heavy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 11, 2002

CROSSES ARE HEAVY In March of 1997, Scott Mathews wanted the young people of Carthage, Missouri to understand the love of God. The theme for youth group that month was, “The Cross.” So they built a 500 lb, 8 by 14 foot redwood cross. It took ten students to move it. Crosses are heavy, you ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Easter Good Friday, Jesus Christ

A Stone From The Old West

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 11, 2014

THE PRECIOUS STONE NO ONE SAW Back when the Old West was being settled, pioneers flocked across the country to California and Oregon. In one particular spot on the Eastern slopes of the Rockies there was a large, dirt covered rock protruding in the middle of the trail. Wagon wheels were broken on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46

Tags: Jesus Christ, Capstone, Rejecting Christ, Jesus Is Cornerstone

Staring At The Great Stone Face

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 2, 2023

Perhaps you remember Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story about the great stone face. A little lad lived in a village where there was a mountain with a rock formation which they called the great stone face. The people had a legend that someday someone would come to the village who would look like the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4, Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Glory, Jesus, Worship, Vision, Focus, Looking To Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Was Salome?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

By comparing Matt. 27:56 with John 19:25, it seems likely that Salome was sister to Mary (Jesus’ mother). “By inference from the other Gospel accounts, Salome is also identified with the mother of the sons of Zebedee (Mt. 27:56) and with the sister of Mary the mother of Jesus…. (John 19:25)… If ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:56, John 19:25, Mark 10:35-40

Tags: Jesus' Family, Mary's Sister, Jesus' Aunt, Salome

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Do Christianity  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 7, 2005

When we experience unconditional love…we live in the light of God’s love we will have hope. Life is about learning how to love. His love for you is unconditional. James Van Tholen in his book “Where All Hope Lies” Writes: From the human perspective, when you compare (God ) to the other gods ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Acceptance, Love

I Didn't Go And See  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Dec 17, 2001

I DIDN'T GO AND SEE The story is about shepherd who was a youth on that first Christmas night. And now he is old and as his grandson sits on his knee he recalls that night, "A long, long time ago, when I was a little more than a boy, I was out on the Judean hills one night with some other ...read more

Tags: Birth Of Jesus, Christmas Advent

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ