In Sermon Illustrations: "John 16:33-33:33"

For Thou Art With Me

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 17, 2025

In Psalm 23:4, we read: “4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” I often to talk to folks who are grieving the loss of a loved one to remember the “FIVE LITTLE WORDS” of Psalm 23:4 – For… thou… art… with… me. Jesus died so that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:4

Tags: God With Us, Fear

Denomination: Methodist

The Reason For Evangelism

Contributed by John Bright on May 15, 2025

The Reason for Evangelism The “WHY” might be the most important missing part for choosing to not share a personal testimony and the Good News with other folks. I recently read the book, “Five Little Words to Change a Life,” by Nick and Rozanne Savoca (2022). Nick shares an experience that uses a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 15:11-32

Tags: Evangelism, Prodigal Son

Denomination: Methodist

Methodism 1776-1850

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 5, 2025

“In 1776 Methodists made up 2.5 % of religious adherent in the colonies. In 1850 Methodists made up 34.2 % of religious adherents! In seventy years they had increased from a tiny sect to the largest denomination in the United States. (In other words, in 1776 1 in 40 religious people in America were ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:31

Tags: Church In America, Methodism, Colonial America

Denomination: Methodist

Horse In The Basement

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 6, 2025

Imagine having what we need but not using it – like the hoarse in the basement or the car that can drive at highway speed but you never go over 25mph. I heard a story about a guy who was looking at chainsaws at the hardware store. The salesman told him, “If you buy this chainsaw, you can cut ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Chainsaw, Holy Spirit, Spiritual Gifts, Car, Horse  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

How Trust Is Earned

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 11, 2025

Integrity is WHAT I STAND ON: A COMMITMENT TO MY PROMISES Matthew 5:37 “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’” Can you be trusted? There is an old saying: Trust is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:37

Tags: Trust, Integrity

Denomination: Methodist

Finish The Race

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 11, 2025

“John Stephen Akhwari is an Olympic legend. Representing his country, Tanzania, he was a favorite to win the marathon at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Well-rested. Ready. His expectations were high. The Olympic marathon began in the afternoon of October 20, 1968. John Stephen Akhwari ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:1-3, 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Tags: Integrity, Finish Well, Cloud Of Witnesses, Run The Race

Denomination: Methodist

God's Judgement

Contributed by John Bright on Sep 23, 2025

I don’t believe that God’s Judgement should be our main focus, but I also believe it’s wrong to never mention the Judgement of God. Remember, God must judge humanity because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Our God is a Holy God who also wants us to be holy. (1 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:5, Romans 3:23, 1 Peter 1:16

Tags: Grace, Holy Spirit, Judgment, Holiness

Denomination: Methodist

Gossip-Free Church

Contributed by John Bright on Sep 23, 2025

I like to illustrate this kind of thing by talking about gossip. I believe it is the most tolerated sin in every congregation. As always, I like to share my definition of gossip. Something is not gossip if it can pass three tests: ? 100% Truth - You heard/saw it directly – can’t be repeated from ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29

Tags: Truth, Gossip, Holier Than Thou

Denomination: Methodist

Look Different

Contributed by John Bright on Sep 23, 2025

These folks to whom Peter is writing used to look like everybody else. They were a part of the world, so they partied and did all the other things average folks did back then. The Roman world in which Christianity first spread was highly sexualized, and many of the practices today that are ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:3-4

Tags: Change, Sexuality, Gender, Roman World

Denomination: Methodist

The Goal Of Spiritual Gifts

Contributed by John Bright on Sep 24, 2025

Spiritual Gifts were documented in Class Meetings within the Wesleyan tradition. It was there that members shared their lives – the successes and the struggles. They would search the Scriptures for answers, and they would pray for each other. Those prayers included listening for a Word from the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11, 1 Corinthians 12:28

Tags: Spiritual Gifts, Small Groups, Class Meeting, Love

Denomination: Methodist

Benefits Of Humble Leadership

Contributed by John Bright on Oct 3, 2025

Earlier this year, Forbes magazine published an article that highlighted the leadership style of Dwight D. Eisenhower, who led the Allied forces to victory in World War II and served two terms as President of the United States. He was known for his humility. “Eisenhower’s humility was evident ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-5

Tags: Humility, Leadership, Dwight D Eisenhower

Denomination: Methodist

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

Sin Of Achan

Contributed by John Bright on Oct 3, 2025

We struggle with someone suffering for the actions of another. In that day, they were not so individualistic as we are in this Western World. Whenever I share the Sin of Achan from the book of Joshua, modern folks like to protest. Here’s the story: The Israelites are given a great victory over ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:5, Joshua 7:24-26

Tags: Sin, Consequences

Denomination: Methodist

Spiritual Warfare

Contributed by John Bright on Oct 3, 2025

We need to be engaged in Spiritual Warfare. First, we need to acknowledge that there is both a physical realm (fallen) and a spiritual realm (good & bad). This is clear in Ephesians 6, where Paul is describing our battle gear: Ephesians 6:11-12 “11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:11-12

Tags: Spiritual Warfare, Angels, Demons, Physical Realm, Spiritual Realm  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Full Armor Of God

Contributed by John Bright on Oct 3, 2025

Our defense is provided by the Full Armor of God found in Ephesians 6. I would recommend this article: https://www.gotquestions.org/full-armor-of-God.html (I also want to recommend the YouVersion Bible App for your smart phones or computers. Good studies there on the Full Armor of God) Here’s a ...read more

Tags: Prayer, Full Armor Of God

Denomination: Methodist

Steering By Mother's Light

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2011

STEERING BY MOTHER'S LIGHT To illustrate the great influence of a Godly mother, let me tell you the story of Susannah Prentice. This story goes back to 1950. Susannah and her husband, Miles, lived in a 2-story house located on the coast of Maine. Miles and Susannah had 2 sons and a daughter. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:5

Tags: Mother's Day

From Stories For Preachers: Everyone ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 9, 2007

Illustration from Stories for Preachers: Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, though sometimes it hurts when they express it. In 1975 country singer Charlie Rich had been picked to announce the Country Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards show. The award went to John Denver, who had not ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christians Aren't Perfect, Just ...

Contributed by Lonnie Erwin on Sep 24, 2007

Illustration: "Christians Aren’t Perfect, Just Forgiven" Whether seen on bumper stickers, heard during altar calls, developed from a narrow interpretation of Lutheran or fundamentalist theology, or perpetuated in fluffy paperbacks, the reduction of the gospel to cheap forgiveness is ever with ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Church's Greatest Troublemakers  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 6, 2009

THE CHURCH'S GREATEST TROUBLEMAKERS Preacher and Bible commentator, John Stott, said this in his exposition of Paul's letter to the Galatians: "To tamper with the gospel is to trouble the church... Indeed the church's greatest troublemakers (now as then) are not those outside who oppose, ridicule ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:6-10

Tags: False Teaching

Friends: Facebook

Contributed by Mark Pierce on May 25, 2010

FRIENDS: FACEBOOK Facebook story: 175 million users of Facebook. (Stat correct in 3/2009, as of 5/2010 more like 500 million...) If it were a nation would be the 6th most populous nation. Used to be for college kids, but no more. Greatest growth (24.1 million) age 35 ¡V 49. Facebook has added ...read more

Tags: Friendship General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational