In Sermon Illustrations: "Just As I Am"

The Old Rugged Cross

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Dec 4, 2011

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS About an hour away from where I used to live in Coventry (England), there is a little village called Bredwardine. It is in the county of Herefordshire. A lady who attended the Anglican Church in that village died, and in her will she left some money for the Church. As well as ...read more

Tags: Cross

Denomination: Brethren

Worship Warrior  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 17, 2012

WORSHIP WARRIOR I like the way songwriter and worship leader, Brian Doerksen, puts it. He says, "Becoming a worshipper means becoming a warrior... And by toning that down...we have sent men and women away from the church in droves. It's time to call them back," Doerksen says, "as worshiping ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Worship Definition

The Exxon Valdez Is An Oil Tanker That Was On Its ...

Contributed by Gaylon Clark on Nov 14, 2012

The Exxon Valdez is an oil tanker that was on its way to Long Beach, California. Instead, it crashed into a reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska. The crash resulted in the second largest oil spill in US History. Between 25-32 million gallons of oil spilled into the Ocean. Over 250,000 members of ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-10

Tags: Good Deeds, God's Purposes, Fatigue, Rest, Commandments Sabbath  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Destiny...?

Contributed by Perry Greene on May 6, 2013

DESTINY...? During a momentous battle, a Japanese general decided to attack even though his army was greatly outnumbered. He was confident they would win, but his men were filled with doubt. On the way to the battle, they stopped at a religious shrine. After praying with the men, the general took ...read more

Tags: Goals

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Smelly Man

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

Main Idea: The only thing that can wash away sin is the blood of Jesus. Verse: “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6 NKJV). Illustration: A smelly man came to visit me. He needed a bath so bad. He wanted to hug me and talk to me. I ...read more

Tags: Sin, Blood Of Jesus, Wash Away Sin

Denomination: Charismatic

A Wrist Watch And A Big Bang

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Mar 24, 2019

Shake it together! If we placed the parts of a wrist watch in a bag and began to shake it; how long do you think it would be, before it came together, and function properly? Both the world and the watch had a creator, designer, and maker. The world did not begin as a result of a big bang. God ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1, Hebrews 1:10, John 1:1-3, Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Big Bang, Darwins Theory, Evolution Theory, Wrist Watch Created, Creation, God Created  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Complaint Department

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 29, 2019

A gentleman decided to withdraw from society and its busyness. He joined a monastery and took a vow of silence.At the end of each year he could say two words. At the end of the first year of absolute silence, he met with his supervising monk and was given the opportunity to say two words. With ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12, James 1:19-21, James 1:26

Tags: Words, Complaining, Tongue

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Have You Burned Your Ships Yet?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 9, 2020

When the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez landed at Vera Cruz, Mexico in 1519 he was intent on conquest. To assure the devotion of his men, Cortez set fire to his fleet of eleven ships! With no means of retreat, Cortez’s army had only one direction to move, into the Mexican interior. Cortez ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, James 1:8

Tags: Commitment, Discipleship, Following Jesus, Counting The Cost

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sacred Cows

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Dec 17, 2020

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Sacred Cows, Traditions

Denomination: Baptist

A Parable From A Peanuts Cartoon

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

We need another revival like Pentecost! It will come when walking and working together! As Vance Havner said, “Snowflakes are fragile things, but when they stick together... they can stop traffic!” In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist ...read more

Tags: Unity, Jokes, Cartoons, Church, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Revival, Humor  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Funny Sermon Intro For Easter!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 15, 2022

The pastor’s family was invited to Easter dinner at the Wilson home. Mrs. Wilson was widely known for her amazing contributions to church potlucks. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. As usual, it was a feast for the eyes, the nose, and the palate.   When ...read more

Tags: Sermon Intro, Saying Grace, Prayer, Preacher's Kids, Pastors, Easter, Funny Story, Humor  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Children Learn What They Live

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 19, 2022

I wish every one of us had inscribed on the walls of our home the words of Dorothy Law Nolte’s work, “Children Learn What They Live,” and then kept this constantly before us in our daily activities: If a child lives with criticism, He learns to condemn. If a child lives with hostility, He learns ...read more

Tags: Home, Example, Children, Education, Mother's Day, Mothers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Repent!

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 8, 2022

Johnny the painter, was big on cutting corners so he could make more of a profit. So when a church hired him to paint their wooden building, Johnny submitted the lowest bid, and was hired. As always, he thinned his latex paint with water to stretch it. One day while he was up on the scaffolding ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:1-20

Tags: Ammends, Correcting, Discipline, Guilt, Forgiveness, Repent  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The First National Thanksgiving Proclamation

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 20, 2022

First National Thanksgiving Proclamation Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; Whereas, both the houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: America, Thanksgiving, Prayer

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Poor Short-Term Memory

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

A man was working in his backyard one day when his neighbor began talking to him over the fence. He said, “Yeah, my wife and I went to one of those seminars yesterday, you know, where they teach you ways to improve your memory and such.” His neighbor commented, “Really? What was the name of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:19

Tags: Communion, Lord's Supper

Is Your Ministry Making Any Difference?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 12, 2023

Sometimes we think that God is not using us if we are not preaching to thousands every weekend. If you think that, remember this story about the value of one soul! I recently read about an old man, walking the beach at dawn, who noticed a young man ahead of him picking up starfish and flinging ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Holy Spirit, Fruit Of The Spirit, Faithfulness, Success, Spirit Filled Life, Ministry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Get Away From Me, Satan!

Contributed by Subasini Peter on May 8, 2024

Get away from me, Satan!" Jesus said to the devil. It is a statement and the tone of speech of Jesus towards the tempter. When you want to chase a puppy or dog which you don't like and if you say to it very softly "ssshhh...shhh...shhh..." will the dog leave you? No, he will ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:10, James 4:7

Tags: Confession, Authority

Listen To The World

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 13, 2025

I also believe we are at a unique time in history where most folks today would identify with these three descriptions: • “Living in darkness” • “Not a people” • “Without mercy” Have you noticed this in folks? They are desperately trying to fit in and be a part of some group. These groups seem ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9-10

Tags: Evangelism, Anxiety, Listen, Hoplessness

Denomination: Methodist

Blood From Jesus' Brow

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 17, 2025

The Gospel of Luke gives us an accurate description of a very real and yet uncommon medical condition: hematidrosis. It occurs during times of great mental and emotional stress. There are tiny blood vessels that surround all our sweat glands, especially on our brows. When a person is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:39-44

Tags: Hematidrosis, Battle, Sins, Garden Of Gethsemane, Maundy Thursday, Transgressions, Iniquities  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

A Direct Line To Heaven

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Aug 7, 2025

A tourist is in Rome, and he sees an old-fashioned telephone made from gold sitting on an ivory platform. “What's that?” he asks a passerby and is told, “That is a direct line to Heaven. You can talk to God from that phone!” “Amazing!” the guy says. “How much does it cost?” “Five thousand ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3

Tags: Heaven, Direct, Phone Call

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational