In Sermon Illustrations: "Last Sunday"

Francois Fenelon Was The Court Preacher For King ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 15, 2005

Francois Fenelon was the court preacher for King Louis XIV of France in the 17th century. One Sunday when the king and his attendants arrived at the chapel for the regular service, no one else was there but the preacher. King Louis demanded, “What does this mean?” Fenelon replied, “I had ...read more

Tags: Church General

How Many Of You All Want To Go To Heaven? I ...

Contributed by Paul Humphrey on Nov 8, 2006

How many of you all want to go to heaven? I recall the story of a preacher asking that question to his congregation one Sunday morning, and everyone but one older lady in the back raised their hands. After the service he asked the woman why she didn’t raise her hand. “Don’t you ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: United Methodist

A Certain Medieval Monk Announced ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 26, 2007

Illustration: A certain medieval monk announced he would be preaching next Sunday evening on “The Love of God.” As the shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the cathedral windows, the congregation gathered. In the darkness of the altar, the monk lighted a candle and carried it to the ...read more

One Evening, A Little Girl Was Saying Bedtime ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

One evening, a little girl was saying bedtime prayers with her mother. “Dear Harold, please bless Mother and Daddy and all my friends,” she prayed. “Wait a minute,” interrupted her Mother. “Who’s Harold?” “That’s God’s name,” was the answer. “Who told you that was God’s name?” asked the ...read more

Tags: Lord's Prayer

O God, ...

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Jul 9, 2010

"O God, Help!"—Spurgeon God's strongest saints realize their weaknesses, and appeal to Him for strength. One Sunday morning, as Charles H. Spurgeon passed through the door back of the pulpit in the Tabernacle, and saw the great crowd of people, he was overheard saying, "O God, help!" Strong as ...read more

Tags: Power

Denomination: Baptist

Scottish Minister Alexander Whyte Was Known For ...

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on May 28, 2008

Scottish minister Alexander Whyte was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit. He always found something for which to be grateful. One Sunday morning the weather was so gloomy that one church member thought to himself, "Certainly the preacher won't think of anything for which to thank the ...read more

Tags: Attitude General

The Great Musicologist And Congregational ...

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 4, 2008

The great musicologist and Congregational minister Erik Routley was once greeting his parishioners as they left church on Sunday. He noticed one of the teenage girls carrying one of the popularizing versions of the Scriptures. "I see you have the new translation of the Bible," he said. "How do ...read more

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Catholic

Who Flatters The King  PRO

Contributed by Perry Greene on Nov 14, 2012

WHO FLATTERS THE KING Francois Fenelon was the court clergy for King Louis XIV of France in the 17th century. One Sunday when the king and his attendants arrived at the chapel for the regular service, no one else was there but the preacher. King Louis demanded, "What does this mean?" Fenelon ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Rapture

Contributed by Darlington Okereke on Apr 2, 2020

Something happened recently in my area that was unprecedented, from far away there was an explosion or bomb blast on a Sunday morning and people inside the church ran out because the whole area shook, window glasses shattered, while in this pandamonium a certain man thinking that the rapture has ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:16

Tags: Mercy, Rapture

A Good Friend Of Mine, Who Has Been Sober And ...

Contributed by Daryl Grimes on Sep 25, 2009

A good friend of mine, who has been sober and drug-free now for many, many years shared his testimony with me several years ago. After being caught in the 1970’s as a teenager with cocaine his dream of becoming a Major League Baseball Player was over. He used this discouragement and depression as ...read more

Tags: Church

Denomination: Baptist

Warren Wiersbe Tells A Story Of When He Was A ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

Warren Wiersbe tells a story of when he was a young man preaching on the last days with all the events of prophecy clearly laid out and perfectly planned. At the end of the service an older gentleman came up to him and whispered in his ear, “I used to have the Lord’s return planned out ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Why They Serve Coffee  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Mar 10, 2002

WHY THEY SERVE COFFEE Some of the most humorous and enlightening moments in our lives center around eating and drinking. Take for instance the interaction between a pastor and young boy in a certain congregation. It seems this particular congregation loved good fellowship and always served ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:37

Tags: Preaching, Church, Church Practices

Denomination: Church Of God

Pastor, I Have A Besetting Sin, And I Want Your ...  PRO

Contributed by Clark Frailey on May 3, 2002

Pastor, I have a besetting sin, and I want your help. I come to church on Sunday and can’t help thinking I’m the prettiest girl in the congregation. I know I ought not think that, but I can’t help it. I want you to help me with it." The pastor replied, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:3-5

Tags: Humility, Temptation Pride, Help

Denomination: Baptist

A Little Boy And A Little Girl Were Singing Their ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Dec 10, 2001

A little boy and a little girl were singing their favorite Christmas carol in church the Sunday before Christmas. The boy concluded “Silent Night” with the words, “sleep in heavenly beans.” His sister elbowed him, and said, “No. Not beans, peas!” The way many of us feel by the time we are ready ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope, Peace

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What You Do In A Lifetime  PRO

Contributed by Stephen Rice on Jun 28, 2002

In a magazine article: Based upon an average 71 year old life span. You will spend... 23 years sleeping (8 hours a day) 6 years in a car 3 years eating 11 years in leisure activities 2 years getting dressed 17 years working and... let’s say you come to church sunday morning and evening and ...read more

Tags: Giving Yourself, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

A Man And His Teenage Son Were On A Fishing Trip ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 7, 2003

A man and his teenage son were on a fishing trip miles from home. At the teen’s insistence, they decided to attend Sunday worship service at a small rural church. As they walked back to their car after the service, the father was filled with complaints. "The service was too long, the sermon was ...read more

I Have Heard Karl Ingersoll, Another Grand ...  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Oct 6, 2004

I have heard Karl Ingersoll, another Grand Mananer and pastor of Fredericton First Wesleyan, say, “The measure of the greatness of a man’s love for God is not found in his attention to the things he has to do, but in his attention to the things he doesn’t have to do.” That is, your salvation ...read more

Tags: Prayer General, Disciplines Scripture, Worship General

Denomination: Baptist

Fewer Men In Church: In 1990, Church ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2006

Fewer Men In Church: In 1990, church sociologist George Barna found that 40% of the men he polled had some kind of church relationship. That figure has now slipped to 26%. The situation is probably even worse than this data indicates. Many men are in church on Sunday only because their wives and ...read more

Tags: Men And Women

Why Teens Go To Church The #1 Reason (44%) Say, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 6, 2006

Why Teens Go to Church The #1 reason (44%) say, It makes me feel closer to God. 24% go to learn about God, 8% because their parents make them go, 10% because they can be with other Christians, 5% because they like their Sunday School class and 10% for a various other reasons. Youth group is a big ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21

Tags: Evangelism How To

The Preacher's Son Was 5 Years Old And Always ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The preacher’s son was 5 years old and always quick to give an answer. He was in Sunday school one time and the teacher asked: is there anything God can’t do – the rest of the class agreed that God could do anything. The young boy raises his hand and the teacher reluctantly calls on him. Ok, she ...read more

Tags: Faith