In Sermon Illustrations: "Last Things"

The Greatest Building Disaster In History

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 2, 2022

In 1174, the Italian architect Bonnano Pisano began work on what would become his most famous project: a separately standing eight-story bell tower in the city of Pisa. There was just one “little” problem: builders quickly discovered that the soil was much softer than they had anticipated, and the ...read more

Tags: Foundations, Eternity, Obedience, Rock, Sand, Word Of God, Parables  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Go Home, Daddy

Contributed by Chris Surber on Dec 22, 2008

"I Go Home, Daddy." Christ offers the lasting hope and promise of a new and lasting home. My three-year-old son Sebastian is a wonderful little boy. My children’s antics and lives provide me with a wealth of sermon illustrations and stories. Not long ago, Sebastian had to go through some ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Christian Church

They Sent Me To Finish  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 12, 2009

THEY SENT ME TO FINISH With all the pomp and prestige that the Chinese government went to in order to put their best foot forward, there was one person who they honored who stood out. He is now in his seventies, but China brought him to Bejing as an honored guest. Why? The odd thing is that John ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:24

Tags: Endurance

I Can't... The Giant Defines Me?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Aug 26, 2021

Jeremiah 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? FACE YOUR UNCONQUERABLE LIMITATIONS. YOU CAN BE AN AGENT OF CHANGE IF YOU WANT TO… From 1886 to 1954 track and field had HIT THE WALL, SPLAT… SPLATTING IS A TERM IN LONG DISTANCE RUNNING. ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:27, Philippians 4:13

Tags: Opportunities, I Can't

Denomination: Assembly Of God

A. A Kentucky Mountaineer Fighting Overseas In ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 16, 2001

A. A Kentucky mountaineer fighting overseas in WW1 kept getting nagging letters from his wife back home. He was too busy fighting to write letters, even to his wife. At last, angered by his wife’s scolding letters, he sat down and wrote her: "Dear Nancy: I been a-gittin yore naggin letters all ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:9, Habakkuk 3:17-18

Tags: Christian Love, Marriage Obligations, Marriage, Polygamy

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Put The King In First

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

PUT THE KING IN FIRST In the Berlin art gallery there is a painting by the famous artist Mengel that is only partially finished. It is supposed to be a painting of King Frederick of Germany talking to his generals. Mengel painstakingly painted the generals first around the outside of the painting. ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Joy Wholly From Without Is False, Precarious ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Joy wholly from without is false, precarious and short. Joy from within is like smelling the rose on the tree; ...read more

Tags: Joy

If We Keep Well And Cheerful We Are Always ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"If we keep well and cheerful we are always young, and at last die in youth, even ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Imagination Is The Beginning Of Creation. You ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, ...read more

Tags: Thought

The Measure Of Success Is Not Whether You Have ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it's ...read more

Tags: Workplace Success

If We Keep Well And Cheerful We Are Always ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"If we keep well and cheerful we are always young, and at last die in youth, even ...read more

Tags: Children

I Have A Dream That One Day On The Red Hills Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Jan 9, 2001

"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.. ...I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-20, 1 Corinthians 12:20

Tags: One Body, Unconditional Love, Racism

Denomination: Lutheran

People Matter

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 10, 2011

PEOPLE MATTER One woman told the time her professor in nursing school gave a pop quiz. She said "I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: 'What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?'" She thought: "Surely this was some kind ...read more

Scripture: John 10:14

Tags: Christian Values

Bibles Accounted For 20% Of The Average Christian ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2006

Bibles accounted for 20% of the average Christian retail store’s sales last year. (Foster Letter ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

: "The Human Fly” (Pp.18,19, A ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Jun 19, 2001

Illus.: “The Human Fly” (pp.18,19, A Treasury of Inspirational Illustrations, Earl C. Willer) Some years ago, a so-called “human fly” went to Los Angeles. It was announced that on a certain day he would climb up the face of one of the large department store buildings. Thousands gathered to ...read more

Tags: Knowing God's Will, God's Provision, Oil

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Furnace Keeper  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Oct 11, 2001

Illus.: “The Furnace Keeper” One of the ancient kings of Persia loved to mingle with his people in disguise. Once, dressed as a poor man, he descended the long flight of stairs, dark and damp to the tiny cellar where the fireman, seated on ashes, was tending the furnace.. The king sat down ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Humanity Of Christ, Christmas

Denomination: Wesleyan

What Kids Need  PRO

Contributed by Lyn King on Jun 15, 2002

WHAT KIDS NEED Today’s kids desperately need Dads who: . . . play catch, enjoy tea parties or wrestle because the heart of a child is there and they set out to capture it. . . . laugh till their belly hurts and tears fall from their eyes while secretly creating deep friendships and memories that ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: Baptist

Several Men Are In The Locker Room Of A Golf ...  PRO

Contributed by Jonathan Busch on Apr 13, 2003

Several men are in the locker room of a golf club. A cell phone on a bench rings and a man engages the hands free speaker function and begins to talk. MAN: "Hello." WOMAN: "Honey, it’s me. Are you at the club?" MAN: "Yes." WOMAN: "I am at the mall now and found this beautiful leather coat. It’s ...read more

Tags: Communication General

Denomination: Pentecostal

How Many Of Us Have Watched Trading Spaces On Tlc ...  PRO

Contributed by Mitchell Skelton on Jun 10, 2003

How many of us have watched Trading Spaces on TLC or seen Bob Villa and became inspired to finally do something about our own tired and outdated homes? It’s easy to get inspired to do something. Once inspired by seeing a weeks work condensed into a one hour TV show we can easily envision the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, Hebrews 6:1-12

Tags: Growth In Christ, Basics Of Christianity

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Scott D. Campbell Writing In The Globe And Mail ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Feb 26, 2004

Scott D. Campbell writing in The Globe and Mail (2/26/04) had this to say: I have been following the controversy over Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ with interest, so I was anxious to read Rick Groen’s review of the film (The Greatest Gory Ever Told -- Feb. 25). Mr. Gibson’s stated ...read more

Tags: Television And Movies, Bible Influence

Denomination: Evangelical Free