In Sermon Illustrations: "Lighten Up"

What Are You Holding Onto?

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Mar 18, 2016

Props: trophies, on large nice trophy for the main story. These are some nice trophies. This one was earned by my daughter through playing softball. She was so proud as they called her name up to receive this trophy. This is from a contest that one of them had worked hard for. This large ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:1-20

Tags: Sin, Treasure, Materialism

Denomination: Church Of God

Your Two Dirty Pennies Are An Insult

Contributed by David Goering on Aug 14, 2018

Suppose somebody befriended you in your town and offered to buy you a big beautiful house, and told you that you could choose the house you wanted. Then when he was handing you the title deed you reached in your pocket and pulled out two pennys, and when you did they accidentally fell out of your ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Free Gift, It Is Finished, Salvation, Righteousness, Good Works  (view more)  (view less)

Don't Go Back

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Feb 20, 2021

Several years ago, Karen and I was up in the Ruidoso area; and I decided to try a short cut that I thought I knew about. The problem was, the road turned into a very rough dirt road; and the further we went, the worse the road became. We came upon a farmer’s house and land; and there was a ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:8-9

Tags: Freedom, Forward

Denomination: Baptist

What Is Your Struggle

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Aug 25, 2021

As a group of frogs was traveling through the woods, two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs crowded around the pit and saw how deep it was, they told the two frogs that there was no hope left for them. However, the two frogs decided to ignore what the others were saying and they ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20

Tags: Faith, Believe In Yourself

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Goliath Has To Fall

Contributed by Samuel M on Jul 6, 2024

Just as the Israelites have accepted that it was impossible to defeat Goliath, who kept on mocking and defying Israelites for 40 days, morning and evening, causing dismay and great fear. So many times we also have accepted that it’s difficult to defeat the Goliath-sized difficulties or prayer ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:26

Tags: Faith, Hope

A Joke To Share When Attendance In The First Service Begins To Drop

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 12, 2024

One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church. The plaque was covered with names, and small American flags were mounted on either side of it. The seven-year-old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:25

Tags: Church, Worship, Pastors, Attending Church, Dead Churches  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blindness

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 22, 2025

Aero Condor was experiencing money problems in Peru and needed to cut back expenses. So, rumor had it they hired two blind pilots. Story soon spread about these pilots, but no one believed it. So one day the plane was loaded and up came the two pilots, with dark glasses and walking sticks. The ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:10, Matthew 15:14, Matthew 23:16-19, Matthew 23:24-26, Luke 6:39, John 9:39-41, John 12:40, Romans 2:19, 2 Corinthians 4:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Blind, Spiritual Blindness, Hard Hearts, Not Understanding, Lack Of Discernment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sherlock Holmes And Dr Watson

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jun 3, 2026

Story: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip. They set up their tent and fell asleep. Some hours later, Holmes woke his faithful friend. "Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see." Watson replied, "I see millions of stars." "What does that ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-12

Tags: Sherlock Holmes, Dr Watson

Denomination: Anglican

Recently There Was An Article In The September 19 ...  PRO

Contributed by Roger Nix on Jan 11, 2003

Recently there was an article in the September 19 edition of the Washington Times entitled Aboard Flight 564. It reads: As it was at most US Airports, last Saturday was the first near normal day at Denver International since the terrorist attacks. On United Flight 564, the door had just been ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups, Family, Friendship New Friends

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Moses, Aaron And Hur Went To The Top Of The Hill. ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Aug 14, 2003

Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 5:11

Tags: Jesus Christ, Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Lutheran

The Paradox Of Our Time In History  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 8, 2005

The Paradox of Our Time in History The paradox of our time in history is that.... We have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less. We buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Read The Story Of A Twenty-Six Year Old School ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Willis on Dec 18, 2006

I read the story of a twenty-six year old school teacher who had never been married. She said that when she was a little girl her parents had divorced and her mother had gone to live in a far away state while she had stayed with her father who was a physician. She said, “I spent my whole life ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11, Ephesians 1:6

Denomination: Baptist

This Is A Fictional Christmas Correspondence ...

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Feb 20, 2008

This is a fictional Christmas correspondence between Martha Stewart and Erma Bombeck to remind us that Christmas isn’t always picture perfect. Hi Erma, This perfectly delightful note is being sent on paper I made myself to tell you what I have been up to. Since it snowed last night, I got up ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

This Is A Fictional Christmas Correspondence ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Feb 20, 2008

This is a fictional Christmas correspondence between Martha Stewart and Erma Bombeck to remind us that Christmas isn’t always picture perfect. Hi Erma, This perfectly delightful note is being sent on paper I made myself to tell you what I have been up to. Since it snowed last night, I got up ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Paradox Of Our Time In History Is That We ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 2, 2008

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less ...read more

Margaret's Story  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 24, 2009

MARGARET’S STORY A young woman named Margaret had spent decades battling depression and anxiety that were traced back to a horrible day in school when a Teacher, frustrated with her tardiness, made her stand in front of the room and invited all the students to come up to the board and write ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Zephaniah 3:17

Tags: Grace, Easter, Resurrection, Salvation, Encouragement, New Life, New Birth  (view more)  (view less)

A Good Start Matters

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Mar 19, 2024

I can remember it like it was yesterday. It was my sixth-grade field day when all the elementary schools gathered for a series of track and field events at the town’s high school track. It was a sunny New England spring morning and I was representing Glen Forest Elementary School in the 50-yard ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Timothy 2:8, Ephesians 5:15-17, Colossians 4:5

Tags: Prayer, Meditation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Trying To Destroy Or Defend The Word Of God Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles Gilbert on Aug 9, 2001

Trying to destroy or defend the Word of God is like having two men push with toothpicks on opposite sides of the Rock of Gibraltar. While one is trying to push it over with his toothpick, the other is trying to hold it up ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth, Apologetics The Bible

Denomination: Church Of God

A Man And His Wife Of Many Years Were Riding ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Warren on Apr 19, 2001

A man and his wife of many years were riding down the road when the wife commented, "We don’t sit close and all snuggled up in the truck like we used to." The man ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, Cross Agony, Workplace

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Dear Friend, Donna Smith, Once Told Me, ...  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Aug 16, 2001

A dear friend, Donna Smith, once told me, “I never say Amen I always have so much to pray about.” That’s probably good advice; when you’ve got God ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:7-13

Tags: Prayer How To, Prayer Persistence, Prayer General

Denomination: United Methodist