In Sermon Illustrations: "Lighten Up"

Resurrection Proof

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Mar 29, 2024

Why is His resurrection so important? Think about what they call cold cases. Sometimes a man is accused of a crime he didn’t commit and put in jail. They found blood at the scene, but they didn’t have the DNA technology that they do today. But now, years later, they can use that same blood and ...read more

Scripture: Job 19:25

Tags: Resurrection, Life

Denomination: Lutheran

He Would Not Leave Mt. Saint Helens

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 6, 2024

Harry R. Truman was a caretaker of a recreational lodge on Spirit Lake about five miles north of Mt. Saint Helens. For two months there had been a series of small earthquakes and steam venting episodes on the volcano located in Skamania County in Washington State. All the evidence predicted that ...read more

Tags: Signs, Return Of Christ, Days Of Noah, Warnings, End Times, Prophecy, Repentance, Second Coming, Last Days, Rapture, Revelation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Word Pictures Of Biblical Forgiveness

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 12, 2024

The importance of forgiveness is a constant theme of Scripture. There are no less than seventy-five different word pictures about forgiveness in the Bible. They help us grasp the importance, the nature, and the effects of forgiveness. • To Forgive Is to Turn The Key, Open the cell door, and let ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15

Tags: Forgiveness, Philemon, Lord's Prayer, Root Of Bitterness, Forgive Us Our Debts, Unforgivenes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Stress Management

Contributed by David Parks on Nov 4, 2024

Stress Management A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?" Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g. The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Stress, Worry

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Metamorphosis

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Mar 1, 2025

I thought of a book I read years ago in German class. We were assigned the task of reading the Famous Novel by Franz Kafka entitled “The Metamorphosis”. It was about a young man who woke up one day and realized he had been transformed into, of all things, a large Roach. The story line of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9

Tags: Transfiguration, God's Presence

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Scarecrow?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Sep 17, 2025

I had a dream. In the dream I saw some huge power lines. There were thousands of birds sitting on the power lines. Some of the birds were falling off the power lines. The birds were weak. Actually I could see some fell to their death due to starvation. The picture opened wider and I could ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7, Genesis 3:8

Tags: Fear, Worry

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Christian Doctor Explains Heaven To Dying Patient

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 24, 2025

Christian Doctor Explains Heaven to Dying Patient Wayne Brouwer told about a very sick man home on hospice. His doctor had come to see him that day, and as the doctor was leaving the room, the patient said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side." *Very ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-24

Tags: Fearfully Made, Wonderfully Made, Nathan The Prophet, Solomon's Temple, Mother's Womb, Omniscience, Omnipotence, Omnipresence, God's Presence, God's Creation, King David, Light, Darkness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Persistence Of Us President Abraham Lincoln

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 21, 2025

Story: On 12th February 1809, in a one room log cabin with a dirt floor on a farm near Hodgenville, Kentucky, a baby boy was born. When he was only 9 years-old, his mother died. He was a boy with rugged determination. And although he only had less than a year of formal education, he succeeded ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Tags: Abraham Lincoln, Persistence

Denomination: Anglican

One Solitary Life

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

I’d like to read you a little piece written by an unknown author called One Solitary Life He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in still another village, where he worked in a carpenter’s shop until he was thirty. Then for three years he was an itinerant ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6

Tags: Son Of God, One Solitary Life, Jesus

Denomination: Anglican

The Donkey That Won A Battle

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 24, 2025

My name? Well… I don’t have one anymore. I used to be a donkey—strong, steady, built for long walks and heavy loads. But my part in God’s story began after my last bray. One hot afternoon, I was resting in a field when trouble came. The Philistines had captured a man named Samson—big, strong, and ...read more

Scripture: Judges 15:15-17, 1 Corinthians 1:27, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Zechariah 4:6

Tags: Power, Strength, Victory, Purpose, Surrender  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Gift Of Forgivness - Driving Out Bitterness - Charles Stanley

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 1, 2025

Charles Stanley, a renowned teacher and theologian shared this story called ... The Gift of Forgiveness: "A friend of mine is a fine man and a fine pastor who loves God. His wife had cancer, ... and they sought the best of medical help. The Doctor assigned to her case ... who for a number ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:23-24, Matthew 18:15, Romans 12:19, Hebrews 12:15

Tags: Sickness, Prisoner, Forgiveness, Bitterness, Unforgiveness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

From Confession To Immersion: The Creed That Formed Christians

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 22, 2026

During the first centuries, when the church endured persecution, the Apostles’ Creed was taking shape. Early Christians used the Nicene Creed as a teaching tool for evangelism and discipleship. Before baptism, candidates learned Christian practices, heard the grand story of Scripture, memorized ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-3, Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 10:9-10

Tags: Baptism, Discipleship, Nicene Creed, Persecuted Church, Christian Identity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Grandpa's Farm

Contributed by David Dunn on Jul 19, 2026

My grandfather immigrated to America from Eastern Europe looking for a chance to build a new life. Eventually he settled near Pocatello, Idaho, where he bought a small farm. It wasn't the biggest farm. It wasn't the richest farm. But it had something unusual. Hot springs bubbled up on the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 4:2, Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Stewardship, Faithfulness, Providence, Opportunity

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

June 16, 2006--Planned Parenthood Celebration ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

June 16, 2006--Planned Parenthood Celebration Jolted by Abortion Survivor, by Ted Harvey, assistant minority leader, Colorado House She sings the anthem to applause, then her secret is revealed to stunned silence. I want to share with you an awesome experience I had in the Colorado House of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:13-14

Tags: New, Peace, Abortion, Courage, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

If I Had A Hammer!" Genesis 32:1-21 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 17, 2005

“If I Had A Hammer!” Genesis 32:1-21 Key verse(s): 9-12:“Then Jacob prayed, ‘O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, you prosper,’ I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:1-21, Genesis 32:1-12

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Lutheran

Prayer And 19th Century Revival

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 10, 2011

PRAYER AND 19TH CENTURY REVIVAL Dr. A. T. Pierson once said, "There has never been a spiritual awakening in any country or locality that did not begin in united prayer." Let me recount what God has done through concerted, united, sustained prayer. [J. Edwin Orr. Personal Notes.] Not many people ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 7:1-13

Tags: Prayer Persistence

Remission

Contributed by Lou Butterfield on Sep 5, 2011

REMISSION While a graduate student at Indiana University and also serving as youth minister at the North Central church in Bloomington, I had an experience I will never forget. I woke up early on this particular Sunday morning to get to the building in time to drive one of the church buses to ...read more

Tags: Born Again

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Post Thanksgiving Wishbone

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 30, 2019

Now that Thanksgiving is over, I can sit back and recoup from the activity. I'm not sure about anybody else, but a holiday such as Thanksgiving takes a lot out of me. Of course, it puts a lot in me, but that's another story. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly were ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:31

Tags: Thanksgiving, Holiday

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Time Alone Is Time Invested

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 28, 2020

During the past week, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly have been spending quite a bit of time together. I cannot recall any time that we have spent this much time together. The exception would be when we first got married. Even then, both of us worked during the day and were ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:31

Tags: Humor, Relationships

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

There’s Always Tomorrow

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 11, 2020

For almost four weeks now, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly have enjoyed some exceptional time together. It has been the rich experience I never thought I would experience until I retired from everything. But, if this is retirement, “Lord, let it be so.” Nothing to complain ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:8

Tags: Together, Rest, Pajamas

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance