In Sermon Illustrations: "Look To Christ"

Contentment

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 11, 2017

Two old friends met each other on the street one day. One looked sad and almost on the verge of tears. His friend asked, “What has happened to you, my old friend?” The sad fellow said, “Let me tell you. Three weeks ago, my uncle died and left me forty thousand dollars.” “That’s a lot of money,” ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:11-13

Tags: Contentment, Satisfaction, Content

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

An Order Of Worship Spelling Mistake

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 10, 2018

I was looking at the order of worship in a bulletin for another church recently when I noticed a spelling mistake. After the sermon, they had listed that they would have an “Alter Call.” That’s a mistake because the front of a church is referred to as an “altar.” Then I thought for a moment ...read more

Tags: Worship, Change, Transformation, Spelling

Denomination: Baptist

Disguised

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Aug 15, 2018

I live in Arkansas. I LOVE when autumn comes and fall leaves drift down on autumn breezes. But in Arkansas, you have to be careful about those leaves on the ground because some of them conceal SERPENTS. There are lots of Copperhead Snakes here. Copperheads are venomous Pit Vipers that strike you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:14, Genesis 4:7, Genesis 3:1, Proverbs 23:27, Proverbs 22:14, Ecclesiastes 7:26  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Discerning, Affairs, Snares, Sin, Deception, Serpent, Adultery, Deceive, Disguise  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

The New Never Gets Old

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on May 5, 2019

Saw a guy with his new car the other day, or at least it sure seemed new the way he admired it walking away backwards from it almost to the point of stumbling over the curb. You know one thing we like to do, is show off the new. I could relate with the man, he couldn’t stop looking at the shiny ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: New, Salvation, Relationship

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living By Gods Word.

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Jun 19, 2020

My Division Officer in the Navy was also a Naval aviator. On his way home from a mission over Afghanistan he got vertigo (a dizzy confused state of mind caused by the inner ear). His senses were confused. The biggest was his sense of flight. Which can be deadly when landing on an aircraft carrier ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5

Tags: Confused, Following Instructions

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Gossip Test

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 1, 2021

Another basic concept – sin creates spiritual blindness. Let me illustrate with my favorite sin to talk about… GOSSIP. I’ll stop right here and make sure you know how I define gossip. Before you tell someone a story about another person (even disguised as a prayer request), it needs to pass all ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:37-45

Tags: Sin, Gossip, Spiritual Blindness

Denomination: Methodist

Cloudy Days

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 18, 2021

My wife told me about a dream where she is looking up at a cloudy sky with two arms sticking through the clouds and says, I love you. The arms sign back to her, "I love you." I am cautious about dreams and interpretations because most are just our brains doing what we call in the IT ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5

Tags: Dark, Alone, Cloud, Silence, Sile, Arms, Love, Heart  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Grace & Works Story/Joke

Contributed by Bruce Blythe on Oct 23, 2021

Made this one up for my sermon on the whole Book of Romans (Works, Grace & Living). Hope some people find it helpful. Blessings. Bruce A Jew, and an Islamic, and a Christian were drinking coffee. As they sat and talked the conversation turned toward God. The Islamic said, “Now, regular prayer ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-6, Romans 12:3-8, Romans 3:20, Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Grace, Christian Living, Works

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Do Road Rage If You Have A Christian Bumper Sticker!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on May 29, 2022

I love the story of the stressed-out woman who was tailgating a man as they drove on a busy boulevard. When he slowed to a stop at a yellow light, the woman hit the horn, cussing and screaming in frustration and gesturing angrily. As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and ...read more

Tags: Hypocrisy, Testimony, Police, Stress, Satan, Obedience, Humor  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Story Of The Christian Lion

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 20, 2022

A missionary in Africa was walking through a jungle when he heard the ominous roar of a lion behind him. He was very scared and dropped immediately to his knees and started praying feverishly! "Oh Lord," prayed the missionary, “You know I have served you my whole life. I have even ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3

Tags: Thanksgiving, Protection, Prayer, Humor

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Be A Christian But Don't Act Like One!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 28, 2022

I love the story of the stressed-out woman who was tailgating a man as they drove on a busy boulevard. When he slowed to a stop at a yellow light, the woman hit the horn, cussing and screaming in frustration and gesturing angrily. As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-35

Tags: Satan, Discipleship, Kingdom Of God, Hypocrites

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Just Say The Word

Contributed by Samuel M on Jul 6, 2024

The Centurion said, "But just say the word, and my servant will be healed." He meant that if Jesus said the word or gave a command, it would trigger millions of mighty angels (under his control) to instantly act upon the word and fulfil it. These millions of angels are very powerful and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:8

Tags: Faith, Healing

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

Factor In Fallenness

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 1, 2025

A few years ago, our congregation joined with many churches in the area praying for a 6-year-old boy with extremely aggressive form of brain cancer. Of course, we prayed for a full healing so that the boy could have a long life. He died within 6 months. His parents grew in their faith of a God ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:4, 1 Peter 3:17

Tags: Healing, Prayer, Suffering, Fallenness

Denomination: Methodist

What Can Wash Away My Sin?

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 4, 2025

Your hands are wonderful creations of God! Look at your hands. But if left to do whatever we want – those hands get us into trouble. Try telling a child, “Don’t touch that!” Eve used her hand to pick a forbidden fruit. Adam received the forbidden fruit from Eve. Cain used his hand to murder ...read more

Scripture: Acts 22:16, Genesis 4:11

Tags: Eve, Adam, Cain, Hand

Denomination: Methodist

It All Started With An Apple

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 24, 2025

In my backyard I have two apple trees. They grow low to the ground and in July the apples are plentiful but small and green. Harvest is not until late September here in Ontario. But the low hanging branches present an enticing temptation to pick the apples. One beautiful morning I noticed an ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:7-25, Romans 6:1-4, Romans 3:21-31

Tags: Original Sin, The Fall, Sin, Obedience, Temptation, Adam  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Gossip-Free Church

Contributed by John Bright on Sep 23, 2025

I like to illustrate this kind of thing by talking about gossip. I believe it is the most tolerated sin in every congregation. As always, I like to share my definition of gossip. Something is not gossip if it can pass three tests: ? 100% Truth - You heard/saw it directly – can’t be repeated from ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29

Tags: Holier Than Thou, Truth, Gossip

Denomination: Methodist

Garbage In - Garbage Out

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 4, 2026

Do you remember this kid’s song? Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear, Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear. There’s a Father up above looking down in tender love, Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear. We teach this to children because we know that what goes in will come out. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 2:1-3, Jude 1:1-4

Tags: Truth, Lies

Denomination: Methodist

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

Last Week, Bernie Came To The Church Door. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Oct 9, 2002

Last week, Bernie came to the church door. He showed up about five minutes before I was getting ready to leave for an appointment, and my first response to his arrival was, oh, no, not now. Bernie had been drinking – I could smell it on his breath. He was sweating profusely and was a little bit ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:13-20

Tags: Fellowship

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational