In Sermon Illustrations: "Lost And Found"

The Whole Conviction Of My Life Now Rests Upon ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

The whole conviction of my life now rests upon the belief that loneliness, far from being a rare and curious phenomenon, peculiar to myself and a few other solitary men, is the ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, Evangelism The Lost, Disappointment

Without Hope  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Mar 18, 2002

WITHOUT HOPE What is 750,000 miles long? It could wrap itself around the earth 30 times and it grows an additional 20 miles longer with each passing day? ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?, Evangelism The Lost, Great Commission

They Took Away…  PRO

Contributed by Curtis Kittrell on Apr 17, 2002

They took away what should have been my eyes, (But I remembered Milton’s Paradise). They took away what should have been my ears, (Beethoven came and wiped away my tears). They took away what should have been my tongue, (But I had walked with God when I was young). He ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Evangelism The Lost, Human Body

Denomination: Pentecostal

Leave Hungry  PRO

Contributed by Terry Cavanaugh on Apr 26, 2002

Tommy Tenney, in his new book tells this story. He believes that God spoke to him and said, “You know, Tommy, your favorite worship services and My favorite services are not the same. You leave you services full and satisfied, but when you leave, I’m still hungry.” He writes, “God whispered this ...read more

Tags: Worship General, Church Practices, Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Methodist

Dead In Unrighteousness  PRO

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Oct 18, 2002

DEAD IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS Several years ago a movie came out called “Death Becomes Her”. I don’t recommend it. It was dark humor at best, but the few funny parts weren’t worth the cost of the movie rental; much less, a theatre ticket. But the basic premise of the movie turns out to be a great ...read more

Tags: Jesus Teachings, Evangelism The Lost, Dead To Sin

Denomination: Orthodox

There Is A Movie That Was Recently Produced That ...  PRO

Contributed by James May on Oct 20, 2002

There is a movie that was recently produced that was titled “Shallow Hal”. In that movie, Hal was given a gift of seeing a woman, not as she physically looked but as their heart would appear. There were some who were over weight, some who were not so physically appealing to the normal observer, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-7

Tags: Christian Values, Evangelism The Lost, Romantic Love

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The True Christmas Longing  PRO

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Oct 25, 2002

THE TRUE CHRISTMAS LONGING C.S. Lewis writes in “Mere Christianity”: “Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give ...read more

Tags: God The Father, Finding Fulfillment, Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Mennonite

Our Greatest Desire  PRO

Contributed by Bill Bendert on Oct 28, 2002

OUR GREATEST DESIRE In the first Harry Potter book (and movie), Harry stumbles on a mirror in Hogwarts castle. It is the mirror of Erised. Erised, of course, is the word "desire" written backwards, as if seen in a mirror. This magical mirror shows the one looking into it whatever they most ...read more

Tags: Humanity Of Christ, Evangelism The Lost, Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Lutheran

Elie Wiesel, Nobel Prize Winner And Author Is A ...  PRO

Contributed by William Norman on Nov 4, 2002

Elie Wiesel, Nobel prize winner and author is a Holocaust survivor. He tells the story of two men and a youth who were hung at a Nazi concentration camp. All of the prisoners, including Wiesel, were paraded to the gallows to witness this horror. The older men died quickly, but the death throes of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:1-35, Mark 3:20-35

Tags: Promises Of God, God In The Hardships, Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Baptist

I Somehow Sensed That Destiny Was Waiting…a ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Feb 3, 2003

“I somehow sensed that destiny was waiting…a hunger had been birthed in my heart that just wouldn’t go away. The gnawing vacuum of emptiness in the midst of my accomplishments just got worse. I was in a frustrating funk, a divine depression of destiny…I just sensed that something awaited us from ...read more

Tags: Worship Benefits, Evangelism The Lost, Church Practices

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Certain Man Was Troubled With Dizzy Spells. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Gabriel on Mar 18, 2004

A certain man was troubled with dizzy spells. He went from one doctor to another and none could tell him what the problem was. He tried everything, it seemed. Finally, it was bothering him so much he started to lose weight, and he couldn’t sleep at night. He became a nervous wreck and his health ...read more

Tags: Hope, God's Provision, Expectation, Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Baptist

We Were Desperate Without Christ!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

Steven Cole has a good discussion on salvation writing… As I’ve often said, salvation is a radical word. You don’t need saving if you’re in pretty good shape. All you need then is a little help. You need saving when you’re perishing and are helpless to save yourself. The Bible uses a number of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1

Tags: Evangelism, Grace, Mercy, Salvation, Gospel, Lost  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Faking It

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 8, 2021

One of my wife’s third graders was wearing a Fitbit watch, which prompted my wife to ask, “Are you tracking your steps?” “No,” said the little girl. “I wear this for Mommy so ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:1-13

Tags: Deception, Torah, Works Righteousness, Religious But Lost

Denomination: Independent/Bible

We Are His Hands And Feet.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

After World War II, a group of German students volunteered to help rebuild an English cathedral that had been severely damaged by German bombs. As work progressed, they became concerned about a large statue of Jesus, whose arms were out-stretched and beneath which was the inscription: “Come unto ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Service, Ministry, Outreach, Discipleship, Witnessing, Lost  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Can't Remember When I Was Saved!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 12, 2023

If you have not realized it yet, over time you are going to forget some things. I think of the two older men that were playing golf. One had trouble seeing and other had trouble remembering. The one with a seeing problem said to the other, "Now, watch my ball, for I can’t see where it ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, 1 John 5:1-13

Tags: Memory, Salvation, Gospel, Assurance, Lost, Saved  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Powerful Illustration For A Funeral

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 13, 2022

There is an old story of a king and his clown or “jester” who sometimes said very foolish things. One day the jester had said something so foolish that the king handing him a staff, said to him: “Take this, and keep it till you find a bigger fool than yourself.” “Some years later, the king lay on ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 14:1

Tags: Funerals, Evangelism, Death, Salvation, Lost, Time, Fools  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Drowned In Front Of One Hundred Lifeguards!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 4, 2022

The Times-Reporter of New Philadelphia, Ohio, reported in September, 1985 a shocking discovery at a New Orleans municipal pool. The party around the pool was held to celebrate the first summer in memory without a drowning at the New Orleans city pool. In honor of the occasion, 200 people ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19-20

Tags: Gospel, Tragedy, Witnessing, Lost, Unsaved, Great Commission, Evangelism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Faith In A Father's Love  PRO

Contributed by Don Hawks on Nov 26, 2003

FAITH IN A FATHER'S LOVE Here’s how the story of Finding Nemo develops in the movie: Nemo’s father loved him very much. He watched over Nemo and protected him from every evil. Nemo and his dad were best friends. There are reasons why so many people enjoy the blockbuster hit Finding Nemo. It is a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1

Tags: Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Methodist

The Time-Lapse Of Sin  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Apr 4, 2001

THE TIME-LAPSE OF SIN Time-lapse photography compresses a series of events into one picture.Such a photo appeared in an issue of National Geographic. Taken from aRocky Mountain peak during a heavy thunderstorm, the picture captured the brilliant lightning display that had taken place throughout ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, Sin Hurtful To God, God's Provision

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In Preparation For A Meeting In A Large City, ...  PRO

Contributed by Evie Megginson on Apr 5, 2001

In preparation for a meeting in a large city, famed evangelist Billy Sunday wrote a letter to the mayor in which he asked for the name of individuals he knew who had a spiritual problem and needed help and prayer. How ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, Sin General, Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Baptist