In Sermon Illustrations: "Marked"

The Height Of Hypocrisy

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Jan 14, 2018

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday The Height of Hypocrisy - Forgiveness Offered "Thirty six year old - Derek Paul Smyer pronounced guilty of two counts of murder for arranging the killing of Crystal Taylor and her 21 week old fetus because she would not have an abortion. Derek Paul Smyer was found ...read more

Tags: Abortion, Sanctity Of Life, Abortions

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When I Was In The Media, I Spent A Week In ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

When I was in the media, I spent a week in Culion, Palawan. In fact, it was a holy week. Yes, that’s part of Palawan. But I don’t think you would like to go there. Culion was a leper colony. That’s where we quarantine or exile people afflicted with leprosy or Hansen’s disease in the past. When I ...read more

Tags: Faith, Bread, Servant, Second Coming, Slave, God's Provision  (view more)  (view less)

On Books

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

ILL.- TEACHER: Who is your favorite author? PUPIL: George Washington. TEACHER: But George Washington never wrote any books. PUPIL: You got it. TEACHER: How many books have you read in your lifetime? PUPIL: I don’t know. I’m not dead yet. TEACHER: What does your history book tell you about the ...read more

Tags: Cross Agony

A Thanks Offering For God's Grace  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

A Thanks Offering For God's Grace In this country, the entire nation celebrates Thanksgiving in November. Some celebrate by busily preparing food, watching football and gathering with family. These are great Thanksgiving celebrations. However, Christians have a greater blessing in the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-10, Exodus 15:1-21

Tags: Lodebar, Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Graduate's Call  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

A Graduates Call (Lord, teach us to pray) Once Christian Graduates are continually feeding on the Word of God, the Holy Spirit will move them to be like the disciple who came to Jesus and said, "...Lord teach us to pray..." (Luke 11:1) A popular term used today is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Evolution Is The Problem - And The Solution?

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 19, 2023

Gov Pritzker (Illinois) gave the 2023 Commencement Address at North Eastern University "… Whenever we see someone who doesn't look like us, or sound like us, or act like us or love like us, or live like us - the first thought that crosses almost everyone's brain is rooted in either ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 3:23, Galatians 5:22-23, Psalm 139:14, Romans 7:21-25, Genesis 1:27, Genesis 3:17-19  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Evolution, Compassion, Salvation, Kindness, Education, Humanity, Fruit Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Last Supper By Leonardo Da Vinci

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 21, 2025

Story: Leonardo da Vinci took seven years to paint his famous picture the "Last Supper". He used living people to depict the figures representing the Twelve Apostles and Christ. He started the fresco with Jesus Christ himself. It is reputed that he viewed hundreds and hundreds of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Tags: Last Supper, Leonardo Da Vinci

Denomination: Anglican

Nothing Can Choke The Heart And Soul Out Of ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Oct 11, 2001

Nothing can choke the heart and soul out of walking with God like legalism. Consider the story of Hans the tailor. Because of his reputation, an influential entrepreneur visiting the city ordered a tailor-made suit. But when he came to pick up his suit, the customer found that one sleeve ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:33-35, Mark 5:1-12

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, What Is Evangelism?, Christian Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tale Of Two Kings  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2002

TALE OF TWO KINGS Two of the greatest love stories ever told. The one, at Camelot; the other, at Calvary. Two of the noblest kings ever to live. The one, King Arthur; the other, King of the Jews. The one is adorned with a jeweled crown; the other, with a crown of thorns. The comparisons ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:33-35, John 10:15-18

Tags: Cross, Crucifixion, Forgiveness In Jesus

Following The Sunday Morning Service, The Pastor ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Apr 18, 2002

Following the Sunday morning service, the pastor stood at the back of the church, shaking hands with the worshipers as they left. As one man shook hands, he looked intently at the pastor and said, "Powerful sermons, Pastor. Thoughtful, well researched. I can always see myself in them…and I want ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-22, John 15:1

Tags: Leadership, Humor, Growth In Christ, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

According To Psychologist William Damon, Respect ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 9, 2002

According to psychologist William Damon, respect for the parent who exercises proper authority leads to respect for legitimate social institutions and to respect for law. In his book The Moral Child, Damon writes, “The child’s respect for parental authority sets the direction for civilized ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:17, John 10:4-16

Tags: Authority, Respect

Why Should I Not Forgive?  PRO

Contributed by Joel Vicente on Jul 13, 2002

WHY SHOULD I NOT FORGIVE? Deweese Eunick (mother of a 6 year old girl, killed by a 12 year old boy who was wrestling with her) The boy, Lionel Tate was being sentenced for life in prison for this murder. The mother said to reporters on ABC, "It’s more that he’s a human being, you know?" she ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:25, John 5:5

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Baptist

A Light Named Al  PRO

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Sep 2, 2002

A LIGHT NAMED AL On the morning of September 11, Jeannie Braca switched on the television to check the weather report, only to hear that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. Jeannie’s husband, Al, worked as a corporate bond trader for Cantor Fitzgerald. His office was on the 105th ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-17, Mark 8:34-37

Tags: Sermon On The Mount, Sharing Your Faith, Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: United Methodist

The Man Who'd Die For Her—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 2, 2003

THE MAN WHO’D DIE FOR HER-- COMMUNION MEDITATION On the southern border of the empire of Cyrus, there lived a great chieftain named Cagular who tore to shreds and completely defeated the various detachments of Cyrus’ army sent to subdue him. Finally the emperor, amassing his whole army, marched ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45, Isaiah 42:1-9

Tags: Romantic Love, Lord's Supper, Forgiveness In Jesus

Conference After Conference Is Held To Discuss ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Apr 20, 2003

Conference after conference is held to discuss the destruction of the Earth’s environment and to solve the poverty of two thirds of the world’s population but very little gets done when the talking is over. Isn’t it essentially a problem of selfishness, greed and exploitation? Desmond Tutu, the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:14, Mark 12:40

Tags: God Brings Hope, Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Baptist

Seeds In Mustard Plant

Contributed by Nick Scarpa on May 24, 2003

Seeds In Mustard Plant A gardener, prompted by curiosity, counted the seed pods on a medium-sized mustard plant. There were 85. The average number of seeds in each pod was eight. Since two crops in a given year could be matured, the gardener figured that it was possible in the interim between ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:30-34, Matthew 13:31-33

Tags: What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Baptist

Not Long Before She Died In 1988, In A Moment Of ...

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jun 28, 2004

Not long before she died in 1988, in a moment of surprising candor in television, Marghanita Laski, one of our best-known secular humanists and novelists, said, “What I envy most about you Christians is your ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-47, Mark 14:3-9

Tags: God's Forgiveness, God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

Arrogance/Pride: (Mcmanus)in South America, The ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Miller on Jan 4, 2005

ARROGANCE/PRIDE: (McManus)In South America, the llama is a cultural metaphor for arrogance. To keep a herd of llamas corralled, you don’t even need a fence. All you need is one rope circling around the herd to keep them enclosed. Just by placing it at a height beneath the head and base of the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 10:4, Mark 10:24-25

Tags: Humility

Denomination: *other

A Third Grader's Explanation Of God  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Apr 4, 2001

A THIRD GRADERS EXPLANATION OF GOD Written by Danny Dutton, age 8, from Chula Vista, California, for his third grade homework assignment to "Explain God." One of God’s main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die so there will be enough people to take care of things on ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23, Galatians 5:1-26

Tags: God The Father, Children

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Young Harold Had A Really Bad Case Of Attention ...  PRO

Contributed by Tom Lovorn on Apr 10, 2001

Young Harold had a really bad case of Attention Deficit Disorder. On Palm Sunday, Harold’s Sunday School teacher sent empty plastic eggs home with each of her students. Mrs. Wilson told them to bring something back in the eggs next Sunday to represent Easter. She really didn’t expect Harold to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52, Luke 7:11-17

Tags: Miracles Of Jesus, Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Baptist