In Sermon Illustrations: "Martin Luther King"

The Two Chairs

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jul 29, 2025

A youth pastor once stood before a group of students with two chairs. He placed one on the far left side of the stage and the other on the far right. He said, “Let’s imagine this chair represents loyalty to God — trusting Him, following His ways, surrendering your heart. And this chair over here ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:113, Psalm 119:105

Tags: Obedience, Choose, Make A Choice, Divided, Double Minded, Commitment, Law  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How Should A Christian Walk?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jul 29, 2025

Have you ever noticed how novelists or movie directors make use of the way a person walks to highlight his or her character? Proud man walks erect, their heads held high. Beautiful women glide or float. Villains slouch, sneak, creep, or swagger. The need to describe different ways of walking has ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1, Isaiah 57:2, 1 John 1:7, Micah 6:8, Psalm 119:106  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Light, Humble, Walk, Worthy, Word  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Airport Luggage

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jul 29, 2025

You’re late for a connecting flight, hauling heavy bags through a terminal. Finally, you hand them over at the gate. That moment of relief? That’s what Jesus offers. He says, “Let me carry what’s crushing you.” Your weariness does not disqualify you—you are qualified by it. Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28

Tags: Carry, Weary, Heavy, Burdens

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Light Is Powerful (And Sometimes Annoying)

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 20, 2026

I had a teacher in high school who used to do an experiment with a light bulb. He had a static electricity machine and when you put a light bulb near the source of static electricity, the bulb would burn. The only problem was that he was also holding on to the electrical cord attached to the light ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16, Isaiah 49:6

Tags: All Nations, Mission, Sent, Evangelism, Light  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Don’t Hide The Light: The Blackberry Pocket Parable

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 20, 2026

When I first got my Blackberry (throwback, anyone?), it had an annoying habit of opening up to the camera and taking literally hundreds of pictures of the inside of my pocket with the flash going. The camera was not intended to take pictures of lint covered peppermints or the amount of change I’ve ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16, Isaiah 49:6

Tags: Evangelism, Light, Light To The Nations, Hiding The Light

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Apples And The Things We Usually Miss

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 20, 2026

I brought something with me today. (Bring out the apples.) These are apples. Nothing fancy. Not miraculous. Not smuggled out of the Garden of Eden. Just apples. But here’s what I want you to notice. An apple is sweet. An apple is useful. An apple is good. But the apple is not the point. The point ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Tags: Faithfulness, The Church, Remain, Abide, Fruitfullness, Discipleship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Year I Thought I Killed The Vine

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 20, 2026

Years ago, my wife and I moved into a new house in Michigan. There was a grapevine growing along the fence. We were getting into gardening, and I thought, “This is fantastic. We have a grapevine.” The first year, the vine looked amazing. It was long and healthy. It stretched along the fence, ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Tags: Spiritual Fruit, Spiritual Growth, Abiding In Christ, Pruning

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

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

If There Is No God, Who Decides?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Mar 6, 2026

In 1882, the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche wrote a short parable that still echoes through Western culture. He imagines a man running into a crowded marketplace in broad daylight, holding a lantern. He cries out, “Where is God? I will tell you—we have killed Him. You and I. We are His ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17, Judges 2:10-15

Tags: Evil, Culture, Meaning, Good, Values, God Is Dead  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Resisting A False Culture

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Mar 6, 2026

In the late 1980s, the world witnessed the collapse of communist regimes across Eastern Europe. One of the central figures in the Velvet Revolution of Czechoslovakia was Václav Havel. Havel had been a playwright and dissident long before he became president. He spent years imprisoned because ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47, Colossians 4:2-6

Tags: Culture, Scattered, Resisting, Gathered

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Divine Appointment At Chair Number Three

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 19, 2026

A pastor went for a haircut two weeks before officiating his son’s wedding. It was supposed to be routine. Sit down, clean things up, walk out ready for a big weekend. As he settled into the chair, he mentioned the upcoming ceremony. That simple comment opened a door he didn’t expect. The ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:20, John 4:4-26, Acts 8:26-35

Tags: Evangelism, Personal Evangelism, Divine Appointment

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Artesian Forgiveness!" Matthew 5: 43-48 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 30, 2004

“Artesian Forgiveness!” Matthew 5: 43-48 Key verse(s): 46 “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” Here at Beech Springs one of the things that sets these few acres apart is the artesian well that highlights our front yard. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Kindness

Denomination: Lutheran

God's Preservation Of His People Through Two Dreams

Contributed by Richard Tow on Aug 1, 2022

The amazing story is told by the historian Josephus.xxxviii When Alexander began his campaign against Phoenicia, he sent messengers to Juddua, the high priest in Jerusalem, “demanding aid from the Jews and the payment of the tribute which they used to pay to the King of Persia.”xxxix Not wanting to ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 9:1-8, Romans 8:28, 1 Peter 5:7

Tags: Faith, Protection, Jerusalem, Obedience, Favor, Deliverance, Dream, Alexander The Great  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Unsung Heroes: The Four Great Men Of Samaria

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 11, 2022

Introduction: There was war between the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, where Israelites on each side fought, died, were captured and who knows what else. In this battle, the northern kingdom of Israel had won a great victory and were headed back home, loaded with the spoils of war. But that joy ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 28:12-15

Tags: Ahaz, Pekah, Unsung Heroes, Oded, Captives  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

[197]. A Message From A Poem – O Choir, Praise The Lord With Joy

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 12, 2025

[197]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – O CHOIR, PRAISE THE LORD WITH JOY People speak about the heavenly choir, though most of the time they are referring to angles. However there is not one record of angels singing, but many records about angles “saying”. I don’t think angels sing. No evidence. The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 47:6-7, Psalm 47:1-9, Psalm 33:1-3, Psalm 13:5-6, Revelation 5:9  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Sin, Angels, Worthy, Choir, Christian Poem, Male Voices, Female Voices, Soprano, Contralto, Mezzo Soprano, Singing, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Sing To The Lord, Sing Praises  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Laughter Resurrection  PRO

Contributed by Ferdinand Funk on Sep 29, 2008

Laughter Resurrection Bernard Martin, writes the following story in his book If God Does Not Die. One day a pastor was called from a children's party at the Sunday school to visit a young woman whose world had collapsed into an acute depression following the death of her husband in an auto ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Mennonite

Older Brother Takes The Blame And Dies For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 28, 2010

Older Brother Takes the Blame and Dies for Younger Brother The story is told of two Chinese brothers who lived in Chinatown just after the turn of the century. One brother, the eldest of the two, was a very honest and hardworking individual, while the younger brother was rebellious, and often ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21

Tags: Christian Love, Substitute

General Douglas Macarthur I Shall Return

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Sep 1, 2021

Psalm 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. General Douglas MacArthur had a terrible battle. The struggle was against mighty odds. The ALLIED FORCES were lacking in support. There was ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-10, Luke 5:5

Tags: Heavy, I Shall Return, Weary

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Giving

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Nov 22, 2023

I was raised in the church. My dad pastored 65 years. I graduated college and was married. We returned home for Christmas. We all gathered around the tree. I remembered my speedometer and God’s goodness. My wife and mom handed out the presents. Each family member had several gifts. In the ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Jesus, Giiving

Denomination: Assembly Of God

But Before That...  PRO

Contributed by Gregg Strawbridge on Jul 7, 2002

BUT BEFORE THAT... In 1992, when our own Govenor, Kirk Fordice stated unreservedly “America is a Christian nation” the response bordered on hysteria. But before that -- Congress, declared 1983 to be the “Year of the Bible” — stating that the Bible, the Word of God, has made a unique contribution ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:18, Psalm 33:12

Tags: Kingdom Of God, America, Freedom, History, Heritage, July, Independence, Independence Day  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed