In Sermon Illustrations: "Masterful Preacher"

Ever Heard A Sheep Call?

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Apr 6, 2011

EVER HEARD A SHEEP CALL? Sheep don’t respond to calls they respond to Shepherds. A man in Australia was arrested for stealing a sheep but he claimed that it was one of his own that had been missing for many days. When the case went to court, the judge was puzzled, not knowing how to decide the ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

The Father Of A Small Boy Would Occasionally ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 2, 2008

The father of a small boy would occasionally sneak into a neighbor’s orchard and pluck some of the choicest fruit. He always made sure, however, that "the coast was clear." One day with his son tagging along, after carefully looking in every direction and seeing no one, he crept through the fence. ...read more

The Power Of Love

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

THE POWER OF LOVE An old fable tells how different instruments tried to master a piece of iron. The blows of the ax fell heavily, but its edge became more and more blunt. The saw’s relentless teeth worked until they were worn down or broken The hammer’s head flew off at the first stroke. Despite ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:9-11

Tags: Church General

Take It All, It's Worth Nothing

Contributed by Ovidiu Radulescu on Oct 10, 2008

Take It All, It's Worth Nothing Like the story my grand father told me about of Nicolae, one his neighbors. In 1946, after WWII, the Russians were the masters of Eastern Europe. They nationalized the banks, flooding the market with endless paper money. Nicolae sold a property, and my grandfather ...read more

Tags: Hypocrisy

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

John Bevere Said He Visited Jim Bakker In Prison ...

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Oct 28, 2008

John Bevere said he visited Jim Bakker in prison and Jim told him that his experience brought about a change of heart. He experienced Jesus as Master for the first time. He lost his family, ministry, everything he owned, and then found Jesus. He said, "John, this prison is not God’s judgement on ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Wesleyan

Baptism Long Ago

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Apr 23, 2012

BAPTISM LONG AGO Centuries ago the circumstances of one's baptism would come on Easter eve at midnight. In the semidarkness, he or she would disrobe and descend into the waters to be immersed three times, in the name of the Father, then the Son, and finally the Holy Spirit. The newly baptized ...read more

Tags: Baptism

Commitment

Contributed by Tim Smith on Sep 25, 2016

Kenneth Bailey tells the story of teaching some short courses at the Lutheran Church of Latvia. While there, he observed the interviewing of prospective students and inquired of the interviews what questions they asked. They said, “The most important question is ‘When were you baptized?’ And he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:11-27

Tags: Boldness, Risk

Denomination: Methodist

John Wesley Has Been Called A Prophet By Some But ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 22, 2006

John Wesley has been called a prophet by some but he never claimed to be one. He was not an advocate of sensationalism in preaching. But on one occasion, he interrupted his own sermon and shouted, "Is James Watson here? If he be, show Thy power!" And James Watson dropped to the floor and began to ...read more

During World War Ii This Slogan Was Often Heard: ...

Contributed by Fred Sigle on Feb 6, 2007

During World War II this slogan was often heard: ¡§Give until it hurts.¡¨ And people did! Some have taken this same SLOGAN and applied it to Christian GIVING. I¡¦ve heard preachers say, ¡§If you haven¡¦t GIVEN UNTIL IT HURTS, then you haven¡¦t GIVEN nearly enough.¡¨ Yet, this ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Sunday When Louis Xiv And His Royal Party ...

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Dec 31, 2007

One Sunday when Louis XIV and his royal party arrived at church, no one was there except the court preacher, Archbishop Fenelon. Surprised, the King said, "Where is everybody?" Why isn’t anyone else present this morning?" The minister said "I announced that Your Majesty would not be here today, ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Johnny Appleseed Gospel

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 22, 2024

Demond Wilson was a TV actor in 1970's He starred along with Redd Foxx on the TV show, "Sanford and Son." Later in life Wilson became a gospel preacher. He made this beautiful statement: “I’m just a nobody telling everybody about Somebody who ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-17, John 14:6, 1 Timothy 1:15

Tags: Preaching, Witnessing, Jesus Christ, Evangelism, Salvation, Gospel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Story Is Told That During His College Years, ...

Contributed by Patrick Lublink on Oct 18, 2006

The story is told that during his College years, Samuel Logan Brengle was a brilliant law student who was very gifted in the art of speaking. The Lord called him to the ministry of preaching. After he received his Bachelor of Arts degree, he became a circuit preacher with the Methodist ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

Driven By Hurt

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 11, 2022

DRIVEN BY HURT! MIGHT I ADD A PREACHER’S PERSPECTIVE TO START THIS LESSON? BE KIND TO EVERY PERSON. PERHAPS YOU DO NOT KNOW THE PROBLEMS AND THE BATTLES OTHERS ARE FACING. A preacher friend of mine was having some self-doubts and fears he was facing. There was a rather large family that had ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:3, 1 Peter 5:7

Tags: Bitter, Hurt, Ministry

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Slaves To Our Words  PRO

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Mar 15, 2011

SLAVES TO OUR WORDS Noted statesman Sir Winston Churchill once said: "We are masters of the unsaid words, but slaves of those we let slip out." Churchill's words echo those penned by King Solomon almost three millennia ago. We're all guilty from time to time; I know I am. There's been times ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:22-28

Tags: Wisdom

Denomination: Lutheran

What Is The Usual Sense That Religious Things Are ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on May 27, 2008

What is the usual sense that religious things are taught? Through a Rabbi and disciple model. A young man that thinks he may have an aptitude for a particular Rabbi’s teaching goes to the Rabbi and ask to be considered to be a disciple. It was a great honor for parents especially the father for a ...read more

Tags: Revelation

Denomination: Church Of God

The Easy Yoke

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2020

A yoke was a wooden frame which was put on the backs of animals and around their necks joining the two animals for a common task, such as plowing or pulling a load. If you were yoked with Jesus Christ, who do you think would "pull the load"? Obviously the Lord. And so in order to manifest ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Discipleship, Beatitudes, Christian Life, Surrender, Yoke, Following Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

April 18, 2005 "Good Name Above Good Gain!" ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 14, 2005

April 18, 2005 “Good Name Above Good Gain!” Genesis 43:1-12 Key verse(s) 12:“Take double the amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back in the mouths of your sacks.” In a world so caught up in rules and regulations it is not surprising that in that regulating ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:31-35, Genesis 43:1-12

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

Till Death Do Us Part  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 16, 2002

TILL DEATH DO US PART In his address to the 1997 graduation class at East Stroudsburg University, U.S. Senator Rick Santorum told a story seemingly unrelated to the usual commencement speeches about success and happiness. This is the story: A Baptist preacher in South Carolina wanted nothing ...read more

Christian Football!!  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 11, 2003

CHRISTIAN FOOTBALL!! Quarterback Sneak - Church members quietly leaving during the invitation. Draw Play - What many children do with the bulletin during worship. Half-time - The period between Sunday school and worship when many choose to leave. Benchwarmer - Those who do not sing, pray, work, ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity, Church Practices

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Once Was A Woman Who Really Felt She Had ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard White on Sep 13, 2003

There once was a woman who really felt she had nothing to share with or give to God and his people. During the services she would sit, sing softly to herself, pray to herself, engage in little small talk afterward. On Sunday the preacher gave a message on Expressions of Gratitude. When she went ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ