In Sermon Illustrations: "Masterful Preacher"

Van Gogh Was Born March 30, 1853, In ...

Contributed by Noel Atkinson on Feb 25, 2008

Van Gogh was born March 30, 1853, in Groot-Zundert, son of a Dutch Protestant pastor. Early in life he displayed a moody, restless temperament that was to thwart his every pursuit. By the age of 27 he had been, in turn, a salesman in an art gallery, a French tutor, a theological student, and an ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Always Had An Uplifting ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Oct 14, 2008

Always Had an Uplifting Prayer Scottish minister Alexander Whyte was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit. He always found something for which to be grateful. One Sunday morning the weather was so gloomy that one church member thought to himself, “Certainly the preacher won’t think of ...read more

Tags: Prayer Hardship

Denomination: Other

Gem Collection

Contributed by Roger Miller on Apr 27, 2010

GEM COLLECTION Len Sweet, a Methodist preacher, tells how he complimented a woman in Rustin, Louisiana on her jewelry. She smiled and said, "Thank you. I collect gems." I agreed and said, "It shows." "No," she insisted. "I don't collect those gems. I collect real 'gems.' I have a gem of a ...read more

Tags: Friendship General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Letter For Joe

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Jun 8, 2010

A LETTER FOR JOE Joseph Parker was a popular preacher in London, England in the late 1800's. He was the pastor of the large City Temple. One Sunday as he was going to the pulpit a woman in the balcony tossed a piece of paper on the platform before him. He picked it up and read it. It contained ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

Denomination: Baptist

Brethren, If We Will Do God’s Work In ...

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jul 7, 2010

Brethren, if we will do God’s work in God’s way at God’s time with God’s power, we shall have God’s blessing and the devil’s curses. When God opens the windows of heaven to bless us, the devil will open the door of hell to blast us. God’s smile means the devil’s frown! Mere preachers may help ...read more

Tags: Satan, Prophets

Denomination: Baptist

A New Man After That Sermon

Contributed by Davon Huss on Nov 16, 2010

A NEW MAN AFTER THAT SERMON The minister’s sermon on this particular Sunday was considerably longer than normal. However, it was so well prepared and inspiring that he just knew it would be a big hit with the congregation. At the end of the service he stood shaking hands with the people as they ...read more

Tags: Preaching

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Just Words

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 21, 2010

JUST WORDS Samuel Clemens (better known by his alias Mark Twain) attended a Sunday morning service. He met the pastor at the door afterward and told him that he had a book at home with every word he had preached that morning. The minister assured him that the sermon was an original. Clemens still ...read more

Tags: Words

Denomination: Brethren

Sales Vs. Management

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2011

SALES VS. MANAGEMENT A pastor, an avid golfer, was once taking part in a local tournament. As he was preparing to tee off, the organizer of the tournament approached him and pointed to the dark, threatening storm clouds which were gathering. "Preacher," the organizer said, "I trust you’ll see to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 1:3

Tags: Leadership General

That Cross Alone

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on May 29, 2011

THAT CROSS ALONE Clarence Jordan, author of the "Cotton Patch" New Testament translation, and founder of the interracial Koinonia farm in Americus, Georgia, was getting a red-carpet tour of another minister's church. With pride the minister pointed to the rich, imported furnishings and luxurious ...read more

Tags: Cross

Denomination: Methodist

On May 27, 1992, In Sarajevo, One Of The Few ...

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Sep 16, 2004

On May 27, 1992, in Sarajevo, one of the few bakeries that still had a supply of flour was making and distributing bread to the starving, war-shattered people. At 4 P.M. a long line stretched into the street. Suddenly, a mortar shell fell directly into the middle of the line, killing 22 people ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General, Endurance, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Pentecostal

I Was Once Preaching In The Chapel Of A ...

Contributed by Chris Surber on Sep 10, 2009

I was once preaching in the chapel of a retirement village in Yuma, Arizona. After delivering the sermon I began chatting with an elderly woman who I later learned was very hard of hearing. We were standing just outside the chapel, near a very beautiful pool table which looked as though it was ...read more

Tags: Tongue

Denomination: Christian Church

Elijah Cadman

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 10, 2011

ELIJAH CADMAN Let me tell you about the six-year-old drunken chimney sweep who went on to become a great leader in our movement. Elijah Cadman was born in Coventry, the youngest of five children of a drunkard father who died when Cadman was three years old. Aged six, Cadman was unusually small ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21

Tags: Becoming A Christian

Dave Brown, Author Of "Entertaining Ourselves In ...

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Aug 12, 2005

Dave Brown, author of “Entertaining Ourselves in church” speaks about “Neil Postman, a professor of communications arts and sciences at New York University wrote a fascinating book called, Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business. He says, “Postman doesn’t write as a ...read more

Tags: Television And Movies

Denomination: Salvation Army

Helen Keller Was Born Blind And Deaf. She Was ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 26, 2007

Helen Keller was born blind and deaf. She was brought to a minister to explain the plan of salvation to her. In the simplest of terms the minister told the girl about Jesus. As she heard the Gospel, her face lit up and she spelled out in the hand of the preacher, “I knew all the time there must be ...read more

The Past Few Weeks I Have Been Reading A Book ...

Contributed by Mike Gillett on Feb 28, 2007

The past few weeks I have been reading a book called "Christ Centered Preaching" by Bryan Chapell, an excellent book dealing with expository preaching that I believe all preachers would do well to read. He makes good solid basic practical preaching points in the comments that didn’t make the main ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Greek Poet, Hosaye Wrote, " If You Tell Me ...  PRO

Contributed by Ryan Johnson on Feb 23, 2002

The Greek poet, Hosaye wrote, “ If you tell me who you love, I can tell you who you are Max Lucado a dynamic Christian author said it this way, ‘ The sign of the saved is their love for the least” Bill Hybels, Pastor of one of the largest churches in America echoed the thought , When he said,’We ...read more

Tags: Great Commission, Evangelism How To, Compassion

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Big Return On Faithfulness  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 5, 2001

THE BIG RETURN ON FAITHFULNESS It was a stormy night in Birmingham, England, and Hudson Taylor was to speak at a meeting at the Severn Street schoolroom. His hostess assured him that nobody would attend on such a stormy night, but Taylor insisted on going. "I must go even if there is no one but ...read more

Tags: Faith, Faithfulness, Attendance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living Thief.  PRO

Contributed by Darrell Jones on Mar 1, 2003

Living Thief. A minister tells the story of a preacher who asked a man why he did not join the church..The reply was that the dying thief did not join the church and he was saved. "Well," said the minister, "if you do not belong to a church, perhaps you help by supporting missions?" "No," said the ...read more

Tags: Atonement, Giving, Giving General, Missions

Denomination: Assembly Of God

There Is A Story About George Whitefield And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There is a story about George Whitefield and John Wesley, two of the greatest preachers in the 1700’s til now. They disagreed on doctrinal matters, very sharply. One person asked Wesley if he expected to see Whitefield in heaven. Wesley said no. The person replied, ‘You don’t think Whitfield is ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General

One Time, The Comic Strip Kudzu Featured This ...

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Sep 7, 2007

One time, the comic strip Kudzu featured this country-style preacher. He was praying to God, and he said, "Oh Lord, You know I don’t ever ask for much, but, Lord, I pray that You would grant me just this one thing ... dignity. That’s all I ask, Lord." In the next frame, there was a lightening bolt ...read more

Denomination: Baptist