In Sermon Illustrations: "Masterful Preacher"

A Desperate Situation

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 5, 2012

A DESPERATE SITUATION The old preacher Vance Havner used to say, "The tragedy of our time is that the situation is desperate but the saints are not." Three weeks before President John Kennedy was assassinated, he said, "Almost all presidents leave office feeling that their work is unfinished. I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Time Magazine's Cover Story This Month Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Sep 24, 2006

Time magazine’s cover story this month was entitled, “Does God Want You to Be Rich?” The header said, “A growing number of Protestant evangelicals raise a joyful Yes!” The article opens with the story of George Adams, a man from Ohio who had lost his factory job. His reaction to the job loss ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Black Market Sacrifices (Plagiarism)

Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Jul 19, 2010

After choosing the title of this sermon I began looking for an illustration that captured the sense of what I meant by a “black market sacrifice.” And to my great distress I found one – kind of. The search for an illustration became the illustration. Confused? Let me explain. When I prepare ...read more

Tags: Preaching, Workplace Integrity

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

John Wesley's ...

Contributed by Andy Grossman on Jun 3, 2008

John Wesley’s Diary: July 7, 1739. — I had an opportunity to talk with him (some preacher friend) of those outward signs which had so often accompanied the inward work of God. I found his objections were chiefly grounded on gross misrepresentations of matter of fact. But the next day he had an ...read more

Tags: Supernatural

Denomination: Holiness

As Pastor Of A Small Country Church In The ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles Dupree on Dec 9, 2003

As pastor of a small country church in the bluegrass hills of Kentucky, I often visited with people of the community by sitting on the front porch with a cup of coffee accompanied with a piece of home made pie. This particular occasion was no different until the gentlemen, Buster, with whom I ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Leadership, In His Steps, Father's Day

Denomination: Baptist

Frederick Buechner Was Twenty-Seven And Living ...

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Dec 19, 2004

Frederick Buechner was twenty-seven and living alone in New York trying to start a novel. He tells of going to hear a famous preacher in New York on impulse. He was not a churchgoer, but the church was right next door. It was around the time that Elizabeth II was crowned at Westminster Abbey ...read more

Tags: Christmas Advent

Denomination: Methodist

The Best Years Of My Life

Contributed by Jim Blevins on May 14, 2009

THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE Man at a seminar heard the following: "The best years of my life were spent in the arms of another man's wife!" The crowd was shocked! Then he continued "My mother!" The crowd laughed and he finished the rest of his speech which held everyone's attention. The young ...read more

Tags: Mothers

Denomination: Independent/Bible

For Joachim Neander Praise Was Evoked By ...  PRO

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Aug 26, 2002

For Joachim Neander praise was evoked by life-changing memories from his youth. To say he was a rebel is probably an understatement. Most of his youth was spent with little regard for God and His Word. Sometimes he even outrightly mocked the Word of God and those who preached it. Neander and ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Lutheran

It's Been Many Years Since I Played Golf, But I ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles Salmon on Apr 12, 2004

It’s been many years since I played golf, but I remember an incident that occurred when I was playing with some other preachers. I hit a tee shot and lost track of the ball. I was pretty sure it went into the rough and went there looking for it. As I searched, another golfer yelled from the ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Just Next To Me

Contributed by David Parks on Jun 2, 2004

Just Next To Me Our preacher sure did pour it on, But he just let me be. He took the starch all out of them That sat just next to me. You should have heard the things he said; It was true as it could be; He burned the seat from under them That sat just next to me. He hit the nail square ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Wilhelm Busch Once Said, "To Become A Mother Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Sep 6, 2004

Wilhelm Busch once said, “To become a mother is not so difficult; on the other hand, being a mother is very much so!” (Taken from Proclaim, “A Mother’s Day Sermon,” May 14, 1989). Concerning that statement, a preacher asked, “So, with all those qualifications, why bother with Mother’s Day at all? ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Unconditional Love

Denomination: Baptist

You Likely Have Never Heard Of Jeff Foran, Who ...

Contributed by Pat Cook on Aug 27, 2005

You likely have never heard of Jeff Foran, who lives in Foreman, Arkansas. Apparently Mr. Foran, aged 38, was drunk – very drunk, it looks like – one night in May and went out for a drive. Well, as he was driving, his cigarette fell out of his fingers and out the window. Not to waste a good ...read more

Tags: Sin Exposed, Sin Wages Of

Denomination: Baptist

Charles Hadden Spurgeon: Worry /Fear

Contributed by Richard Sharp on May 14, 2007

ILL- Charles Hadden Spurgeon- worry /fear Charles Hadden Spurgeon, a great 19th century preacher, once said that he worried for weeks before a speaking engagement, even to the extent of hoping he would break a leg and miss the event . When he finally entered the pulpit to speak , he was ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

There Was A Man Waiting In Line At A Check-Out ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There was a man waiting in line at a CHECK-OUT STAND. He seemed AGITATED and IMPATIENT and had a very SOLEMN and GLOOMY look on his face. When the CHEERY young woman at the check-out said, “Good morning” the man just GRUNTED. The woman was trying to loosen the man up by JOKING with him, but it was ...read more

Tags: Joy

Theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg Said That …the ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg said that …the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection is so strong that nobody would question it except for two things: First, it is a very unusual event. And second, if you believe it happened, you have to change the way you live. [2] Wolfhart Pannenberg, in a conversation ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

The Church's Greatest Troublemakers  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 6, 2009

THE CHURCH'S GREATEST TROUBLEMAKERS Preacher and Bible commentator, John Stott, said this in his exposition of Paul's letter to the Galatians: "To tamper with the gospel is to trouble the church... Indeed the church's greatest troublemakers (now as then) are not those outside who oppose, ridicule ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:6-10

Tags: False Teaching

You Are My Best Gift

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Dec 28, 2011

YOU ARE MY BEST GIFT A daughter of a renowned preacher, who was used to gifts her loving dad used to purchase and bring for her after every overseas' trip, was once in for a major disappointment. Due to a mess-up in the airport customs, the gift was lost and her doting Dad landed home without a ...read more

Tags: Gifts General

Denomination: *other

Michaelangelo  PRO

Contributed by Jeffrey Poms on May 1, 2002

Michaelangelo: In 1502 in Florence Italy there was a large block of marble given to a church in Santa Maria, the church immediately hired who they thought was a professional to sculpt this enormously huge piece of rock. The man was not a professional and soon after commencing this great task the ...read more

Tags: Children

Denomination: Pentecostal

Abc Christ!  PRO

Contributed by Bjornlleven Rodriguez on Mar 16, 2003

ABC Christ! A- for the Architect, Jesus is beautiful beyond discription. B- For the Builder, Jesus is the Rock. C- For the Carpenter, Jesus is the firm foundation. D- For the Disciple, Jesus the Master. E- For the Engineer, Jesus is the blueprint of God. F- For the Fisherman, Jesus is the fisher of ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ, Jesus Teachings

Denomination: Church Of God

Finding Real Power  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Jun 3, 2003

FINDING REAL POWER Someone has wisely said what it takes to find freedom in the power of the Holy Spirit. "It costs much to obtain the power of the Spirit. It costs self-surrender and humiliation and the yielding up of the most precious things to God. It costs the perseverance of long waiting ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, Holy Spirit General

Denomination: United Methodist