In Sermon Illustrations: "Matthew 5 1720"

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

Midnight Cry

Contributed by Samuel M on Sep 30, 2025

There is a cry rising across the land. Every ear can hear this cry. This cry is heard in every nation, city and village. The cry is - "Behold the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him". The cry is resonating so much in the atmosphere- The bridegroom is coming; the bridegroom is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:6

Tags: Faith, Hope

God Has A Good Sense Of Humour

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

The Lord has a good sense of humour. In 1992, I was working as a patent attorney in a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company called Sandoz. I had been asked to fill out a form, in which Sandoz had asked me where I would be prepared to go and live - if the company wanted to send me abroad to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:10

Tags: Humor, True Story

Denomination: Anglican

Unrecognised Riches

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

In the late nineteenth Century in South Africa, an old man was digging for gold in a river bed. He had been at it for many years. Every now and then he found a little bit of gold, not enough to make him rich – but just enough to maintain his interest. The part of river in which he was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:21

Tags: Riches, Diamonds

Denomination: Anglican

The Parson's Got Converted (By His Own Sermon)

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

William Haslam was a high church Anglican vicar in Cornwall in the 19th Century. In 1851, he had gone to stay with a friend, Mr, Aitken who had challenged Haslam that he wasn’t converted. During that week, Haslam was shocked that he had nothing to offer his congregation as they were dying. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:42

Tags: Revival, Corn, 19th Century

Denomination: Anglican

Jonathan Goforth

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

The reason we preach the Gospel is because we love God our heavenly Father and not to gain brownie points in heaven. Yes it will be hard work at times. Story: The well known Canadian missionary, Jonathan Goforth told this story about the joy that God has - when we are faithful in doing what he ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Tags: Father's Joy, Goforth

Denomination: Anglican

The Business Executive

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 25, 2025

Story: A business manager went on holiday to an island in Greece. One day, while he was on the beach, he was called up on his mobile phone by his secretary, wanting some help. He gave her some instructions and told her to call him back when she had finished. As he was pacing up and down ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Tags: Fisherman, Business Manager

Denomination: Anglican

Foolishness - Appearances Can Be Deceiving "the 10 Bridesmades"

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 19, 2025

A film crew ... was on location ... deep ... in the desert. One day ... an elderly Native American ... who had been watching the filming for several weeks ... went boldly up to the director and said, ... "Tomorrow rain." And sure enough ... The next day ... it rained. A week later, ... ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Tags: Appearances, Bridesmades, Fool, Foolish, Foolishness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Your Light And Life Can Make A Difference - Teddy Stallard Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 19, 2025

Miss Thompson taught Teddy Stallard in the fourth grade. He was A slow, ... unkempt student, ... a loner ...shunned by his classmates. The previous year his mother died, ... and what little motivation for school ... he may have once had ...was now gone. Miss Thompson ... did not particularly ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Tags: Oil, Mother, Light, Lamp

Denomination: Anglican

Ten Dollars Is Ten Dollars

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 28, 2025

A man named Stumpy illustrates how money affects people. Stumpy and his wife Martha went to the state fair every year and every year when Stumpy saw the antique bi-plane he would say, “Martha, I’d like to ride in that airplane.” Martha always replied, “I know Stumpy, but that airplane ride costs ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:24-28

Tags: Money, Stewardship

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Church

Contributed by Mitchell Leonard on Jan 16, 2026

“The Church” “You don’t have to agree with me today. You don’t have to like me and what I have to say. You can go home ANGRY, but I really hope that you can See that I LOVE YOU, and that’s why I’ve shown you God’s plan. It’s a CHURCH, a group of BELIEVERS, that honor and glorify JESUS It’s NOT ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Tags: The Church, Glorifying God

Denomination: Baptist

Grass On Your Path

Contributed by David Dunn on Jan 21, 2026

Prayer sharpens perception. It tunes the heart so you sense danger before it speaks. John Bunyan once wrote, “Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.” Both can’t thrive in the same heart. Early African believers understood this. Each had a path ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:41

Tags: Prayer, Vigilance

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Benediction

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 3, 2026

May you know the warmth of God’s loving embrace May you know the joy of God’s ever-presence May you know the peace of God’s gentle whisper May you know the strength of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:20

Tags: God's Presence, Peace, Joy, Strength

Denomination: Methodist

Spiritual Advice! Story: Einstein, Edison Disney And Caruso

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 25, 2026

Do Not get counsel from your detractors (Matthew14:25-27) Seek Spiritual Advice from Spiritually mature Christians. Albert Einstein ... had difficulty speaking until he was four years old ... and did not read ... until he was seven. Beethoven's music teacher said: .... "As a composer, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:25-27

Tags: Advice, Counsel, Teachers, Detractors

Denomination: Anglican

Native American - Apperances Can Be Deceiving - Humor

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 28, 2026

A film crew ... was on location ... deep ... in the desert. One day ... an elderly Native American ... who had been watching the filming for several weeks ... went boldly up to the director and said, ... "Tomorrow rain." And sure enough ... The next day ... it rained. A week later, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Tags: Parable, Deceiving, Apperances

Denomination: Anglican

How Jesus Trained The Disciples

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 2, 2020

Robert E. Coleman wrote the book, The Master's Plan of Evangelism, and gave us the principles that Jesus used to spread the Gospel around the world until He returns. Here is the list: 1. SELECTION:   “He chose from the twelve.” (Luke 6:13)  2. ASSOCIATION: The principle of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8

Tags: Evangelism, Outreach, Discipleship, Missions, Witnessing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

David Used What He Had - A Sling. For The Little ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 1, 2008

David used what he had - a sling. For the little boy at the feeding of the 5,000 it was five loaves and two fish. For Samson it was the jawbone of a donkey. God can use anything. The major problem is workers in the Philippines nowadays have a personal slogan: "No support, no work." They live by ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:22-25, Matthew 8:23-27

Tags: Peace

Bad News, Then Good News  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2011

BAD NEWS, THEN GOOD NEWS Nearly 20 years ago at the height of Operation Desert Storm, Ruth Dillow received a very sad message from the Pentagon. The message stated that her son, Clayton had stepped on a landmine in Kuwait and was killed. Ruth later wrote these words, "I can't begin to describe my ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-20, Matthew 28:8

Tags: Emmaus Road, Post Easter, Easter Resurrection

The Speed Of Deliveries

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 27, 2022

Illustration: The Speed of a Delivery Delivery of items are jet-streamed today. You can order one day and possibly get it the next. “I’m sure, many prophets waited and waited, hoping to be in the generation that would see the fulfillment of God’s Prophecies, which took thousands of years. But ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14, Galatians 4:4-5, Matthew 1:1-21

Tags: Christmas, Prophecy, Incarnation, Delivery, On Time  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

A Hungry Enemy  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 27, 2002

A HUNGRY ENEMY A woman wrote to "Pulpit Helps" to explain a miraculous lesson her family experienced. During one of their family Bible readings as new Christians, they ran across the verse, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him" (Romans 12:20 RSV). She writes: Ours sons, 7 and 10 at the time, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:20, Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Enemy, Forgiveness General, Christian Love, Christlikeness, Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ