In Sermon Illustrations: "Meaning"

I Know This Is Going To Sound Surprising To Those ...

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Jan 16, 2010

I know this is going to sound surprising to those of us who live near, in, or work and/or play in the City of Chicago, but I once saw a police officer turn down free coffee and doughnuts. Yes, that’s right. I was on a “ride along” with an officer in Redondo Beach, California. It was a graveyard ...read more

Tags: Debt

Denomination: *other

Missionary Explains Gospel To A Devoted ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 26, 2010

Missionary Explains Gospel to a Devoted Hindu Faith in Jesus is the means to appropriate God’s justification. Since Jesus Christ has finished the salvation of humanity, man’s response is to rely on that finished work. Reliance on Jesus for salvation is putting our total trust in Him. Perhaps a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-31

Tags: Missions, Salvation By Grace

Free Pizza — Ten Dollars

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Jul 19, 2010

FREE PIZZA - TEN DOLLARS Way back in the day when Katie and I were dating, I got this phone call from her. She was very excited. She had just purchased a discount coupon book for discounts on various restaurants in town, for only $25.00. If you are familiar with the Entertainment Coupon Book, ...read more

Tags: Food

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On Prayer--Part ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

ON PRAYER--PART 2 Samuel Pepys was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament in the seventeenth century, who is now most famous for his diary. "Prayer is not a lazy substitute for work. It is not a shortcut to skill or knowledge. And sometimes God delays the answer to our prayer in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15

Tags: Prayer How To

Counterfeit ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 27, 2012

COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIANITY Several years ago in Kentucky a man walked into a Dairy Queen, placed his order and then paid for it with a $200 bill. The cashier gave him $198 in change and he drove away. Some time later in the day I guess the manager noticed that something didn’t seem right about this ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Tags: Discipleship

Grandma's Hands

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Mar 23, 2016

Grandma’s Hands When I stand at the graveside for an elderly person, I think about the life they have lived, that dash between the birth date and date of death. I think about all they have seen, all they have experienced. And I think about this story that is told: Grandma, some 90+ years, sat ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:8

Tags: Hands, Graveside

Denomination: Baptist

The Man Who Rejected A Pardon

Contributed by David Goering on Nov 2, 2019

ILLUSTRATION: The man who rejected a pardon. 1.) I found this true story online. United States v. Wilson, 32 U.S. 150 (1833), was a case in the United States in which the defendant, George Wilson, was convicted of robbing the US Mail in Pennsylvania and sentenced to death. Due to his ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:8

Tags: Forgiveness, Pardon

[035] A Message From A Poem – Beware The Fowler

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 25, 2025

[035] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BEWARE THE FOWLER GOTCHA! We hear that in children’s play and in some games. In fact I think there may have even been a board game in the 1950s with that title. Have you ever watched a spider on its web sitting there silently and an insect becomes ensnared in ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 124:7-8, Psalm 91:3

Tags: Pitcher Plant, Spider Web, God Delivers Us, Caught, Fowler, Trapper, Ensnared, Gotcha  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[136]. A Message From A Poem – I’m Just Changing Residence

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 17, 2025

[136]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – I’M JUST CHANGING RESIDENCE I have lived in my current home for 45 years. Before that we lived in a home for 10 years. I have only ever owned two homes. Some people change homes like they change clothes. When a Christian dies some say, “He has gone home to be ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-3, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Tags: Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Point Of Death, New Address, Heaven, Dying, Homes, Absent From The Body, Dwelling Places, Residence  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Boosegumps

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 13, 2025

Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever felt something wonderful inside—like tiny happy bubbles that make you want to smile from the inside out? Not like bubbles in a 7-Up or soda can—these are bubbles that only your heart can feel. I call them Boosegumps. Now, if you were to go to a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:13

Tags: Service, Holy Spirit, Salvation, Conversion, Kindness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

[280]. A Message From A Poem – The Lord In Our Affliction

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 28, 2026

[280]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE LORD IN OUR AFFLICTION This was one of my first poems. This poem came from a period that was very difficult for me when a nasty, concerted attack was made against me. That is when the Lord led me into writing poems with His help. Right back then I would not ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:12, Hebrews 2:17-18, Hebrews 4:15, Matthew 13:21

Tags: Persecution, Comfort, Suffering, Help, Affliction, Trouble, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Once Heard A Humorous Story About The Pope Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Philip Makari on Jan 8, 2001

I once heard a humorous story about the Pope who was on a visit to America for a period of time. On his last day of the visit, he was delayed due to meetings and was unable to break away to catch a flight. Since he couldn’t depend on his Pope Mobile, he phoned for a limousine. When the limousine ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-16, Luke 24:13-16

Tags: Mistakes, Patience, Humility, Substitute, Sin General, Scapegoat, Temptation Pride  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

During The War In Vietnam, A Young West Point ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on Feb 12, 2001

During the war in Vietnam, a young West Point graduate was sent over to lead a group of new recruits into battle. He did his job well, trying his best to keep his from ambush and death. But one night when they had been under attack, he was unable to get just one of his men to safety. The soldier ...read more

Tags: God's Forgiveness, Forgiveness In Jesus, Lord's Supper

Denomination: Baptist

Sir Douglas Bader Was A Pilot Who Lost Both His ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Mar 13, 2001

Sir Douglas Bader was a pilot who lost both his legs in a plane crash before WW2. He was fitted with artificial legs & resumed flying. In 1939, when Germany & England went to war, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force. Flying with two artificial legs, he shot down 22 enemy airplanes in the Battle ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Human Body

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Max Lucado, In His Book, Six Hours One Friday, ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Apr 5, 2001

MAX LUCADO, in his book, Six Hours One Friday, tells the story of a missionary in Brazil who discovered a tribe of Indians in a remote part of the jungle. They lived near a large river. The tribe was in need of medical attention. A contagious disease was ravaging the population. People were ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:3

Tags: Lord's Supper, Humanity Of Christ, Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Wesleyan

We'll Stay Out Of The Way  PRO

Contributed by Bob Hager on Apr 26, 2001

WE'LL STAY OUT OF THE WAY The Call to Worship had just been pronounced starting Easter Sunday Morning service in an East Texas church. The choir started its processional, singing "Up from the Grave He Arose" as they marched in perfect step down the center aisle to the front of the church. The ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25, John 17:6-19, John 11:1-25, John 11:1-44, John 4:23-24, John 20:26-29, Mark 8:33  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Easter Resurrection, Indifference, Hope, Wholehearted

Denomination: Methodist

A Few Years Ago My Mom Began Feeding The Birds On ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 24, 2001

A few years ago my mom began feeding the birds on a regular basis in our backyard. At first, some of the birds were greedy. They weren’t sure if there would be enough food to go around. The starlings were especially mean, which doesn’t surprise anyone familiar with birds. They would attack the ...read more

Tags: Unity, Church Purpose Of, Call Of God, Sharing My Testimony

There Was A Rabbi On A Journey With The Prophet ...  PRO

Contributed by Curtis Kittrell on Sep 23, 2001

There was a rabbi on a journey with the prophet Elijah. They walked all day, and at nightfall they came to the humble cottage of a poor man, whose only treasure was a cow. The poor man ran out of his cottage, and his wife ran too, to welcome the strangers for the night and to offer them all the ...read more

Tags: Hording, God's Judgment, Miser

Denomination: Pentecostal

Listening To Us  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

LISTENING TO US While serving as Presbyterian missionaries in Lebanon Ben and Carol Weir learned a great deal about prayer when Ben was suddenly kidnapped by Shiite Muslim extremists in 1984. He was held in solitary confinement, in cramped quarters for sixteen months. Carol wondered whether she ...read more

Tags: Knowing God's Will, Prayer Persistence, Prayer General

Many Years Ago I Went To See A Theatrical ...  PRO

Contributed by Howard Tyas on Jan 7, 2002

Many years ago I went to see a theatrical production called Cotton Patch Gospel, a musical about the life of Jesus with an Appalachian, country-western twist. It was based on Clarence Jordan’s paraphrase of the New Testament, by the same name. It tries to tell the story of Jesus as if he has been ...read more

Tags: Herod, Messianic Prophecies, Birth Of Jesus

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed