In Sermon Illustrations: "Natural Man"

You're Not Home Yet!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 25, 2023

An old missionary couple had been working in Africa for years, and they were returning to New York City to retire. They had no pension; their health was broken; they were defeated, discouraged, and afraid. They discovered they were booked on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Missionaries, Heaven, Faithfulness, Spiritual Fruit, Rewards, Fruit Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Making Up The Story

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

There's a famous photograph called "Grace." An old man at a simple table, head bowed, hands folded over a loaf of bread and an open book. Most people have seen it. Before I ever learned the actual story behind it, I made up my own. In my version, the man is newly retired. His kids ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-20

Tags: Communion, Missing The Point

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ten Years Ago For Every Wife Who Left Her Family, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 29, 2002

Ten years ago for every wife who left her family, 600 husbands did. Today for each man who leaves, two women do. Charles Swindoll, Starting ...read more

What Is Revival?  PRO

Contributed by Rick Croffut on Feb 5, 2002

What is Revival? 1. Revival is not a week worth of meetings. 2. Revival is not started in one day. 3. Revival is not controlled by man. 4. Revival is a heart thing. 5. Revival is always ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1, Judges 6:24, Jonah 1:1-5, 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Repentance

Denomination: Pentecostal

Christian Workers And Volunteers Sometimes Make ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Smith on Jul 12, 2002

Christian workers and volunteers sometimes make the mistake of thinking their work is so important that they are justified in ignoring their families. Spiritual leadership, however, must begin at home. If a man is not willing to care ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1

Tags: Parenting, Leadership General

Denomination: Pentecostal

Zig Ziglar Said That He Invited A Friend To Go ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on May 15, 2001

Zig Ziglar said that he invited a friend to go to church with him. The man answered, “Well, I’d like to go. But the church is so full of hypocrites.” Ziglar ...read more

Tags: Truth, Faith, Apologetics General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fear Of God

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Chuck Colson is quoted saying in regard to justice, “Without ultimate justice, people’s sense of moral obligation dissolves; social bonds are broken. People who have no fear of God soon ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Once, When Walking Down A Certain Street In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Once, when walking down a certain street in Chicago, D. L. Moody stepped up to a man, a complete stranger to him, and said, “Sir, are you a Christian?” “You mind your own ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

If You Will Think About What You Ought To Do ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"If you will think about what you ought to do for other people, your character will take care of itself. Character is a by-product, and any man who devotes himself to ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Of All The Dispositions And Habits Which Lead ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Dreaming Is Just Another Name For Thinking, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Dreaming is just another name for thinking, planning, devisinganother way of saying that a man exercises his soul. A steadfast soul, holding steadily to a dream ideal, plus a sturdy will ...read more

Tags: Dreams

I Have Lived Eighty-Six Years. I Have Watched ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"I have lived eighty-six years. I have watched men climb up to success, hundreds of them, and of all the elements that are important for success, the most important is ...read more

Tags: Faith General

To Believe Your Own Thought, To Believe That ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your own heart is true for all men that is genius.A man should learn to detect and watch that ...read more

Tags: Thought

I Thought Yesterday When You Heard All This ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"I thought yesterday when you heard all this unnecessary spouting about each man nominated, what their wives must have thought of all these men that they were married to all ...read more

Tags: Government

The Ability To Form Friendships, To Make People ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"The ability to form friendships, to make people believe in you and trust you is one of the few absolutely fundamental qualities of success.The young man who can make friends quickly ...read more

Tags: Compassion

There Are High Spots In All Of Our Lives, And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"There are high spots in all of our lives, and most of them have come about through encouragement from someone else. I dont care how great, how famous, or ...read more

Tags: Gifts Encouragement

Mark How Fleeting And Paltry Is The Estate Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Mark how fleeting and paltry is the estate of man: yesterday in embryo, tomorrow a mummy or ashes. So for the hairs breadth of time assigned to thee live rationally, and part with life cheerfully, as drops the ...read more

Tags: Time

When The Heart Says Yes

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 12, 2025

I have often thought that the most beautiful sound in a service is not the organ, not the choir, not even the preacher’s voice, but the sigh of a surrendered heart—the moment when a man or woman stops ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:17, Isaiah 6:8

Tags: Surrender, Yielding

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Bell Ringer  PRO

Contributed by David Fox on Nov 12, 2001

<<ILL>> A 200-year-old church was being readied for an anniversary celebration when calamity struck: the bell ringer was called out of town. The priest immediately advertised for another. When the replacement arrived, the priest took him to the steps leading to the bell tower, some 150 feet ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups

Denomination: Pentecostal

As Preparations Were Being Made For A Battle In ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 18, 2002

"As preparations were being made for a battle in the Revolutionary War, a corporal arrogantly ordered his men to lift a heavy beam. A man in civilian clothes was walking by said, "Why don’t you help them?" "Sir," he replied indignantly, "I am a corporal!" The man in civilian clothes apologized ...read more

Tags: Humility, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: United Methodist