In Sermon Illustrations: "Need For Salvation"

You've Got To Earn This!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 20, 2022

Saving Private Ryan is one of the best World War II movies. Three out of four brothers are killed in action, and then a search is launched to find the fourth, Private James Ryan, so that he is not killed, leaving his mother childless. Eight men are sent out to find Private Ryan, who is missing ...read more

Tags: Grace, Law, Salvation, Gospel, Merit, Works  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Whoever Gets The Son, Gets All The Father Has!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 3, 2022

Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:10-13

Tags: Evangelism, Faith, Heaven, Salvation, Gospel, Invitation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Funnnnnnnnny Story About Lazarus!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 13, 2022

A teacher in children's church was telling the story of the rich man and Lazarus. She said that Lazarus sat outside the rich man's gate covered with sores and begging for food. And that the rich man passed Lazarus without even seeing him. But when they both died, Lazarus went to Heaven, ...read more

Tags: Hell, Death, Heaven, Salvation, Lost, Funerals  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Can't Remember When I Was Saved!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 12, 2023

If you have not realized it yet, over time you are going to forget some things. I think of the two older men that were playing golf. One had trouble seeing and other had trouble remembering. The one with a seeing problem said to the other, "Now, watch my ball, for I can’t see where it ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, 1 John 5:1-13

Tags: Memory, Salvation, Gospel, Assurance, Lost, Saved  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Storm To Peaceful Scene.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jun 6, 2024

Another little me story, I went through a real struggle, mainly of my own making, thinking and due to anger and too much caffeine in Sri Lanka, where I was awake all night and ended up in hospital due to an atrial fibrillation that took 4 days to come right. Why do I share this with you, you are ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Tags: Anger, Awareness, Stupidity, Ill Health, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

W.e. Vines Defines True Saving Faith

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 13, 2024

W E Vines defines genuine saving faith as consisting of the following: (1) A firm conviction which produces full acknowledgment of God's revelation of Truth - (2 Thess. 2:11 -"in order that they all may be judged who did not believe [pisteuo] the truth, but took pleasure in ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:11

Tags: Believing, Faith, Salvation, Truth, Assurance, Works  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[051]. Message From A Poem – Convention Hymn – From The Old To The New

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 7, 2025

[051]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CONVENTION HYMN (WRITTEN THEN) – FROM THE OLD TO THE NEW This was written during the Easter Keswick Convention at Atherton on the Atherton Tablelands in North Queensland, in the spare time I had there with all the organisation to do. These Conventions are ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:20-21, Romans 13:11-14, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:1-3

Tags: Salvation, Hymn, Hope, Redemption, Poetry, Poem  (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

[336]. A Message From A Poem - What My Saviour’s Done (Version 1)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 17, 2026

[336]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WHAT MY SAVIOUR’S DONE (Version 1) This short poem is constructed on the first word in each line rhyming. Not only that but the end of each line has an AABB etc. rhyme. The title is simple. {{Mark 5:19-20 and He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:19-20

Tags: Jesus, Salvation, Great Things, Christian Poems

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

D.l. Moody: God Loves Sinners  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 25, 2009

D.L. MOODY: GOD LOVES SINNERS D.L. Moody was a renowned American preacher back in the mid 1800’s. He went to England where he was introduced to a young preacher named Henry Moorehouse. During their short conversation, Moorehouse said he wanted to go to America. Moody, trying to be polite, said ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8

Tags: Atonement, Salvation, Cross, Revival, God's Love  (view more)  (view less)

D. L. Moody Used To Say He Was Glad We Are Not ...  PRO

Contributed by Bob Marcaurelle on Jan 18, 2010

D. L. Moody used to say he was glad we are not saved by our good works, because he didn’t want to sit in heaven listening ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Heaven, Salvation, Work, Bragging, Faith And Works  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

An Illustration About Ephesians 2:9

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 30, 2022

The author of this illustration is G. M. Landis. I have no idea who this person is or was. I had bought a Bible at a thrift store and the piece of paper with this illustration was inside the front cover (this was a hardcover Bible). The illustration itself appears to have been written for a daily ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:9

Tags: Grace, Salvation, Works, G M Landis

Denomination: Baptist

Come Home

Contributed by Joe Bertone on Aug 27, 2012

COME HOME Longing to leave her poor Brazilian neighborhood, Christina wanted to see the world. Discontent with a home having only a pallet on the floor, a washbasin, and a wood-burning stove, she dreamed of a better life in the city. One morning she slipped away breaking her mother’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:12-14

Tags: Salvation, Lost, Home, Seek, Found, Wander  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Parallels Between Isaac And Jesus

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 19, 2014

PARALLELS BETWEEN ISAAC AND JESUS There is no clearer picture of the Cross and the sacrifice the Father made for us in Christ than Genesis chapter 22. Notice the powerful parallels between Isaac and Christ. Isaac is one of the clearest types of Christ in the Old Testament. 1.Both fulfilled ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-14, Romans 5:8, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 5:21

Tags: Typology, Christ, Salvation, Gospel, Cross, Isaac  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Reconciliation

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Jul 25, 2018

Main Idea: The word “reconciliation” in the Biblical context means “bringing God and man together.” Verse: “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18 NKJV). Illustration: The preacher ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Salvation, Reconciliation, Ministers Of A New Covenant

Denomination: Charismatic

President Leslie Lynch King????

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 12, 2019

Leslie Lynch King, Jr. was born on Monday, July 14, 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska. His parents separated sixteen days after his birth and were divorced the following December. His father was abusive and had a drinking problem. His mother took her baby and moved back to her parents’ home in Grand Rapids, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Tags: Salvation, New Life, Adoption Into God's Family

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Worst People...

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 2, 2020

Spurgeon said - "Often those who are thought to be the worst of people turn out the best. Many of the most precious pearls have been found in the deepest sea; and some of the most grateful hearts have ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-3, Luke 17:14-19

Tags: Sin, Salvation, Redemption, Gratitude, Lost, Election  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It All Happened On A Subway

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Mar 10, 2022

Marcel Sternberger was a methodical man of nearly 50, with bushy white hair, guileless brown eyes, and the bouncing enthusiasm of a czardas dancer of his native Hungary. He always took the 9:09 Long Island Railroad train from his suburban home to Woodside, N.Y.., where he caught a subway into the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:10

Tags: Grace, Mercy, Salvation, Chance, Divine Appointments  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Brethren

He Had A Gun To His Head When He Called My Office...

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 7, 2022

When I was pastoring in Texas, an unknown man called our church office and asked for the Senior Pastor. The call was transferred to me and I quickly discovered that I had a frantic man on the line whom I didn’t know. He told me how horrible his life was and how he couldn’t stand living in “hell ...read more

Tags: Desperation, Jesus, Salvation, Rescue, Witnessing, Suicide  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do You Have Enough Points To Get To Heaven?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 12, 2023

I heard a story the other day about a guy who died and stood before the gates of heaven. An angel met him and said, “We have a new plan for getting into heaven. We’re now using a point system and you need 1,000 to enter.” The man told the angel that this would be no problem as he started rattling ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Justification, Sinners, Evangelism, Grace, Forgiveness, Sin, Heaven, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational