In Sermon Illustrations: "One Baptism"

Where The Fire Has Been

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 27, 2008

WHERE THE FIRE HAS BEEN H. A. Ironside told the story of pioneers who were making their way across one of the central states to a distant place that had been opened up for homesteading. They traveled in covered wagons drawn by oxen, and progress was necessarily slow. One day they were horrified to ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

In The Ultimate Obedience Depicted In 1 Peter ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 27, 2008

In the ultimate obedience depicted in 1 Peter 4:1, believers who have died have ceased from sin will have entered into an eternal condition of holy perfection, free from all sin's influences and effects (cf. 1 Cor. 15:42-43; 2 Cor. 5:1; Rev. 21:4; 22:14-15). Poem: Safely Home I am home in Heaven, ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

What's The Big Deal About The Church?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT THE CHURCH? A little girl became restless as the preacher's sermon dragged on and on. Finally, she leaned over to her mother and whispered, "Mommy, if we give him the money now, will he let us go?" I'm sure that's probably how some people feel about most preachers and ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Great Funeral Illustration

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

A certain nobleman had a garden which he left to the care of a faithful servant, whose delight it was to water the seeds, support the stalks of tender plants, and to do everything he could to make the estate a paradise of flowers. One morning the gardener rose expecting to find his favorite blooms ...read more

Tags: Dying, Funerals, Death, Heaven

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Gossipping Preacher

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 22, 2022

Three preachers from the same small town in Arkansas were out fishing together. One of the pastors said, "You know, brothers, I feel safe here with you guys. I think it might be a good time and a good place for each one of us to confess our sins to each other privately and confidentially, ...read more

Tags: Tongue, Gossip, Division, Preachers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who's In Charge?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jun 3, 2023

One of the most disturbing movies ever produced is Francis Ford Coppola’s classic reflection on the Vietnam War, Apocalypse Now. The film tracks an American officer who is sent upriver into the heart of the war-torn countryside in order to find and eventually assassinate a renegade commander who ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 6:1-17

Tags: God's Sovereignty, Wrath, Apocalypse, Four Horsemen

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Resurrection Proof

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Mar 29, 2024

Why is His resurrection so important? Think about what they call cold cases. Sometimes a man is accused of a crime he didn’t commit and put in jail. They found blood at the scene, but they didn’t have the DNA technology that they do today. But now, years later, they can use that same blood and ...read more

Scripture: Job 19:25

Tags: Resurrection, Life

Denomination: Lutheran

Mr. Rogers Cardigan

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 13, 2025

We learn how God so loved the world. God sent His Son. He didn’t just say, “I love you.” He showed it. He gave something deeply personal. Something costly. Something that met our greatest need. And in a much smaller, but still powerful way, Fred Rogers—yes, Mister Rogers—modeled that kind of ...read more

Scripture: John 13:34

Tags: Love, Give, God Gave, Love Gives, Love Costs  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Mendelsohn In Freiburg Minster

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 25, 2025

Story: The Cathedral in Freiburg (in Breisgau), Germany had recently installed new magnificent Gottfried Silberman Organ, that took three years to build (1711 to 1714). The Old Cathedral Organist, on retirement had been made Custodian of the Organ One day, a well dressed young man /came up to ...read more

Tags: Mendelsohn, Freiburg Cathedral

Denomination: Anglican

In 1899 Four Newspaper Reporters From Denver, ...  PRO

Contributed by Ted Sutherland on Feb 11, 2001

In 1899 four newspaper reporters from Denver, CO, set out to tear down the Great Wall of China. They almost succeeded. Literally. The four met by chance one Saturday night, in a Denver railway depot. Al Stevens, Jack Tournay, John Lewis, Hal Wilshire. They represented the four Denver papers: the ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-18

Tags: Faith, Truth

Denomination: Baptist

Numbers Of The Bible  PRO

Contributed by Stephen Schwartz on Dec 17, 2001

Numbers of the Bible” One The number one is for God. We must begin with number one or we cannot have number two or any other number. Mathematically speaking we cannot get anywhere without the number one. We must begin with God. Two The number two is for man. Man as an individual. God made ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:21, Matthew 17:1-9

Tags: Future, God's Omniscience, Kingdom, Tomorrow

Denomination: Methodist

To Touch A Scorpion!" Matthew 5: 43-48 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 9, 2004

“To Touch a Scorpion!” Matthew 5: 43-48 Key verse(s): 44 “‘But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’” Is it in our nature to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute us? Getting even or, in the very least, shunning confrontation with those who would ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Unconditional Love

Denomination: Lutheran

A Path We Feared To See!" Philippians 2:5-11 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 10, 2005

“A Path We Feared to See!” Philippians 2:5-11 Key verse(s): 8:“‘And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even the death of the cross.” We love so many things in this life! Yet, there is one thing so worth loving that is seldom afforded even the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Tags: Jesus' Ministry

Denomination: Lutheran

No Substitutions

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Apr 21, 2009

NO SUBSTITUTIONS We had been living in New Jersey for about three weeks and were wanting to try out different things to get the "East Coast" experience. We both grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and honestly, New Jersey was a complete mystery to us. Some friends recommended that we eat at a ...read more

Tags: Complaining

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Complaining On The Day Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 30, 2009

Complaining on the Day of Judgment The story is told of billions of people scattered on a great plain before Almighty God’s Throne. Some of the groups near the front talked heatedly - not with cringing shame; but, with belligerence. "How can God Judge us?" said one. "What does He know about ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-18

Tags: Injustice, God's Judgment

Many Years Ago Now, A True Story Is Told Of Two ...

Contributed by Guy De Swardt on Apr 1, 2010

Many years ago now, a true story is told of two identical twins who were working for their father. They were so close they even dressed alike. When their father died they took over the family business as everybody expected them to do. Their relationship with each other was considered by the town ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness, Sermon On The Mount

Denomination: Baptist

The Oak Island Treasure

Contributed by Roshelle Deas Roberson on Jan 30, 2012

THE OAK ISLAND TREASURE Oak Island is a tiny island off the coast of Nova Scotia in eastern Canada. One day in 1795 three teenage boys from the mainland rowed to the secluded area to see what they could find. They found something that changed their lives as well as the lives of many others. The ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Cave Dwellers” By Max Lucado. ...

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Dec 4, 2012

“The Cave Dwellers” by Max Lucado. “Long ago, or maybe not so long ago, there was a tribe of people in a dark, cold cave. The cave dwellers would huddle together and cry against the chill. Loud and long they wailed. It was all they did. It was all they knew to do. The sounds in the cave were ...read more

Tags: Unbelief

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Rejection At The Vending Machine  PRO

Contributed by Todd Catteau on May 27, 2015

Vending machines have come a long way since I was a kid. It used to be you slid in a couple of coins and pulled a lever and down would drop your snack or drink. Now there are lights, levers, cranes, codes, and chutes that make the purchase a production of its own. It’s almost worth the price of ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

Tags: Judgemental, Favoritism, Prejudice

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Wee Bobby Moffett, Missionary

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Aug 6, 2021

HAVE YOU HEARD OF WEE BOBBY MOFFETT? There was a small village church in Scotland that did not seem to be growing. The deacons cornered the pastor and had serious questions about the church. The deacons asked WHY HAS THERE BEEN NO GROWTH IN THE CHURCH THIS YEAR? We have not had one new ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-5, John 6:5-9

Tags: Failure, Possibilities, Attitudes

Denomination: Assembly Of God