In Sermon Illustrations: "One Baptism"

A Kiss That Changed A Prodigal Into A Preacher!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 15, 2022

The late Joe Bayly was a gentle, godly Christian leader. I once heard him tell how one of his sons rebelled back in the days of the hippie movement. He grew his hair long and moved into a communal flophouse. Late one night, Bayly received a call informing him that his son was being held at one of ...read more

Tags: Prodigal Son, Fathers, Fathers And Sons, Luke 15, Parables, Lost, Father's Love, Unconditional Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Building Of Busch Stadium, Skirting Rules.

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Mar 16, 2022

In 1966 the St. Louis Cardinals built a new ballpark and named it Busch Memorial Stadium. There is a story that the owner of the Cardinals, August Busch, wanted to name it Budweiser Stadium, but the city officials would not allow him to name it after a beer. Frustrated by their answer, he ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Tags: Human Nature, Ten Commandments

Denomination: Lutheran

The Night Before Cassie Bernal Was Murdered At Columbine

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 6, 2022

On Tuesday April 20, 1999, Cassie Bernal was in the Columbine Colorado high school library reading her Bible when the two students burst in carrying guns. According to one of the witnesses, her friend Josh, one of the killers pointed his gun at Cassie and asked, "Do you believe in ...read more

Tags: Faith, Death, Persecution, Heaven, Satan, Testimony, Terrorism, High School, Last Words, Martyrs, Columbine  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Funniest Funeral Sermon Ever!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 4, 2022

Two brothers had terrorized a small town in Alabama for decades. They lied, they cheated, they stole and they were two of the sorriest persons in the entire town. Then, unfortunately, one of the brothers died unexpectedly. The surviving brother went to the pastor of the local Baptist church. He ...read more

Tags: Death, Lies, Pastors, Churches, Funerals  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Patience Makes It Happen

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 12, 2023

"The history books are full of stories of gifted persons whose talents were overlooked by a procession of people until someone believed in them. To name a few ... "Einstein was four years old before he could speak and seven before he could read". Einstein became one of the greatest ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Long Suffering, Flesh Vs Spirit, Endurance, Patience, Fruit Of The Spirit, Spirit Filled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pray The Book Of Psalms

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 4, 2024

Wesley and Stacey Campbell describe in their book Praying the Bible: The Pathway to Spirituality: A few years ago, we were ministering in the mountains of Puebla, which is about a 4 hour drive from Mexico City. The situation was most desperate. The Indians of the area lived in villages built ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:164

Tags: Bible, Psalms, Prayer

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Bridge Operator

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 5, 2025

There was once a man whose job was to operate a drawbridge for passing trains. Most of the time the bridge stayed raised to allow ships to move freely along the busy waterway. But when a train was scheduled to cross, he would lower the bridge, lock it in place, and signal that the way was ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, Romans 5:8

Tags: Grace, Atonement, Sacrifice, Redemption

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Soul Food

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 8, 2025

A certain man who had been absent from church for a long time received an inquiring visit from the Pastor. The man told the Pastor, "I've attended nearly every Sunday for 30 years. In that time, I have heard something like 1,500 sermons. In all of those years, people were shouting ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5, Isaiah 40:31, John 6:35

Tags: Worship, Faithfulness, Nourishment

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

[238]. A Message From A Poem – See Him Now

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Dec 17, 2025

[238]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – SEE HIM NOW This is a simple poem. It covers salvation and service. When Jesus was here people saw Him and heard Him as He spoke the eternal message but eyes were closed and ears were shut. The response to Jesus was the same response to Stephen – {{Acts 7:51 ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:51, Acts 7:57, John 5:24

Tags: Hear, Serve, See, Christian Poems, Praise, Take  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Is God Like? This Is A Question, Which Has ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

What is God like? This is a question, which has exercised the minds of mankind. It reminds me of the story of the little girl who was in deep concentration over her drawing. Her mother asked her what she was drawing and received the curt reply, “God.” Her mother ...read more

Tags: God The Father

Denomination: Baptist

The Banner Headline Across The Top ...  PRO

Contributed by Larry Sarver on Apr 30, 2001

Illustration: The banner headline across the top of one Chicago Tribune read, "Guilty Plea Sets Inmate Free." The picture showed the freed man embracing his sister, and the article told how a man imprisoned for eight years cut a deal with the state’s ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, God's Provision

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Two Of Our Greatest Presidents Said Some Pretty ...  PRO

Contributed by Lynn Floyd on May 29, 2001

Two of our greatest presidents said some pretty important statements about the Bible. George Washington said, “It is impossible to righteously govern the world without God and the Bible.” President Ronald Reagan said, “Within the covers of one single book, the Bible, are all ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:10-17

Tags: Bible Study, Bible Influence, Independence Day

Denomination: Baptist

Patrick Henry Quote  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on Sep 17, 2001

ILLUSTRATION… Patrick Henry Quote "I have now disposed of all my property to my family. There is one thing more I wish I could give them and that is faith in Jesus Christ. If they had that and I had not given them a single shilling, they would have been rich; ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Examples Of Faith, Parenting

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Greg Slayton Is The Ceo Of Clickaction.com. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Oct 12, 2001

Greg Slayton is the CEO of ClickAction.com. He says, in the busy dot.com world in which he now succeeds, he is exhausted by the frantic pace. This is how he describes where it has left him in relationship with others: "The sense of isolation is a curse. It is ...read more

Tags: Disappointment, Church Small Groups, Friendship New Friends

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Teacher Gave Her Class Of Second Graders A ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Steve on Mar 8, 2002

A teacher gave her class of second graders a lesson on the magnet and what it does. The next day in a written test, she included this question: “My full name has six letters. The first one is M, and I pick up things. What am I?” When the grades were all ...read more

Tags: Children, Mother's Day, Name

Denomination: Church Of God

Ultimate Love, Complete Humility  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2002

ULTIMATE LOVE, COMPLETE HUMILITY Only one act of pure love, unsullied by any taint of ulterior motive, has ever been performed in the history of the world, namely the self-giving of God in Christ on the cross for undeserving sinners. That is why, if we are looking for a definition of love, we ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-8

Tags: Christian Love, Forgiveness In Jesus

Love Them  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 5, 2002

LOVE THEM Before becoming a mother I had a hundred theories on how to bring up children. Now I have seven children and only one theory: love them, especially when they least deserve to be loved. Kate Samperi, author SOURCE: Celebrating Mothers: A Book ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Mother's Day, Unconditional Love

Finger Of God  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 23, 2002

[Finger of God] An old deacon was leading in prayer using one of his stereotypical phrases, which was “Oh Lord, touch the unsaved with Thy finger.” As he intoned this phrase in this particular prayer, he stopped short. Other members came to his side and asked if ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38, Matthew 9:35-38

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, Great Commission, Sharing Your Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Real Problem In This Country Is That We Are ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 7, 2002

The real problem in this country is that we are not good followers. Problem in all facets of our society. George Barna- "Even though less that 1/5th of the population describe themselves as leaders, few people are willing to follow the vision, the plans, the methods, or the exhortations of ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Leadership General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Is God Like? This Is A Question, Which Has ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Oct 25, 2002

What is God like? This is a question, which has exercised the minds of mankind. It reminds me of the story of the little girl who was in deep concentration over her drawing. Her mother asked her what she was drawing and received the curt reply, “God.” Her mother ...read more

Tags: God The Father, Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Mennonite