In Sermon Illustrations: "One Body"

Church Attendance In The Usa At An All-Time Low

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 5, 2022

During the First Great Awakening, 20 percent of the colonial population came to Christ and joined churches. Today, less than 20 percent regularly attend church. Discussed at length in his book The American Church in Crisis, David Olson conducted research showing that only 17.5 percent of the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: America, Revival, Church Attendance, Evangelism, Church, Worship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do You Really Believe What You Are Preaching?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 7, 2022

When Charles Peace (a convicted thief and murderer) was being escorted to the gallows, he was accompanied by a clergyman reading from The Consolations of Religion about the “flames never quenched.” Peace was a known criminal for whom the public had no sympathy; no one can say with confidence the ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Death, Scripture, Gospel, Truth, Preaching, Witnessing, Last Words, Unbelievers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Poor Short-Term Memory

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

A man was working in his backyard one day when his neighbor began talking to him over the fence. He said, “Yeah, my wife and I went to one of those seminars yesterday, you know, where they teach you ways to improve your memory and such.” His neighbor commented, “Really? What was the name of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:19

Tags: Communion, Lord's Supper

Is Your Ministry Making Any Difference?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 12, 2023

Sometimes we think that God is not using us if we are not preaching to thousands every weekend. If you think that, remember this story about the value of one soul! I recently read about an old man, walking the beach at dawn, who noticed a young man ahead of him picking up starfish and flinging ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Ministry, Holy Spirit, Faithfulness, Success, Fruit Of The Spirit, Spirit Filled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Idolatry Of Cell Phones

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 26, 2023

t’s no surprise that 45% of Americans say that their phone is the most valuable possession. What is surprising is how far our obsessions with cell phones go: Over one-third of Americans (36%) say they’d give up their pets to keep their cell phone. 53% say that in a house fire or other disaster, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, Galatians 6:1-2

Tags: Cell Phones, Lust, Faithfulness, Idolatry, Time, Fruit Of The Spirit, Self Control  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Raising Cain

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 26, 2023

Cain was so angry he would not be talked out of his sin—even by God. Eve, however, had to be talked into her sin by Satan; but Cain “belonged to the evil one” (1 John 3:12). It is as if he could not wait to destroy his brother—a natural man’s solution to his own failure. God’s advice was that ...read more

Tags: Cain, Abel, Offerings, Eve, Genesis, Sin, Murder, Adam, Hate  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Forgetting Times Three

Contributed by Kelvin Mckisic on Jun 26, 2023

Three sisters, ages ninety-two, ninety-four, and ninety-six, lived together. One night the ninety-six-year-old drew a bath. She put one foot in and then paused. “Was I getting in the tub or out?” she yelled. The ninety-four-year-old hollered back, “I don’t know; I’ll come and see.” She started up ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:31, Isaiah 46:4, Deuteronomy 6:10-12

Tags: Aging, Forgetfulness, Human Condition, Limitations

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Funny Letter To God!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 5, 2023

A little boy named Johnny wrote a letter to God asking for one hundred dollars. The local post office didn't know where to send the letter, so they sent it to the White House. The President had a secretary that saw the letter and so she sent the little boy five dollars, thinking that would ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-7, James 4:1-2

Tags: Pastors, Tithing, Churches, Children, God, Prayer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pledge -- Prayer

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 6, 2025

Two men were arguing at work one day about religion. Neither really knew what they were talking about. Finally one said, “Man, you don’t know anything about religion. I’ll bet you ten dollars you can’t even repeat the Lord’s Prayer.” The other grinned. “Oh yeah? It’s a bet!” He straightened up ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:105

Tags: Scripture, Discipleship, Truth, Authority

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Biggest Idol We Have Can Be Ourselves. ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 28, 2000

The biggest idol we have can be ourselves. George Bernard Shaw put it rather neatly when he described a person in one of his plays as ...read more

Tags: Humility, Emotions, Sin Fall Of Man

Denomination: Baptist

When Karl Barth Was Speaking At Chicago ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Nov 9, 2000

When Karl Barth was speaking at Chicago University, he was asked by one of the students what was the most profound theological statement he had ever reached. He ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God, Trinity

Denomination: Baptist

It Is The Lord That Saves  PRO

Contributed by David Fox on Nov 19, 2001

Spurgen writes, “ The sense is, it is the Lord alone that saves and blesses: and even though the whole mass of all evils should be gathered together in one against a man, still, it is ...read more

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation, Becoming A Christian, God's Omnipotence

Denomination: Pentecostal

I Like What Gary Smalley Has Said About ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Jan 20, 2002

I like what Gary Smalley has said about emotions. They are like the lights and gauges on a car’s dashboard. They indicate changes that you need to be ...read more

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: Church Of God

A Human Being Can Live About 40 Days Without ...  PRO

Contributed by James Botts on Aug 29, 2002

A human being can live about 40 days without food, roughly 3 days without water, and nearly 8 minutes without air, but not one minute without the ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope, Faith, Endurance

Denomination: Baptist

President Calvin Coolege Went To Church, And ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Sep 8, 2002

President Calvin Coolege went to church, and afterwards was asked by a friend what the minister spoke on. “He preached on sin.” The friend asked what the ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Denomination: Congregational

A Cartoon Of A Lady Singing, "He Touched Me"  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2002

A cartoon of a lady singing, "He Touched Me". One lady in congregation says to another, "I don’t know who she’s singing about, but he’s gonna be ...read more

Tags: Workplace

Shortly After His Death, Someone Asked John D. ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Twamley on Apr 2, 2003

Shortly after his death, someone asked John D. Rockefeller Jr’s chief financial advisor, “He was one of the richest men in the world, how much did he ...read more

Tags: Money

Denomination: Pentecostal

President Calvin Coolege Went To Church, And ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Vicente on Apr 19, 2003

President Calvin Coolege went to church, and afterwards was asked by a friend what the minister spoke on. “He preached on sin.” The friend asked what the preacher ...read more

Tags: Easter Good Friday, Cross

Denomination: Baptist

In Fact, Most Christians Today Perceive God Like ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Hamilton on May 1, 2003

In fact, most Christians today perceive God like one person noted: God is a lot like our pastor. I don’t see him through the ...read more

Tags: God The Father

Denomination: Baptist

A Cartoon By Joe Mckeever...  PRO

Contributed by Aaron Householder on Sep 30, 2004

A cartoon by Joe McKeever... A smiling woman greeting a surprised pastor as she leaves church says, "All my life I heard pastors say they were ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Denomination: Baptist