In Sermon Illustrations: "One Line Sermons"

Pet Beliefs

Contributed by Robert Sickler on Nov 15, 2011

PET BELIEFS The two professors stood nose to nose as they shouted at one another. "The craters on the moon are the result of volcanism," cried one. "You are an idiot," screamed the other, "the craters on the moon are the result of meteor impact." This scene played itself out all across ...read more

Tags: Arrogance

Denomination: Christian Church

Luther's Confessions

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Dec 8, 2011

LUTHER'S CONFESSIONS Before writing, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," before becoming a leader of the Reformation, before his 95 Theses, Martin Luther was a Catholic priest. One thing that did not change for him was a passionate conviction that Christians must repent and confess their sins. As a ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9, Psalm 66:18

Tags: Confession, Repentance, Confession Of Sin

Denomination: Baptist

Time

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Jan 2, 2015

Where has the time gone? There is a time for everything but, that never seem to bother me when I was young. But as I get older I consider almost everything in time. It’s time to take my medicine, it’s time to go to the doctor, it’s time for this or time for that. One of the few things Brenda and I ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-4, Ecclesiastes 3:1

Tags: Accepted Time, Time, Fullness Of Time

Denomination: Baptist

The Bible. God's Manual For Life

Contributed by Jesse Crooks on Mar 10, 2020

The Bible God’s manual for living Joshua 1:8 Psalm 119: 11 Last year we finally traded vans. We drive one until it falls apart in the road. Our van would no longer go in reverse, and it would have been too expensive to replace the transmission. The new one didn’t have the owner’s manual, ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:8, Psalm 119:11

Tags: Bible, Manuel

Holding Others Up

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

One of the best leaders and models in discipleship was Dawson Trotman, who died after helping to rescue two drowning girls. Says Chuck Swindoll: “When Dawson Trotman passed away, he probably left a legacy of discipleship on this earth that will never be matched except perhaps in the life of Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 9:23, Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Teaching, Discipleship, Following Jesus, Great Commission, Dawson Trotman  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fools

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Aug 16, 2021

It was a cold and silent night. The weather was freezing cold. A group of monkeys were on a tree. They were clinging to its branches. One of the monkeys said, “I wish we could find some fire. It will help us to keep warm.” Suddenly they noticed a flock of fireflies. One of the young monkeys ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-20, Ephesians 5:15-20

Tags: Fools, Correcting A Fool

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Complaints -- Duh!

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

These are actual complaints received from dissatisfied customers by Thomas Cook Vacations (based on a Thomas Cook/ABTA survey): a. "It's lazy of the local shopkeepers in Puerto Vallarta to close in the afternoons. I often needed to buy things during 'siesta' time -- this should be ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 11:1, Colossians 3:13, Philippians 2:14

Tags: Wisdom, Contentment, Satisfaction, Dissatisfaction, Sense, Complaints  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Boy And The Sprinkles

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 20, 2025

He couldn’t have been more than seven or eight. A mop of brown hair, freckles across his nose, and a handful of coins jingling in his palm as he stepped up to the counter. “Ma’am,” he asked shyly, “how much is a scoop of vanilla ice cream?” The waitress smiled. “Fifty cents.” He nodded and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:48, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Tags: Love, Humility, Gratitude, Generosity, Kindness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Story From Eastern Europe

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 21, 2025

Story: I would like to leave you with a story from Eastern Europe A man came into Court to give evidence, but he considered the Bible too holy to swear an oath on and so refused to do so. The lawyer for the defence approached the bench and asked for the man to be excused that formality, because ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Tags: Judge, Piety, Lawyer

Denomination: Anglican

A Story From Eastern Europe

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 27, 2025

Story: I would like to leave you with a story from Eastern Europe A man came into Court to give evidence, but he considered the Bible too holy to swear an oath on and so refused to do so. The lawyer for the defence approached the bench and asked for the man to be excused that formality, because ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Tags: Holy, Rumor

Denomination: Anglican

Sending The Juice First

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

My dad was on the communion team at our church growing up. We passed the elements down the pews, one plate at a time. The team would bring them to the end of each row and people would pass them along. Well, one Sunday my dad accidentally sent the juice down the pew first. So the people grabbed the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

Tags: Communion, Worship

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If Anyone Would Like To Acquire Humility, I Can, ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Quinn on Jan 18, 2006

If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to ...read more

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Someone Asked C.s. Lewis, "Why Do The Righteous ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Oct 18, 2000

Someone asked C.S. Lewis, "Why do the righteous suffer?" "Why not?" he replied. "They’re ...read more

Scripture: Micah 7:8, Micah 7:7-9

Tags: Endurance, Apologetics General, Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Baptist

Lost And Found Ad - Lost Dog, Brown Fur, Some ...  PRO

Contributed by John Beehler on Mar 20, 2001

Lost and Found ad - Lost dog, brown fur, some missing due to mange, blind in one eye, three legs, ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Joy, Unconditional Love

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Charles Spurgeon Said, We Need Our God; He Is To ...  PRO

Contributed by Tj Tipton on Mar 29, 2001

Charles Spurgeon said, We need our God; He is to be had for the seeking; and He will not deny Himself to any one ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, Church Practices, Worship General

Denomination: Pentecostal

Matthew Henry Wrote In His Commentary: "Those ...  PRO

Contributed by Wayne Major on May 14, 2001

Matthew Henry wrote in his commentary: “Those who teach by their doctrine must teach by their life, or else they pull down with ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Methodist

Rudyard Kipling Wrote, "Lo, All The Pomp Of ...

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 10, 2002

Rudyard Kipling wrote, “Lo, all the pomp of yesterday, is one with Ninevah and Tyre. Judge of the nations, spare ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General, God's Judgment

Denomination: Congregational

In Shakespeare's Othello, Iago Told The Noble ...

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Apr 28, 2003

In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago told the noble Moor, “0! beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green--eyed ...read more

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Woody Allen In Addressing A Harvard Graduation ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Aug 28, 2004

Woody Allen in addressing a Harvard graduation said, "You have entered a crossroads of life. Down one road is despondency and ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Christian Church

Throughout My Life I Have Gone To The Barn ...

Contributed by David Hodgin on Nov 11, 2007

Throughout my life I have gone to the barn hundreds if not thousands of times, but I am still not a horse. (Church ...read more