In Sermon Illustrations: "One Line Sermons"

Patience Makes It Happen

Contributed by Garris Hudson 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

[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

Navigtionally Challenged

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

When I was 16, I went to pick up my girlfriend to drive and meet my parents and grandparents for a hockey game downtown. Downtown was north of my house in Amarillo. You get on I-27, head north, fifteen minutes, done. We drove for a while. And a little while more. And nothing was looking familiar. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 5:22-24, Psalm 119:105

Tags: Guidance, God's Word

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[009]. A Message From A Poem - A Tree Climber

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 6, 2024

[009]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - A TREE CLIMBER Some people have a burning desire to go to see someone or some event important. Look how many turn out to a Trump rally, or a football final, or who go to see some vain film star. However, some people have a real need and want to meet someone to see ...read more

Scripture: John 1:3, Luke 19:1-6, Luke 19:8-9

Tags: Zaccheus, Tax Gatherer, Tree Climber, Salvation, Repentance, Sycamore Tree  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Spent Some Time This Week Looking On The ...  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jul 3, 2003

I spent some time this week looking on the computer at actual excuses people use, or have used, or might someday use, to miss church. Here are a few: I missed church because the little guy had a cold. The whole family had to stay home to blow his nose! - I missed church last Sunday because there ...read more

Tags: Church General, Faith

Denomination: Baptist

Welcoming Misfits  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2004

WELCOMING MISFITS Ryan Johnson, minister in Glen Elder, Kansas, shares this story: I was heading north out of Salina, Kansas when I saw him. His name was Charlie. Charles was sitting in the ditch with large army bags. The cold misty rain was drenching him and his bags. He wore his Vietnam ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:12-24

Tags: Kingdom Of God, Parable Great Banquet, Compassion

Did God Create Evil?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 1, 2008

DID GOD CREATE EVIL? Does evil exist? The university professor challenged his students with this question. Did God create everything that exists? A student bravely replied "Yes, he did!" "God created everything?" The professor asked.” Yes sir", the student replied. The professor answered, "If ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Debt Out Of Control

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 30, 2009

DEBT OUT OF CONTROL Nearly - 80 percent of all divorced couples between the ages of 20 and 30 list financial difficulties as the primary cause of their separation and divorce. From Money-zine.com the following statistics paint the picture of America’s improper handling of their finances: The ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:6-18

Tags: Debt

Dream-Stealers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 19, 2011

DREAM-STEALERS Years ago, I heard Pastor Anthony Mangun tell a story at Because of the Times that I have never forgotten. . . . The story is told of a young man by the name of Monty, who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer, who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:14

Tags: Goals

Ministry Meltdown

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 3, 2013

MINISTRY MELTDOWN My dear friends, when life seems overwhelming, don't get busy; get help! Otherwise, you'll just wear yourself out and those around you. That's what Bob Merritt, pastor of the Eagle Brook Church in Minnesota, was doing. In a recent issue of Leadership Journal he writes about ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Stress

Your Light And Life Can Make A Difference - Teddy Stallard Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 19, 2025

Miss Thompson taught Teddy Stallard in the fourth grade. He was A slow, ... unkempt student, ... a loner ...shunned by his classmates. The previous year his mother died, ... and what little motivation for school ... he may have once had ...was now gone. Miss Thompson ... did not particularly ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Tags: Oil, Mother, Light, Lamp

Denomination: Anglican

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

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