In Sermon Illustrations: "Only"

Ten Word Sermon

Contributed by Kevin Barron on Aug 31, 2018

The shortest sermon I know is only ten words. It was preached by my grandfather to a small, country congregation on the story of the Good Samaritan (Mark 10:35-45). He read the account of an outsider who demonstrates true neighbor love by stopping on the road to care for a bleeding and badly ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

Tags: Compassion, Good Samaritan

Denomination: Methodist

High Seas

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Oct 13, 2020

The thunder roared like a waking dragon. As the water churned and the ship rocked wildly like a kite on a string. I watched helplessly as the splinter sized crack in the mast grew until I was sure it would snap. The crew on deck wallowed and struggled to move in the thigh deep water to try and keep ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Tags: Trust, Storms

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Discipleship Is A Call To Suffer

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

John R. Scott gives a modern example of one who suffered for the gospel observing that… "Few men of this century have understood better the inevitability of suffering than Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He seems never to have wavered in his Christian antagonism to the Nazi regime, although it meant for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:12, Philippians 3:1-20, Romans 1:16

Tags: Church, Commitment, Discipleship, Suffering, Will Of God, Bonhoeffer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You Prepared For Tough Times?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

Lord Joseph Duveen, American head of the art firm that bore his name, planned in 1915 to send one of his experts to England to examine some ancient pottery. He booked passage on the Lusitania. Then the German Embassy issued a warning that the liner might be torpedoed. Duveen wanted to call off ...read more

Tags: Commitment, Preparation, Hardships, Trials, Tough Times  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Great Quotes On The Sovereignty Of God

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 8, 2021

R.C. SPROUL: “If there is one single molecule in this universe running around loose, totally free of God’s sovereignty, then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever be fulfilled.” MATT CHANDLER: “Trying to figure out God is like trying to catch a fish in the Pacific Ocean ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 4:34-35

Tags: Lord, Will Of God, Sovereignty Of God, Attributes Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Are We Preaching?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 25, 2021

WHAT ARE WE PREACHING? False teachings abound whenever people do not know the truth. Many of our churches today do not teach the truth because many pastors do not know the Bible. In our seminaries, almost 50 percent of professors now teach that there was no virgin birth of Jesus, and that story ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-3, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Apostasy, Preaching The Word, Preachers, Liberalism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Sacrifice These Men Made For Freedom

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 31, 2021

Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence. Their conviction resulted in untold sufferings for themselves and their families. Of the 56 men, five were captured by the British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Tags: Death, Sacrifice, Freedom, America, Declaration Of Independence  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Have You Lost The "scent"?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 1, 2021

DEMAS LOST THE "SCENT" A man bought a new hunting dog. Eager to see how the dog would perform, the man took him out to track a bear. No sooner had they gotten into the woods than the dog picked up the trail. Suddenly he stopped, sniffed the ground, and headed in a new direction. He had ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:10, 1 John 2:15-16

Tags: Compromise, Worldliness, Backsliding, Values, Loving The World  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Recognizing The Value Of The Gospel Offer

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 20, 2021

It’s a sad day when people are offered the kingdom of heaven, but they don’t see its value. They set it aside as a common thing and go their way. Image going to an antique store and finding a priceless antique there. The seller has priced it as a common item. But it is worth many times more than ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:44-46, Philippians 3:7-11, Matthew 6:19-34, Psalm 90:12, Proverbs 4:7, Luke 14:33  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Salvation, Gospel, Value, Invitation, Choice, Kingdom Of Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Make Room For The Tide!

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Mar 12, 2022

"Years ago, a wealthy businessman from London chartered a bus to carry a busload of urban children to the coast. There, the children spent a wonderful day at the ocean. Many of the children had never left the city. Most had never seen the ocean. For one blissful day, they ran unfettered over ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18

Tags: Make Room, Spirit Filled, Ocean, Full, Tide  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Priest And The Levite (Parable Of The Good Samaritan)

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 20, 2022

Keathley makes several interesting points that the Priest and Levite mentioned in the Parable of the Prodigal Son were leaving Jerusalem and could not use the excuse that they did not want to touch the man and be unclean for worship. Why? They had already accomplished their duties and were heading ...read more

Tags: Priest, Parables, Hypocrisy, Pharisees, Kindness, Levite, Good Samaritan  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Soap And Salvation

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 2, 2022

A skeptic sneeringly said, "The gospel has lost its power. While thousands profess Christ, nothing much is happening as a result." But it's not the fault of the gospel. It's because people make a profession but have no possession. It's not enough to acknowledge the truth of ...read more

Tags: Cleansinig, New Creations, Word Of God, Lost, Unsaved, Professors, Unbelievers, Possessors, Salvation, Gospel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Service

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Nov 21, 2022

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif - NFL Lineman And Medical Student Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (31) is a Canadian born professional football player for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He is 6’ 5” and 321 pounds. He played university football and attended medical school at McGill University ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11, 1 Corinthians 3:5, 1 Corinthians 4:1, 2 Corinthians 4:5

Tags: Service, Sacrifice, Servant, Humility

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Children Need To Be Loved

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 17, 2023

No more convincing evidence of the absence of parental affection exists than that compiled by Rene Spitz. In a South American orphanage, Spitz observed and recorded what happened to 97 children who were deprived of emotional and physical contact with others. Because of a lack of funds, there was ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-5

Tags: Nurture, Touching, Love, Children, Marriage, Parents, Family, Home  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Get Off The Bench And Get In The Game!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 2, 2023

A well-known coach was once asked, “How much does college football contribute to the national physical-fitness picture?” “Nothing,” the coach replied abruptly. “Why not?” the startled interviewer asked. “Well,” said the coach, “the way I see it, you have 22 men down on the field desperately ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-13

Tags: Service, Ministry, Church, Disciples, Spiritual Gifts, Volunteers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do You Want To Play Beethoven's Piano?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 5, 2023

J Vernon McGee offers the following illustration of humility of mind and adds a practical application. The story is told of a group of people who went in to see Beethoven’s home in Germany. After the tour guide had showed them Beethoven’s piano and had finished his lecture, he asked if any of them ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-11, Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Humility, Spiritual Gifts, Position, Servants, Lowliness Of Mind, Service, Honor  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Was Esther Taken Forcefully In Sex Trafficking?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 21, 2023

"So it came about when the command and decree of the king were heard and many young ladies were gathered to Susa the capital into the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken to the king’s palace into the custody of Hegai, who was in charge of the women". (Esther 2:8). I’m intrigued by ...read more

Tags: Esther, Rape, Force, Sexual Sins, Sex Trafficking  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Was The Church Chosen To Replace The Fallen Angels?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 24, 2024

Augustine believed that God created the order of angels to exist in a perfect harmonic balance with one another which was subsequently lost due to the fall of Satan (and those who followed Satan in his rebellion). This showed the tragedy which developed as a result of Satan’s rebellion. Not only ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:1-4

Tags: Church, Worship, Heaven, Satan, Angels, Demons, Rebellion, Spirits, Sovereignty Of God, Devils  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Long Process Of Crucifixion

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 6, 2025

Roman crucifixion was a long, drawn-out process that often lasted for several days. This was not the case for Jesus - "Pilate marveled that He was already dead…" Mark 15:44. What happens on that cross? • With weight on the wrists - the chest is stretched when the person is slumped ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:44, John 19:33-34

Tags: Water, Blood, Crucifixion, Sermon

Denomination: Methodist

One Of My Favorite Stories I'd Like To Share With ...  PRO

Contributed by Kent Kessler on Mar 24, 2007

One of my favorite stories I’d like to share with you. It is called the story of JOHNNY LINGO’S EIGHT COW WIFE. The writer of this story, Patricia McGerr, says... When I sailed to Kiniwata, an island in the Pacific, I took along a notebook. After I got back it was filled with descriptions of ...read more

Denomination: Methodist