In Sermon Illustrations: "Our Need Of God"

The Witness Barber

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 17, 2021

There was a barber that thought that he should share his faith with his customers more than he had been doing lately. So the next morning when the sun came up and the barber got up out of bed he said, "Today I am going to witness to the first man that walks through my door." Soon after ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15

Tags: Evangelism, Witness

Denomination: Methodist

Grace Story/Joke

Contributed by Bruce Blythe on Apr 13, 2021

There are not many stories/jokes that illustrate Grace (plenty of definitions of Grace though!) so I made this one up for my sermon on Romans 11 (Reciprocity No, Grace Yes). Hope people find it helpful. Blessings. Bruce A Jew, an Islamic and a Christian were drinking coffee on a ship. Then the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Grace Alone, By Grace We Are Saved, Reciprocity

Denomination: Baptist

Cycles Of Dying Churches

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 16, 2022

Almost all churches go through “lifecycles” - they start with a MAN, a visionary leader has a passion to to accomplish a God-given Vision -- then they become a MOVEMENT. At this stage the people are nearly 100% committed. They spend time together at each other’s homes and in Bible studies. Then ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Tags: Dying Churches, Church, Revival, Seven Churches

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Slow And Steady

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2022

The power of the Holy Spirit is not just for salvation, but for sanctification, a process that is slow and gradual. The difference might look like this: You can take ten gallons of gasoline and release a tremendous amount of power and energy by just dropping a lighted match into it. It makes a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8

Tags: Holy Spirit, Energy, Fuel

The Deceitfulness Of Sin

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 12, 2023

Radio personality Paul Harvey tells the story of how an Eskimo kills a wolf. The account is grisly, yet it offers fresh insight into the consuming, self-destructive nature of sin. "First, the Eskimo coats his knife blade with animal blood and allows it to freeze. Then he adds another layer of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Deliverance, Sinners, Sin Nature, Death, Sin, Satan, Salvation, Temptation, Justification  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Gift That Goes From Zero To 200 In Six Seconds!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 29, 2023

Here’s a funny story for a sermon introduction when you are preaching to your men about remembering special days for the wife and family. Bob forgot his wedding anniversary and his wife was really upset. She told him, “Tomorrow morning, I expect to find a gift in the driveway that goes from 0 to ...read more

Tags: Jews, Holy Days, Husbands, Wives, Israel, Humor, Passover  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Golden Calf

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 6, 2025

In Exodus 32, the people are complaining that Moses has been gone for too long. They go to Aaron and say, “Make us a god.” To this, Aaron replies, “NO WAY!” Not really, that’s what he should have told them. What really happened: Exodus 32:2 “ And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:2-6

Tags: Golden Calf, Fertility Idol, Idol

Denomination: Methodist

What Is A Praise Chorus?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 31, 2002

WHAT IS A PRAISE CHORUS? An old farmer went to the city one weekend and attended the big city church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was. "Well," said the farmer, "It was good. They did something different, however. They sang praise choruses instead of hymns." "Praise choruses," ...read more

Tags: Church Practices, Worship General

Listen My Chile  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 5, 2002

LISTEN MY CHILE I know you think you been raised ’cause you grown now but a mama always got to wonder what else can I say to my child who is black? I know what you’re thinking She’s been talkin’ my whole life, it’s time to let well enough alone, to trust me, to let me be, but you know your mama, ...read more

Tags: Mother's Day, Parenting, Children

His Last Convert  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Apr 21, 2003

HIS LAST CONVERT There where a lot of notable wealthy people on the Titanic in 1912. But the most notable passenger on the Titanic was someone that most of the world has never heard of before. He was a man by the name of John Harper. He was a plan ordinary Pastor from the city of Glasgow, ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, Evangelism How To, Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Power Of A Praying Mother  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 28, 2004

POWER OF A PRAYING MOTHER The year was 1820 and Peter Richley was a grateful man. He had survived one of the strangest and most harrowing events known to mankind. The ship which he had been traveling on sank. He was rescued. By some strange twist of circumstance, however, this ship sank. He was ...read more

Scripture: James 5:1-10, James 5:1-10

Tags: Prayer Answered, Prayer General, Mother's Day

Most Action Movies I Have Seen Have Some Aspect ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 8, 2010

Most action movies I have seen have some aspect of revenge in their storyline. And I must admit it, when the bad guy finally gets killed, I find myself agreeing with the hero as he says “The guy was a jerk and deserved everything he got!” Am I the only one? Some friends of mine were driving me ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hetty Green The Money ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 6, 2010

Hetty Green the Money Hoarder -The corruption of the possessions of wealthy people witness against them. People who hoard and set out to accumulate great amounts of money and possessions fail to recognize that God gave them wealth for a reason. -For many years Hetty Green was called America’s ...read more

Scripture: James 5:1-6

Tags: Money

Sarah's Vase  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 21, 2011

SARAH'S VASE Just like life comes in the place of death, so honor comes in the place of service. Pediatrician David Cerqueira tells the story of a little girl in his wife's Sunday School class. His wife had prepared a lesson on being useful and told the children that everyone can be useful in ...read more

Scripture: John 12:23-26, Mark 14:1-9

Tags: Servanthood

Max Lucado, In No Wonder They Call Him The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Max Lucado, in No Wonder They Call Him the Savior, tells the story of Maria and her daughter Christina. Longing to leave her poor Brazilian neighborhood, Christina wanted to see the world. Discontent living at home having only a pallet on the floor, a washbasin, and a wood-burning stove, she ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-8

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Grace At Christmas

Contributed by Joel Arndt on Jan 9, 2020

Early on in my ministry, I was called to the home of one of the people in the congregation who said they had a Christmas gift for me. Shortly after getting out of my vehicle I heard shouting coming from the house that I was called to. I gently knocked on the door and the woman of the house opened ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 6:23

Tags: Christmas, Grace, Forgiveness, Gift

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Great Verses For Following Jesus

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 16, 2020

FOLLOWING JESUS. Beside each passage of Scripture, write down what you think that verse is saying about following Jesus in the coming year. Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Philippians ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Discipleship, New Year, Following Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The V-Formation (Geese)

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 31, 2020

V-SHAPED FORMATION… GEESE ARE STRONG AS A SKEIN. The V-formation is called a skein. Do we understand how wonderful God’s creation is? Study has revealed that GEESE fly in a V-shaped formation when they are migrating. This serves several purposes. The V-formation improves the ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3, 1 Samuel 30:8

Tags: Unity, Geese

Denomination: Assembly Of God

"i've Got A Mansion Just Over The Hilltop" Song Story

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 21, 2022

In 1945, a young Christian businessman stood one evening in an evangelistic service in Dallas, Texas, and told how he had learned a valuable lesson from a small child. The gentleman stated that his business, for a number of months, had been in a steady decline. It looked as if it would completely ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Tags: Death, Revelation, Heaven, Hope, New Jerusalem, Funerals  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unsung Heroes-Aquila And Priscilla

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 12, 2023

Introduction: This couple is only mentioned a few times in the New Testament, but with each mention it’s clear they were serving the Lord. They are truly unsung heroes of the Bible! 1 Ministering with Paul in Corinth Text: Acts 18:1-3. KJV 1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-3, Acts 18:18-21

Tags: Priscilla, Aquila, Unsung Heroes

Denomination: Baptist