In Sermon Illustrations: "Painting"

A Man Was Walking Down A Street When He Noticed ...

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Jul 18, 2007

A man was walking down a street when he noticed in a store window a beautiful painting of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He stood there gazing at the picture for the longest than realized that a little boy was standing beside him. He patted the little boy on the head and said, "Son, what does ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Right And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2008

Right and Wrong While Leonardo da Vinci was painting the “The Last Supper”, he became incensed with a certain man. His temper flared, and he lashed out with bitter words. Returning to his work, he attempted to brush some delicate lines on the face of Jesus. But he was so distraught that he could ...read more

Tags: Marriage Struggle

No Faith, No Power

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

NO FAITH, NO POWER One night at dinner a man, who had spent many summers in Maine, fascinated his companions by telling of his experiences in a little town named Flagstaff. The town was to be flooded as part of a large lake for which a dam was being built. In the months before it was to be ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

Seven Stanzas At Easter

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Mar 19, 2023

John Updike put it in his wonderful poem : Make no mistake: if he rose at all it was as his body; If the cells dissolution did not reverse, the molecules reknit, the amino acids rekindle, the church will fall. Let us not mock God with metaphor, Analogy, sidestepping transcendence; Making ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:14, Matthew 28:1-10

Tags: Resurrection, Tomb, John Updike

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Who Is This Guy?

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Aug 29, 2011

WHO IS THIS GUY? Chuck Colson relates this interesting story in his book How Then Should We Live?: "In William Steig's Yellow & Pink, a delightfully whimsical picture book for children, two wooden figures wake up to find themselves lying on an old newspaper in the hot sun. One figure is painted ...read more

Tags: Creation

Denomination: Methodist

The Last Supper By Leonardo Da Vinci

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 21, 2025

Story: Leonardo da Vinci took seven years to paint his famous picture the "Last Supper". He used living people to depict the figures representing the Twelve Apostles and Christ. He started the fresco with Jesus Christ himself. It is reputed that he viewed hundreds and hundreds of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Tags: Last Supper, Leonardo Da Vinci

Denomination: Anglican

No Faith, No Power

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jun 5, 2011

NO FAITH, NO POWER When I was growing up in Oklahoma, there was a lake my family and I frequented a lot called Keystone Lake. Keystone was not a natural lake; prior to its creation in 1962, there were towns located there, one of which gives the lake its name. The town was to be flooded to make a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Nazarene

Cadillac Through And Through

Contributed by Brian Harvison on Nov 12, 2008

CADILLAC THROUGH AND THROUGH It is kind of like a brand new Cadillac. Inside, it has all the latest features installed. As it rolls off the assembly line at GM it has everything you would expect in a Caddy: Top of the line electronics, voice activated GPS navigation system, great surround sound ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Baptist

Joni Eareckson Tada

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Dec 22, 2008

Joni Eareckson Tada In 1967, a diving accident left Joni Eareckson Tada paralyzed from the neck down. She has had no feeling or movement in her arms or legs. She uses her mouth to paint and write. God used her greatly. She has been a great witness for God and an encouragement to many. She has ...read more

Tags: Affliction

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Tale Of Two Artists

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Mar 4, 2023

The great Danish theologian Soren Kierkegaard told a parable of 2 artists: One bragged, “I have travelled much and seen much in the world, but I have sought in vain to find anyone worth painting. In every face I have seen one or another fault. Therefore I seek in vain.” The second one, on the other ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-31, Matthew 25:40-46

Tags: Art, Creativity, Attitude, Kierkegaard

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Cost Of Giving In To Temptation

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Aug 14, 2024

Illustration: Cost of Giving in to Temptation There is a cost when we give into temptation. Here I have a sample of a wall. This is a wall of sheetrock. Looks good when painted. Most houses are made of this. What do you think would happen if I take this hammer and knock a hole in it? ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Temptation, Character, Damage

Denomination: Church Of God

Standing Up For Truth

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 4, 2026

Both these letters make it clear who is a danger to the house churches. They paint a picture of men whose words and actions need to be challenged and condemned. Do you think it was as hard for them back then as it is for us today? I had a friend who visited a church and attended Sunday School. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:2-3, Jude 1:4

Tags: Truth, God's Word, Sunday School

Denomination: Methodist

Auto Body Repair Ministry--I Have A Friend Back ...

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Feb 9, 2010

- AUTO BODY REPAIR MINISTRY--I have a friend back home, Michael. Michael is without a doubt a man with a call from Jesus Christ into ministry. Michael ministry is owning and running an auto body repair shop. Running an auto body repair shop may sound like the farthest thing there is from a church, ...read more

Tags: Workplace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Clarence Principle

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 7, 2011

THE CLARENCE PRINCIPLE That's what spiritual maturity is--It's not just being a Christian for a little while. It's being able to discern the difference between right and wrong, because you have practiced applying the principles of God's Word in your every-day life. It's being able to discern the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-4

Tags: Leadership General

Falling In Love With His Word

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

The reason God gave us the Bible is that he wants us to know who he is. If you want to know God, read his Book, read His words. Our words reveal who we are. Wayne Hudson tells the story of Ben who had left the East Coast 8 years earlier to head out West in hopes of making his fortune. It was 1898. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:16

Tags: Bible, Scripture, The Word, Bible Reading

Denomination: Methodist

African-American Inventors  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2002

AFRICAN-AMERICAN INVENTORS Granville T. Woods was known as "the black Thomas Edison" for his many inventions. Example: his 1889 automatic cutoff switch, an ancestor of the circuit breaker. In honor of Black History Month, the website of home improvement retailer Lowe’s paid tribute to Woods and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:12-20

Tags: Leadership General, Racism

In 1858, Francis Ridley Havegal Visited Germany ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 12, 2005

In 1858, Francis Ridley Havegal visited Germany with her father, who was being treated for an eye problem. While in a pastor’s home, she saw a painting of the crucifixion with words under it that said:"I did this for thee. What has thou done for me?" Quickly she took a piece of paper and wrote a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Tags: Faith General, Repentance

Denomination: Baptist

I Remember The Scene From The Movie "Pearl ...

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Nov 13, 2006

I remember the scene from the movie “Pearl Harbor” where the crews of B-17 bombers are inside their heavy bombers, trying to “lighten them up” so that the Doolittle raiders can take off from aircraft carriers and bomb Tokyo. They had to jettison every pound they could drop, otherwise the planes ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

There's An Eating Disorder Called Pica. Over ...

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Nov 30, 2006

There’s an eating disorder called pica. Over the years, doctors have reported cases of people with pica eating dirt, chalk, clay, paste, paint chips, paper, cardboard, ice chips, and Styrofoam. In one case, a 22-year-old woman showed up in the emergency room with undigested pieces of socks in her ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Whistler And The Doctor

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 18, 2010

WHISTLER AND THE DOCTOR James Whistler, the Victorian artist, showed scant respect for the hierarchy of any profession. When his poodle fell ill with a throat infection, the artist sent immediately for the country’s leading ear, nose, and throat specialist. Sir Morell Mackenzie was not amused when ...read more

Tags: Greatness

Denomination: Brethren