In Sermon Illustrations: "Parable General"

Although Not A Good Example Of A Godly Man, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 24, 2001

Although not a good example of a Godly man, Steven King is an excellent example of patience and pereseverence. He began writing when he was in second grade. He lived in an upper floor bedroom of his mother’s house. His dream was to be published in a magazine. His first manuscript was rejected so he ...read more

Tags: Parable Widow, Peace, Prayer Persistence

A Humble Memorial  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2002

A HUMBLE MEMORIAL In 1884 a young man died, and after the funeral his grieving parents decided to establish a memorial to him. With that in mind they met with Charles Eliot, president of Harvard University. Eliot received the unpretentious couple into his office and asked what he could do. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7, Genesis 1:1

Tags: Emotions, Parable Great Banquet, Humility

It Beats Hell!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 6, 2002

IT BEATS HELL! It is said that Abe Mulky, who became the Texas Evangelist, went to an old-fashioned revival and was under deep conviction. He went home and said to his wife, "Mandy, what shall I do? I am lost. I am miserable. But you know we have gained our possessions crookedly and if I get ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Tags: Parable Lazarus, Jesus Teachings, Hell

Hard Times For Hell  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 6, 2002

HARD TIMES FOR HELL Hell, it would seem, has fallen on rather lean times. It used to be that the vast majority of Christians, regardless of denominational affiliation, believed that Hell was a real place where the wicked and the impenitent go when they died. The very thought of the pains and ...read more

Tags: Hell, Parable Lazarus, Second Coming

Comfortable In Hell  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 6, 2002

COMFORTABLE IN HELL Jeff Strite tells this story about his Dad. My Dad was what was known as "a rounder." A man’s man. Hard worker, hard fighter, and a hard player of baseball and basketball. He was attractive to women and he loved to go out and dance. Now, it’s not that dad was a stranger ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Tags: Hell, Jesus Teachings, Parable Lazarus

The Lost Sheep—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 25, 2004

THE LOST SHEEP- COMMUNION MEDITATION Have you heard the story of Shrek, the merino sheep that had evaded capture and shearing for 6 years? When he was finally discovered in his high mountain cave of New Zealand by musterer Ann Scanlan, he was almost unrecognizable as a sheep. The first thing his ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10, 1 Peter 2:24-25

Tags: Lord's Supper, Parable Lost Sheep

Just A Mite Confused  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 12, 2004

JUST A MITE CONFUSED Daniel Boone explored the great wilderness of Tennessee and Kentucky. It was Boone who marked the wilderness road that brought settlers into the new land. He often wandered over vast areas of forest, living off the land and dodging arrows. Once he was asked if he had ever bee ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Tags: Parable Lost Sheep, Evangelism The Lost

Looking For The Lost  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 12, 2004

LOOKING FOR THE LOST The boss of a big company needed to call one of his employees about an urgent problem with one of the main computers. He dialed the employee’s home telephone number and was greeted with a child’s whispered, "Hello?" Feeling put out at the inconvenience of having to talk to a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-31, Luke 15:1-31, Luke 15:1-31

Tags: Parable Lost Sheep, Evangelism The Lost

Lost In America  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 12, 2004

LOST IN AMERICA According to the North American Mission Board Research Division, there are 192 million lost people in America today and that number is growing by almost 2 million ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-31, Luke 15:1-15

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, Parable Lost Sheep

Finding Detroit  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 12, 2004

FINDING DETROIT Mary Brumbaugh’s husband, an airline pilot, often has difficulty locating items around the house. One day he asked Mary where the salt was. Annoyed, she responded, "How on earth can you find Detroit at night in a blizzard, but you can’t find the salt in your own kitchen?" "Well, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-31

Tags: Parable Lost Coin, Evangelism The Lost

No Contest  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 28, 2004

NO CONTEST When we get to heaven, there will be no contest to see who was the most deserving of God’s grace because no one deserves it. There will only be one contest in heaven. When we look back and see what we were before, when we see the pit from which he rescued us, when we recall how ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16, Galatians 2:20-21, Matthew 20:1-16

Tags: Promises Of God, Parable Vineyard, Grace

Wanted: Movers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 28, 2004

WANTED: MOVERS Suppose that one of the local businessmen had purchased a new building and was planning to move all of his stock into the new store. He placed an ad in the paper offering $100.00 per day to anyone who would come to help him make the move. The first workers were there early on the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Tags: Grace, Parable Vineyard, Promises Of God

An Invitation (And A Rejection Form)  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2004

AN INVITATION (AND A REJECTION FORM) Dearest (your name), You are cordially invited to come and enjoy the delicious banquet of my salvation. Serving will begin at My House and will continue for eternity. I’d love for you to come and get to know Me personally–and join my Family. This feast is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:12-24

Tags: Grace, Salvation, Parable Great Banquet

Famous Neighbors  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 26, 2004

FAMOUS NEIGHBORS Can you name some famous neighbors? *Mr. Rogers Neighborhood in his sweater and sneakers … “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood … won’t you be my neighbor?” *Dennis the Menace … “Helloooo Mr. Wilson!” *Ricky & Lucy Ricardo … Fred & Ethel Mertz. *Tim “the Tool Man” Taylor ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Tags: Christian Love, Parable Good Samaritan

Sheep Know Shepherd's ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 21, 2009

Sheep Know Shepherd’s Voice The contrast with the shepherd is even greater for the shepherd knows each sheep by name and his sheep follow his voice alone. Lloyd Ogilvie, the former Chaplain of the Senate and Pastor of Hollywood Presbyterian Church tells of being in the Middle East and watching a ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-18

Tags: Good Shepherd, Parable Lost Sheep

We Know A Family Who Had Been Searching In Vain ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jun 15, 2010

We know a family who had been searching in vain for their teenage son (+ 18) for a number of months. Finally they located him in Colorado Springs and went down to see him. He was unrecognizable ~ hair not washed for months, uncut beard, and disgusting odor reeked from his body. He had been living ...read more

Tags: Father's Day, Parable Prodigal Son

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Maybe If You Listened...  PRO

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 4, 2011

"MAYBE IF YOU LISTENED..." In the middle of an argument, my Mum would say something like this - "Maybe if you LISTENED for a change, you would understand what I am trying to tell you!" So often I am not so much listening but simply waiting for the other person to finish so that I can get across my ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:13

Tags: Everyone, Parable Sower And Seed, Problem

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ivan The Terrible

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 11, 2014

THE BURIAL CLOTHES OF IVAN THE TERRIBLE In 1547 Ivan the IV became Grand Duke of Russia, and he proclaimed himself "Czar" which is a form of the word "Caesar." He actually claimed to be god on the earth. He later became known as Ivan the Terrible, because he was a cruel, vicious leader. He not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14

Tags: Righteousness, Jesus Parables, Wedding Banquet

What The Lost Coin Means

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 18, 2019

Ann Punton writes, “Although everyone dressed more or less alike according to social standing, each village had some distinguishing feature. Bethlehem women wore a conical cap. When they married, their husband gave them a number of silver coins which they fixed to their hat. The coins were their ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Tags: Search, Found, Parable Of The Lost Coin

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Boss Of A Big Company Needed To Call One Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The boss of a big company needed to call one of his employees about an urgent problem with one of the main computers. He dialed the employee’s home telephone number and was greeted with a child’s voice, "Hello?" It was a quiet little voice. Feeling put out at the inconvenience of having to talk to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32, Matthew 18:1-5

Tags: Obedient, Hearing, Parable Prodigal Son