In Sermon Illustrations: "Passing Love Along"

Meekness: Personal Restraint For The Sake Of Others

Contributed by Richard Tow on Mar 20, 2023

Years ago, a young man named George Atley was serving in the Central African Mission. He was attacked by a group of natives. He had with him a Winchester repeating rifle with ten loaded chambers. The group was completely at his mercy. He could have killed every one of them. But as he assessed the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:15, Psalm 37:11

Tags: Evangelism, Love, Missions, Meekness, Restraint  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Obedience And Acceptance

Contributed by Shawn Buser on Jan 19, 2024

"You aren't accepted because you obey, you obey because you are ...read more

Scripture: John 14:15, Isaiah 6:8

Tags: Faith, Love, Acceptance, Obedience, Works  (view more)  (view less)

Thin Skinned And Hard Hearted

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 2, 2025

Somebody smarter than me said the greatest problem in the local church is that we are not who we were designed by God to be. As Believers, we were made to be thick-skinned and tender hearted. That’s how we can “love one another fervently with a pure heart.” (1 Peter 1:22) Instead, we have become ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-17, 1 Peter 1:22

Tags: Forgiveness, Fervent Love, Tender Hearted

Denomination: Methodist

The Boy And The Sprinkles

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 20, 2025

He couldn’t have been more than seven or eight. A mop of brown hair, freckles across his nose, and a handful of coins jingling in his palm as he stepped up to the counter. “Ma’am,” he asked shyly, “how much is a scoop of vanilla ice cream?” The waitress smiled. “Fifty cents.” He nodded and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:48, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Tags: Love, Humility, Gratitude, Generosity, Kindness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Bloopers In The Bulletin

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 11, 2023

The following are actual church bulletin board bloopers found in churches across the United States. The outreach committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people who are not afflicted with any church. The Pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:1-7

Tags: Church, Humor, Secretaries, Failure, Pastors, Unconditional Love, Love For Others, Bloopers, Bulletin  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It Was Sunday Morning And Harry Was Off. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jan 29, 2001

It was Sunday morning and Harry was off. He pulled out of his driveway in his 2-seater convertible, with the roof closed because of typical Melbourne driving rain, and headed for church. But as he turned into the main road he saw ahead of him three bedraggled figures huddled under a single umbrella ...read more

Scripture: Esther 4:14-17, Esther 4:8-14

Tags: Memorial Day, Christian Love, Doing God's Will, Faith

Denomination: Anglican

Two Ships In The Night! (07.18.05--Pride--Numbers ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 14, 2005

Two Ships in the Night! (07.18.05--Pride--Numbers 22:29) There’s a time to be right and a time to be righteous. That’s what the old farmer told me as I hefted the last hay bale into the loft. I had just had an encounter with a bully at school and I was feeling both peeked and embattled at the ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:29

Tags: Wait, Worship, Christian Love, Christian Disciplines, Patience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

The Devout Priest Was Caught In A Flood One Day, ...  PRO

Contributed by Simon Rundell on Jan 19, 2001

The devout priest was caught in a flood one day, and he climbed onto the roof of his Vicarage and as the water started lapping up over the roof he prayed “Lord, deliver me from this flood”. The water continued to rise and a policeman in a rowing boat passed: “Can I help you Vicar?” “No thanks, the ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Love, Prayer Answered, Examples Of Faith

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

A Story In The Denver Post Came Out In 1958 That ...  PRO

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Mar 22, 2002

A story in the Denver Post came out in 1958 that illustrates self-less love. June 7, 1958 the Air National Guard’s jet precision team was performing outside of Dayton, Ohio. Five precision flyers made up the Minute Men team. Colonel Walt Williams was the leader of the Denver-based F-86 Sabre-jet ...read more

Tags: Love, Compassion, Christian Disciplines, Healing, Forgiveness In Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Free Methodist

Many Years Ago, Executives Of The Time-Life ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Jones on Nov 1, 2000

Many years ago, executives of the Time-Life publishing organization discovered that the company’s profit margin had shrunk to an alarmingly low level. Consequently, they began an intensive effort to try to cut costs. Efficiency experts suggested that substantial savings could be effected in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

Tags: Love, Mercy, God's Forgiveness, Endurance, Promises Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

On The Australian Coat Of Arms Is A Picture Of A ...  PRO

Contributed by David Browne on Dec 9, 2000

On the Australian coat of arms is a picture of a emu and a kangaroo. These animals were chosen because they share a characteristic that appealed to our forefathers. Both the emu and kangaroo can move only forward, not back. The emu’s three-toed foot causes it to fall if it tries to go backwards, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14, Matthew 14:22-33

Tags: Australian, Growth In Christ, Healing, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Baptist

A Vicar Had A Dream. He Was On His Way To Heaven. ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Nov 9, 2000

A vicar had a dream. He was on his way to heaven. Before him there stretched a long flight of stairs. As he started to go up, he was given a piece of chalk and told that he must put a chalk mark on each of the steps for each sin he had committed. When he was about halfway up he met the bishop ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, God's Forgiveness, Sin General

Denomination: Baptist

There's A Story Told Of A Husband And Wife Both ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

There’s a story told of a husband and wife both of who were doctors - one a doctor of theology and the other a doctor of medicine. When their doorbell was rung and the maid answered, the inquirer would often ask for "the doctor". The maid’s ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General, Forgiveness General, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Baptist

There’s An Old Story Of A Man Who Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Jan 6, 2001

There’s an old story of a man who was walking at night, and saw another man searching for something near a lamp post. Approaching, he asked the man what he was looking for, and the man, without looking up, replied, “My watch”. The first man asked, “Well, precisely where were you standing when ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:5-10

Tags: Knowing God's Will, Love Of The Disciples, Sermon On The Mount

Denomination: Orthodox

About 6am On A Wed Morning James Lawson Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeffrey Stewart on Oct 21, 2000

About 6am on a Wed morning James Lawson of Running Springs, CA left home to apply for a new job. An hour later his 36 yr old wife, Pasty left for her 5th grade teaching job down the mountain with her 2 children, 5 yr old Susan and 2 yr old Jerry. Unfortunately they never got that far. 81/2 hours ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Christian Love, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

Bill Hybels, The Pastor Of Willow Creek ...  PRO

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Oct 31, 2000

Bill Hybels, the pastor of Willow Creek Community Church just outside of Chicago makes this statement. “If you create a loving community, ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1

Tags: Christian Love, Church Body Of Christ, Unity

Denomination: Wesleyan

A Preacher’s Prayer: "Lord, Fill My ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mccutchen on Jan 26, 2001

A Preacher’s Prayer: “Lord, fill my mouth with worthwhile stuff, and nudge ...read more

Tags: Communication General, Christian Love, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Heard Of One Pastor Who Spoke Up And Said, ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jan 30, 2001

I heard of one Pastor who spoke up and said, ‘Bro. Brown would you please stand and ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-23

Tags: Unity, Communication General, Christian Love, One

A Newspaper Columnist Named George Crane Told ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Feb 1, 2001

A newspaper columnist named George Crane told once of a woman who was full of hatred toward her husband. Someone counseled the woman to act as if she really loved her husband, to tell him how much he meant to her, to praise him for every decent trait, to be kind, considerate, and generous whenever ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Marriage Obligations, Romantic Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Christian Man Is The Most Free Lord Of All, ...  PRO

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Apr 3, 2001

"A Christian man is the most free lord of all, and subject to none; a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to every one." ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Kingdom Of God, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Baptist