In Sermon Illustrations: "Pay Attention"

Admirer Or Follower?  PRO

Contributed by Ty Tamasaka on Jul 19, 2011

ADMIRER OR FOLLOWER? Recently I heard that in Scotland, a voluntary survey was given to law enforcement officers of their religious affiliations. That may not sound very interesting, but what caught my attention was that 8 of the officers claimed their religious affiliation to be "Jedi". I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Other

Parable Of An Old Farmer And His Massey ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 27, 2012

PARABLE OF AN OLD FARMER AND HIS MASSEY FERGUSON “One cool spring morning a old man got up and opened the back door to his little farm house. It’s early in the morning and there are still a couple stars out; the grass is covered in dew. He walks over to the barn and pulls the large doors open to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-30

Tags: Parable Sower And Seed

Power And Discipline  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 5, 2013

POWER AND DISCIPLINE Over here is a wall socket. There is power in that socket. Because of that power, I can plug lamps, fans, microwaves and phone chargers into it and magically empower those devises. I can even plug a car charger into a wall socket and revive a dead car battery (like I’ve had to ...read more

Tags: Experience

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Deepika And Discipline  PRO

Contributed by Bala Samson on Aug 27, 2013

DEEPIKA AND DISCIPLINE James 4:8 "Come near to God and He will come near to you..." She is just a doll! Fair, pretty with a smile that could steal anyone's heart; her name is Deepika, four year old daughter of a couple who pick up garbage from residential quarters. She was untamed, dirty, ...read more

Scripture: James 4:8

Tags: Intimacy With God, Drawing Near To God

Denomination: Pentecostal

[163]. A Message From A Poem – Joy For Sorrow - Care In Hurt

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 14, 2025

[163]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JOY FOR SORROW - CARE IN HURT The title of this poem has two contrasts – sorrow turning to joy, and hurt adopting care. This poem was written 27 years ago and since that time much has changed in the world for the followers of the Lord. Persecution has increased ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5-6, 2 Corinthians 6:4-5

Tags: Hurting One, South Africa, The Holy Spirit, Martyred, Suffering Christians, World Press, Comforr, Joy, Africa, Sorrow, Iran, Sudan, Nigeria, Lord, Persecution, Evil, Comfort  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pressure Washing

Contributed by Jack Kale on Apr 6, 2016

Pressure Washing The wooden fence around our yard was black from mildew in parts, but it was mostly sun bleached gray. The grime was heaviest around the sprinkler heads where Florida humidity turns the porous wood into a mildew factory. I had grown accustomed to the funk and had gotten so ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:10

Tags: Pressure Washing, Spring Cleaning, Self Examination, Cleansed

Denomination: *other

Best Christmas Illustration Ever!  PRO

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

The brand new pastor and his wife were assigned to their first church in Brooklyn and were to reopen it. They arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw the church, it was run down and needed a lot of work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1

Tags: Christmas Reunion, Christmas, Advent

Denomination: Methodist

Tavian's Story From Insanity Of God

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 22, 2019

Story from Insanity of God Tavian, pages 183-185: Up four flights of creaking stairs, in a tiny apartment, we met a white-haired, stooped-over, shell of a man. It was clear that, earlier in his life, he had cast a longer shadow. He invited us into his apartment. The aged furnishings made the room ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:15

Tags: Joy, Tribulation, Power Of Praise

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Cross Made The Difference

Contributed by David Simpson on Apr 20, 2020

I (David Simpson) grew up as part of the spiritual family of Hardwick Christian Church. Along with my parents and sisters, I learned about Jesus and Bible there. I don’t ever remember a Sunday throughout my childhood and into my teen years when I was not in that church building and doing life with ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:5, John 3:16

Tags: Good Friday, Cross, Lord's Supper, Blood Of Jesus, Cross Of Jesus, Sacrifice Of Jesus, Communion  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Church

Unconditional Acceptance  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Jan 19, 2004

A lady says: I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree.  The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I  wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called ...read more

Scripture: John 5:27-31

Tags: Unconditional Love

Denomination: Lutheran

Max Lucado: Angels Were Silent  PRO

Contributed by Daniel Devilder on Dec 4, 2006

Max Lucado (Angels were Silent) Describes how in a similar way we cry out for something to cut through the clutter of life, turning to faith and religion to give us simplicity, instead finding things just as complicated: Enter, religion. We Christians have a solution for the confusion don’t we? ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1, Romans 11:3-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Together Communication And Attitude Have ...

Contributed by Ricki Lee Brooks on May 5, 2010

Together communication and attitude have potential... either for good or for evil. Here’s what we mean… It was attitude that took out yet another marriage. They were in their twenties. They were the parents of two beautiful children. He, however, had a miserable problem. She endured it. The ...read more

Tags: Attitude General

The Tablecloth  PRO

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 19, 2012

THE TABLECLOTH The brand new pastor and his wife were assigned to their first church in Brooklyn and were to reopen it. They arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw the church, it was run down and needed a lot of work. They set a goal to have everything done in ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Methodist

Trouble? Joe Was Trouble...

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 25, 2023

TROUBLE? JOE WAS TROUBLE! SOMEONE IS HURTING! I had taught school in Virginia several years. I was assistant principal. I often observed the kids in the younger classes and thought someday I will teach that child. There was a young boy named Joe. Joe was in the office pretty often in some kind ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:8, Mark 12:29

Tags: Help, Trouble, Ministry

Denomination: Assembly Of God

[155]. A Message From A Poem – Jesus Elevated In The Midst

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 6, 2025

[155]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JESUS ELEVATED IN THE MIDST Not I, but Christ. That is how it ought to be. That is the emphasis we need to have in our living and ministry. I am nothing without my Lord. If I think I am something I am deluded. If I think the ability is mine I am a disgrace. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:15, Matthew 21:9, Galatians 6:3

Tags: Lifted Up, Christian Poems, Jesus Elevated, Ride On A Donkey, Hosanna, Palm Sunday, Worthy Is The Lamb, Jesus In The Midst  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Does Evil Exist?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

DOES EVIL EXIST? Romans 8:28 We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him... Sometimes we just want things to turn out well--especially in a bad situation. Before Tom left for deployment to Iraq, he prayed that God will guide him in doing good in a land full of ...read more

Tags: Grace

The Story Is Told About 3 Brothers Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Oct 11, 2001

ILL. The story is told about 3 brothers who started working at the same time for a fur company owned by an old friend of their father. After working there for more than a year, one son was still receiving the same salary as when he started, & seemed to be unhappy with his job. The second son ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Leadership General, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Story Of Redemption  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 18, 2002

The Story of Redemption I want to begin the study tonight by telling you a story. I first heard this story about 30 years ago. I was listening to J Vernon McGee on the radio explain a great Bible truth and he told the following story to illustrate the Biblical principle. In your mind go back ...read more

Tags: Grace, God's Forgiveness

And, Finally, We Are To Apply Christ In ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 8, 2003

And, finally, we are to apply Christ in everything we do and say so that others will be pointed to the first part of the resolution and come to know Christ as their Savior. Your witness is more far reaching than you will ever know. This past week on Dr. Dobson’s Focus On The Family I heard this ...read more

Tags: Faith, Sharing My Testimony

They Knew That They Had A Serious Problem Before ...

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Jul 7, 2004

"They knew that they had a serious problem before they even pulled over to the side of the highway to check it out. The car shrieked and shuttered. Something was dragging on the pavement- and whatever it was, it sounded expensive. They got out of the car to survey the damage and sure enough it ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General, Christian Disciplines, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Lutheran