In Sermon Illustrations: "Personal"

Why Should I Let You Into Heaven?

Contributed by Brad Henry on Aug 5, 2011

WHY SHOULD I LET YOU INTO HEAVEN? If you were to die today and God were to ask you, 'Why should I let you into my heaven?' what would you say?" Over the years I would have to say that 85% of the answers I get are "I have tried to be a good person, I have tried to be a good parent, I have tried to ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

When Everything Crumbles

Contributed by David Dewitt on Sep 22, 2011

WHEN EVERYTHING CRUMBLES September 11th is one of those moments frozen in time. It is one of those moments that everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news. When the first plane struck the tower at 8:45am, it was a moment that would reshape the fabric of ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Church Of God

I Want To Be Pretty  PRO

Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Jan 24, 2012

I WANT TO BE PRETTY "I want to be pretty." This is the title of a popular tv program that was airing when we lived in Poland. It was a reality tv show in which in every episode you follow the changes of two women who are the heroes of the program. Each of these women work with a team of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:30

Tags: Faith, Love, Beauty, Faithfulness, Patience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Christlikeness: A Painful Process  PRO

Contributed by Josh Hunt on May 9, 2012

CHRISTLIKENESS: A PAINFUL PROCESS The truth is that the Spirit of the living God is guaranteed to ask you to go somewhere or do something you wouldn’t normally want or choose to do. The Spirit will lead you to the way of the cross, as He led Jesus to the cross, and that is definitely not a safe or ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18, Matthew 16:24-25, Revelation 12:1-2

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Baptist

Standard Of Comparison  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 27, 2012

STANDARD OF COMPARISON Michael Green, in his book Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, shares a good lesson which I think is appropriate for beginning our message this evening. He states: All of us frequently compare ourselves favorably with someone else. We all think of someone whom we ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-16, Exodus 7:8-23

Tags: Holiness

Is Evangelism Too Hard?

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

Jenn Hopkins writes of attending a funeral several years ago. "There he lay, dead. He was gone and unsaved. Lived a life and then, in the flash of an eye, he was in Hell. Someone I loved and respected was gone and so was my opportunity to share the Gospel with him. His funeral was in a church, one ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:8-13

Tags: Evangelism, Hell

Denomination: Methodist

The Virgin Birth

Contributed by Davon Huss on Dec 17, 2014

M.R. DeHaan- From a beginningless eternity Jesus was the infinite Son of God, one of the three persons of the trinity, equal with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. And then when the time for the payment of redemption’s price came, Jesus left the glories of the Father’s house, laid aside the form ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:6-8

Tags: Incarnation, Virgin Birth, Christ's Incarnation, Christmas Meaning

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Touches The Hearts

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on May 5, 2017

There was a Girl in India, who was doing her school final. She was born and brought in the Non-Christian Faith. She had severe problems about the existence of Life. She was raising so many questions within herself. She couldn't find a suitable answer to her life. She searched her religious books ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:31

Tags: Jesus Savior, Beleive In The Lord, Jesus Is The Saviour

Denomination: Methodist

Gun Laws

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Mar 18, 2018

Gun Laws Laws - "are sent by Him to punish those who do wrong and commend those who do right." 2 Peter 2:14 - Keeping this truth in the context of guns. Nothing wrong with making sure there are laws which make it hard for wicked or mentally ill people from getting guns. Those (mentally ill or ...read more

Tags: Laws, Gun Laws, Guns

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Humility

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jun 27, 2021

The Western meaning of humility derives from the usage of the Hebrew speaking Jews, Latin speaking Romans and the Greeks, in particular Greek speaking Christians of the first century. In all three languages the word used to describe humility means "low", as in low to the ground: the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Service, Humility, Power

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Bad And Good Decision

Contributed by Sourav Dasgupta on Dec 30, 2021

Decision (Good & Bad Consequences) Esther 1: King Ahsereus & Queen Vasti) Errors of King 1.Wine Temptation 2.Queen Display 3.Anger Demonstration Errors of Queen 1.Husband's Disobedience 2.No Ungodly Guidance (Job Money Security Deposit) Proverbs 12:15 3.No 3rd Person in H-W ...read more

Tags: Godly Counsel, Obedience To Seniors

Seizing Opportunity

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 16, 2024

The ancient allegory of 'Occasio' or 'Opportunity' is represented by a unique statue. This figure is often depicted as a youth with a peculiar hairstyle: lush and long in the front but completely bald at the back. The imagery is profound in its symbolism. The long lock of hair at ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:10

Tags: Moment, Decisive, Hesitation, Consequence, Fleeing, Opprotunity, Commitment, Action, Seize  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

A Contentious Spirit - Speaking Strife

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 11, 2025

Here’s a fun fact: You don’t actually have to correct someone when they’re wrong. Shocking, I know! There’s no official appointment letter naming you Earth’s Guardian of Truth and Accuracy. (If there is, it probably got lost in the mail.) Sometimes, it’s okay to just let it go—yes, even if they ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:9, Proverbs 26:21

Tags: Contentious, Strife, Contentious Spirit

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How Should A Christian Walk?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jul 29, 2025

Have you ever noticed how novelists or movie directors make use of the way a person walks to highlight his or her character? Proud man walks erect, their heads held high. Beautiful women glide or float. Villains slouch, sneak, creep, or swagger. The need to describe different ways of walking has ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1, Isaiah 57:2, 1 John 1:7, Micah 6:8, Psalm 119:106  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Light, Humble, Walk, Worthy, Word  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Boxes Of Chocalates

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

A young man went into a Pharmacy to buy 3 boxes of chocolate: small, medium, and large. When the pharmacist asked him about the three boxes, he said, ... "Well, I'm going over to my new girlfriend's house for supper. Then we are going out for the evening. If she only lets me hold ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 16:12

Tags: Pharmacist, Chocolates

Denomination: Anglican

Light Of The W.orld Holman Hunt

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Dec 23, 2025

A verse that means a lot to me is Rev 3:20 where Jesus says 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. The famous painting known as the Light of the World, was begun in 1849 and completed in ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:20

Tags: Jesus, Free Will

Denomination: Anglican

Comments About Muhammad Originate In Key Islamic ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 14, 2002

Comments About Muhammad Originate in Key Islamic Source Two former Muslims responded June 12 to complaints from Islamic groups that a speaker’s comments at the Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference in St. Louis were "bigoted" and "hateful." National media have widely reported that Jerry Vines, ...read more

Tags: World Religions

Whoever Gets The Son Gets It All  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

WHOEVER GETS THE SON GETS IT ALL The story is told about a wealthy man and his only son - both of whom loved to collect rare works of art! They had everything - from the late great Andalusian-Spanish painter, draughtsman, and sculptor, Pablo Picasso (1881 - 1973) to the late great Italian painter ...read more

Tags: Atonement, Jesus, Salvation, Cross, Becoming A Christian  (view more)  (view less)

Saved People Have Two Birthdays!

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jul 4, 2019

Born Again - John 1:12-13 (Also see John 3:1-16) 12. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the (power or authority or) right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: 13. who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12-13, John 3:1-16

Tags: Born Again, Family Of God

Denomination: Baptist

George Floyd

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jun 11, 2020

God can use you to make a difference in our broken world no matter your past. Just commit your way to the Lord like Jephthah did and depend on His Holy Spirit. When I think about Jephthah, I think about George Floyd, who was recently murdered in Minneapolis. George was a towering 6-foot by 6-inch ...read more

Scripture: Judges 11:1-3, Judges 11:29, 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Tags: Transformation, Grace Of God, George Floyd

Denomination: Evangelical Free