In Sermon Illustrations: "Pleasing God"

You Don't Impress Him

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 15, 2020

“You don’t impress the officials at NASA with a paper airplane. You don’t boast about your crayon sketches in the presence of a Picasso. You don’t claim equality with an Einstein because you can write H2O. And you don’t boast about your goodness in the presence of the Perfect One. Mark it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Humility, Beatitudes, Pride, Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Sleeping Church

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Sep 26, 2020

Martin Luther once dreamed that the devil was listening to reports from his agents on the progress they were making against the Kingdom of God. One reported, "A company of Christians were crossing the desert, and I loosen the lions on them, and all were lost." The devil replied, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:5

Tags: Against The Kingdom Of God, Sleeping Church

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ang Biyaya Ng Diyos

Contributed by James Dina on Oct 25, 2020

ANG BIYAYA NG DIYOS "Datapuwa't sa pamamagitan ng biyaya ng Dios ako ang aking pagkatao: at ang kaniyang biyaya na [ipinagkaloob] sa akin ay walang kabuluhan; subalit mas masagana akong gumawa kaysa sa kanilang lahat: gayon ma'y hindi ako, kundi ang biyaya ng Dios na kasama ko." ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:10

Tags: Grace, Grace Of God, Unmerited Favor

Denomination: Pentecostal

What Great Men Said About The Bible

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

List to what great men in the past have said about the Bible. Abraham Lincoln: "I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book." W. E. Gladstone: "I have known ninety-five of the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Bible, Scripture, Truth, Word Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don't Wait For A Cyclone To Preach The Word!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 25, 2021

A.W. Tozer once said, "I heard of one graduate of a theological school who determined to follow his old professor’s advice and preach the Word only. His crowds were average. Then one day a cyclone hit the little town and he yielded to the temptation to preach on the topic, “Why God Sent A ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Preaching, Pastors, Churches, The Word Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Preach!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 25, 2021

“PREACH” The word, “preach” comes from the Greek word, kerusso, and means to proclaim as a herald or make a proclamation in a public gathering. The herald may not even have liked the message he was to proclaim or the people may not have wanted to hear it and, thus, the temptation for the herald ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Preaching, Pastors, Churches, The Word Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Are Many Mysteries

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Aug 25, 2021

There are 12 or 13 diseases that Doctors know nothing about or very little. They are Mystery's. One such mystery disease is “the sleeping sickness”. From 1917 to 1928, half a million people were afflicted with a ghastly condition that could be part of the plot-line of a horror film. The ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Tags: Mystery Of God Can Be Found, Mysteries

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Rescued Twice

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 23, 2022

A wealthy English family once invited friends to spend some time at their beautiful estate. The happy gathering was almost plunged into a terrible tragedy on the first day. When the children went swimming, one of them got into deep water and was drowning. Fortunately, the gardener heard the others ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Galatians 1:4

Tags: Salvation, Miracle, Sovereignty Of God, Rescued

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Outline Of Joseph's Life

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 13, 2022

The story of Joseph’s life can be outlined by several key events in Genesis:   1. REJECTION (37:1-36) – Jacob selected Joseph as the favored son and he was despised by his brothers. They threw him into a pit and left him for dead.   2. REFINEMENT (38:1 – 40:23) – Traders came by and ...read more

Tags: Faith, Temptation, Rejection, Joseph, Will Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Be A Christian But Don't Act Like One!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 28, 2022

I love the story of the stressed-out woman who was tailgating a man as they drove on a busy boulevard. When he slowed to a stop at a yellow light, the woman hit the horn, cussing and screaming in frustration and gesturing angrily. As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-35

Tags: Satan, Discipleship, Kingdom Of God, Hypocrites

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I'm Only A General, But He's A Son!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 30, 2022

Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. grew up under the shadow of a large man. His father was the hero of San Juan Hill and the President of the United States. The pressure to excel often caused him problems, but Teddy, Jr. went on to be a highly decorated Brigadier General during World War II, receiving the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:26-29

Tags: Children Of God, Authority, Sons, Mothers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Parable Of The Sower

Contributed by Polimetla Joy on Jan 30, 2023

In this parable, Jesus teaches about the importance of having a receptive heart to receive the word of God. He explains how the seed (word of God) can fall on different types of soil, representing different hearts. Some seed falls on the wayside, representing those who hear the word and do not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9, Luke 8:4-8

Tags: Scripture, Word Of God, Hearing, Responding

They Will Know What Jesus Looks Like Now

Contributed by Timothy Lueking on Apr 3, 2023

Maybe you have heard the story of a young boy who was given an assignment in his elementary art class. He was asked to draw a picture of something that was priceless to him. He thought about all things he valued and then the idea came to him as to what was most important and valuable. Throughout ...read more

Scripture: John 1:18, 1 John 4:12, 1 Timothy 6:15-16, Mark 16:15

Tags: Image Of God, Share Your Faith

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Hound Of Heaven

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 2, 2023

In his book The Call, author Os Guinness writes: We cannot find God without God. We cannot reach God without God. We cannot satisfy God without God—which is another way of saying that our seeking will always fall short unless God’s grace initiates the search and unless God’s call draws us to Him ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-9, Titus 3:5

Tags: Grace, Salvation, Works, Sovereignty Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Apathy

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 4, 2023

Is feeling nothing the inevitable result of believing in nothing? And then I got to feeling frightened—thinking that there might not actually be anything to believe in, in particular. I thought it would be such a sick joke to have to remain alive ...read more

Scripture: John 20:31

Tags: Truth, Skeptics, Faith, Doubt, God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Love: Needing Or Giving

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 26, 2023

“The typical example of Gift-love would be that love which moves a man to work and plan and save for the future well-being of his family which he may die without sharing or seeing; the second, Need-love, is that which sends a lonely and frightened child to its mother’s arms. And of course Divine ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:29-31, Luke 10:27, 1 John 4:7-8, Matthew 22:36-39

Tags: Love, Love Of God, Love Of Neighbor

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Of Herods And Kings

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 4, 2024

"Every Herod dies and comes alone to stand before the Lamb upon the Throne." ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:19-20, Revelation 5:1-8

Tags: Power, Politics, Sovereignty, Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Verbal Plenary Inspiration

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 15, 2026

Can we trust God’s Word as the truth? Can it be a light into the darkness we face? I want to briefly explain, again, what I believe about how we got the Bible. This is referred to as “Verbal Plenary Inspiration.” I believe the words of Holy Scripture were given to the men who wrote the original ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:19-21, Hebrews 4:12

Tags: Bible, Hope, Inspired Word Of God

Denomination: Methodist

Benediction

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 3, 2026

May you know the warmth of God’s loving embrace May you know the joy of God’s ever-presence May you know the peace of God’s gentle whisper May you know the strength of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:20

Tags: God's Presence, Peace, Joy, Strength

Denomination: Methodist