In Sermon Illustrations: "Quick Thinking"

Won't Someone Tell Me About Jesus?

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Aug 14, 2012

WON'T SOMEONE TELL ME ABOUT JESUS? Bob Harrington tells of a man who came to his pastor one day and asked if he remembered hearing about the man who had died down at the plant that week? He said the man had had steel spilt on him and was dying there on the plant floor. The man was calling out, ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Baptist

The Yanov Torah

Contributed by Perry Greene on Mar 13, 2013

THE YANOV TORAH During World War II, Jewish inmates of the Yanov labor camp in occupied Poland defied their Nazi guards, secretly conducting religious services inside their darkened barracks. To observe their ritual, the Jews had cut religious scrolls into sections, bound the parchment pieces ...read more

Tags: The Word, Bible Study, Scripture

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Two Brothers Were Convicted Of Stealing Sheep...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 9, 2015

Two brothers were convicted of stealing sheep many years ago in England. In accordance with the punishment of those days, they were branded in the forehead with the letters “ST” for sheep thief. One brother, unable to bear the stigma, fled to a foreign country where he died full of bitterness and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1

Tags: Holiness, Saint, Good Reputation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Clean Pigeon

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 9, 2015

Lester Roloff told about visiting a friend in Massillon, Ohio who had a number of pigeons. During the visit his friend showed him one of the birds and said, “See this bird. She just flew 500 miles from St. Louis to Massillon non stop.” Roloff interrupted his host: Come on, non stop! How do you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Tags: Clean, Holiness, Sanctify

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Cast Your Net On The Right Side

Contributed by Herb Pulse on Jun 28, 2017

I come from a fishing family. When I became old enough to walk, I became old enough to experience the wonderful world of fishing. One of things I particularly love is throwing a shad net. Often times it becomes very draining work, and at the tender age of 12 I became the primary go-to-guy for ...read more

Scripture: John 21:6

Tags: Jesus, Net, Cast

Denomination: Christian Church

Catching The Flu

Contributed by Michael E. Bartee Sr. on Nov 10, 2018

Catching The Flu is definitely dangerous! Perhaps you have read about the flu epidemic that swept the world in 1918? It killed 50 million people. One fifth of the world’s population. It spread rapidly because it was so contagious and people didn’t know what it was or how to prevent it. I am ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-47, Acts 1:8

Tags: Evangelism, Revival

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Grace Of God

Contributed by Sunitha Justin on Dec 30, 2018

Once a man died & went to the gates of heaven. AS he was about to enter in to heaven, Peter stands by the gates and refuses to let him in. Peter says.. tell me why I should let you into heaven. You list out your reasons. I will score you. And If you score 100 points, then I will let you in. So ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:10

Tags: Grace, Heaven

Denomination: Charismatic

Boat In The Storm

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Oct 27, 2019

ILLUS: BOAT THRU THE STORM Imagine you’re in a small boat and a sudden storm comes up. The sky is dark the wind is howling; the waves are raging. All of a sudden there are 20-foot swells and your boat is being tossed like a twig in a stream, one minute you are at the bottom of the swell the next ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:12

Tags: Good Fruit, Bad Fruit

Denomination: Pentecostal

Gorilla And Lion

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 13, 2022

There is a story about a college student who was desperately in need of a summer job. He discovered the local zoo was looking for help. He couldn’t think of a more creative way to spend the summer, but he wasn’t prepared for the job description. When he went to apply, the zookeeper explained ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8

Tags: Lion, Gorilla, Zoo

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Covenant?

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Nov 20, 2022

Devotional - Genesis 9:7-28 (also glance at Chapters 10-11) What was the command to Noah and his family? – populate the earth (we exist today because of Noah and family) Covenant – “berith” – a brand new word! What can we learn about this word in context? – a promise and commitment to do ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:7-28

Tags: Agreement, Covenant, Promise, Population

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Make Sure Your Ax Is Sharpen

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Feb 16, 2023

When we were young we did not have central heating and air. As a matter of fact I do not remember us having a window unit. What we had was a fireplace in the winter time and a screen door in the summer. I remember that old fire place. If it was real cold we would put a blanket over the door ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10:10

Tags: Holy Spirit, Sharpening Your Ax

Denomination: Church Of God

The Story Of The Chair

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 22, 2024

Those of you who have heard of Evangelism Explosion by D. James Kennedy know the illustration of the chair. You know, a person can say ‘Yes, I see that chair. That’s a chair. I acknowledge that’s a chair. I believe that’s a chair. And I think that chair could hold me up if I sat in it.’ But ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:10-13, Ephesians 4:30-32

Tags: Cross, Assurance, Blood Of Jesus, Faith In Christ, Works, Grace, Mercy, Trust, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Church Makes You Throw Up!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 12, 2024

Marty, a little boy, was in church one Sunday with his mother Doris, when he started feeling sick. 'Mummy,' he inquired, 'can we leave now?' 'No,' his mother replied, 'the service isn't over yet.' 'Well, I think I'm about to throw up.' Marty ...read more

Tags: Church, Children, Mothers, Sick

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Need A Push

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 25, 2025

A man and his wife are awakened at 3 a.m. by a loud pounding on their door. The man gets up and goes to the door where a drunken stranger in the pouring rain is asking for a push. “Not a chance,” says the husband- “It’s three o’clock in the morning!” He slams the door and returns to bed. “Who ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:2, Luke 6:31

Tags: Service, Compassion

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Stewardship Billfold Story - Humor

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 3, 2025

When I think of stewardship it brings to mind a story about a minister who was baptizing his new converts in a farm pond not far from the church. One of the gentlemen that was being baptized was a prosperous farmer known in his community for his tight grip on the dollar. When his name was called ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:8-12, Hebrews 7:1, Matthew 25:18, Matthew 6:21, Proverbs 3:9  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Steward, Stewardship, Baptism, Money

Denomination: Anglican

Clip: "Everybody Loves Raymond," Excerpted From ...  PRO

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Oct 28, 2002

[Clip: "Everybody Loves Raymond," excerpted from episode 119, "Talk To Your Daughter". Note: this episode is one of four included in a "For Your Consideration" DVD/VHS package that was prepared for the 2002 Emmy voters. You might find it on ebay.] Deborah: Ally just doesn’t want to know how we get ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose, Fulfillment, Worry

Denomination: Baptist

A Special Occasion  PRO

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on May 8, 2008

A SPECIAL OCCASION If you are waiting for a special house guest or a special occasion to use something you cherish in your house, consider the following following article by Ann Wells that appeared several years ago in the Los Angeles Times: My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

Tags: Happiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christmas Giving To Others

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Ann Voskamp writes, “It’s almost a dozen years now, nothing under the Christmas tree here. Strange, the way children teach adults. It started at bedtime one year, I do remember that. Smoothing back hair, kissing foreheads, pulling up the blankets over my kids. Tucking them in. Prayers said all in a ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:4

Tags: Christmas, Gift Giving

Denomination: Methodist

Spurgeon Quote

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on Aug 16, 2022

I want to read something to you. It’s from a sermon preached by Charles Spurgeon… listen to what he says here… it’s kind of a long quote, but man it’s good. “Everybody admires Luther! Yes, yes, but you do not want anyone else to do the same today. When you go to the Zoological Gardens you all ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Perseverance, Faithfulness

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Delete Or Repeat

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 27, 2022

Delete or Repeat When deleting something on our computers, a prompt usually asks, “Are you sure you want to delete this?” Another message may pop up on the screen, which reads, “If you delete, your information will be permanently removed, are you sure you wish to continue? If so, press the delete ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-15, Isaiah 43:18-19, 1 John 1:8-9, Philippians 3:12-14, 2 Corinthians 5:17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Future, Goals, New Year, Tomorrow, Commitments, Starting The Year  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist