In Sermon Illustrations: "Quotes"

The Wright Brothers And The Wrong Message

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 28, 2023

In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their "flying machine" off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: "We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas." Katherine hurried to ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-12

Tags: Unsaved, Confused, Message, Gospel, Missions, Witnessing, Lost, Birth Of Christ, Evangelism, Christmas  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Your Sermon Reminded Me Of The Peace And Love Of God!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 12, 2024

After a very long and boring sermon the parishioners filed out of the church saying nothing to the preacher. Towards the end of the line was a thoughtful person who always commented on the sermons. "Pastor, today your sermon reminded me of the peace and love of God!" The pastor was ...read more

Tags: Paul, Preaching, Peace Of God, Eutychus, Love Of God, Preachers, Boring Sermons, Long Sermons  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don't Live Like An Orphan When You Have A Father In Heaven!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 12, 2022

Said the Robin to the sparrow, "I should really like to know, Why these anxious human beings Rush around and worry so." Said the Sparrow to the Robin, "Friend, I think that it must be, That they have ...read more

Tags: Faith, Father, Prayer, Providence, Will Of God, Sovereignty Of God, Needs  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Roast Turkey To Reindeer

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 9, 2023

Nothing is more confusing than being in the middle of two holidays. I have just finished Thanksgiving, and now Christmas is before me. Each year, it gets more difficult to adjust to the next holiday. It’s hard for me to keep up. For months, the focus was on that roast turkey for Thanksgiving. And ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Turkey, Reindeer, Christmas, Thanksgiving

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

A Story Of Hudson Taylor

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

Hudson Taylor began the study of medicine as well as Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. He realized, however, that the most important preparation of all must take place in the realm of his own soul. In China he would have to depend utterly upon his Lord for protection, supplies -- everything. Lest a ...read more

Scripture: John 14:13-26

Tags: Trust, Hudson Taylor

Denomination: Anglican

A Father Who Will Never Leave Us

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 31, 2021

A FATHER WHO WILL NEVER LEAVE US Devotional written by Dr. Larry Petton When I was pastoring in Texas, a sweet little girl came up to me once and said, "Pastor Larry, will Jesus ever leave me if I trust in Him?" I knelt down beside the little girl and said, "Why do you ask me ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:1-5

Tags: Holy Spirit, Assurance, God's Faithfulness, Our Father In Heaven, The Son Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Witness Barber

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 17, 2021

There was a barber that thought that he should share his faith with his customers more than he had been doing lately. So the next morning when the sun came up and the barber got up out of bed he said, "Today I am going to witness to the first man that walks through my door." Soon after ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15

Tags: Evangelism, Witness

Denomination: Methodist

The Amazing Story Of The Waldorf-Astoria

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 12, 2023

One stormy night an elderly couple entered the lobby of a small hotel and asked for a room. The clerk said they were filled, as were all the hotels in town. "But I can't send a fine couple like you out in the rain," he said. "Would you be willing to sleep in my room?" The ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Sacrifice, Holy Spirit, Faithfulness, Rewards, Fruit Of The Spirit, Spirit Filled Life, Unselfishness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sometimes I Feel A Little Tugging On The Line!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 20, 2023

A little boy was flying his kite in the windy city of Chicago, Illinois one day. He sent the kite up and let the line out as the wind took it away to the cloudy sky. About that time, an elderly man walked past the little boy and asked him a question. "What are you doing there, son?" he ...read more

Tags: Answers To Prayer, Prayer, Will Of God, Hearing God, God's Voice, Sovereignty Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

George W. Bush Meets Moses!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 22, 2024

George W. Bush was walking through an airport last week, when he saw an old man with white hair, a long white beard, wearing a long white robe and holding a staff. He walked up to the man, who was staring at the ceiling, and "Excuse me sir, aren't you Moses?" The man stood perfectly ...read more

Tags: Moses, Wilderness, Miracles, Voice Of God, Burning Bush  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Lesson Of Grace

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Sep 23, 2023

The Lesson of Grace In a serene, sunlit park nestled within a bustling city, an old man sat on a weathered bench, enjoying the simple pleasures of life. His wrinkled face bore the marks of wisdom, and his eyes held stories of countless yesterdays. Passersby often found themselves drawn to his calm ...read more

Scripture: James 3:17, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 4:6, Colossians 3:13

Tags: Grace, Forgiving One Another, Kind To One Another

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

False Alarm

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 27, 2020

July 24 2020 (UPI) -- A British police department said officers responding to a report of a "large apex predator" -- a black panther -- in a public park arrived to find the supposed dangerous animal was only a stuffed toy. Hors The department said the officers who arrived at the scene ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 6:1-10

Tags: Fear, Worry, False Fears, Worry For Nothing, Fooled  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Buckle Up

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 25, 2025

During the days when Mohammed Ali was a great boxer, he would go around in his arrogance and say that, "He was the greatest." Humility was never his strong suit. One day, back in his prime, he was on an airplane and the plane was ready to take off and the flight attendant had repeatedly ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:3, Micah 6:8, Proverbs 16:18, James 4:6, Luke 14:11  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Strength, Pride, Humility, Submission, Character  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Thine Is The Glory!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2024

If you seek your own glory you will lose that, and His. But, if you seek His, you will get yours directly from Him. We are all tempted, like the youth Narcissus in the Greek fable, to bend over the brook and fall in love with ourselves, and we get changed into flowers, and fade in an hour. But he ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15

Tags: Ministry, Glory, Worship, Praise, Power, Kingdom, Lord's Prayer, Glory Of God, Judgment Seat Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Never Sin!!!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 30, 2020

john Wesley visited General Oglethorpe when he was governor of the colony of Georgia. The general mentioned an incident involving a man who had angered him and remarked, "I shall never forgive ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Mercy, Forgiveness, Sin, Judgment, Beatitudes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Anointing With Oil In The Name Of The Lord

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 13, 2024

"Anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord " (James 5:14) - This literally reads "after having oiled him." Whether this anointing is to be done before or during the praying is not clear from the Greek text. OIl most likely refers to olive oil. What does the oil signify? ...read more

Tags: Healing, Prayer, Miracles, Oil, Anointing, Health, Elders  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Better Get Your Bags Packed!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 2, 2022

One day a very wealthy, powerful king died. His servants spread the unbelievable news all over the palace. He had died in his bed of natural causes. "Where has he gone?", asked one of the king's wisest counselors "Why, to Heaven of course!", answered all the ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Heaven, Salvation, Gospel, Excuses, Prepare, Procrastination, Fools  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Childlike Forgiveness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

A few months ago, I was in El Paso holding an evangelistic meeting, and the young people were serving dinner to the mothers being that it was Mother’s Day. I was seating in a chair watching what was going on, and right in front, a four-year-old girl pushed a two-year-old boy, who fell on the floor ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:12

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

The Help Of God

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Nov 20, 2020

Alex Haley, the author of "Roots," had an unusual picture hanging on his office wall. It was a picture of a turtle on top of a fence post. When asked, "Why is that there?" Alex Haley answered, "Every time I write something significant, every time I read my words and think ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 121:1

Tags: God, Help, Assistance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

My Ears Heard You, But My Legs Didn't!!!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 2, 2022

One day a man's little granddaughter was playing with her toys. Her mother, who was folding laundry across the room, noticed the child's shirt was dirty and needed to be changed. After calling two times with no response her mother called out as loud as he could to her stubborn daughter, ...read more

Tags: Word Of God, Rebellion, Hearing God, Hearers And Doers, Stubborness, Obedience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational