In Sermon Illustrations: "Ransom From Sin"

Hudson Taylor's Example

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2013

HUDSON TAYLOR'S EXAMPLE Years ago the communist government in China commissioned an author to write a biography of Hudson Taylor with the purpose of distorting the facts and presenting him in a bad light. They wanted to discredit the name of this consecrated missionary of the gospel. As the author ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16

Tags: Christian Witness

Miss America And Elephants

Contributed by Pastor Jeff Hughes on Feb 1, 2014

Matt 24:24-25 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. Back years ago, I heard a well known salesman that regularly competed with the number one company in his industry. Those ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:24-25

Tags: Size, Church Size

Denomination: Bible Church

Drive-Thru Fellowship  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 21, 2014

DRIVE-THRU FELLOWSHIP This week I read a story about a pastor traveling with a Brazilian seminary student. Along the way the pastor asked the student if he would like to stop for a cup of coffee. The student said, "I would be honored." So he swung into a Starbucks, went through the drive-thru. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Tags: Fellowship, Sharing Life

A Big Mac Or The Ten Commandments?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 1, 2016

A BIG MAC OR THE TEN COMMANDMENTS?? Which can you name first? (1) The Commandments found in Exodus 20 (2) The ingredients of a Big Mac Burger from McDonalds Most Americans when surveyed did a better job naming the seven ingredients of a Big Mac: two all-beef patties, special sauce, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-14

Tags: America, Priorities, Ten Commandments, Memorizing The Bible

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Compassion

Contributed by Shine Thomas on Nov 9, 2018

My Pastor in Calcutta, Pr. Mark Buntin came to India in 1954. He started a series of project for the poor in Calcutta. In 1964, the Buntains opened their first school for 200 children. A year later, they began a feeding program, starting with free school lunches of milk and parathas. One day as ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8

Tags: Sympathize, Compassion For Poor, Compassion

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Jesus Is The Answer To Our Dilemma

Contributed by Bokang Abednego Nkhahle on Oct 7, 2019

The Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon while he was busy threshing wheat to hide it from the midianites. And said to Gideon, the Lord is with you mighty man of Valour. The one who reside in you is bigger that your dilemma. Gideon did not realise his potential until the angel appeared to him and ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:12

Tags: Power, Authority, Be Courageous

The Man Who Probably Saved Your Earthly Life

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 15, 2021

In 1983, one man prevented a nuclear war between the USSR and the USA. Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov was the duty officer at the command center for the Oko nuclear early-warning system when the system reported that a missile had been launched from the United States, followed by up to five more. ...read more

Tags: Leadership, Providence, God's Sovereignty, Heroes, Decisions, Choices, Unappreciated, Unknown People, Unsung  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When A Bar Had More Faith Than The Church!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 8, 2022

DO YOU BELIEVE IN PRAYER? A tale is told about a small town that had historically been “dry,” but then a local businessman decided to build a bar. A group of believers from a local church were concerned and planned an all-night prayer meeting to ask God to intervene. It just so happened that ...read more

Tags: Church, Prayer, Humor, Jokes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Easter, Easter

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Mar 11, 2023

Is Easter just a holiday, with dyed eggs and yummy candy? Is it a time when children play and all dress so fine and dandy? Is Easter when adults find some much-needed relaxation? Is it a break from their work to enjoy a short vacation? Or does Easter remind us how Christ died our debt to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-10

Tags: Holiday, The First Day Of The Week, Easter, Resurrection, Calvary  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Why Study The Book Of Esther?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 21, 2023

WHY STUDY THIS BOOK? • To learn important lessons about the Providence of God – especially His ability to preserve His people, despite the severity of threats from formidable adversaries. • To encourage us to continue to trust in God and His Providence when circumstances around us seem darkest ...read more

Tags: Trials, Sovereignty Of God, Faith, Esther, God, Persecution, Israel, God's Providence  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 9, 2024

Lead us not into temptation! A driver tucked this note under the windshield wiper of his automobile for a police officer to read. "I've circled the block for 20 minutes. I'm late for an appointment, and if I don't park here, I'll lose my job. Forgive us our trespasses, ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15, 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Faith, Forgiveness, Lust, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Prayer, Temptation, Trial, Test, Police Officers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Winnowing Fork

Contributed by Subasini Peter on May 8, 2024

God's winnowing fork Imagine God being so good, loving and kind now will have a winnowing fork in His hand to separate the chaff from the grain. All our works in a lifetime we have done will be judged by God. All the works that do not glorify the name of Jesus Christ will be separated. We ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:12

Tags: Grain, Seed, Winnowing Fork

The Sheep Who Went "moo"

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 22, 2025

A flock of sheep are grazing in a field, happily going "baa baa" to one another and discussing life as usual when suddenly they hear a "moo mooooooooooo!" They look around &see only sheep. They carry on grazing as before. "Moo moo!" One sheep can hear it all too ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:26-31, 1 Corinthians 9:19-22, Nehemiah 8:8, Acts 2:5-13

Tags: Language, Midrash, Reading, Paraphrasing, Translating  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

There Were 15 In Sunday School -- Counting Jesus

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Oct 3, 2025

A little girl returning from Sunday School was asked by her grandmother how many had been in her class that day. And she replied, "There were 15 of us, -- Counting Jesus." *Rejoice in the Lord, Christians! He is here with us, and in us this morning. And Jesus wants to change our lives ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Tags: Evangelism, Paul, Salvation, Missions, Silas, Crisis, Christian Service, Philippian Jailer, Demon Possession, Spiritual Transformation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Taxi Driver

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

A taxi passenger tapped the driver on the shoulder to ask him a question. The driver screamed, lost control of the car, nearly hit a bus, went up on the footpath, and stopped centimeters from a shop window. For a second, everything went quiet in the cab, then the driver said, "Look mate, ...read more

Tags: Hearse, Taxi

Denomination: Anglican

God Knows Where We Are  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 23, 2011

GOD KNOWS WHERE WE ARE Ken Gaub wrote about an experience he had back in the 1990s: "Do you believe that God not only loves you, but knows where you are and what you’re doing every minute of the day? I certainly do after an amazing experience I had several years ago. "At the time I was driving ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-18

Tags: God's Omniscience, Love Your Enemies

The Mission Of David Livingstone  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 30, 2011

THE MISSION OF DAVID LIVINGSTONE The modern missionary movement really got started about 150 years ago with people who were concerned about the continent of Africa. There was a Scottish preacher by the name of Robert Moffatt who was serving in South Africa. He returned to Scotland to try to enlist ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:14-24

Tags: Missions, Intercessory Prayer

A Little Girl's Prayer  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Oct 15, 2001

A LITTLE GIRL’S PRAYER One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do she died, leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity ...read more

Scripture: James 5:17, Hosea 6:2

Tags: Faith, Prayer General, Prayer Answered, Prayer

Denomination: Lutheran

Pursuing Butterflies!" Luke 22:24-30 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 1, 2005

“Pursuing Butterflies!” Luke 22:24-30 Key verse(s) 24:“Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.” We live to benefit ourselves and not others. Are you offended by this statement? It certainly isn’t what the Bible teaches. The Bible teaches us to put others ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:24-30

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Lutheran

May 5, 2004 "You Can Walk Boy!" John 16: 19-24 ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 4, 2004

May 5, 2004 “You Can Walk Boy!” John 16: 19-24 Key verse(s): 21 “‘A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.’” Why do Christians have to suffer? If I had ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-11

Tags: Hardship Of Life