In Sermon Illustrations: "Ransom From Sin"

The Sad Story Of Stephen Foster

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 1, 2021

One cold January morning in 1864 a man was found lying in a heap in the seedy Bowery section of New York, bleeding from a slashed throat. He had staggered to a wash basin, which fell and shattered. A doctor at the scene used black sewing thread somebody found to suture the wound. The man—an almost ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:10

Tags: Depression, Loneliness, Alcholism, Homelessness, Drugs  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Wise Heart

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jul 15, 2021

Proverbs 16:21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. KJV This does not mean you sugar coat the Word, but rather choose words or actions that do not offend in such a way no one wants to listen. Too many times Christians are rude and crude not ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:21

Tags: Speech, Lips, Sweetness, Prudent, Wisdom  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

My Favorite Palm Sunday Story!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 7, 2022

Palm Sunday is a very important, reverent occasion for every child of God to remember. However, sometimes children remind us of how genuine they are even in the most serious moments of worship. For example, It was Palm Sunday at church, but because of a sore throat, 5-year-old Annie stayed home ...read more

Tags: Palm Sunday, Funny Stories, Sermon Intros, Children, Humor  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is The Fire In Hell Literal Or A Figure Of Speech?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 6, 2022

Brian Bell has an interesting note on as to whether or not it is real flames in Hell or just a figiure of speech: "it seems it is a real torment, thus a real thirst, which desires real water, from a real finger, to touch ...read more

Tags: Hell, Death, Eternity, Scripture, Judgment, Inerrancy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do You Believe Things About Christ Or Do You Believe On Christ?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 22, 2024

Herschel Ford once wrote, “There is a difference between believing something ABOUT Jesus and believing ON Him. We can believe that He is the Virgin-born Son of God, that He lived a sinless life, that He died on the cross, that He rose from the grave, that He is coming again—we can believe all ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25-34

Tags: Trust, Salvation, Assurance, Works, Faith, Grace, Believe  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Anne Graham Lotz On The Solar Eclipse

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 6, 2024

"The warning is triggered by the total solar eclipse of Aug. 21, nicknamed America's Eclipse. For the first time in almost 100 years, a total solar eclipse will be seen from coast to coast in our nation. People are preparing to mark this significant event with viewing parties at exclusive ...read more

Tags: Rapture, False Teachers, False Prophets, Return Of Christ, Solar Eclipse, America, End Times, Prophecy, Judgment, Second Coming, Last Days  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Should Pastors Preach Against Corrupt Politicians? Bonhoeffer Did.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 6, 2024

At the height of WWII, Protestant theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was imprisoned for taking a stand against Hitler. Yet, he continued to urge fellow believers to resist Nazi tyranny. A group of Christians, believing that Hitler was the Antichrist, asked Bonhoeffer, "Why do you expose yourself ...read more

Tags: Rapture, Pastors, Hitler, Signs, Return Of Christ, Bonhoeffer, Evil, Prophecy, Politics, Darkness, Second Coming, Last Days  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Six Facts About False Teachers

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 3, 2024

Centuries ago, the prophet Jeremiah gave a brief outline of how the people of God can discern a false prophet in their midst. He gave 6 descriptions for us to remember today: 1. False prophets prophesy lies using the name of God 2. False prophets are not sent or commanded ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 14:14-15

Tags: Jeremiah, Deception, Satan, Discernment, Truth, Prophecy, Last Days, False Teachers, Lies, False Prophets  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Views On The Nephilim

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 13, 2024

Who Are the Nephilim? 4 Different Theories For centuries, scholars from Judaism and Christianity have presented different views on who the Nephilim were. 1: The first view is that fallen angels had relations with the "daughters of men," which resulted in a part human, part supernatural ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:6-8

Tags: Satan, Angels, Flood, Noah, Judgment, Giants, Nephilim  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Trial And Error

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

A lawyer invites his cousin from the Czech Republic to come and stay with him in Canada. Soon they decide to go hiking in the woods. Suddenly, a big grizzly bear appears. The bear kills the Czech cousin and then eats him. The lawyer runs to the nearest village and tells everybody what has ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 24:39, Luke 20:13, Ecclesiastes 9:11

Tags: Mistakes, Error, Trial, Process, Chances, Puns, Elimination, Perhaps  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Who Was Salome?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

By comparing Matt. 27:56 with John 19:25, it seems likely that Salome was sister to Mary (Jesus’ mother). “By inference from the other Gospel accounts, Salome is also identified with the mother of the sons of Zebedee (Mt. 27:56) and with the sister of Mary the mother of Jesus…. (John 19:25)… If ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:56, John 19:25, Mark 10:35-40

Tags: Jesus' Family, Mary's Sister, Jesus' Aunt, Salome

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Moving Mountains A Figure Of Speech

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

The imagery of a mountain is HYPERBOLE. Zechariah 4:7a, “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubabel you shall become a plain.” "The Jews used to set out those teachers among them, that were more eminent for the profoundness of their learning, or the splendour of their virtues, by such ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:23, Matthew 17:20-21

Tags: Mountains, Hyperbole, Moving Moutains

Denomination: Independent/Bible

All My Days With You

Contributed by Samuel M on Mar 14, 2025

Note: A small understanding from Moses’s life Lord Jesus, as long as Moses was on earth, you were staying with him on earth. You found a home on earth in Moses’s tent of meeting. Lord Jesus, you are always looking for someone with whom you can stay on Earth. Lord Jesus, since you don’t have ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:7-11

Tags: Faith, Hope

The House God Moved

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 12, 2025

The story of that little church in Swan Quarter, North Carolina, still stirs my heart. In 1874 the congregation built a modest wooden building, but the land they truly wanted had been refused by its owner. Two years later a storm struck the town, the kind of storm that tears apart homes and ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-8, Psalm 127:1

Tags: Guidance, Providence

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Bridesmaids - Apperiances Can Be Deciving

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 19, 2025

Beloved ... Appearances can be deceiving. Suppose ... we were to ask the ten Bridesmaids ... to stand in front of us ... in no particular order. Could you pick out the five foolish ones? The Answer of course is: No, ... and neither could I. We could argue about it ... we could all agree, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Tags: Foolish, Bridesmaids, Foolishness

Denomination: Anglican

Push Or Pull

Contributed by David Dunn on Jan 26, 2026

Two people were trying to move a heavy piece of office furniture—a large cabinet—from one room into another. It was solid, awkward, and just wide enough to be a problem. They managed to get it to the doorway, and then everything stopped. They strained. They pushed harder. They adjusted their ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:1-2

Tags: Fellowship, Unity

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Heart Transplant

Contributed by Kelly Benton on Feb 3, 2026

A heart transplant doesn’t make a sick heart healthier. It removes the failing heart completely and replaces it with a living one. After surgery, the patient doesn’t just act alive— they are alive. They don’t breathe because they’re disciplined. They breathe because they have a new source of life ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Tags: New Creation, Faith

Denomination: Other

Scariest Words

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 12, 2026

I want to share with you what may be the most frightening scripture in the New Testament: Matthew 7:21-23 (NCV) “21 “Not all those who say ‘You are our Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven. The only people who will enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do what my Father in heaven wants. 22 On ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23, 1 John 1:5-7

Tags: Hell, Salvation, Assurance

Denomination: Methodist

Christian Perfection

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 12, 2026

We are part of the modern Methodists who are seeking to restore Christian Perfection as part of the journey for Jesus Followers. Here is a brief description from the Global Methodist Church: “Christian Perfection is Loving Like Jesus: John Wesley described the life of holiness as 'Christian ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:3-6

Tags: Entire Sanctification, Christian Perfection

Denomination: Methodist

Evangelism Quotes And Illustrations  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Apr 19, 2004

Evangelism Quotes and Illustrations 1. Paul Harvey said, "Too many Christians are no longer fishers of men but keepers of the aquarium." 2. Paul Little in his book "How to Give Away Your Faith" defines witnessing: "Witnessing is that deep-seated conviction that the greatest favor I can do for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Tags: Men, What Is Evangelism?, Wise

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational