In Sermon Illustrations: "Real People"

Michaelangelo Buonoarti Was One Of The World's ...

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Dec 8, 2006

Michaelangelo Buonoarti was one of the world’s most talented sculptor. Many have enjoyed his work in pictures or photos. Others of us have seen the real thing. There is a set of 4 sculptures Michaelangelo done around 1453 that some claim were never finished. The were commissioned for the tomb ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

One Day, Ten-Year Old Ryan Was Driving Imaginary ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 26, 2007

One day, ten-year old Ryan was driving imaginary race cars with his friends. Several minutes later he came bounding into the house and yelled, "Mom, you’ve got to come quick. Billy wants to accept Jesus into his heart." Skeptical of the child’s sudden interest in spiritual things, Susie asked, ...read more

If I Didn't Love Them...  PRO

Contributed by Terry Blankenship on Mar 31, 2009

"IF I DIDN'T LOVE THEM..." A man visited a home where there were five children. He was supposed to be a kind of "godfather" to them and was trying to get involved with them on their level. He asked one of the little girls about her doll collection: "Which one is your favorite?" "Promise you ...read more

Tags: Grace, Love, Mercy, God

Denomination: Baptist

Hell: A Doctor's Testimony  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2009

HELL: A DOCTOR’S TESTIMONY Dr. Maurice Rawlings, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the University Of Tennessee College Of Medicine, was also a devout atheist. But in 1977, while trying to resuscitate a man who had been screaming in terror, something happened that changed his thinking. He ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:5, Luke 12:49-50, Luke 12:49-53

Tags: Hell

Pocket God  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2009

POCKET GOD Have you heard about Pocket God? It’s one of the top-selling video game applications for Apple’s iPhone. Here’s the game description found on iTunes: "What kind of god would you be? Benevolent or vengeful? Play Pocket God and discover the answer within yourself. On a remote island, you ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 6:2

Tags: God The Father

Rest In Peace  PRO

Contributed by Major Gerardo Balmori on Apr 2, 2011

REST IN PEACE Six-year-old and his four-year-old sister presented their mom with a Mother’s Day present: a small, spindly house plant. While it wasn’t the finest looking specimen, they had bought it with their own money and Mom was thrilled. She hugged and kissed her children and told them ...read more

Tags: Mother's Day

Denomination: Salvation Army

C.s. Lewis On The Law Of Nature

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 31, 2008

C.S. LEWIS ON THE LAW OF NATURE "Whenever you find a man who says he does not believe in a real Right and Wrong, you will find the same man going back on this a moment later. He may break his promise to you, but if you try breaking one to him he will be complaining ‘It’s not fair’ before you can ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:11-20

Tags: Justice

We Have A Saying In Northern Ireland About ...

Contributed by David Moore on Jun 27, 2008

We have a saying in Northern Ireland about someone or something that is useless: we say it is "wick". And you know when you think about that, in a lampstand a wick, though it is needed for light, does not feature large in the production of light. Of itself it's pretty useless. Of itself it cannot ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

Showing Favor

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

SHOWING FAVOR In July of 2005, Angelina Jolie adopted a little Ethiopian child. While she was touring drought and disease and famine stricken Ethiopia, she got the idea that although she couldn’t do every child in Africa a favor, she could grant favor to one child. So she stepped out of her world ...read more

Tags: Grace

Charles Crabtree, Former Assistant General Sup. ...

Contributed by Donny Granberry on Oct 21, 2008

Charles Crabtree, former Assistant General Sup. of the Assemblies of God told this story. I met a distinguished-looking gentleman in his mid-40s, who immediately began to impress upon me how educated he was. After a few minutes of a well-rehearsed oral résumé, I must confess I was impressed. He ...read more

Tags: Action

Denomination: Assembly Of God

A Story Is Told Of A Native American Boy Who Is ...

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Nov 6, 2008

A story is told of a Native American boy who is being initiated into manhood. He is released into an unfamiliar forest to live for a time on his own wits. As he begins scouting the area, he sees a white wolf, and he imagines the status of the prize. To return not only successful, but with the pelt ...read more

Tags: Opportunity

Denomination: Mennonite

Idolatry Is Like Poisoning

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Mar 2, 2009

IDOLATRY IS LIKE POISONING More than 25 years ago (1982), seven residents of the Greater Chicago area made an assumption that proved fatal. They all took a dose of Extra Strength Tylenol® that had been laced with potassium cyanide. What they thought was medicine proved to be poison. This crime, ...read more

Tags: Idolatry

Denomination: *other

Crystal Michelle, A 10th Grade In Bigelow, ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 23, 2000

Crystal Michelle, a 10th Grade in Bigelow, Arkansas isn’t buying it. She won’t settle for anything but extreme intimacy, here’s an excerpt from an essay she wrote. "Hey, My name is Crystal Michelle. I decided to wait for sex among other things a while back. I have pledged to God that I would not ...read more

Tags: Marriage Singleness, Sexuality, Intercourse, Intimacy, Love, Affection, Wait  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

A Young, Single Attorney Worked For A Generous ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 1, 2001

A young, single attorney worked for a generous boss who gave all his employees a turkey each year at Thanksgiving. One year before the birds were handed out, some of his co-workers replaced his real turkey with one made of papier-mâché. To make the bogus bird look and feel genuine, they wrapped ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Jerry Clower, A Christian, Who Made A Living At ...

Contributed by A. David Hart on Mar 19, 2008

Jerry Clower, a Christian, who made a living at telling funny stories. He once told an audience about a highly educated man and his chauffeur. He tells about a man who had a PHD in some discipline, that was chauffeured around the country making speeches at many fine universities and he was payed ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Lost Art Of Saying Thank You

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy - because we will always want to have something else or something more.” - David Steindl-Rast Everyone likes to feel appreciated. I remember a ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:17

Tags: Thanks, Unthankfulness, Gifts

Denomination: Charismatic

J. P. Moreland, In His Book Apologetic ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Oct 13, 2002

J. P. Moreland, in his book Apologetic Reasoning and the Christian Mind, tells of an experience that illustrates the importance of truth: “One afternoon I was sharing the gospel in a student’s dorm room at the University of Vermont. The student began to espouse ethical relativism: ‘Whatever is ...read more

Scripture: John 18:37

Tags: Evangelism, Truth, Relativism

Denomination: Methodist

Do You Remember "Do Overs?"  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 30, 2003

DO YOU REMEMBER "DO OVERS?" They were part of the "Good Ole" Days. I know, Let’s play a little game… Everyone stand up. Now sit down when you can’t remember what I mention next… How many of you remember… 90’s – Beanie Babies; Teenie Beanies; Grunge; and the phrase CHA-CHING!!! 80’s – PacMan; ...read more

Tags: Becoming A Christian, God The Father, God's Forgiveness

Perseverance--Gianni Poli Of Italy Won The 1986 ...  PRO

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Oct 9, 2004

Perseverance--Gianni Poli of Italy won the 1986 New York Marathon in 2:11:06. On March 2, 2003, Mark Yatich of Kenya won the Los Angels Marathon in 2:09:52. To me, however, the real hero of both marathons was the man who finished dead last in both. He is fifty-seven year old Bob Wieland. In ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Methodist

Jonah Jones - From Cocaine Trafficker To Christian Counselor

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Mar 27, 2009

*The closer we get to Jesus, the more we will see a change in our lives. *Jonah Jones had a terrible childhood. Jonah’s parents were drug traffickers who introduced him to cocaine when he was 8-years-old. Unbelievable! -- but true. Worse than that, Jonah’s stepfather raped him. His mother abused ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 16:20-25

Tags: Testimonies About Jesus, Testimonies, Changed By Christ

Denomination: Baptist