In Sermon Illustrations: "Real People"

Pulling Together At Christmas

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

One morning in December 2009, Bill McDonald read in the paper that a local man, Joe Day, was sick with small-cell lung cancer. That meant Day couldn’t assemble the magnificently lit, handcrafted Christmas displays that had made his house in Versailles, Indiana, an annual holiday pilgrimage site for ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:4

Tags: Christmas, Service, Advent, Serving

Denomination: Methodist

Good Pilots Do What It Takes To Get Their Passengers Home.

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jul 9, 2018

A good pilot does what it takes to get his passengers home. A good example of this, is the story of a flight when the attendant told everyone to take their seats because of impending turbulence. It was a rowdy flight; the folks weren’t quick to respond; so she warned them again. “The flight is ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:3-11

Tags: Listening To God, Hearing From God, Gods Voice

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

You Can Keep Your Fork

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 24, 2018

A woman had been diagnosed with cancer and had been given three months to live. Her doctor told her to start making preparations to die. So she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:20, Revelation 22:12, Colossians 1:27, Titus 1:2

Tags: Citizenship, Heaven, Future, Hope

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

When God Shows Up

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Feb 3, 2019

I just finished reading a book called, “The Shack.” I read it about ten years ago, and something made me read it again, and I’m so glad I did. I commend it to you as a book that captures the very essence of a God who wants nothing more than to have a loving relationship with you. What an incredible ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11, Isaiah 6:1-8

Tags: Humility, The Shack, God Shows Up, Miracle, Sacred In The Ordinary, Sacred In Secular  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Flag And The Cross

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 1, 2020

Symbols evoke feelings of adoration or hatred. In this election year, the elephant and donkey mean different things to different people. Let's talk about a symbol that all Americans should be able to adore. In 1813 General Armistead commissioned Mary Pickersgill to make a huge flag that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-24, Galatians 6:14, Colossians 2:15

Tags: Patriotic, Cross, Power Of God, United States, National Anthem, Flag Of United States  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Callous, Cold And Conniving Or Restored, Revived And Redeemed?

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 23, 2021

(Presented on weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Day before the invitation hymn, hymn of decision) Unlike Jesus, David was not sinless on his way to the wilderness or in the wilderness but he is described as a man after God’s own heart. Something David did that was good is that he attended a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19

Tags: Prophetic Zeal, Culture, Racism, Civil Rights

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Please Don't Go Back

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Feb 20, 2021

Many years ago, I was a Manager for McDonald’s and one of my Shift Manager’s who had 6 children lived in a very abusive situation. Her boyfriend who lived with her and the 6 children did not work; and he would do drugs all day while she worked. One day she came to me at work and asked for ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:8-9

Tags: Freedom, Forward

Denomination: Baptist

Want To Walk On Water?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jun 30, 2021

MANY PEOPLE WANT TO WALK ON THE WATER, WITHOUT THE INVITATION ON GOD’S SON: COME… Matthew 14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. Pastor Chou of Korea wrote a book on prayer. He tells in his book “THE FOURTH DIMENSION” about 4 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:28-29, Matthew 14:30

Tags: Abuse, Walk On Water

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Tribes And Nations

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Nov 29, 2022

Genesis 11:10 – Gen. 12:5 Shem (oldest son of Noah, in the lineage of David, Joseph, and Jesus Christ) We note Shem’s genealogy both in Genesis 10 and here in Genesis 11; why? – Abraham and eventually Israel came from the lineage of Shem; Genesis 11 gives details and sets up Abraham Shem ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:10-32

Tags: Faith, God, Israel, Population

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Twas The Night Before Jesus Came

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 30, 2023

‘Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house Not a creature was praying, not one in the house. Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care In hopes that Jesus would not come there. The children were dressing to crawl into bed, Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head. And Mom in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-12, Philippians 2:1-11, John 1:1-12

Tags: Christmas, Birth Of Christ, Book Of Life, Return Of Christ, Preachers, Poems, Jesus, Church, Children, Advent, Second Coming, Rapture  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Run The Race

Contributed by James Chandler on Apr 18, 2024

Run the Race ”Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2

Tags: Hope, Perseverance

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Epiphany

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Jan 11, 2025

When I was in High School, I had a teacher named Miss Mary Bartram. She taught English and Literature. One day she read a poem to us by Robert Frost, entitled “The Road Not Taken”. She read it with such commitment and passion that I believe she changed a lot of lives that day, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Tags: Faith, Choice

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

[199]. A Message From A Poem – On Stony Shores

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 13, 2025

[199]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – ON STONY SHORES This is a short poem and I do not wish to add to it. I live close to the beach and the rainforest. Some beaches in the tropics here have a lot of smooth rocks on them, basalt in origin from past volcanic activity. In the tropical rainforest you ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:7-8, Psalm 1:3

Tags: Planted By The Water, Rocky, Streams Of Water, Christian Poems, Tropical Rainforest, Stony, Waters Of Life, Stream, Refreshment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Acts 16:16-34 Background:

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 29, 2025

Acts 16:16-34 Background: In today's Scripture, Paul and his mission team were in the city of Philippi. They had been guided to that region by a God-given vision. And people were responding to the good news about Jesus Christ. *But then a young slave girl began to follow the team around. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

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

Denomination: Baptist

[319]. A Message From A Poem - Undone Before The Lord

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 24, 2026

[319]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - UNDONE BEFORE THE LORD The second stanza begins this way – “Oh, cancel pride and arrogance, A haughty spirit rising up.” Pride is one great factor why people don’t come in repentance to the Lord. They will not admit a need for salvation; nor will they humble ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:17, Psalm 51:2, Psalm 51:10

Tags: Humility, Pride, Control, Haughty, Christian Poems, Sinful Pride, Undone  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

My Six-Eyed Mother

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

I grew up in Amarillo, Texas. And I remember watching my mom navigate the wonderful world of vision changes as I got older. First she started holding the newspaper at arm's length, squinting like she was trying to read smoke signals. Then came the reading glasses. Those little drugstore ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:22-25

Tags: Faith, Spiritual Blindness, Seeking Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[337]. A Message From A Poem - What My Saviour’s Done (Version 2)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 18, 2026

[337]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WHAT MY SAVIOUR’S DONE (Version 2) This is short poem. The end of each line has an AABB etc. rhyme. The title is simple. {{Mark 5:19-20 and He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them WHAT GREAT THINGS THE LORD HAS DONE ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:19-20

Tags: Salvation, Great Things, Christian Poems

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He Never Met A Christian Who Believed

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 18, 2026

When I was in high school I had a graphic design class. To my left sat a guy I'd known for about four years. He was an outspoken atheist and pretty much everybody knew it. One day out of nowhere it just popped into my mind to ask him, "Hey, why don't you believe in Christ?" He ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 10:14

Tags: Evangelism, The Great Commission

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Long Is Eternity

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on May 31, 2026

How Long Is Eternity? People have tried to describe eternity, but no preacher, no teacher, no human tongue can ever fully tell how long forever really is. At best, we can only stand at the edge of it, look into it, and feel our hearts break. Imagine a crow flying from the earth to the moon—a ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, John 3:36, John 5:24, Matthew 7:12-14, Matthew 7:21-23, Jude 1:21, 1 Timothy 1:16, Titus 1:2, Romans 6:23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Salvation, Eternal, Eternal Life, The Gospel, Delay, Procrastination, Forever, Today  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

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