In Sermon Illustrations: "Relying On God"

The Parable Of The Pearl

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 28, 2022

Once there was a man who collected and traded in pearls. He had a fine collection of his own. But one day, while he was away on business, he spotted a beautiful pearl in a Jeweler's window. It was a pearl such as he had never seen, perfect in shape, size, and color. He thought to himself, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-35

Tags: Sacrifice, Commitment, Discipleship, Kingdom Of God, Decisions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who's In Charge?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jun 3, 2023

One of the most disturbing movies ever produced is Francis Ford Coppola’s classic reflection on the Vietnam War, Apocalypse Now. The film tracks an American officer who is sent upriver into the heart of the war-torn countryside in order to find and eventually assassinate a renegade commander who ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 6:1-17

Tags: Wrath, Apocalypse, Four Horsemen, God's Sovereignty

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Pearl Tree Parable

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 24, 2023

The kingdom of God is like a seed which a woman planted in her garden, and when the time came for the harvest, the tree branches were groaning under the weight of hundreds of large and beautiful pearls which rained down upon everyone who had taken shelter there, and they all became rich beyond ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-52

Tags: Fruit, Kingdom Of God, Reward, Hidden Future

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Belt Of Truth

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Jul 9, 2023

I need Jesus. I need Him because He is the truth! I need Him because without Him I am weak and unable to fight the battles that constantly throw lies my way. I need to be prepared for the battle by having the armor of God. I need the belt of truth. Rick Burdette, minister with Cornerstone ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:14

Tags: Armor Of God, Belt Of Truth, Jesus Is Truth

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Sun And The Wind

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 16, 2024

One day, the Sun and the Wind argued over who was stronger. They see a man walking with a coat and decide to settle their dispute by seeing who can make him remove his coat. The Wind blows fiercely, but the harder it blows, the tighter the man clutches his coat. Then, the Sun gently shines its warm ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 15:1

Tags: Persuade, Fables, God's Warmth, Gentleness, Gentle  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

[019] A Message From A Poem - An Atheist’s Lament

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 22, 2024

[019] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - AN ATHEIST’S LAMENT I do not know how many nations know what the 1st of April is. In western society it is known as April Fools’ Day and is a time when some play tricks on others. The Day is also known as “All Fools’ Day.” The following is taken from The Editors ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53:1-2, Ecclesiastes 2:14

Tags: April Fools Day, Fools, Atheists, There Is No God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Use The Old Golf Ball!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 8, 2024

As the golfer approached the first tee, a hazardous hole with a green surrounded by water, he debated if he should use his new golf ball. Deciding that the hole was too treacherous, he pulled out an old ball and placed it on the tee. Just then he heard a voice from above say loudly: "Use the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Lord's Prayer, Will Of God, Golf, Thy Will Be Done

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Come As You Are

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Nov 21, 2024

A friend of mine in Louisiana had his 11 year old nephew for the weekend just after the uncle had had a close call with death and gotten released from the hospital. On Sunday morning, his nephew approached him. “Come on, Uncle, let’s go to church!” “But Dom, you don’t have any church clothes ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:18, Matthew 11:27, Romans 5:8

Tags: Come As You Are, God Loves All People

Denomination: Charismatic

One Solitary Life

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

I’d like to read you a little piece written by an unknown author called One Solitary Life He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in still another village, where he worked in a carpenter’s shop until he was thirty. Then for three years he was an itinerant ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6

Tags: Son Of God, One Solitary Life, Jesus

Denomination: Anglican

Check The $100 Bill

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 4, 2026

Folks who work in banks are taught to recognize counterfeit $100 bills. Do you know how? Do you think they have to learn every trick of every forger? Nope. They study and learn the real thing. That way, the forgeries will be obvious. That’s what we need to do. You ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12

Tags: Truth, False Teaching, God's Word, Lie

Denomination: Methodist

Standing Where The Fire Has Already Been!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 26, 2023

“Many years ago, a father and his daughter were walking through the grass on the Canadian prairie. In the distance, they saw a prairie fire, and they realized that it would soon engulf them. The father knew there was only one way of escape: they would quickly begin a fire right where they were and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9

Tags: Reconciliation, Assurance, Blood Of Jesus, Roman Road, Wrath Of God, Holiness Of God, Forgiveness, Satan, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Great Background On The Oldest Psalm - Psalm 90

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 27, 2025

John Phillips gave us this helpful background information: "Next to the book of Job, Psalm 90 is most likely the oldest piece of writing in the Bible. This psalm was written by Moses in the wilderness on the way from Egypt to Canaan. So, Psalm 90 stands in grand isolation as the oldest psalm ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:1-17

Tags: Children, Moses, Resurrection, Prayer, Fearing The Lord, Brevity Of Life, God's Forgiveness, Sins, Jesus' Death, Answered Prayer, Prayer Requests, Trusting God, Passover, Eternal Life, Reverence, God's Mercy, Lamb Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Dr A. C. Dixon:

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Apr 21, 2009

Dr A. C. Dixon: “When we rely on organization, we get what organization can do; when we rely on education, we get what education can do; when we rely on eloquence, we get what ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Tags: Trust, Prayer, Prayer General

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Great Preacher And Pastor Of Chicago's ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Caley on Apr 27, 2003

The great preacher and pastor of Chicago’s famous Moody Church, A.C. Dixon declared, "When we rely upon organization, we get what organization can do; when we rely upon education, we get what education can do; when we rely upon eloquence, we get what eloquence can do, and so on. Nor am I disposed ...read more

Tags: Prayer Answered

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Sacrificing The Son  PRO

Contributed by Lacell Sherman on Jul 4, 2001

SACRIFICING THE SON There was a Pastor, who after the usual Sunday Evening Hymns, stood up, walked over to the pulpit and, before he gave his sermon for the evening, briefly introduced a guest minister who was in service that evening. In the introduction, the Pastor told the congregation that the ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-42

Tags: Faithful, Bible, Life, Love, Share, Righteous, Righteousness, Promise, Promises Of God, God, Tempt, Temptation, Steady  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

And We Can't Even Preach Without A Sound System Today???

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 19, 2022

Peter's sermon to such a large crowd of Jews reminds us of stories of how God's Spirit used George Whitefield in the 1700's as an instrument to bring about the First Great Awakening in America. John MacArthur says that "Whitfield preached in Bristol to 20,000 people regularly, ...read more

Tags: Preaching, Revival, Word Of God, Whitfield, Simon Peter, Power Of God's Word, Evangelism, Pentecost, Gospel, Missions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[179]. A Message From A Poem – Lost Three Things - Lost One Coin

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 27, 2025

[179]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – LOST THREE THINGS - LOST ONE COIN In this trilogy of poems we are looking at three objects lost – a sheep, a coin and a son. All three were loved and precious and the owners knew stress at the lost. When each was found it resulted in great rejoicing. These three ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 11:8, Genesis 6:6, Luke 15:8-10

Tags: Lost And Found, Rejoicing, Heart Of God, The Heart Of God, Grieved, Christian Poems, Parable, Lost, Lost Coin  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Divine Encounter

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 31, 2023

Divine Encounter When God Confirms the Visit Several years ago, while serving as a pastor in Massachusetts, I witnessed a moment that reminded me how carefully the Lord can order our steps. One Sunday morning, a woman visited our church for the first time. During the invitation, she came forward ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 18:1-2, 2 Kings 20:1-6, Luke 16:1-2, James 4:14, Proverbs 27:1, Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Holy Spirit, Heaven, Obedience, Life, Vessels, Accidents, Preparing For Death, Ready To God, Mysterious Ways Of God, Preparation, The Gospel, Cancer, Coincidence, God's Ways, New Years  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Nowhere Else To Go  PRO

Contributed by Tom Lawson on Dec 22, 2000

Abraham Lincoln: "I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:1-10

Tags: Faithfulness, Commitment, Prayer Adoration, Goals, God's Omniscience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Devout Priest Was Caught In A Flood One Day, ...  PRO

Contributed by Simon Rundell on Jan 19, 2001

The devout priest was caught in a flood one day, and he climbed onto the roof of his Vicarage and as the water started lapping up over the roof he prayed “Lord, deliver me from this flood”. The water continued to rise and a policeman in a rowing boat passed: “Can I help you Vicar?” “No thanks, the ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Love, Prayer Answered, Examples Of Faith

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican