In Sermon Illustrations: "Reply"

The Richest Man On The Island

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 4, 2011

THE RICHEST MAN ON THE ISLAND In his autobiography Just As I Am, Billy Graham recalls a story demonstrating that apart from God, we will not gain anything from living wisely. He said: Some years ago Ruth and I had a vivid illustration of this on an island in the Caribbean. One of the wealthiest ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Tags: Money

Quotations On Hope

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 13, 2011

QUOTATIONS ON HOPE Malcolm Muggeridge was a very famous and highly respected British journalist who for many years was an ardent atheist. His opinions and thoughts were coveted by American publishers and he occasionally wrote the editorial page for Time magazine. Toward the end of his illustrious ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 62:5-8

Tags: God Brings Hope

The Peacemaker

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 10, 2011

THE PEACEMAKER Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones, who were "on the outs" over a very trivial matter. This deeply concerned Deacon Brown, so he prayed that he might be a peacemaker. He called on Smith and asked, "What do you think of Jones?" "He's the meanest crank in the neighborhood!" "But," said ...read more

Tags: Peace

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What I Don't Want To Be

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 1, 2011

WHAT I DON'T WANT TO BE I recall a conversation I once had with a precocious little boy we once had in the church I pastored for 10 years in Wiesbaden. I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. "Well," he replied, "I don't want to be a fireman." I'd never had a kid tell me what he was ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:4-5

Tags: Christian Values

Visions Of Glory

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 9, 2011

VISIONS OF GLORY Chan Gailey, who just began his second season as head coach for the Buffalo Bills, got his start coaching football at Alabama's Troy State University. In 1984, with a 12-1 record, he led the Troy State Trojans to a Division II NCAA national championship. A week before the big ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5-6

Tags: Pride

It's What's Under The Hood That Counts  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 25, 2012

IT'S WHAT'S UNDER THE HOOD THAT COUNTS Harry Reider tells a story about the first car that he ever owned. He was sixteen years old and his father took him to a car auction and bought a pink car for $75. It was a 1957 Ford that his dad insisted that the color was really "coral." "I can't drive a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Selling Jesus For A Quarter

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Mar 8, 2013

SELLING JESUS FOR A QUARTER Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. "You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." 2 Corinthians 3:3 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:3

Tags: Dishonesty, Bible Truth

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Little Gifts

Contributed by Gerald Manning on Dec 14, 2015

The man was quite obviously hard pressed by life .. his clothing was a bit tattered, he hadn’t shaved for several days, his face was gaunt, his eyes vacant. He was hungry, no doubt, and all I had in my pocket was a quarter. I knew that it wouldn’t buy much, but perhaps it was a start, and I ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-44

Tags: Offering, Giving, Small Gifts, Poor People

Denomination: Nazarene

A Handful Of Suckers

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 10, 2018

The woman in the red skirt walked up to the counter and laid down two bags of flour. There beside the register were the rest of her groceries. "That everything?" asked the man behind the counter. He owned the general store, waited on her every Thursday as she came to town to do her shopping. He ...read more

Tags: Prayer, Generosity, Abundance, Asking

Denomination: Baptist

Thanksgiving Joke

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 20, 2019

A lady purchased a parrot whose previous owner had taught him profanity and decided that she would reform him. The parrot learned a number of Christian words and Bible verses to replace the cuss words. However, the owner caught him cussing one day and grabbed him and said, "I'll teach ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving, Turkey, Jokes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Good News: Finish The Race!

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 27, 2021

Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. WRONG WAY, ROY ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14, Hebrews 12:1

Tags: Get Up, Finish Well

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Thanksgiving Humor!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 7, 2022

A lady purchased a parrot whose previous owner had taught him profanity and decided that she would reform him. The parrot learned a number of Christian words and Bible verses to replace the cuss words. However, the owner caught him cussing one day and grabbed him and said, "I'll teach you ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving, Blessings, Lepers, Turkeys, Jesus, Holidays, Healing, Miracles, Gratitude, Leprosy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Incredible Value Of One Child

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 12, 2023

An elderly preacher was rebuked by one of his deacons one Sunday morning before the service. "Pastor," said the man, "something must be wrong with your preaching and your work. There's been only one person added to the church in a whole year, and he's just a boy." The ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Evangelism, Children, Holy Spirit, Faithfulness, Success, Spiritual Fruit, Flesh, Fruit Of The Spirit, Souls  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When C.i. Scofield Met Jesus

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 14, 2023

Many years ago in St. Louis, a lawyer visited a Christian to transact some business. Before the two parted, his client said to him, "I've often wanted to ask you a question, but I've been afraid to do so." "What do you want to know?" asked the lawyer. The man replied, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Evangelism, Sin, Salvation, Gospel, Alcohol, Adam, Witnessing, Drunkenness, Sinful Nature, Sinners  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Big Turkey In The Freezer

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 21, 2023

A Christian woman went into the local pet shop to buy a parrot for company. She selected a beautiful bird, but the pet store owner said he didn't think that she'd be happy with this particular parrot because he had belonged to a salty old sailor who used very bad language. She replied ...read more

Tags: Birds, Parrots, Holidays, Food, Profanity, Punishment, Discipline, Cursing, Thanksgiving  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Charles Schwab's Challenge

Contributed by David Swanger on Jan 19, 2024

Dale Carnegie tells of a mill manager whose men were not producing. The owner, whose name was Charles Schwab, asked why. The manager had no idea. "I've coaxed the men; I've punished them; I've sworn and cursed; I've threatened them with damnation and being fired. But nothing ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:10

Tags: Challenge, Motivation

The Thief On The Cross Didn't Go To Church!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 3, 2024

A pastor saw one of his sheep in the grocery store and got around to asking where they had been lately. Was it something I said? Is it another church?" The man laughed and said, "Oh, no, we love you and the people of our church." The pastor was left to his own curiosity. He then ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26

Tags: Work, Excuses, Tithing, Thief On The Cross, Faith, Grace, Service, Baptism, Church, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Power Of God's Word In The Philippines

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 17, 2024

Joanne Shetler, a dedicated missionary, spent years living among the Balangao people in the Philippines. Her mission was to translate the Bible into their language and share the good news of the Savior. However, progress was slow. One day, Ama, a man who had adopted Joanne as his Balangao ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12

Tags: Genealogies Of The Bible, Bible, Salvation, Missions, Miracles, God's Word  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From East To West

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 12, 2024

How far is the east from the west? Where does the east end and the west begin? A certain state once had this slogan: "Where the west begins and the tall corn grows." The last part of the slogan is true; the first is not. No one knows where the west begins or where it ends. It's all a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:12, Matthew 6:9-15

Tags: Forgiveness, Satan, Devil, Spiritual Warfare, Guilt, Condemnation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Talking Dog For Sale!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 13, 2024

A guy sees a sign in front of a house: "Talking Dog for Sale." He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard. The guy goes into the backyard and sees an old black mutt just sitting there. "You talk?" he asks. "Yep," the mutt replies. "So, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:22, Colossians 3:9, Exodus 20:16

Tags: Truth, Lies, Deceit, Dogs, Sermon Introductions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational