In Sermon Illustrations: "Responding"

I'm Going To Tell You A Metaphoric Story Based ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 6, 2007

I’m going to tell you a metaphoric story based upon a metaphor written by Silvia Hartmann. There was a merchant ship at sea. It was a beautiful day. The sea was calm, the sun was warm, and the breeze was full and refreshing. A nor’easter blows and a storm engulfs the ship. The Captain looks to ...read more

I Heard A Story About Fdr That When He Was ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

I heard a story about FDR that when he was president he got tired of saying the usual things all the time at those White House receptions. So one evening he decided to find out if anybody was paying any attention to what he was saying. As each person came up to him and shook his hand he would smile ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will

The Dirt Returns

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 3, 2009

THE DIRT RETURNS Julie Ackerman recalls asking, "How did everything get so dirty so fast?" I grumbled as I dusted the glass tabletop. "I had the whole house clean a month ago." "Cleaning is a way of life, not an event," my husband responded. I know he’s right, but I hate to admit it. I want to ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Independent/Bible

There Is An Old Legend Which Says When Jesus Had ...

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Dec 5, 2009

"There is an old legend which says when Jesus had ascended into heaven, the angel Gabriel asked him, "Lord what plans have you made for carrying on your ministry in the world? How will people learn of what you have done for them?" Jesus responded, "I left that to Peter, James and John, Martha ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Anglican

Why Muslims Convert

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

WHY MUSLIMS CONVERT Fuller seminar asked 750 former Muslims to fill out an extensive questionnaire about how they came to decide to become a Christian. The respondents were from 30 countries and 50 ethnic groups, representing every major region of Islam. They were asked to rank the relative ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16

Tags: Christian Witness

Proof Of Who He Is

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Apr 14, 2011

PROOF OF WHO HE IS This reminds me of the three lunatics in an insane asylum: The first lunatic said to the second, "Did you know that I'm Napoleon Bonaparte?" Indignantly, the second lunatic replied, "I beg your pardon! It just so happens that I am Napoleon Bonaparte!" The first one said, "Oh ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Baptist

We Require Loving

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 20, 2011

WE REQUIRE LOVING A little girl was making but poor progress toward recovery, though the ailment had been checked and there seemed to be no reason why she should not rapidly improve. But it didn’t happen, and the doctor in charge was keenly interested to know why. She was a very sensitive child, ...read more

Scripture: John 13:34-35

Tags: Christian Love

How Were The Old Testament Saints Saved?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2011

HOW WERE THE OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS SAVED? H. A. Ironside was traveling and dropped in on a Sunday school class. The unprepared teacher asked how Old Testament saints were saved and somebody answered, "By keeping the law." The teacher said, "Correct!" Ironside raised his hand and said, "Romans ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:6-9

Tags: Faith

Feeling A Tug  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2011

FEELING A TUG A small boy was flying a kite one April afternoon when a low drifting cloud encircled the kite and hid it from view. A man passing by asked the little boy what he was doing with that string in his hand. "I’m flying my kite," the child responded. The man, looking up and seeing ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1

Tags: Faith, Real Faith, Better Faith, Feeling Faith

Maskepetoon

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Aug 29, 2011

MASKEPETOON When the first missionaries came to Alberta, Canada, they were savagely opposed by a young chief of the Cree Indians named Maskepetoon. But he responded to the gospel and accepted Christ. Shortly after ward, a member of the Blackfoot tribe killed his father. Maskepetoon rode into the ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Baptist

The Bible Treasure

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Sep 26, 2011

THE BIBLE TREASURE Kathleen Norris tells the story of a South Dakota rancher and his bride who received a leather-bound Bible as a wedding gift from the groom's grandfather. They wrote a thank-you note and stowed the Bible away on a closet shelf, out of the way. As time passed, the grandfather ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

Denomination: Congregational

Ali Kissed 'em!

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 16, 2012

"ALI KISSED 'EM!" Former boxing writer Harold Conrad visited a women's prison with heavyweight fighter Muhammad Ali. "All the inmates lined up," wrote Conrad. "They were ooh-ing and aah-ing as he went along. There were some good-looking ones. But he kissed only the ugly ones." After they left the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:7

Tags: Kindness

What Alcoholics Can Teach Us

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 31, 2014

Philip Yancey interviewed a young alcoholic who had formerly been an active church member, but had allowed Alcoholics Anonymous to replace the church. When questioned why, the young man responded, "Mainly I'm trying to survive, and AA helps me in that struggle far better than any church." ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:5

Tags: Accountability, Authenticity, Dependency, Self-Righteousness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Pursuit Of Happiness

Contributed by Larry Hinkle on Dec 12, 2019

A disgruntled early American once complained to Ben Franklin, “so where is all this happiness that the Constitution was supposed to guarantee me?” Franklin is said to have responded, “The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it ...read more

Scripture: John 15:11

Tags: Happiness, Joy

Denomination: Methodist

The Holy Spirit Had A Monopoly On Moody

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 13, 2022

Dwight L. Moody was a shoe salesman from Chicago who fell in love with Jesus and started sharing his faith with everyone he met. Even though he was never ordained or had formal training, God used him to reach thousands for Christ as an evangelist. There was a group of British pastors who were ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit, Preaching, Revival, Jealousy, Moody, Critical Spirit, Preachers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Choosing Your Attitude

Contributed by David Swanger on Jan 24, 2024

In his book Take the Stairs, Roy Vaden tells of visiting Jamaica and complaining to the cab driver about the rain. The cab driver smiled and responded, “In Jamaica, man, we don’t have rain; we only have liquid sunshine.” As they drove through town, Vaden commented on how annoying all the speed ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:24

Tags: Choice, Attitude

The Preacher's New Suit

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Jun 24, 2025

The Preacher’s New Suit I was recently invited to preach for the Sunday morning service. Ice Breaker: For an introduction, I stated the following: I introduced myself and then shared the following. Hello, I'm LC Taylor and my wife is Kathy. My wife and I were discussing how honored we were ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Tags: New Suit, Humor, Laughter, Suit, Icebreaker, Sermon Introductions, Ice Breaker, Appearance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Predestination Talks

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 12, 2009

THE PREDESTINATION TALKS Ligon Duncan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, MS, tells the following story: I well remember as a fifteen year-old boy at my grandparents’ house, reading through Ephesians 1 with grandmother and granddad and my aunt and the family for our morning ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Tags: God's Sovereign Will

A Little Boy Wanted To Meet God.he Knew It Was A ...

Contributed by Rev. Saeed Richardson on Sep 9, 2007

A little boy wanted to meet God.He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato chips and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey. When he had gone about three blocks,he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park, just staring at some ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Wasting Time At Work

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 19, 2012

WASTING TIME AT WORK For many American workers today, time’s a wastin’ - literally. According to a new survey by America Online and Salary.com, the average worker admits to frittering away 2.09 hours per 8-hour workday, not including lunch and scheduled break-time. As a matter of practice, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:9

Tags: Workplace Integrity