In Sermon Illustrations: "Salvation By Grace"

The Big Black Door  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Marquardt on Oct 18, 2000

THE BIG BLACK DOOR An Arab chief tells a story of a spy who was captured and then sentenced to death by a general in the Persian army. This general had the strange custom of giving condemned criminals a choice between the firing squad and the big, black door. As the moment for execution drew near, ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:15

Tags: Freedom, Salvation, Change, Choice

Denomination: Assembly Of God

"No Daddy, Just One More...please!"  PRO

Contributed by John Mcphail on Oct 12, 2010

"JUST ONE MORE, DADDY! PLEASE!" Children have a simple way of teaching the profound things of God. The moment my twin girls were born I knew two things immediately: 1) My life was going to be a whole lot more busy and 2) God had something very precious to share with me. When ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:2, John 3:16

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, Call To Salvation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Forced To Kill  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jul 1, 2013

FORCED TO KILL Around the time of the Korean War, Kim Joon-gon had seen 2,000 out of 20,000 people on Chunnam Island murdered by the Communists. They dragged he and his family outside their village where Kim’s father and wife were beaten to death and Kim was left for dead. When he revived and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:17-21, Matthew 5:7

Tags: Revenge, Vengeance, Mercy, Salvation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Cotton Pickin' Son Of God

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 28, 2014

We were having our weekly AWANA meeting at our church when something really funny happened. The children were sharing their Bible verse for the week -- John 3:16. One of our little boys was struggling with remembering the words. He was asked, "Can’t you remember John 3:16?" The boy struggled to ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-18

Tags: Salvation, Bible Study, Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Does Your God Bleed?  PRO

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 4, 2014

DOES YOUR GOD BLEED? A little boy went up to a missionary Sunday School leader in another country. The boy said, "I like what you say about the God of the Bible but I can’t see him. But if I go to the temple I can see my God." The missionary said to the little boy, "Son, may I ask you a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8

Tags: Salvation, Cross, Blood Of Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

John Denver's Lost Opportunity

Contributed by Garris Hudson on May 23, 2016

JOHN DENVER’S LOST OPPORTUNITY One day in a frequent flyer room, I looked over and saw John Denver. It was pretty obvious with his distinct features and signature guitar that it was him. I went over and said, "John!" He jumped up, stuck out his hand and said, "I haven’t seen you in a while." I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Evangelism, Salvation, Witnessing, Lost

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hell's Gate

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 18, 2017

A man was looking for a place in New York City to party late one night. He stopped a police officer and said, "I am looking for a night club named Hell’s Gate. Do you know how to get there?" The officer said, "Sir, just keep going down this street and will you pass Calvary Church on your right. ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Hell, Salvation, Witnessing, Calvary

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It's In Your Hands

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 18, 2017

A young student in China decided to play a trick on his elderly teacher one day. He caught a small bird and cupped it in his hands behind his back. He then approached the sage with this plan in mind. He would ask the old man what he had in his hand. If he answered correctly, he would then ask ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:15

Tags: Eternity, Decision, Commitment, Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Monkey In The Quicksand

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Jul 25, 2018

Main Idea: You cannot pull yourself out of sin. Verse: “…no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law…” (Romans 3:20 NIV). Illustration: A little monkey fell in the quicksand. As he was sinking into the sand, a monkey on the bank started giving him advice. He said, ...read more

Tags: Need For Christ, Sin, Salvation

Denomination: Charismatic

Do All Roads Lead To God?

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Jul 25, 2018

Main Idea: Jesus is the only one way to heaven. Verse: Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6 NKJV). Illustration: I once heard someone say, “All religions ultimately lead to God.” But, think about this question logically. ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Salvation, Religious Beliefs

Denomination: Charismatic

Grab The Rope

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Aug 1, 2018

Main Idea: To be saved, you must let go of what you are trusting in and grab onto Jesus. Verse: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:30-31 NKJV). Illustration: One time there was a man who ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:30-31

Tags: Trust In Jesus, Faith, Salvation

Denomination: Charismatic

Faith Is More Than Mental Assent

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Aug 2, 2018

Main Idea: Putting your faith in Jesus is more than just believing Jesus once lived. Verse: “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” (James 2:19 NLJV) Illustration: Have you ever heard of George Washington or Abraham Lincoln? They were both American ...read more

Tags: Faith, Salvation, Belief In Christ

Denomination: Charismatic

A Good Man Wants To Get Into Heaven

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jul 21, 2024

I was recently at the gym having a conversation with someone I just met. Within a matter of 10 minutes, I realized that this man was a better man than me. He had volunteered in more countries than I could count in 10 minutes of our conversation. He was a teacher, he served the poor in many ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16, Romans 3:23

Tags: Grace, Justification, Good Works, Works Righteousness

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Book "Will Daylight Come?" By Richard ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Apr 18, 2003

The book “Will Daylight Come?” by Richard Hoefler, illustrates the truth, that forgiveness frees and unforgiveness enslaves. A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit his target. As he came back to grandma’s back yard, he ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:1

Tags: Forgiveness, Forgiveness For Others, Grace, Sin

Denomination: Pentecostal

John Newton: I Am  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Oct 15, 2003

I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I want to be. I am not what I hope to be. But still, I am not what I used to be. And by ...read more

Tags: Grace, God's Love, Promises Of God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

No Contest  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 28, 2004

NO CONTEST When we get to heaven, there will be no contest to see who was the most deserving of God’s grace because no one deserves it. There will only be one contest in heaven. When we look back and see what we were before, when we see the pit from which he rescued us, when we recall how ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16, Galatians 2:20-21, Matthew 20:1-16

Tags: Promises Of God, Parable Vineyard, Grace

Wanted: Movers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 28, 2004

WANTED: MOVERS Suppose that one of the local businessmen had purchased a new building and was planning to move all of his stock into the new store. He placed an ad in the paper offering $100.00 per day to anyone who would come to help him make the move. The first workers were there early on the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Tags: Grace, Parable Vineyard, Promises Of God

A New York Family Decided To Leave The Crowded ...  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Jan 11, 2001

A New York family decided to leave the crowded city and head for the wide-open spaces. They bought a ranch out West, where they intended to raise cattle. A month later some friends visited the ranch and asked if they had picked out a name for the place. Well, said the man, I wanted to name it ...read more

Tags: Cooperation, Comprise, Compromise, Grace, Teamwork  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

You Better Watch Out, You Better Not Cry, You ...  PRO

Contributed by Scott Weber on Mar 23, 2001

"You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why, Santa Claus is coming to town. He’s making a list, checking it twice, gonna find out who’s naughty and nice, Santa Claus is coming to town. He sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:11-14, Titus 2:3-5, Ephesians 2:8-10

Tags: Cross Agony, Grace, God's Provision

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Timothy Mcveigh. Six Years Ago, On April 19, ...  PRO

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Apr 22, 2001

Timothy McVeigh. Six years ago, on April 19, 1995, at 9:01 a.m., Timothy McVeigh detonated a bomb which destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. In doing so, he ended the lives of 168 people, nineteen of them children, and became the worst mass murderer in American history. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 21:1-29

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, God's Provision, Grace

Denomination: Baptist