In Sermon Illustrations: "Savior Of All"

Humanism

Contributed by Richard Tow on Nov 17, 2020

"During the construction of Emerson Hall at Harvard University, president Charles Eliot invited psychologist and philosopher William James to suggest a suitable inscription for the stone lintel over the doors of the philosophy department. After some reflection, James sent Eliot a line from ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:20, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Jude 1:25, Ephesians 3:21, 2 Corinthians 10:17, Romans 16:27, Psalm 8:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Glory, Man, Humanism, Boast, Glorifying, God, Doxology, Perspective, Pride, Worldview, Orientation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Boy Eating Apple

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 17, 2021

A four-year-old boy was eating an apple in the back seat of the car, when he asked, "Daddy, why is my apple turning brown?" "Because," his dad explained, "after you ate the skin off, the meat of the apple came into contact with the air, which caused it to oxidize, thus ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:28

Tags: Bible, Understanding

Denomination: Methodist

Epitaphs

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 17, 2021

The Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, has an exhibit of unique epitaphs. Give a few. Near Uniontown, Pennsylvania there’s a gravestone that reads, “Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake. He stepped on the gas instead of the brake.” Boot Hill Cemetery in Tombstone, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Tags: Death, Headstones, Epitaphs

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Judgement And Mercy - 2 Sides Of The Same Coin

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 27, 2021

Mercy and Judgement are two sides of the same coin – We often put different parts of God’s character (attributes) into conflict. If we declare God as merciful, can He still bring righteous judgement? Let me share an example to help you understand the connection between mercy and judgment. If you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46, Matthew 7:13-14

Tags: Mercy, Judgment, Attributes Of God

Denomination: Methodist

Undependable Directions

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 16, 2021

Three young women escaped the sinking Mercedes-Benz SUV after the vehicle's GPS directed them down a boat launch and into the Mercer Slough in Bellevue, Washington. The driver thought she was on a road while following her GPS unit just after midnight, but she was actually heading down the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:8-11

Tags: Trust, Guidance, Authority, Leading, Independable  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Motherhood And Compassion

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 19, 2022

Motherhood and Compassion. A few days ago, I made a marvelous discovery. In the Hebrew language of the Old Testament the word for “compassion” comes from the root word, “womb.” The picture is of a birthing. It is also the picture of a faithful mother giving all she's got to bring a little ...read more

Tags: Children, Compassion, Women, Mothers, Mother's Day, New Birth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sin Changes You

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Apr 21, 2022

I heard a quote many years ago that I believe is from a movie I do not recommend called 8mm. (it is about human trafficking or some other awful thing). The quote is so true: If you dance with the devil, the devil dont change. The devil changes YOU. We can see this principle illustrated so ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8, 1 Peter 5:9

Tags: Sin, Temptation, Compromise

Denomination: Charismatic

Why Peter Wanted To Walk On The Water

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 7, 2022

Peter said to Jesus, "Command me to come to You on the water !" He wasn't getting out of the boat until the Lord called him to do that. Don't go and jump out of your boat and then expect a miracle from Jesus if He hasn't called you out of the boat in the first ...read more

Tags: Faith, Fear, Jesus, Obedience, Peter, Miracles, God's Voice  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The World Needs Followers Of Jesus...

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 2, 2023

THE WORLD NEEDS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS... who cannot be bought; whose word is their bond; who put character above wealth; who possess opinions and a will; who are larger than their vocations; who do not hesitate to take chances; who will not lose their individuality in a crowd; who will be as honest ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Disciples, Witnesses, Examples

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Idolatry Of Cell Phones

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 26, 2023

t’s no surprise that 45% of Americans say that their phone is the most valuable possession. What is surprising is how far our obsessions with cell phones go: Over one-third of Americans (36%) say they’d give up their pets to keep their cell phone. 53% say that in a house fire or other disaster, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, Galatians 6:1-2

Tags: Cell Phones, Lust, Faithfulness, Idolatry, Time, Fruit Of The Spirit, Self Control  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Four Battles With Self Control

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 5, 2023

FOUR BATTLES WITH SELF CONTROL IN PROVERBS: Uncontrolled lust. (Proverbs 6:26: “For the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life”). Uncontrolled spending (Proverbs 21:20: “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 6:26, Proverbs 21:20, Proverbs 23:29-30, Proverbs 29:11, Galatians 5:23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Proverbs, Lust, Spending, Anger, Alcoholism, Drunkenness, Fruit Of The Spirit, Self Control  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Daddy's Side Of The Family (Father's Day Joke!)

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 7, 2023

A little girl asked her Mom, “Where do human beings come from?” Mom answered, “I want to tell you a story from the Bible. God made Adam and Eve and they had children, and so was all mankind made.” Two days later the girl asked her Dad the same question. Dad answered much differently. He said, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-3

Tags: Fathers, Creation, Evolution, Family, Father's Day, Mothers, Atheism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Raising Cain

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 26, 2023

Cain was so angry he would not be talked out of his sin—even by God. Eve, however, had to be talked into her sin by Satan; but Cain “belonged to the evil one” (1 John 3:12). It is as if he could not wait to destroy his brother—a natural man’s solution to his own failure. God’s advice was that ...read more

Tags: Cain, Abel, Offerings, Eve, Genesis, Sin, Murder, Adam, Hate  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Storm To Peaceful Scene.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jun 6, 2024

Another little me story, I went through a real struggle, mainly of my own making, thinking and due to anger and too much caffeine in Sri Lanka, where I was awake all night and ended up in hospital due to an atrial fibrillation that took 4 days to come right. Why do I share this with you, you are ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Tags: Salvation, Anger, Awareness, Stupidity, Ill Health  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Gang Member's Turf

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 9, 2024

We learned that the belt of truth is a belt of truthfulness. It is “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). It is avoiding all forms of lies, hypocrisy, deception, and manipulation because that is the devil’s turf. Gang members in these big cities understand the value of staying on your own turf. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18, Ephesians 4:15

Tags: Safety, Spiritual Warfare, Truthfulness, Lies, Turf  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Social Consequences Of Sin

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Oct 13, 2024

Social consequences of sin. Jonathan Edwards in his book “The Nature Of True Virtue” lays out how sin destroys the social fabric. He argues that human society is deeply fragmented when anything, but God is our highest love. If our highest goal in life is the good of our family, then we will tend to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-24

Tags: Virtue, Jonathan Edwards, 10 Commandments, Law, Sin, Idolatry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

God Is Left-Handed!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 12, 2024

Little Philip was spending the weekend with his grandmother after a particularly trying week in infant school. His grandmother decided to take him to the park on Saturday morning. It had been snowing all night and everything was beautiful. His grandmother commented, 'Doesn't it look like ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:34, Colossians 3:1

Tags: Grandmother, Throne Of God, Father, Jesus, Children, Sunday School  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Horrid French Pun

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

A young cook in France, Jean Luc, decided that the French would enjoy feasting on rabbits and decided to raise rabbits in Paris and sell them to the finer restaurants in the city. Jean Luc searched all over Paris seeking a suitable place to raise his rabbits. None could be found. Finally, an old ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:10-12, Zechariah 14:7

Tags: Unique, Complex, Joke, Pun, Sermon Into  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Jewish Understanding About Divorce

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

“The school of Shammai say: A man may not divorce his wife unless he finds in her a matter of lewdness, as it says, "If he finds in her an unseemly thing" (Deuteronomy 24:1), but the school of Hillel say: Even if she burnt his food, as it says, "If he finds in her an unseemly ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:31-32, Matthew 19:3-9, Mark 10:1-12, Luke 16:18, 1 Corinthians 7:11-13, Deuteronomy 24:21  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Remarriage, Background, Jewish, Divorce

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Last Words To Wife

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 22, 2025

Her husband had been slipping in and out of a coma for several months yet she stayed by his bedside every single day. When he came to, he motioned for her to come nearer. As she sat by him, he said, "You know what? You have been with me all through the bad times. When I got fired, you were ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:22-25, Matthew 26:26-29, Luke 22:14-23

Tags: Death, Communion, Last Supper, Deathbed, Lord's Table, Last Words  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible