In Sermon Illustrations: "Sermon In The Fire"

Five Thousand Fishes And Two Thousand Loves?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 6, 2022

• A young preacher graduated from Bible College and was invited back to his home congregation to preach a sermon. He wanted to make a good impression. He did his best to prepare to preach to his home church. He wrote his sermon word for word and memorized it. He had a very dramatic beginning to the ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-14

Tags: Jesus, Miracles, Sermons, Preacher Jokes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Alex Navalny - Russian Dissident

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 19, 2024

Russian opposition leader and outspoken Christian, Alexei Navalny. Navalny voluntarily returned to Russia - knowing he would be arrested and imprisoned. Navalny, 47, dies while serving a 19-year sentence in a penal colony north of the Arctic Circle. In Navalny’s closing statement during his 2021 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Tags: Integrity, Righteousness, Sermon On The Mount, Sacrifice

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

This Is Good  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

THIS IS GOOD The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!" One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-7

Tags: Hunger, Trusting God, Past, Fire, Memory, Attitude General  (view more)  (view less)

All The Difference  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2002

ALL THE DIFFERENCE All but four of the major world religions are based on mere philosophical propositions. Of the four that are based on personalities rather than philosophies, only Christianity claims an empty tomb for its founder. In 1900 B.C. Judaism’s Father Abraham died. In 483 B.C. ...read more

Tags: Post Easter, Easter Resurrection, Emmaus Road, Boat, Fire, Faith  (view more)  (view less)

Well ...

Contributed by Joe Bertone on Aug 1, 2012

WELL DONE One mentally challenged young man I heard said, “In this life God places us in His oven. In here it is hot and it hurts. No one likes being in the oven but when life is over, and the bell dings, God takes ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Tags: Endurance, Suffering, Fire, Trial, Well Done, Suffering Joy In  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Seperated But In The Presence Of The Lord

Contributed by David Goering on Sep 13, 2018

Going to a zoo is educational, for people of all ages, and when you are there you might be in the presence of a lion, tiger or a bear, but at the same time you are separated from these ferocious animals. The scripture teaches us that in the world to come unconverted men will be separated from the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, Revelation 14:10-11, Isaiah 66:23-24

Tags: Separation, Lake Of Fire, Judgment, Unrepentant, Damnation, Torments, Hell  (view more)  (view less)

There’s An Old Story Of A Man Who Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Jan 6, 2001

There’s an old story of a man who was walking at night, and saw another man searching for something near a lamp post. Approaching, he asked the man what he was looking for, and the man, without looking up, replied, “My watch”. The first man asked, “Well, precisely where were you standing when ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:5-10

Tags: Knowing God's Will, Love Of The Disciples, Sermon On The Mount

Denomination: Orthodox

Who Would Ever Dream Of Amputating His Own Leg? ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Haines on Jan 20, 2001

Who would ever dream of amputating his own leg? Nobody-- unless that person had lost his mind or was faced with the grim choice of losing either his leg or his life. That was Bill Jeracki’s terrible predicament, according to The Denver Post, when he was out fishing alone in the foothills of the ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Death, Mountain, Sermon On The Mount

Denomination: Wesleyan

On October 2, 1864, One Of The Worst Battles Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Terry Dashner on Dec 21, 2001

On October 2, 1864, one of the worst battles of the American Civil War was fought. 2800 Confederate soldiers squared off against 4500 Union soldiers. The battle is forever recorded in American history as one of the worst atrocities that has ever occurred on US soil. After a day of intense fighting, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13

Tags: Sermon On The Mount, Love Of The Disciples, Life, Truth

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Humility To Listen  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Apr 19, 2002

THE HUMILITY TO LISTEN Several years ago, a Greensboro, North Carolina, newspaper carried a story about a tractor-trailer rolling along on a side street in a southern city. The driver came to a low bridge and misjudged the height of his rig. When the truck came to a stop, it was wedged tightly ...read more

Tags: Sermon On The Mount, Jesus Christ, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: United Methodist

September 11th, 2001 Just Past 9:00am, Stanley ...  PRO

Contributed by James Botts on Sep 10, 2002

September 11th, 2001 just past 9:00am, Stanley Praimnath, Vice President for Fuji Bank, was in his office in the South Tower at WTC when his phone rang. “Are you watching the news?’ asked a woman the Chicago office. “Are you alright?” “I’m fine” he said wondering why she had called. Just then he ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:24

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, What Is Evangelism?, Sermon On The Mount

Denomination: Baptist

When God Says...what?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 14, 2014

A young preacher in Ft. Worth, Texas was trying to make an impression on a Pastor Search Team who had come to his church to hear him preach. The young man was preaching on the time in the Old Testament when God had enough with His disobedient people and finally said to them, "Ichabod!", which ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 4:21

Tags: Mistakes, Humor, Glory Of God, Sermon Bloopers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Parrot Named Moses

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

A PARROT NAMED MOSES A thief broke into a beautiful suburban house and was looking around for things to steal when he heard a voice say, “Better be careful…Jesus is watching you!” He stopped for a moment and heard it again… The surprised thief froze in his tracks and looked around, shining the ...read more

Tags: Moses, Humor, Jesus Is Watching, Sermon Opener

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Things That Mom Would Never Say!!!!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 5, 2022

THINGS THAT MOM WOULD NEVER SAY.... 1) “How on earth can you see the TV sitting so far back?” 2) “Yeah, I used to skip school a lot myself when I was your age!” 3) “Just leave all the lights on … it makes the house look more cheery.” 4) “Let me smell that shirt — Yeah, it’s good for another ...read more

Tags: Humor, Mothers, Mother's Day, Sermon Introductions

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Talking Dog For Sale!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton 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: Sermon Introductions, Truth, Lies, Deceit, Dogs  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[081]. A Message From A Poem – Fiery Birth Of Life

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 13, 2025

[081]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FIERY BIRTH OF LIFE THIS POEM IS STRICTLY COPYRIGHT. IT MUST NOT BE ALTERED OR TAKEN. IF IT IS USED I WOULD APPRECIATE KNOWING THAT. The use in the Lord’s service is why I wrote it. I have had some of my efforts stolen and reproduced in other’s names. This has ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-13, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 53:4-5

Tags: Judgment, Fire, Bushfires, Forest Fires, Eucalypt, Eucalyptus Oil, Gidgee Tree, Tall Trees, New Life, Furnace, Poetry, Poem, Flames, Mountain Ash  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Calls Us To His Rest, And Meekness Is His ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Kuzma on Jan 2, 2002

“Jesus calls us to His rest, and meekness is his method. The meek man cares not at all who is greater than he, for he has long ago decided that the esteem of the world is not worth the effort. The rest Christ offers is the rest of meekness, the blessed relief which comes when we accept ourselves ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:5

Tags: Peace, Meekness, Sermon On The Mount, God Brings Hope

Denomination: Foursquare

A Light Named Al  PRO

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Sep 2, 2002

A LIGHT NAMED AL On the morning of September 11, Jeannie Braca switched on the television to check the weather report, only to hear that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. Jeannie’s husband, Al, worked as a corporate bond trader for Cantor Fitzgerald. His office was on the 105th ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-17, Mark 8:34-37

Tags: Sermon On The Mount, Sharing Your Faith, Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: United Methodist

Advent Scripture Reading Plan

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jan 22, 2020

ADVENT Scripture Reading for December Prophecy December 1 - Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 December 2 - Mark 1:2-3 December 3 - Isaiah 11.1-2 December 4 - Isaiah 61.1-2 December 5 - Matthew 24:36-44 December 6 - Jeremiah 33:14-15 December 7 - Zechariah 6:12-13 Preparations - Bethlehem December 8 - Micah ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:2

Tags: Advent Sermon Series, Advent Scripture Reading Plan

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational