In Sermon Illustrations: "Sermon On The Mount"

A Thief And A Priest

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 12, 2012

A THIEF AND A PRIEST The story is told about a Catholic priest who was walking down an alley behind his church when a thief jumped out from behind some garbage cans and pressed the muzzle of his gun into the priest's ribs. The thief said, "Give me your wallet!" Without hesitation, the priest ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1-23

Tags: Christian Values

Who Shot The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2013

WHO SHOT THE DEER? A lawyer, a doctor, and a preacher went deer hunting together when along came a big buck. The three of them all shot at the same time, and immediately the buck dropped to the ground. They all rushed up to examine the deer, but couldn't determine whose shot had actually killed ...read more

Scripture: John 8:42-47

Tags: Preaching

Let's Give Them A French Kiss!!  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 14, 2014

SERMON BLOOPER!!! One of our youth pastors was leaving to go to another church on the same day my wife and I returned from a mission trip to France to encourage our missionaries there. As we closed the service, I brought my wife on the stage on live tv and illustrated how French churches "greet ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:16

Tags: Humor, Preacher Bloopers, Holy Kiss

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Devoting Yourself

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 21, 2014

DEVOTING YOURSELF When it says they "devoted themselves" it means they were steadfast or single minded in purpose or desire. They wanted it and they were going after it, so to speak. In 2008 Sanya Richards-Ross competed in the 400 Meter in Beijing. She started the race strong and built a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Tags: Devotion, Church Body Of Christ, Spiritual Discipline

Trust In The Lord To Fix It

Contributed by James Ledbetter on Feb 3, 2015

A friend pastor of mine once told me a story about trusting in the Lord to fix what is broken. A certain man and his pastor traveled to preach a sermon at another church. And when finished they went to a store to look around. The man bought a doll for his daughter and took it home and gave it to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 40:1-4, Psalm 40:1-40

Tags: All-Powerful God, Book Of Psalms, Trust Jesus

Denomination: Apostolic

Rejected On Earth

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 23, 2016

REJECTED ON EARTH... Campbell Morgan was one of 150 young men who sought entrance to the Wesleyan ministry in 1888. He passed the doctrinal examinations, but then faced the trial sermon. In a cavernous auditorium that could seat more than 1,000 sat three ministers and 75 others who came to listen. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-10

Tags: Moses, Acceptance, Rejection, Calling

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Overwhelming Forgiveness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

A wonderful example of how to practice the lifestyle of grace comes from an incident in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on October 2, 2006, when a man entered an Amish schoolhouse and murdered 5 girls while wounding 5 others before killing himself. As horrific as this was, the greater story was the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 65:3

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

A Catholic Priest, A Jewish Rabbi And A Baptist Preacher...

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 14, 2023

A Catholic priest, a Jewish rabbi, and a Baptist preacher decide to have a contest to see who’s best at his job of converting others to their faith. So, they each go into the woods, find a bear, and attempt to convert it. Later they get together and tell about their experience. The priest begins. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1-13

Tags: Preachers, Evangelism, Grace, Salvation, Legalism, Circumcision, Converts  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fight Like A Man

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 13, 2023

A man came to his pastor who had attended church for 25 years and was a respected, leader in the church, said, "Pastor, I've got something to tell you. I've never told this to a soul, extremely difficult to tell you this now, but my wife and I have had a fight every day for the past 30 ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18-31

Tags: Cowards, Quarreling, Women, Anger, Conflict Management, Husbands, Fights, Wives, Love, Fear, Marriage, Men  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Funnnnnnnnny Thanksgiving Story!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 15, 2023

Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an angry old bull who wanted them out of his pasture. Instantly, they darted toward the nearest fence. The storming bull followed in hot pursuit and it was soon apparent that they wouldn't make it. Terrified, one man shouted to ...read more

Tags: Fear, Thanksgiving, Prayer, Humor, Gratitude  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Great Christmas Story To Use!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 28, 2023

Pastor Clifford S. Stewart of Louisville, Kentucky, sent his parents a microwave oven one Christmas when microwaves were a new thing for many Americans. Here's how he recalls the interesting experience: "They were excited that now they, too, could be a part of the instant generation. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-12, John 1:1-12

Tags: Witnessing, Birth Of Christ, Son Of God, Evangelism, Christmas, Jesus, Salvation, Gospel, Missions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pierced By The Word Of God - The Hell Fire Club

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 19, 2025

When God wills it, ... his word can pierce anyone. As a certain Mr. Thorpe in 18th century Bristol ... found out. Thorpe was a part of a band of men who called themselves, ... the "Hell Fire Club." Their reason for existence ... was to mock and ridicule the work of the famed ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12, Isaiah 55:11

Tags: Pierce, Word, Scripture, Sword

Denomination: Anglican

Being Humble - Young Seminarian Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 24, 2026

A young seminarian ... was excited about preaching his very first sermon ... in the small church ... he grew up in. After three years in seminary, ... he felt adequately prepared, ... and when he was introduced to the congregation, ... he walked boldly ... to the pulpit, ...his head high, ... ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6, Matthew 6:16-21, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5

Tags: Humble, Pride, Boldness, Confidence, Embarrassed  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

I Was Introduced To "Different" The Summer I Took ...

Contributed by Todd Stiles on Mar 27, 2007

I was introduced to “different” the summer I took about 30+ Jr. Highers to Mexico. What an experience! Yes, our own Mike Hain was with me (and what a trip he had). The things I saw on that trip changed my life -- forever! I can’t begin to tell you the broadening I experienced during that two week ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Genghis Khan's Hawk  PRO

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on Apr 29, 2008

GENGHIS KHAN'S HAWK One morning Genghis Khan, the great king and warrior, rode out into the woods to have a day’s sport. Many of his friends were with him. They rode out gaily, carrying their bows and arrows. Behind them came the servants with the hounds. It was a merry hunting party. The woods ...read more

Tags: Bitterness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unintentionally Humorous Texts: Laban, "Why Did You Steal My Gods?”

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 23, 2024

Introduction: Let me say first of all that the Bible is a very sacred Book, not to be trifled with. It’s precious and untold numbers of believers have given their lives to simply have and read it, let alone defend it against any number of attacks. Having said that, there are a number of places ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 31:26-30

Tags: Laban, Idols, Teraphim, Jacob, Rachel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

[237 C]. A Message From A Poem - Scenes From The Gospels - Part 3

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Nov 8, 2025

[237 C]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - SCENES FROM THE GOSPELS - PART 3 They are here to enjoy! Scenes from the Gospels are very special to me. I love them. They have taken a lot of effort, and many, many months revision to get them as correct as possible with the difficult word limitations. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-2, Matthew 2:9-12, Luke 24:13-32, Matthew 14:25-33, Matthew 15:21-28, Matthew 23:23-33, Luke 1:1-4, Matthew 13:10-13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Parables, Poetry Reading, On The Emmaus Road, The Canaanite Woman, Pharisees, Peter Walks On Water, Stories, The Magi, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[237 J] [10]. A Message From A Poem - Scenes From The Gospels - Part 10

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Dec 12, 2025

[237 J] [10]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - SCENES FROM THE GOSPELS - PART 10 They are here to enjoy! Scenes from the Gospels are very special to me. I love them. They have taken a lot of effort, and many, many months revision to get them as correct as possible with the difficult word limitations. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:1-4, Matthew 13:10-13, Luke 4:38-39, Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 10:29-37, Matthew 3:7, Matthew 12:33-37, Matthew 11:7-15  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Herod The Edomite, Murderer, The Magi, The Good Samaritan, The Wise Men, Brood Of Vipers, Mother In Law Of Peter, Pharisees, Sadducees, John The Baptist, Levite, Fever, Jesus Heals, Wilderness, Herod  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[271]. A Message From A Poem – The "I Ams” Of John’s Gospel

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 21, 2026

[271]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE “I AMs” OF JOHN’S GOSPEL There are 7 or 8 of the great “I Am” statements in the Gospel of John. I have done these in a Series on SermonCentral – about 18 messages I think - ...read more

Scripture: John 6:20, John 10:7, John 6:35, John 14:6, John 10:11, John 15:1, John 8:12, John 11:25, John 8:58  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Truth, Life, I Am, I Am The Way, I Am The Door, I Am The Bread Of Life, I Am The Good Shepherd, I Am The Resurrection, I Am The Light Of The World, I Am The True Vine, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, The I Ams Of John  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

This Reminds Me Of An Incident I Experienced ...  PRO

Contributed by Bev Sesink on Feb 5, 2005

This reminds me of an incident I experienced while also working in South Africa. I had been working on a research project but had made a significant error early on in the project. Instead of coming clean I unfortunately chose to try and cover my mistake. It wasn’t too long before my conscience ...read more

Tags: Sin Bondage To, Fear, Becoming A Christian

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational