In Sermon Illustrations: "Sermon Opener"

The Streams Of Mercy Are Still Flowing

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 12, 2019

Robert Robinson was a wild young man who came to repentance listening to a George Whitefield sermon. He later became a pastor and wrote a couple of hymns, particularly the famous, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing", which was written in 1757. Later in life, Robinson wandered from the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1

Tags: Promises Of God, No Condemnation, Backsliding, Mercy Of God, Come Thou Fount  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There's Room At The Cross For You

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 4, 2022

I grew up hearing this great old hymn being sung during many times of invitation. I was reminded of this great song while preparing my sermon on the Parable of the Great Supper from Luke 14 where Jesus told His disciples to go into the "highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that My ...read more

Tags: Great Supper, Evangelism, Gospel, Parables, Witnessing, Great Commission  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Preserved And Protected By The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2022

When my mother used to make jam, I would watch her pour wax over the top of the preserves until it was at the brim of the jar. She would then carefully wipe some wax around the rim itself and place the rubber-lined lid on tight. The wax and the vacuum caused by the cooling preserves would seal that ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:13

Tags: Holy Spirit, Preserve, Protection

The Powerhouse  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2008

The Powerhouse Stephen Kuusisto grew up feeling a stigma about being legally blind. For him, sight consisted of a kaleidoscope of shapes, colors, and shadows. Privately he would press his face close to the page of a book and memorize street names in an exhausting attempt to appear more able to see ...read more

Scripture: John 16:13

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Redeemed, Redeemed, Redeemed...

Contributed by Bob Gillchrest on Dec 1, 2008

REDEEMED, REDEEMED, REDEEMED... A.J. Gordon was the great Baptist pastor of the Clarendon Church in Boston, Massachusetts. One day he met a young boy in front of the sanctuary carrying a rusty cage in which several birds fluttered nervously. Gordon inquired, "Son, where did you get those birds?" ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

Waiting On The Interest  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

WAITING ON THE INTEREST A girl had a nice little piggy bank. Her father wanted to teach her about saving, so he talked to her about putting her money into a savings account at their bank. He very carefully explained to her that when she put money into her account, the bank would pay her interest ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-8, Romans 5:2-10

Tags: Future

The Lady Or The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 19, 2009

The Lady or the Lion By Frank Stockton (edited and revised) In the very olden time there lived a semi-barbaric king, whose ideas were indeed semi-barbaric. The king had a daughter, beautiful and fair… the envy of every woman in the nation. She could have any man in the kingdom… but her heart was ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-21

Tags: Jealousy

Have You Ever Seen ‘cops', The Television Show? ...  PRO

Contributed by Keith Foskey on Mar 18, 2005

Have you ever seen ‘Cops’, the television show? They run up to someone’s front door, and kick right through it. That is the same way we choose to proceed in life sometimes. Instead of allowing God to open doors for us, we choose to kick the doors down ourselves. But it is a lot harder to put a door ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will, Knowing God's Will

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Brethren, If We Will Do God’s Work In ...

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jul 7, 2010

Brethren, if we will do God’s work in God’s way at God’s time with God’s power, we shall have God’s blessing and the devil’s curses. When God opens the windows of heaven to bless us, the devil will open the door of hell to blast us. God’s smile means the devil’s frown! Mere preachers may help ...read more

Tags: Satan, Prophets

Denomination: Baptist

Sitting By The Fire

Contributed by Charles Salmon on Feb 5, 2008

Sitting by the Fire An old man sat by an open fire and dreamed the years away, While, outside in the battle of life, many perished in the toils of day. He never did any good, nor did he ever do any wrong. He just sat by the open fire and dreamed the whole day long. Now he’s left a vacant chair and ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

My Wife And I Recently Visited With A Couple Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Howard Harden on Jan 18, 2001

My wife and I recently visited with a couple who were the proud parents of a baby boy, just over a year old. As soon as we entered their home, we noticed that everything about this house was dedicated to protecting their baby. There were plastic plugs in the electrical outlets to keep the baby from ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:9, 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Tags: Home, God's Provision, Evil, Trinity

Denomination: Baptist

You Know, If You Want To Dabble In Fiction, You ...  PRO

Contributed by David Smith on Dec 5, 2005

You know, if you want to dabble in fiction, you can do some great things with a door. When I was a high school missionary kid living in Singapore, we all got to take a tour once on the U.S.S. Nimitz. And I now have a sci-fi film in my collection, about a time-travel portal that opens up and ...read more

Tags: Narnia

Denomination: Adventist

7 Ways To Pray For Lost Loved Ones

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 25, 2024

Praying for Unsaved Loved Ones “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16) 1. Pray that God will draw them to himself. “No one can come to me unless the Father … draws him.” (John 6:44) 2. Pray for the Holy Spirit to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, John 20:21

Tags: Lost, Unsaved, Unbelievers, Salvation, Gospel, Missions, Prayer, Intercession, Burden, Evangelism, Holy Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Pastor Was Called To A New Church. The First ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Heartsill on Oct 25, 2000

A pastor was called to a new church. The first Sunday the pastor was there, his message was taken from John 3:16. The message was entitled, "How to Be Born Again." The message was well received, but no decisions were made. The second Sunday, the pastor’s message was taken from John 3:16 and was ...read more

Tags: Becoming A Christian, Lordship Of Christ, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

A Pastor Was Called To A New Church. The First ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A pastor was called to a new church. The first Sunday the pastor was there, his message was taken from John 3:16. The message was entitled, "How to Be Born Again." The message was well received, but no decisions were made. The second Sunday, the pastor’s message was taken from John 3:16 and was ...read more

Tags: Faith

Andrew Murray The Great South African 19th ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Andrew Murray the great South African 19th Century preacher put it like this: The Spirit teaches me to yield my will entirely to the Will of the Father. He opens my ear to wait in great gentleness and teachableness of soul for what the Father has day by day to speak and teach. He discovers to me ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

An Atheist Was Out Fishing In Scotland, When All ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

An atheist was out fishing in Scotland, when all of a sudden a huge Dragon type Amphibian began to emerge from the water. With snarling teeth it slithered closer to the atheist. In desperation he cried out, “Dear God, Please save me” All of a sudden, the heavens opened and a deep voice said, “I ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God

It Is Told That The Great Preacher D.l. Moody ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

It is told that the great preacher D.L. Moody said, “I prayed for faith and thought that some day it would come down and strike me like lightning. But faith didn’t seem to come. One day I read in Romans that “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” I had up to this time, closed my ...read more

Tags: Faith General

We Are Not To Be Isolated But Insulated," Said ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

"We are not to be isolated but insulated," said Vance Havner, "moving in the midst of evil but untouched by it." Separation is contact with contamination. Jesus was "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners" (Heb. 7:26), yet He was "a friend of tax collectors and sinners" (Luke ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24

Tags: Worldliness

Lieghton Ford Tells This Story Of A Crusade With ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Lieghton Ford tells this story of a crusade with Billy Gtraham. I was speaking at an open-air crusade in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Billy Graham was to speak the next night and had arrived a day early. He came incognito and sat on the grass at the rear of the crowd. Because he was wearing a hat and dark ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To