In Sermon Illustrations: "Set Free"

Hope For When Christ Comes

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jun 27, 2021

This two-part story can frame a message on heaven, hope or the resurrection. The 1989 Armenian earthquake needed only 4 minutes to flatten the nation and kill 30,000 people. Moments after the deadly tremor ceased, a father raced to an elementary school to save his son. When he arrived, he saw that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:14, 1 Corinthians 15:17, 1 Corinthians 15:23, Romans 6:5-9

Tags: Resurrection, Heaven, Hope

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Successful Businessman--Modern Day Rich ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 30, 2009

Successful Businessman--Modern Day Rich Fool John Ortberg tells the story of a successful businessman. He worked 14 hours a day, even on weekends. He thought the 40 hour work week was such a good idea he would often do it twice a week. His goal was to be the best businessman he could be. Even when ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:16-19

Tags: Parable Rich Fool

Pioneer

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 27, 2020

Time Magazine's obituary - Dr. Wilfred Thomason Grenfell's October 21, 1940. Oct. 21, 1940 - Wilfred Grenfell spent his boyhood on the Sands of Dee near Cheshire, England. He used to filch biscuits and wine from his school larder to give to fishermen as they left at dawn to catch the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, Romans 12:1-8

Tags: Service, Sacrifice, Commitment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When I Was In Atlanta I Saw A Young Lady With ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 30, 2001

When I was in Atlanta I saw a young lady with blue hair and bright red streaked hair with yellow mixed underneath setting on a bench. -She had ear rings, nose rings, eyebrow rings and a lip ring. I went over to talk to her. I told her that I liked her hair. (I really did -she looked nice.) ...read more

Construction Workers Attempt To Use God To Take ...  PRO

Contributed by Al Schifano on Oct 21, 2002

Construction workers attempt to use God to take what is Caesars. (Matt 22:15-21) In the late 1970’s large numbers of skilled construction workers, commonly referred to as “Boomers”, traveled the country looking for work on electric power plant maintenance projects. These were short-term (4-8 ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Jesus Teachings, Political Freedom

Denomination: Catholic

Since I Was A Little Shy When I Was In High ...  PRO

Contributed by Nate Barbour on Feb 25, 2003

Since I was a little shy when I was in high school, I didn’t ask many girls out on dates. So my friend came up to me one day and said, “Hey, I’ve lined you up with a great date for Saturday night. It’s all set.” “Who is it?” I asked. It turned out to be his cousin Doris. I had never met her. In ...read more

Tags: Marriage Singleness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dr. Anthony T. Evans, Guiding Your ...  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on Aug 5, 2003

ILLUSTRATION… Dr. Anthony T. Evans, Guiding Your Family in a Misguided World. One day, two monks were walking through the countryside. They were on their way to another village to help bring in the crops. As they walked, they spied an old woman sitting at the edge of a river. She was upset because ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:35-36, Philippians 2:14

Tags: Complaint, Emotions, Anger

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

16,743 Yards Of Persistence  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 1, 2004

16,743 YARDS OF PERSISTENCE God has always honored persistence. I have always appreciated Emmitt Smith. I was glad to see him set the NFL rushing record last Sunday. He isn’t as flashy as Walter Payton or Barry Sanders, and he never possessed true break-away speed. But his strength lies in his ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1, Luke 20:27-38, Luke 18:1-8

Tags: Prayer General, Prayer Persistence, Parable Widow

One Day, Two Monks Were Walking Through The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2006

One day, two monks were walking through the countryside. They were on their way to another village to help bring in the crops. As they walked, they spied an old woman sitting at the edge of a river. She was upset because there was no bridge, and she could not get across on her own. The first monk ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

Most Neo-Pagans Have The Following Factors In ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Apr 18, 2006

Most Neo-Pagans have the following factors in common: • Their religion was almost or completely wiped out in the past and has since then been reconstructed from ancient information sources • They are either duo-theistic or poly-theistic in nature (recognizing a goddess and god or many gods.) • Most ...read more

Tags: Cults

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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)

How To Eat A Cessna Airplane

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 13, 2012

HOW TO EAT A CESSNA AIRPLANE Michel Lotito was an extraordinary man. This elegant Frenchman had a love for food and a fondness for eating unusual objects like bicycles, shopping carts and televisions. His odd appetite earned him the nickname Monsieur Mangetout (Mr Eat Everything). I first heard ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Character

Stand Strong

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 13, 2023

I want you all to think back with me as we begin this morning. Many of us looked forward to leaving high school behind with all of its challenges. Then we began to experience a whole new set of challenges in college or in the workplace. We began wondering what direction we were going to take in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:1-14

Tags: Dedication, Loyalty

Denomination: Baptist

If You Were To Sit Down In Your Living Room, Hit ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on May 11, 2001

If you were to sit down in your living room, hit the remote control and nothing happened, what’s the first thing you’d do? Call the cable company? Call KDKA and ask what happened to their signal? Call ABC & CBS & NBC & Fox? Probably most of you would check the batteries in the remote. Or you’d see ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, God's Provision, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Baptist

Have You Ever Eaten At An Expensive Restaurant ...  PRO

Contributed by Chris Genders on Apr 8, 2002

Have you ever eaten at an expensive restaurant for a special occasion? There you are, all dressed up, with three different forks, fine china and crystal. You are very careful to not embarrass yourself by spilling anything, or doing anything inappropriate. Now compare that to eating a meal at ...read more

Tags: Worship General, Church Practices

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Don't Know About You, But I Am Tired Of Just ...  PRO

Contributed by Darren Ethier on Apr 9, 2002

"I don’t know about you, but I am tired of just being ‘another somebody’ to the lost around me. I have made a decision. I made up my mind and set my heart to declare, ‘I am going to pursue the presence of God in my life. I am going to get so close to God that when I walk into secular and public ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God, Church Practices

Denomination: Pentecostal

Overwhelming Influence  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 24, 2002

OVERWHELMING INFLUENCE Historian Philip Schaff described the overwhelming influence which Jesus had on subsequent history and culture of the world: “This Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science…he shed more ...read more

Henry Ford Was An Automotive Genius. He Came Up ...  PRO

Contributed by Jason Pettibone on Apr 29, 2002

Henry Ford was an automotive genius. He came up with great ideas and handed them to researchers for development. One of his ideas was the concept of an engine in which the pistons were set at an angle to each other rather than in a straight line. He sketched out his idea for the V-8 motor and ...read more

Tags: Faith General, Examples Of Faith

Denomination: Assembly Of God

In The January 15, 1989 Issue Of The Lexington ...  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Aug 12, 2003

In the January 15, 1989 issue of the Lexington Herald-Leader, an article told this story: A family living in a home in West Palm Beach, Florida, told a film crew it was okay to use the front lawn as a set for an episode of “B. L. Stryker”, a TV show starring Burt Reynolds. They knew cars would be ...read more

Tags: Giving Yourself

Denomination: Baptist