In Sermon Illustrations: "Sharpening Your Ax"

A Christmas Card From John The Baptist

Contributed by Larry Turner on Dec 3, 2015

How’s this for a Christmas card this year. On the front a beautiful winter scene. On the inside a nice thought. “The fire of the Holy Spirit, That should be your desire. To follow and obey him, For the Gospel, be a crier. So if Jesus comes back this year, May you not be found a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:11-12

Tags: Christmas, John The Baptist

Denomination: Foursquare

Great Quotes On Volunteering

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 12, 2019

GREAT QUOTES ON VOLUNTEERING “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” — William Shakespeare “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill “I am a little pencil in ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:1-16

Tags: Service, Making A Difference, Volunteering, Church Workers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Let's Say You Were Convicted Of A Serious Crime ...

Contributed by Darrin Hunt on Jun 4, 2007

Let’s say you were convicted of a serious crime and you were facing anywhere from 10 years to life. It was up to the judge to determine your punishment. If he handed down a 10 year sentence, would you be grateful? ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Pretty Dirty

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

As a father came home from his work he saw his little daughter who had been playing in the mud. He said to her, “Honey, you’re pretty dirty.” In her childish way she replied, “Yes, I know daddy, ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

It Is Said That Oliver Cromwell The British ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

It is said that Oliver Cromwell the British politician from the 1700’s was disfigured by facial warts and at one point was commissioning a portrait of himself and told the artist, “I desire you would use all your skill to paint my picture truly like me ... warts and ...read more

Tags: Giving General

George Elliot Once Wrote That, "Our Deeds ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

George Elliot once wrote that, “Our deeds determine us as much as we determine our deeds.” Choose each day to open yourself to the beauty of God’s grace. Open your heart completely to His mercy and as you are filled with His ...read more

Tags: Easter Palm Sunday

Don't Feel Comfortable Confronting Evil? Who ...

Contributed by Michael West on Sep 29, 2008

Don’t feel comfortable confronting evil? Who does? No one is asking you to throw hatchets at the moon, but if you are tired of being on the losing end or being harassed by the enemy, you can’t hide in worship or keep your nose ...read more

Tags: War

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Woman Decided The Time Had Come To Talk To Her ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Oct 22, 2008

A woman decided the time had come to talk to her bright four-year-old son, Benji, about receiving Christ. "Benji," she asked quietly, "would you like to have Jesus in your heart?" Benji rolled his blue eyes ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Key To The Gate

Contributed by Justin Lauramore on Nov 12, 2012

THE KEY TO THE GATE Picture this, you have walked for miles and miles. You are tired and ready for a long nap. You walk up towards a town gate. As you stare at a distance you meet a young man that tells you that the gate is locked. You say ok, well I will test this out for myself. As you continue ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Standing In The Doorway  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

STANDING IN THE DOORWAY John Todd was born in Rutledge, Vermont, into a family of several children. They later moved to the village of Killingsworth back in the early 1800s. And, there, at a very young age, both John’s parents died. The relatives wondered what they would do with so many ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-3

Tags: Death

Giving Out Of Need

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“Hunger also changes the world when eating can’t be a habit, then neither can seeing.” - Maxine Hong Kingston It had been a tough year and it didn’t appear to be getting any easier. She wasn’t working and he wasn’t working much. They had two teenage children to feed and bills to pay. The car ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7

Tags: Compassion, Poverty, Generosity, Giving Out Of Need

Denomination: Charismatic

Walking With God

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Oct 1, 2016

“Walking with God” Sermon Opener (Humorous) Micah 6: 1-8 Years ago, in the small town of Catlettsburg Kentucky, there lived several town-drunks. These men where classic characters, each unique in his own way, and from time to time they found themselves arrested ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:1-8

Tags: Indictment, God's Requirements

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Being Ready

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Oct 1, 2016

Being Ready Luke 12: 32-38 This illustration is about not being afraid for the return of the Master. When I was a young boy in the Fourth Grade at Yost Elementary School, our teacher, Mrs. Conley, would periodically leave the room and say, “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Just work quietly at ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:32-38

Tags: Following Directions, Being Prepared

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Teddy Bear Of Jesus

Contributed by John Telgren on Feb 11, 2017

I put my son to bed, and went through the routine. "I love you, I love mommy, I love your brothers, etc." Then he stopped, looked up at me, and asked, "What about my Teddy, don't you love my Teddy?" I looked over at a tattered, dingy, stuffed animal that was on it's last leg quite literally. I ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:25-32

Tags: Church, Bride Of Christ, Church Appreciation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Trapped , Sabotage

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 3, 2020

WHEN MY OWN THINKING AND MY OWN WORDS SABOTAGE MY LIFE AND MY FAMILY. There was this woman that went to the Old Wise Man in the community to seek advice about her future. She approached the wise man to seek answers about her life... She asked him: SIR, WHAT WILL MY FUTURE HOLD? The wise man ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:12

Tags: Words, Sabotage, Attitudes

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Goal And Person Of Change

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

The Goal and Person Of Change Many find themselves overcome by sins that have brought heartache, turmoil and even isolation. These sinful bondages are playing havoc across all social and economic layers of our nation’s families. Therapists, physicians, scientists and sadly, even some Christian ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:21-23, Mark 6:1-13

Tags: Life, Sanctification

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blessed Are The Meek  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Blessed Are The Meek As you study the character traits described in the Beatitudes, you can't help but realize one thing; these qualities are by no means natural to the human spirit. They are very foreign. Poverty of spirit, true mourning over personal sins against God and meekness does ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:5, Matthew 26:36-46, Matthew 15:21-28

Tags: Giving, Truth, Character, Redemption, Words, Meek  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Have You Seen The Rabbit - The Race

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 31, 2023

Yet as I prepared this Message ... the Holy Spirit made it clear to me ... that to be all that God has called us to be ... and before we should connect with others ... we first must be abiding with ... and be connected to the Jesus ... to the true vine. To continually abide in the Lord ... to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14, Luke 22:42, Matthew 6:6, John 10:27, John 15:5, Matthew 25:40, 1 Corinthians 9:24, 2 Timothy 4:7, Hebrews 12:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Cost, Race, Prize, Connect, Chase, Endurance, Vine  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

[095]. A Message From A Poem – From Chains To Release

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 2, 2025

[095]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FROM CHAINS TO RELEASE This poem covers a lot of ground. It starts with, and develops the chains of sin; the work of Christ on the cross; our redeemed state in a persecuting world; God is looking for faithfulness and commitment; we praise the Lord because He ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:2, Romans 6:23, John 10:10

Tags: Captives, Bound By Chains, Chained By Satan, The Chains Of Sin, Poetry, Poem, Chains, Released  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[265]. A Message From A Poem – The Glory Of The Son [version 1]

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 17, 2026

[265]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE GLORY OF THE SON [Version 1] I get very uneasy about songs sung in churches that seem to glorify the person of man rather than the Person of Christ. Singing today is too egocentric and that takes away the glory from Christ. All praise and glory belong to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:17-20

Tags: Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Glory, Praise, Resurrection, Glory To God, Mount Of Transfiguration  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational