Sharpening Your Ax Sermon Illustrations, Free Preaching Ideas on Sharpening Your Ax

Something For Nothing?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 13, 2020

| 3,873 views

Several years ago, I had to make an urgent flight across the country. Because the only airport with those kinds of connections was a good ways away, I took advantage of a shuttle service. Considering the cost of fuel and parking alone, I figured I could get a ride from the northern terminal all ...read more

Scripture: John 6:25-27

Tags: Greed, Motive Or Motivation

Denomination: Baptist

Do You Have A "chip On The Shoulder"?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 15, 2020

| 3,274 views

Hebrew scholar Gensenius, says that the meaning of the Old Testament word for "meekness" involves "a lowly, pious, and modest mind, which prefers to bear injuries rather than return them." Meekness is not only the opposite of pride, but of stubbornness, fierceness, and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Meekness, Beatitudes, Anger, Sensitivity, Sermon On The Mount, Chip On The Shoulder, Spirit Controlled Life (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Shemaiah, A Man Of God

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 21, 2020

| 2,180 views

Text: 1 Kings 12:22, KJV: But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 23 Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying, 24 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 12:22-24

Tags: Man Of God, Men Of God, Shemaiah

Denomination: Baptist

The Grace Of God

Contributed by James Dina on Oct 25, 2020

| 3,212 views

THE GRACE OF GOD "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which [was bestowed] upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15:10) Grace can be defined as the love and mercy given ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:10

Tags: Grace, Grace Of God, Unmerited Favor

Denomination: Pentecostal

Get Up And Try Again

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 17, 2021

| 2,055 views

Download (PDF) Copy sermon Print Save Wade Martin Hughes, Sr avatar View all Sermons Signs Of The Second Coming Within The Church Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 17, 2021 (rate this sermon) | 0 views Scripture: Joel 2:28, Acts 2:17, Matthew 24:10 Denomination: Assembly Of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:10

Tags: Try Again, Never Quit

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Teach Discipline?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jun 18, 2021

| 2,066 views

PARENTS MUST LEARN AND TEACH WHAT GODLY SELF DISCIPLINE CAN DO FOR THEIR HOME AND FOR THEIR CHILDREN. COME LET US CONSIDER WHAT SELF DISCIPLINE CAN DO TO CHANGE THE VALUE OF ONE’S DAILY LIFE… (Unknown, adapted) Place a guitar in my hands and it is worth $300. Put a guitar in the hands of B.B. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:2-5, Exodus 4:2

Tags: Growth, Change, Effort

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Unsung Heroes: Phurah, The Servant Of Gideon

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 5, 2021

| 2,993 views

Introduction: Phurah, Gideon’s servant, is only mentioned twice in the entire Bible—here in this passage—but what he did certainly speaks volumes. Text, Judges 7:9-11, KJV: 9 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered ...read more

Scripture: Judges 7:9-11

Tags: Gideon, Phurah, Unsung Heroes

Denomination: Baptist

What Do I Do When I Am Rejected?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 17, 2022

| 1,319 views

REJECTED, TRY AGAIN SORRY CHARLIE? REMEMBER THE STARKIST TUNA MASCOT? CHARLIE IS THE MOST FAMOUS … TOUGH LUCK, BRO… JUST GET OVER IT… REJECTED? WE CAN HELP CHEER ON OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN REJECTED. CARMELO ANTONY, third player picked in the NBA DRAFT,. He played 17 years and became one ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Philippians 2:3

Tags: Rejection, Try Again, Persist

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Never Quit Growing

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 9, 2022

| 2,237 views

GROWTH IS ESSENTIAL OR ONE WILL GET STAGNATE AND BEGIN A DECREASE. Growth is essential to long term survival. We must learn to take advantage of opportunities and take risk. GROWTH: improve, increase, develop, mature, progressive development, MATURITY, AGE, SIZE, WEIGHT, HEIGHT. 2 Peter 3:18 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:18, Philippians 1:9

Tags: Plan, Growth

Denomination: Assembly Of God

When It Was Dark

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Apr 15, 2022

| 2,030 views

When It Was Dark I’m not quite sure how to say this. We have always said in the church that our faith was based upon facts. It was a faith built upon evidence that led us to the facts. My friends, something has come to light just this past week that is out now in the professional journals and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Tags: Easter, Resurrection

Denomination: Pentecostal

Distorted Christianity

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 7, 2023

| 1,076 views

Q: What does the Church think of God the Father? A: He is omnipotent and holy. He created the world and imposed on mankind conditions impossible to fulfill; he is very angry if these are not carried out. He sometimes interferes in an arbitrary way with judgments and miracles, distributed with a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-6, 2 Corinthians 11:2-4, 2 Timothy 3:1-6

Tags: Distortion, Misconceptions, Ignorance, Slander, Dorothy Sayers (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Dark Side

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 12, 2024

| 800 views

The Dark side we need to see into: Proverbs 4:19 “But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.” Years ago, the movie Star Wars came out and my daughters and I made a pact to go see every Star Wars movie together. We have loved the series and one of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:9

Tags: Darth Vader, Evil, Dark Side

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Simeon The Pillar Hermit

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Aug 28, 2024

based on 1 rating

| 827 views

Simeon was probably like most boys his age in A.D. 403. The 13-year-old spent much of his time caring for his father's flocks on the hillside of Cilicia. But one day, while listening to a sermon on the beatitudes, stirred and changed he left his home and family and began a lifelong pursuit of ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:20

Tags: Separation, Holiness, Finding God, Monks, Intimacy With God (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

[129]. A Message From A Poem – Historic Glimpses - Past, Present, Future

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 12, 2025

| 156 views

[129]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HISTORIC GLIMPSES - PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE The bible is so true that we can count the future as historical. The title of this poem is Historical Glimpses and is in three sections – what is past; what is present; and what is future. God knows the end from the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:35-39

Tags: Jesus, Earth, Future, Past, Historic, Christian Poems (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[170]. A Message From A Poem – Let Our Praise To God Arise

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 21, 2025

| 294 views

[170]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – LET OUR PRAISE TO GOD ARISE This poem was written in two halves 25 years apart. It was originally to be a poem on praise but as I look at it, the poem is a hymn that can be sung to a number of tunes because the metre 7-6-7-6 is a common enough one. Through this ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 150:1-6

Tags: Praise, Heaven, Praise God, Praise The Lord, Christian Poems (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You Conected To The Power Source?

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 25, 2025

based on 2 ratings

| 283 views

A missionary named Herbert Jackson ... was a given car when he arrived on ... the mission field. It had one problem... it would not start ... without a push. After pondering his problem, ... he devised a plan. He went to the local school near his home, ... and received permission to take a few ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:13, Ephesians 3:16, 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 John 4:4

Tags: Power, Force, Overflow, Connected, Beliver, Missionary, Spirit, Holy Spirit (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

[270]. A Message From A Poem – The Hope Of The Church

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 20, 2026

| 95 views

[270]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE HOPE OF THE CHURCH The coming of the Lord Jesus for His people and His Church is called “the blessed hope” in the AV and is translated this way in the NASB – {{Titus 2:13 “looking for THE BLESSED HOPE and the appearing of the glory of our great God and ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2, Titus 2:13

Tags: The Blessed Hope, The Lord Is Coming, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Church, Hope, Rapture (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Ring In Witness Protection

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

based on 1 rating

| 187 views

Have you ever had one of those moments where, as the words are leaving your mouth, you know you're making a terrible mistake? I had one of those back in 2014. I had just started my first real job at an advertising agency, and I was so excited that I went straight from work and bought an ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:2-3, Isaiah 40:3

Tags: God's Timing, Waiting

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[356]. A Message From A Poem – You, O Lord, Are Wonderful

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 27, 2026

| 87 views

[356]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – YOU, O LORD, ARE WONDERFUL This is a praise poem for the worthy Lord. It is descriptive with many titles and positions the Lord holds in our sight and mentioned in our bibles. There are 10 of these alone in the last stanza. We ought to meditate on the Lord and ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-17, John 1:3, John 8:12, John 9:5

Tags: Wonderful, Names Of God, Christian Poems, The Names Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sweeping Closer To Home!" 2 Samuel 12:1-8 Key ... PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 16, 2005

based on 2 ratings

| 2,854 views

“Sweeping Closer to Home!” 2 Samuel 12:1-8 Key verse(s): 5-6:“David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.’” The old fix-it ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:1-8

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

In Sermon Illustrations: "Sharpening Your Ax"

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Popular Preaching Resources

Confident Preaching

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 13, 2020

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 15, 2020

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 21, 2020

Contributed by James Dina on Oct 25, 2020

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 17, 2021

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jun 18, 2021

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 5, 2021

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 17, 2022

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 9, 2022

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Apr 15, 2022

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 7, 2023

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 12, 2024

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Aug 28, 2024

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 12, 2025

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 21, 2025

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 25, 2025

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 20, 2026

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 27, 2026

Sweeping Closer To Home!" 2 Samuel 12:1-8 Key ... PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 16, 2005