In Sermon Illustrations: "Sinful Life"

Flies In The Perfume

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 13, 2019

Perfume maker Many years ago, there was a perfume maker who made the best perfume. He had been working on his latest creation for over a month. All his work was beginning to pay off, this was the best perfume he had ever created. He couldn’t wait to show it to the queen, she would be impressed. In ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10:1-3

Tags: Sins, Dead Flies

Denomination: Pentecostal

Astray

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 23, 2019

Astray They sing, Farther along we'll understand. Oh, how I wish I'd been a holy man, But I wandered so far astray Now all I can see is Judgment Day. I fell on my knees and begged for Your grace, Then turned around and spat in Your face. I walked along in my foolish will, Now I fear ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:14

Tags: Sin, Repentance, Backsliding

Denomination: Baptist

Sheep Don't Wallow

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 22, 2020

A little lamb and his mother passed the pig pen every day on their way to the pasture. The lamb looked longingly at the pigs wallowing in the mire, and he asked his mother if he could go and play in the mud. She’d say, “No, sheep don’t wallow.” But he would look over at those pigs in that mud. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 2:20-22

Tags: Sin, Apostasy, Backsliding

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Heredado Pecado

Contributed by James Dina on Sep 7, 2020

HEREDADO PECADO El castigo del pecado no siempre descansa en el que cometió el pecado. Los frutos amargos del pecado son a menudo transmitidos, y entregados a aquellos que no tenían la mano presente en ellos cuando fueron cometidos. Toda la familia puede heredar los pecados de sus ...read more

Scripture: Job 17:5

Tags: Flattery, Inherited Sin

Denomination: Pentecostal

Namana Ng Kasalanan

Contributed by James Dina on Sep 7, 2020

NAMANA NG KASALANAN Ang kaparusahan ng kasalanan ay hindi laging kapahingahan sa kanya na nakagawa ng kasalanan. Ang mapait na bunga ng kasalanan ay kadalasang ipinapasa, at ipinasa-pasa sa mga taong walang kamay sa kanila nang magawa ang mga ito. Maaaring manahin ng buong pamilya ang mga ...read more

Scripture: Job 17:5

Tags: Flattery, Inherited Sin

Denomination: Pentecostal

We Are Sinners. (The Ache In The Human Heart)

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 4, 2023

There is in each of us a dis-ease, a sense of unfulfillment of some high destiny unmet, of some lofty vow broken and shattered. We are sinners! We long for some word of forgiveness which will make us whole. We sense we have a homeland, but we are exiles. We perceive that we are of royal ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1

Tags: Depravity, Disobedience, Sin

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Two Subjects Nobody Wants To Hear Preached About

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Nov 8, 2024

In the 15+ years I have been preaching,I have discovered there are two subjects nobody wants to hear a sermon about: Sin and Giving. Nobody wants to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:38

Tags: Sin, Giving, Obstinance

Denomination: Charismatic

Like Snow—like Scarlet?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 24, 2024

Introduction: Even a small yet honest mistake can have long-lasting effects! Text: Isaiah 1:18, KJV: 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. I used to wash my ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:18

Tags: Forgiveness, Sin, Clothes

Denomination: Baptist

Another Week On My Own

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 22, 2025

Several weeks ago, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage informed me she would be in St. Augustine with our daughter and granddaughter for spring break. As always, I really didn’t properly process this information. I get so busy with other things that there are some things I can’t process. It ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Sin, Temptation, Cheating

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Heresy Of Hyper-Grace

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 4, 2026

One more brief description of a heresy in our recent past, where grace was turned into lewdness – The Hyper-Grace Movement. They were teaching that since all our past, present, and future sins are forgiven already, you might as well go ahead and do whatever you want. In churches where this took ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-2, Jude 1:4

Tags: Sin, Hyper Grace

Denomination: Methodist

The Am/Pm Alarm Mishap

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

Some mornings I don’t walk out of the house feeling good. Some mornings I wake up, look at my phone, and realize I set my alarm for 6 PM instead of 6 AM. Which means I didn’t set an alarm. Which means I’m now late. Which means that quiet, unhurried morning I had planned, Bible, coffee, a few ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1

Tags: Conflict, Sinful Nature

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dog's Bad Breath And God's Love

Contributed by Sam Adair on Apr 22, 2026

“Rowdy’s Breath and God’s Love” ?I want to tell you about my dog, Rowdy. Now, I love this dog. But let me be honest with you—Rowdy’s breath is terrible. Like, really bad. Yet every day, when I get home, Rowdy runs to me full of joy. His tail is wagging, his eyes are bright, and he can’t wait to see ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Sin, God's Love

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Think How Many Temptations You And I Face In An ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Mar 26, 2001

Think how many temptations you and I face in an ordinary day. Staying in bed late - the temptation to laziness. Growling at the breakfast table - the temptation to unkindness. Arguing over who should change the baby this time - the temptation to selfishness. Starting work 10 minutes late - the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:13-15

Tags: Lies, Temptation General, Sin Exposed, Sin General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Imagine Being Near A Mountain Lake. Sometimes ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Feb 20, 2002

Imagine being near a mountain lake. Sometimes early in the morning when the lake is perfectly calm, the reflection of the mountains is magnificently duplicated and mirrored on the lake’s surface. The interesting thing is that if you were to take on little flat stone and skip it across the surface ...read more

Tags: Sin Fall Of Man, Sin Separates From God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

This Bomb Was Tested Above The Arctic Circle On ...

Contributed by Tim Richards on May 24, 2005

This bomb was tested above the Arctic Circle on October 30, 1961. The explosion was so intense that the flash was visible over 600 miles away. People felt the air move over 160 miles away. Everything in a radius of 15.25 miles was completely destroyed. Very severe damage extended to a distance of ...read more

Tags: Sin Separates From God, Sin Hurtful To God

Denomination: Baptist

It All Started With An Apple

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 24, 2025

In my backyard I have two apple trees. They grow low to the ground and in July the apples are plentiful but small and green. Harvest is not until late September here in Ontario. But the low hanging branches present an enticing temptation to pick the apples. One beautiful morning I noticed an ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:7-25, Romans 6:1-4, Romans 3:21-31

Tags: Original Sin, The Fall, Sin, Obedience, Temptation, Adam  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Road To ...

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Aug 5, 2009

“The Road to Safety” A news correspondent, forced to jump from a crippled plane over New Guinea, landed safely. He sought a way out of the jungle. Up mountains, down the rivers, through the thick jungle growth he traveled, only to return discouraged to his starting point. Day by day, week by ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Christian Church

Evel Knievel Fell Short Of The Goal

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 19, 2023

One of the fads of 1970s America was the motorcycle jump. This trend reached its high (and low) point on September 8, 1974. Thousands of spectators gathered around the Snake River Canyon in Idaho to see if Evel Knievel could jump across the chasm in a specially designed “sky cycle.” In the end, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Sinners, Sin, Judgment, Failure, Sinful Nature, Glory Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Illustration – The Coffee Cup

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 18, 2024

AN ILLUSTRATION – THE COFFEE CUP I don’t prefer strong coffee for it has a couple of effects on me. My wife bought these coffee bags that had “intense” on the packets. I know I might horrify some people but I found I could use these coffee bags 4 times. They only need to be in hot water for a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1, 1 John 2:16-17, 1 John 1:8-10

Tags: Adulterated, Sin Is Subtle, Sin, Deceived, Coffee, Coffee Mug  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Floating Pumpkins

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 8, 2020

Satan will use the same type of tactics that hunters use in Africa. The story is told of a certain African tribe that learned an easy way to capture ducks in a river. Catching their agile and wary dinner would be a feat indeed, so these hunters formulated a plan. The tribesmen learned to go ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 Peter 5:6-9

Tags: Sin, Deception, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, Sexual Sins  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational