In Sermon Illustrations: "Sinfulness"

Ray Bradbury's Message

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 28, 2012

RAY BRADBURY’S MESSAGE Avid readers often will credit this or that writer for luring them into a lifelong love of a genre. For those who love science fiction, it offers grand, cosmic landscapes on which to project the boundless possibilities of life. Yet for one writer, Ray Bradbury (August 22, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12

Tags: Sin Fall Of Man

Free!

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 21, 2012

J Vernon McGee told the story of the days before the Civil War in a city in the south. At the center of town, there is a commotion as a crowd gathers for a public auction to watch the proceedings. In the crowd is an uncouth, foulmouthed, loud, boisterous man who is the meanest, cruelest, most ...read more

Tags: Slaves To Sin, Grace

Denomination: Methodist

If We Look At The Beatitudes, Not As Just ...

Contributed by David Tack on Oct 26, 2012

"If we look at the Beatitudes, not as just external forms of showmanship but as internal heart produced temperaments, 99.9 % of Christian believers can’t help but see their blatant shortcomings and urgent need for ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:8

Tags: Sin, Sermon On The Mount

Denomination: Baptist

Billy Graham: Choices  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Mar 2, 2013

BILLY GRAHAM: CHOICES Billy Graham said, "The strongest principle of life and blessings lies in our choice. Our life is the sum result of all the choices we make, both consciously and unconsciously. If we can control the process of choosing, we can take control of all aspects of our life. We can ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:15

Tags: Wisdom, Payment For Sin

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Are You Holding Onto?

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Mar 18, 2016

Props: trophies, on large nice trophy for the main story. These are some nice trophies. This one was earned by my daughter through playing softball. She was so proud as they called her name up to receive this trophy. This is from a contest that one of them had worked hard for. This large ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:1-20

Tags: Sin, Treasure, Materialism

Denomination: Church Of God

A Really Dumb Thief

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 17, 2017

A REALLY DUMB THIEF Any thief knows that the easiest way to steal gasoline from a car is to siphon it from the other guy’s tank into your own. Stick a rubber hose in his gas tank, suck on the other end of the rubber hose until you get a mouth full of the gas, then spit it out. From then on, the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-8

Tags: Revenge, Wages Of Sin

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

A Little Thing Caused A Big Problem!

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 7, 2020

My car was due for an oil change so I drove it to the same place where I had gone for several years. After all, they knew me and I trusted them and I’ve never had a problem. A few minutes later, the car was tasting some fresh oil and I was good to go for a while! Except—something happened in the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8, Hebrews 12:1

Tags: Alertness, Consequences, Sins

Denomination: Baptist

Happiness

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 11, 2020

Augustine on Depravity and Grace; “Without you what am I to myself but a guide to my own self destruction?” “... the self which willed to serve (God) was identical with the self which was unwilling. It was I. I was neither wholly willing nor wholly unwilling. So I was in conflict with myself ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:7-25

Tags: Grace, Sin, Depravity

Denomination: Pentecostal

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

Adam & Eve

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 17, 2021

The story of Adam and Eve was being carefully explained in the children's Sunday School class. Following the story, the children were asked to draw some picture that would illustrate the story. Little Bobby was most interested and drew a picture of a car with three people in it. In the front ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Eve, Sin, Adam

Denomination: Methodist

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: Sin, Depravity, Disobedience

Denomination: Pentecostal

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

Out Of Tune

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Aug 1, 2018

Main Idea: God is perfect and He cannot tolerate any sin in His presence. Verse: “As for God, His way is perfect” (Psalms 18:30 NKJV). Illustration: Once there was a famous conductor who was asked to direct a world class orchestra. He chose a famous piece of music and the orchestra gathered ...read more

Tags: Sin, Salvation, Perfection, Need For Christ

Denomination: Charismatic

A Young Boy Was Explaining Basic Christian ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Jan 20, 2002

A young boy was explaining basic Christian Theology to his younger sister: “You see, it was Jesus’ job to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:8

Tags: Cross Agony, Humanity Of Christ, Sin General

Denomination: Church Of God

Several Years Ago Billy Graham Preached In St. ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Dec 10, 2004

Several years ago Billy Graham preached in St. Petersburg, Russia. During the crusade a very brilliant architect, an atheist, came to hear him. Night after night he listened to the preaching of the gospel. He didn’t make a decision during the crusade. As he thought about the matter later, he ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12-21

Tags: Commitment To Christ, Confession Of Sin

Denomination: Baptist

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