In Sermon Illustrations: "Spirit Filled Life"

Are You A Chicken Or An Eagle?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 2, 2020

John McNeil tells the story of a young eagle he had raised with a flock of chickens. The out-of-place bird had never learned to fly. One day McNeil thought he would teach this bird how, so he tried throwing it up in the air. But each time the bird would look down and fall to the ground. Then he had ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33, Colossians 3:1-4, Hebrews 12:1-2, Isaiah 40:31

Tags: Holy Spirit, Vision, Spiritual Growth, Eagles, Things Of Earth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do It Again, Lord!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 2, 2020

There’s a story of a group of college students who went to visit the home of John Wesley, founder of the Methodist church. They noticed there were indentions on the floor of his room where he knelt to pray each day. After the tour, the class loaded on their bus. When the teacher counted, there was ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Prayer, Revival, Billy Graham, Evangelism, Holy Spirit, America  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Four Things The Bible Does For Us

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for: 1. Doctrine—what is right 2. Reproof—what is not right 3. Correction—how to get ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:21, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Teaching The Word, Bible, Scripture, Doctrine, Inerrancy, Sword Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Babel And Pentecost In Contrast

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 19, 2022

"Pentecost was a reversal of the judgment at the Tower of Babel when God confused man’s language (Gen. 11:1-9). God’s judgment at Babel scattered the people, but God’s blessings at Pentecost united the believers in the Spirit. At Babel, the people were unable to understand each other, but at ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:11

Tags: Ministry, Church, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Power, Revival, Pastors  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

They Came To Pentecost From All Over The World!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 19, 2022

Luke’s list of fifteen geographical locations was a group of nations or areas in which known Jewish populations existed and would likely have sent representative groups to the Feast of Pentecost. Everyone there who spoke a language other than Greek or Aramaic heard the message of the Christians ...read more

Tags: Gospel, Missions, Tongues, Languages, Evangelism, Holy Spirit, Pentecost  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pretty Good Preaching For A Dollar!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 20, 2022

A man and his ten year-old son were on a fishing trip miles from home. At the boy’s insistence, they decided to attend the Sunday worship service at a small rural church. The father forgot to bring any cash, so he reached in his pocket and gave his son a dollar to drop into the offering plate as ...read more

Tags: Giving, Stewardship, Complaining, Tithing, Critical Spirit, Cheating God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You "all Ears" For God's Voice?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 2, 2023

A missionary translator was endeavoring to find a word for “obedience” in the native language. This was a virtue seldom practiced among the people into whose language he wanted to translate the New Testament. As he returned home from the village one day, he whistled for his dog and it came ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit, Discipleship, Obedience, Voice Of God, Hearing God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Called Us To Be Witnesses, Not Lawyers!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 10, 2023

As Adrian Rogers once said "We are to be witnesses. Now Jesus didn’t call us to be lawyers. A lot of you say, “Well, you know, I just can’t witness.” Of course you can. Suppose you saw an accident, and they brought you into the courtroom, and they said, “Tell us what you saw.” You ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Evangelism, Holy Spirit, Revival, Witnessing, Great Commission, Acts  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Superman Don't Need No Airplane!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 16, 2023

In Muhammad Ali’s heyday as the heavy weight champion of the world in boxing, he had taken his seat on a 747 jet which was starting to taxi down the runway for take off. The flight attendant walked by and noticed Ali did not have on his seatbelt, and said, “Please fasten your seatbelt, ...read more

Tags: Humility, Demons, Pride, Flesh, Spirit, Satan, Spiritual Warfare  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You're Not Home Yet!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 25, 2023

An old missionary couple had been working in Africa for years, and they were returning to New York City to retire. They had no pension; their health was broken; they were defeated, discouraged, and afraid. They discovered they were booked on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Missionaries, Heaven, Faithfulness, Spiritual Fruit, Rewards, Fruit Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Evolution Is The Problem - And The Solution?

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 19, 2023

Gov Pritzker (Illinois) gave the 2023 Commencement Address at North Eastern University "… Whenever we see someone who doesn't look like us, or sound like us, or act like us or love like us, or live like us - the first thought that crosses almost everyone's brain is rooted in either ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 3:23, Galatians 5:22-23, Psalm 139:14, Romans 7:21-25, Genesis 1:27, Genesis 3:17-19  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Evolution, Compassion, Salvation, Kindness, Education, Humanity, Fruit Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Pilot Who Shot Himself Down!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 28, 2024

Chuck Yeager, the pilot who first broke the time barrier, revealed some interesting tidbits from aviation history in his autobiography. One of the most unusual happened at Edwards Air Force Base in the late 50s. A test pilot diving in a Mach-2 fighter actually outraced the shells from his ...read more

Tags: Pace, Slow Down, Fruit Of The Spirit, Endurance, Gentleness, Patience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Satanic Counterfeits

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 14, 2024

SATANIC COUNTERFEITS Satan has his own trinity – devil, beast, false prophet (Rev. 16:13). Satan has his own church – “the synagogue of Satan” (Rev. 2:9). Satan has his own ministers (II Cor.. 11:4). Satan has his own doctrine – “the doctrines of devils” (I Timothy 4:1). Satan has his own ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 16:13, 1 Timothy 4:1, 1 Corinthians 10:20

Tags: Evil, Satan, Devil, Demons, False Teachers, Spirits, Counterfeits  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Opened Eyes

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

Thomas Watson, the great Puritan preacher, said: "Bless God, you his saints, that he has removed your spiritual cataract, and has enabled you to discern those things ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:31, 2 Corinthians 3:16

Tags: Understanding, New Birth, Regeneration, Enlightenment, Insight, Spirit's Work  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Wesley Fetter Lane

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 5, 2025

Each year, on May 24, we remember the date in 1738 when John Wesley had his heart “strangely warmed” in the Bible study on Aldersgate Street. I tend to agree with the folks that claim this is the day Wesley became a Believer and after this, he had a great assurance of his salvation. Have you ever ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-4, Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Aldersgate, Fetter Lane, Holy Spirit, Power, John Wesley  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Where Is God Working?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on May 21, 2023

Pastor Henry Blackaby, of Faith Baptist Church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada began to sense God leading them to an outreach ministry on the college campus. He had never done student work. Their church had never done student work. Their denominational student ministries department recommended ...read more

Scripture: John 5:17-20, Romans 3:10-11, John 6:44

Tags: Evangelism, Holy Spirit, Discipleship, God At Work, Joining God At Work  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

[291]. A Message From A Poem – The Stamp On Our Lives As Christians

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 18, 2026

[291]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE STAMP ON OUR LIVES AS CHRISTIANS This poem is set out with three sets of three making 9 stanzas. The final line in the stanza marks what set it is in. The title means the ownership of our lives by God, similar to the wax seal that used to be applied in days ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:7-9, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

Tags: Belong, Holy Spirit, Sealed, Own, Stamp, Christian Poems, Lord  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Idolatry Of Cell Phones

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 26, 2023

t’s no surprise that 45% of Americans say that their phone is the most valuable possession. What is surprising is how far our obsessions with cell phones go: Over one-third of Americans (36%) say they’d give up their pets to keep their cell phone. 53% say that in a house fire or other disaster, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, Galatians 6:1-2

Tags: Cell Phones, Lust, Faithfulness, Idolatry, Time, Fruit Of The Spirit, Self Control  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Going No Where Fast  PRO

Contributed by Philip Cairns on Feb 1, 2002

GOING NO WHERE FAST In his book "Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life", the author Charles Swindoll tells a story about the 19th Century agnostic Thomas Huxley (some of you might know that it was Huxley who promoted Darwinism and Humanism in his attacks on Christianity). Huxley was in Dublin and ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 1:1-22, Exodus 2:11-23

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers, Hurry, Knowing God's Will, Gospel, Assurance Of Salvation, Busy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Holiness

Caterpillar Ugly, Butterfly Beautiful  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Caterpillar Ugly, Butterfly Beautiful It is a well-known fact that a caterpillar changes into a butterfly. The butterfly can truthfully say as he looks at the caterpillar, "Such was I, but now I am changed." Every Christian has once been a sinner, living for self and the momentary pleasures ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 4:7-11

Tags: Resurrection, Salvation, New Life, Born Again, Christian Witness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational