In Sermon Illustrations: "Spiritual Success"

A Praying Mother

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on May 12, 2025

Has your life been impacted by a sacrificial mother who would never give up? Never underestimate the power of a praying mother. Born in 1669, Susanna Wesley raised up two of Christianity’s most gifted leaders, John and Charles Wesley. Daily, as a mother, Susanna prayed, “Dear God, guide me. Make ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28, 1 Samuel 1:10-16

Tags: Prayer, Mother, Susanna Wesley

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Spirit Of Gradualism

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 10, 2025

I lived in Lee County, Virginia and we would travel 68 from our house through Cumberland Gap, Tennessee to Middlesboro, Ky. We traveled through the national park. Linda and I would see a ground hog. The ground hog would stand on his hind legs to watch the traffic go by. We developed a love watching ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:3, Revelation 3:14-19

Tags: Gradual, Slow

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Gift Of Forgivness - Driving Out Bitterness - Charles Stanley

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 1, 2025

Charles Stanley, a renowned teacher and theologian shared this story called ... The Gift of Forgiveness: "A friend of mine is a fine man and a fine pastor who loves God. His wife had cancer, ... and they sought the best of medical help. The Doctor assigned to her case ... who for a number ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:23-24, Matthew 18:15, Romans 12:19, Hebrews 12:15

Tags: Sickness, Prisoner, Forgiveness, Bitterness, Unforgiveness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Get Your Mule Out Of The Boat- Faithing

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 25, 2026

When attempting the impossible... you must get your mule ... out of the boat. Peter received a word ... a command from the Lord ... and he got his rear-end out of the boat ... and walked ... walked on the water. (Matthew 14:29) Beloved Simon Peter ... (Slow & Powerful) turned his faith ... ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:9, James 2:20, Mark 6:48-50, Matthew 14:27-33

Tags: Walter, Faith, Walk, Action, Impossible, Boat  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Honest Is The Best Policy

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 20, 2026

A successful businessman knew it was time to choose a successor to lead his business. Instead of appointing one of his directors, or one of his children, he decided to call the company's young executives together. He said, "It is time for me to choose the next CEO. I have decided to ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:9, Proverbs 11:3

Tags: Humility, Honesty

Denomination: Methodist

The First Billionaire  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

The First Billionaire The very first person to reach the status of billionaire was a man who knew how to set goals and follow through. At the age of 23, he had become a millionaire, by the age of 50 a billionaire. Every decision, attitude, and relationship was tailored to create his personal power ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-14

Tags: Giving General

Willing To Die  PRO

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Jul 21, 2002

WILLING TO DIE Lance Armstrong is a phenomenal cyclist who has won the Tour De France for the last four years--and that after having survived cancer! One of the keys to his success as an athlete has been his single-minded devotion to training, including a willingness to suffer physically, to push ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18-19

Tags: Discipleship, Endurance, Lord's Supper

Denomination: Baptist

Writing About The Importance Of Helping People ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 7, 2004

Writing about the importance of helping people become all they can be, author and speaker John Maxwell writes, "In 2000, Atlanta Braves star pitcher John Smoltz suffered a blow that could have ended his illustrious career. After battling various injuries for several seasons, he underwent ligament ...read more

Tags: Unity, Church Purpose Of

This Is A True Story. Two Guys In A Church, Paul ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on Jun 11, 2004

This is a true story. Two guys in a church, Paul and William decided that they really wanted to become godly men. So they started meeting with one another to pray and encourage one another; they even set goals for themselves and their behavior, and then were accountable to the other one. Paul ...read more

Tags: Grace, God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

A Few Years Ago I Was Working On A Class For My ...

Contributed by Chris Surber on Apr 28, 2007

A few years ago I was working on a class for my undergraduate degree in religion. For the final exam you were required to write a series of brief essays on several Christian doctrines. Well, I worked feverishly on the project. I really wanted to get a high grade on the project since this class ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

It Was January 30, 1994 And Super Bowl Xxviii ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

It was January 30, 1994 and Super Bowl XXVIII was being played out at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The NFC champion Dallas Cowboys had just defeated the AFC champion Buffalo Bills, 30–13. Dallas scored 24 unanswered points in the second half, and Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith was named the ...read more

Tags: Humility

Leadership

Contributed by Stephen Smarowsky on Dec 13, 2007

Leadership Have you ever wondered why geese fly in a V formation? As with most animal behavior, God had a good reason for including that in their instincts. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird following. In a V formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% more flying ...read more

Scripture: Job 12:7-9

Tags: Gifts Leadership

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer For Those In ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

“Prayer for Those In Authority” 1 Timothy 2:1-4, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- for kings and all those in authority… This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Tags: Patriotism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Graduate's Call

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

A Graduate's Call (Powerful thirst and hunger for the Word of God) The first step to walking on the path to Biblical success is to find God's plan for you through a powerful thirst and hunger for the Word of God. The New American Standard Bible holds this truth for the Christian graduate, "And ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:13

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Graduate's Call  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

A Graduates Call (Lord, teach us to pray) Once Christian Graduates are continually feeding on the Word of God, the Holy Spirit will move them to be like the disciple who came to Jesus and said, "...Lord teach us to pray..." (Luke 11:1) A popular term used today is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Mother Dies So Her Boy May Live

Contributed by Dwight L. Moody on Jun 11, 2009

A MOTHER DIES SO HER BOY MAY LIVE When the California gold fever broke out, a man went there, leaving his wife in New England with his boy. As soon as he got on and was successful he was to send for them. It was a long time before he succeeded, but at last he got money enough to send for them. The ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8

Tags: Atonement

Denomination: *other

Repentance Of Chuck ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 24, 2009

Repentance of Chuck Norris I was reading about a martial arts fighter. He came forward at a Billy Graham crusade and accepted Christ as his Savior when he was 12 years old. But he never really committed his life to serving Christ. He went on to become the karate middleweight champion of the world ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:15

Tags: Repentance, Cup Of Salvation

Blind But Now I See  PRO

Contributed by Michael Buckingham on Jul 8, 2011

BLIND BUT NOW I SEE Peter spent a few years trying to cope with his blindness, learning ways of looking after himself so that he wasn’t so much a burden upon his family, although they still continued to visit on the odd occasion. He also learned how to read Braille. Then one day he was informed ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13

Tags: Beauty

Denomination: Baptist

Jill Briscoe On Submission

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 18, 2011

JILL BRISCOE ON SUBMISSION Jill Briscoe talks about the difference between her family and her husband, Stuart's, family and what that brought to their own marriage. She says, "My father, a quiet, gentle man, considered himself head of his home: protector, defender, and provider. My mom was a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-2

Tags: Wife

Never Give Up  PRO

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 27, 2011

NEVER GIVE UP Have you seen that cartoon with the pelican having a frog for dinner? His dinner is not agreeing with him. The frog’s head, shoulders, and most of his body are in the pelican’s beak. His back legs are outside, kicking for all they’re worth. His front legs stick out from both sides ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8, 1 Peter 1:6-7, Luke 11:5-13

Tags: Perseverance, Prayer, Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Baptist