In Sermon Illustrations: "Stories"

N.t. Wright Quote On Christian Artists

Contributed by Matthew Redder on Sep 21, 2018

I love this quote as I believe it is hard for the Christian artist to always understand their place in the church. Truth be told, artists have an incredible gift and responsibility in the community to illuminate the realities of the Word and of this life we live. Wright puts it well: "The ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23, Exodus 35:35, Proverbs 22:29, Romans 12:2, Romans 12:6, 1 Timothy 4:14, Ephesians 2:10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Christian Artist, Musician, Painter, Poet, Dancer, Music, Creator, Dance, Art, Creative, Artist  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Saw Your Smoke Signal!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 15, 2019

I read a story about a shipwreck. When the sole survivor reached a small, uninhabited island, he prayed for God to rescue him, but help didn't come. Eventually he built a hut out of driftwood for protection from the elements. One day he returned from scavenging for food and found his hut in ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Will Of God, God's Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bigger Hands

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Aug 9, 2020

A story is told of a little girl that would not take a handful of cherries when the general store owner told her to take one After several times of saying no, the owner told her to hold out her hands and he filled them with the cherries she loved. On the way home, Momma asked her why should would ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 132:15

Tags: God, Blessing, Hands, Source, Provision, Supply  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Funny Marriage Proposal

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

FUNNY LOVE STORY Ruth Chudrow stated that she met her husband “while I was working in a science library. He came in every week to read the latest journals and eventually decided to take out the librarian instead of the books. After a year and a half of dating, he showed up at the library and ...read more

Tags: Love, Marriage, Humor, Weddings, Proposals  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Cod And The Cat Fish

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

TELL THE STORY OF THE COD… There was a favorite fish along the east coast. It is the COD. The cod was so tasty and it was a favorite dish along the coast. So the market expanded but something was lost in the shipping. The frozen cod was mushy and tasteless. So they began shipping the cod alive in ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 42:5, Genesis 41:41

Tags: Enemy, Forgive

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Is Your Ministry Making Any Difference?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 12, 2023

Sometimes we think that God is not using us if we are not preaching to thousands every weekend. If you think that, remember this story about the value of one soul! I recently read about an old man, walking the beach at dawn, who noticed a young man ahead of him picking up starfish and flinging ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Ministry, Holy Spirit, Faithfulness, Success, Fruit Of The Spirit, Spirit Filled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Daddy's Side Of The Family (Father's Day Joke!)

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 7, 2023

A little girl asked her Mom, “Where do human beings come from?” Mom answered, “I want to tell you a story from the Bible. God made Adam and Eve and they had children, and so was all mankind made.” Two days later the girl asked her Dad the same question. Dad answered much differently. He said, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-3

Tags: Fathers, Creation, Evolution, Family, Father's Day, Mothers, Atheism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Is Coming --- Get Busy!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 22, 2024

During his 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy often closed his speeches with the story of Colonel Davenport, the Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives. On May 19th, 1780 the sky of Hartford darkened ominously, and some of the representatives, glancing out the windows, ...read more

Tags: Second Coming, Rapture, Laziness, Time, Return Of Christ, Work, End Times, Prophecy, Faithfulness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Surprise Surprise!

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

Blog stories: “Today, I went to my new job at a pre-school. I was really excited because everything was going so well, and a little boy even said he was drawing a picture of me. He even gave it to me when he was finished. Well it was me, but I was also on fire and being stabbed and shot multiple ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:13-17

Tags: Anger, Reaction, Surprise

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Little Things Add Up

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 15, 2025

MY SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER TOLD A STORY OF A MAN THAT WORKED IN THE COAL MINES IN EAST TENNESSEE. The man drove a coal truck from the coal temple to the rail road loading dock. It was a short quick trip. Each time the driver drove by the house where he lived. He made a quick stop threw a very large ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:13

Tags: Small, Little

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Be Found Faithful

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Mar 31, 2025

There is a story of a choir director who was so stressed out because at least one or more members of the choir were absent at every rehearsal for a concert. Finally came the last rehearsal and he announced: “I want to personally thank the pianist for being the only person in this entire church ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

Tags: Faithfulness, Choir, Unfaithfulness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Pledge -- Prayer

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 6, 2025

Two men were arguing at work one day about religion. Neither really knew what they were talking about. Finally one said, “Man, you don’t know anything about religion. I’ll bet you ten dollars you can’t even repeat the Lord’s Prayer.” The other grinned. “Oh yeah? It’s a bet!” He straightened up ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:105

Tags: Scripture, Discipleship, Truth, Authority

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Dream-Stealers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 19, 2011

DREAM-STEALERS Years ago, I heard Pastor Anthony Mangun tell a story at Because of the Times that I have never forgotten. . . . The story is told of a young man by the name of Monty, who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer, who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:14

Tags: Goals

Steering By Mother's Light

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2011

STEERING BY MOTHER'S LIGHT To illustrate the great influence of a Godly mother, let me tell you the story of Susannah Prentice. This story goes back to 1950. Susannah and her husband, Miles, lived in a 2-story house located on the coast of Maine. Miles and Susannah had 2 sons and a daughter. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:5

Tags: Mother's Day

Ravi Zacharias: Changed Lives Show The Truth Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 9, 2011

RAVI ZACHARIAS: CHANGED LIVES SHOW THE TRUTH OF CHRIST In his book Has Christianity Failed You? Ravi Zacharias points to one of the greatest proofs for the truth of Christ and the reality of his resurrection: the changed lives of Christians. He writes: "During the course of nearly 40 years, I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16

Tags: Christian Witness

The Ring Of Salvation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 1, 2011

THE RING OF SALVATION It began at West Point in 1835. It is a practice that has endured almost 200 years. You may have chosen to obtain one, and undoubtedly you waited anxiously for it to arrive. Others of you weren’t really that into it and decided to pass. Some of you in the room may still wear ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:22-24

Tags: Easter Good Friday

The Pitcairn Bible

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on May 18, 2026

Story: The story of the Mutiny on the Bounty has been told many times. But the one part of the story that does not make the news is the transformation made by one book to Pitcairn Island. You probably know the story well of the Mutiny on the Bounty. Fletcher Christian , the second in command ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:9-16

Tags: Bible, Bounty, Mutiny

Denomination: Anglican

What Is That In Thine Hand?  PRO

Contributed by Ted Sutherland on Aug 19, 2001

Dr. Bob Jones Sr. told the story: I remember years ago I was holding a meeting in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. I was in that big amphitheater there that accommodates about ten thousand people. The people told me a story. They said a few nights before I was there they advertised in the paper that a man ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Baptist

The Biggest Star Of The 2002 World Cup Was ...

Contributed by Victor Yap on Aug 29, 2002

The biggest star of the 2002 World Cup was twenty-five years-old Ronaldo of the victorious Brazil team, the highest goalscorer and the comeback story of the tournament. When he was seventeen, he had his first taste of the World Cup as a non-playing reserve. Four years later Ronaldo was twice the ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Endurance

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Burying Karla Faye Tucker  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 15, 2002

BURYING KARLA FAYE TUCKER In February 1998, the State of Texas prepared to execute Karla Faye Tucker, for her participation in the murder of Jerry Lynn Dean and Deborah Thornton with a pick ax in 1983. What brought this story to the News agencies was Karla’s request for a stay from execution. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Tags: Forgiveness For Others