In Sermon Illustrations: "Stories"

No Atheists In The Water  PRO

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Mar 31, 2013

NO ATHEISTS IN THE WATER David Harrell wrote a book telling the story of his father, Edgar Harrell. Edgar was one of the 300 survivors of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, the last US ship sunk by enemy contact in WW2. 600 of the 900 men who survived the ship's sinking were stranded in the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:15

Tags: Shipwreck, Death, Dying, Loneliness, Atheism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bumper Stickers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 12, 2014

BUMPER STICKER CONSCIENCE This is a true story. I have a pastor friend in Alabama named Bill who was driving to speak at a church in another county and he was running late. He was driving about 20 miles over the speed limit, when suddenly he remembered he had a Christian bumper sticker on his car. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:1-7

Tags: Conscience, Obey Authorities

The Relationship We Share

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jun 2, 2014

While many people hunger for family closeness, we often miss the opportunities that stand immediately before us. Tammy Harris of Roanoke, Virginia, began searching for her biological mother when she turned 21. A year of searching proved fruitless. Tammy did not realize, however, that her ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:34-35

Tags: Family, Church Family

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Nfl...a Moral Compass?

Contributed by Robert Harmon on Oct 4, 2014

How would you like to have the NFL as your moral compass? Last week, we were hammered by reports about Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson and how the NFL was responding (or not responding) to the allegations of abuse. Tabloids, Social Media, and ESPN have been overloaded with their stories and many ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:24-27

Tags: Firm Foundation, Becoming Like Christ, Nfl

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

Telemarketer

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 6, 2017

Here’s a story from a telemarketer: “The other day I called a house and a real nice lady answered the phone, she was really helpful and friendly, she was the type of lady that helps a telemarketer get through a long day. After some pleasantries I asked if Mr. Smith was in, “I’m sorry”, she ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Matthew 5:4

Tags: Grief, Grave, Cemetery, Marketing

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

This Was The Second Time That Someone Has Died For Me

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

James Harnish tells the story of a woman in Tampa who probably received the best Christmas present of anyone. It came the week before Christmas. In August she had been diagnosed with severe cardiomyopathy, a rare heart disorder which causes the muscels of the heart to become inflexible. In fact, ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:4

Tags: Best Christmas Gift, Dying, Jesus Death

Denomination: Methodist

Helping People Help Themselves

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 24, 2019

From Parade magazine comes the story of self-made millionaire Eugene Land, who greatly changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in East Harlem. Mr. Lang had been asked to speak to a class of 59 sixth-graders. What could he say to inspire these students, most of whom would drop out of school? He ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:4-8, Revelation 1:17-18

Tags: Help, Success, Wise Generosity, Benevolance

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Hymns For A Church Feud!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 28, 2019

Church feuds are not uncommon, especially among cliques in the congregation. But when the pastor and choir director get into it, stand aside. One week, the preacher preached on commitment, and how you should dedicate yourselves to service. The director then led the choir in singing, 'I Shall ...read more

Tags: Unity, Hymns, Division, Church Fights

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christmas Present Unrealized

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 25, 2019

This is a true story. Freddie and John were fortunate enough to have a season ticket to watch Chelsea soccer in the UK. They could not help noticing that there was always a spare seat next (B14) to them and they had a friend who would love to buy a season ticket, especially if all three could have ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Tags: Christmas, Christmas Present, Unattended Effect, Missed Opportunity

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Living By Gods Word.

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Jun 19, 2020

My Division Officer in the Navy was also a Naval aviator. On his way home from a mission over Afghanistan he got vertigo (a dizzy confused state of mind caused by the inner ear). His senses were confused. The biggest was his sense of flight. Which can be deadly when landing on an aircraft carrier ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5

Tags: Confused, Following Instructions

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Had Something To Look Forward ...

Contributed by Herman Abrahams on May 1, 2007

ILLUSTRATION - "I had something to look forward to." The story is told of a muti-millionaire businessman who greatly changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in a poor downtrodden township. This was an area where most of the students would not finish formal schooling. He had been asked to ...read more

Denomination: Charismatic

Rev. R.s. Jones Was A Missionary To Brazil. He ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Rev. R.S. Jones was a missionary to Brazil. He had many years of Christian service. In 1936, he was retiring due to ill health. At the Southern Baptist Convention that year, this missionary was talking to the songwriter BB McKinney. Jones told McKinney that his doctor would not let him return to ...read more

Tags: Faith

Hope Needs A Foundation – A Reasonable Grounds ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Hope needs a foundation – a reasonable grounds for confidence in its fulfillment. There’s a story From Parade magazine about a self-made millionaire, who greatly changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in East Harlem. This man had been asked to speak to a class of 59 sixth-graders. What could he ...read more

Tags: Character

Christian Marriage

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Christian Marriage Story: A young courting couple approached the gates of Paradise and knocked on the door. St Peter appeared and beckoned them in. As the young man approached St Peter he said: “Before we come in can we ask: Can you get married in paradise?” St Peter replied. “I don’t know off ...read more

Tags: Marriage Commitment

Ship Captain

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Ship Captain The story is told about a ship Captain who had a route that ran from California to Columbia. One day, as he was preparing to leave California, he was approached by some drug dealers who offered him $50,000 to allow a small shipment of drugs on his vessel. He immediately said no. On ...read more

Tags: Temptation Resisting

One Day, A Father Took His Son And One Of His ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

"One day, a father took his son and one of his son’s friends on a fishing trip. They got to their camp sight, and everything was just perfect. The weather was warm but not hot, the lake was calm, and they had a level campsite. They raised their tent, cooked their dinner, and went to bed ...read more

Tags: Peace

Reuel Howe Illustrates Redemptive Love In The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Reuel Howe illustrates redemptive love in the story of a mother and her eight-year-old daughter. The girl did something which caused her to feel alienated from her mother. Although her mother tried her best to help, the daughter finally ran out of the room in anger and went upstairs. Seeing her ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

He Declares That He Was An Eyewitness To The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

He declares that he was an eyewitness to the majesty of Jesus Christ. There is more to the word ‘eyewitness’ than the way we commonly use the word. Here is what William Barclay wrote about it. “In the Greek usage of Peter’s day this was a technical word. We have already spoken about the Mystery ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

The Minneapolis Star And Tribune Reported A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The Minneapolis Star and Tribune reported a story on Thursday that caught my attention. There was recently a presidential election in Turkmenistan and a new president was sworn in on Thursday. Probably only a handful of people could point out Turkmenistan on a map. It’s the country that borders ...read more

Tags: Death