In Sermon Illustrations: "Stories"

Python Swallows ...

Contributed by Susan Blader on May 13, 2008

Python Swallows Alligator I read a rather weird news story in October of 2005. A researcher named Michael Barron was traveling through the Everglades National Park when he stumbled upon a bizarre sight. Prior to his arrival, a 13-foot long Burmese python had apparently attacked and subdued a ...read more

Tags: Pride

Denomination: Disciples Of Christ

The Olympic Scandal Of '67

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Aug 10, 2008

The Olympic Scandal of '67 In the year AD 67 the Olympics were held and six events were won by a quite prestigious competitor. The events were: Heralds (a trumpet blowing competition - the winners were then enlisted to announce the athletes) Tethripon (four horse chariot) Foals Tethripon (four ...read more

Tags: Disciplines General

Denomination: Mennonite

A Dream For God

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Aug 10, 2008

"A Dream for God" Many years ago a young man had a dream of telling the story of Jesus everywhere in the world. When he suggested taking that good news to people, an older man said, "Sit down, young man. If God wants to save the heathen, he will do it without your help or mine." This young ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will

Denomination: Christian Church

Playing Church

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Aug 10, 2008

PLAYING CHURCH Some years ago I met Johnny Moore. Johnny is the lead singer for "His Glory". He tells his story of how he was on his way home one night before he got serious with the Lord. He’d been kinda "playing church." He was on his way home from a Wednesday night prayer meeting, and he ...read more

Tags: Confession Of Sin

Denomination: United Methodist

He Knows What Can't Be Seen

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

HE KNOWS WHAT CAN’T BE SEEN There is no way to grasp, even remotely, what God knows about me, my life, and anything to do with me. There is a story of a photographer who went to the docks to take a picture of the "The Great Eastern". Its hull was black, having been coated with tar. That same day ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience

On May 18, 1992, Time Magazine Put Roger Keith ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

On May 18, 1992, Time magazine put Roger Keith Coleman on its cover with the caption: “This man might be innocent. This man is due to die.” Reporter Jill Smolowe began her story by asking, “Must this man die? . . . That could be a tragic mistake.” Two days later Mr. Coleman was executed for ...read more

Tags: Sin Punishment Of

Coming In Last

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Aug 27, 2008

Coming in Last Discouragement cramps our momentum; the heat-stroke of opposition can drain our stamina and motivation. Running into obstacles that drive our faces in the asphalt of reality make it hard to get back up. Our stories are not unlike Felicians Hopfner-Hibb's or Simon Whitfield's. Last ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Salvation Army

Work Hard And Find Oil

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

Work Hard and Find Oil According to Forbes Magazine, Warren Buffet is the wealthiest man on earth, with a net worth of $62 billion. If you compare his net worth to our nation’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product), however, his relative wealth is less than half of what John D. Rockefeller had when he ...read more

Tags: Workplace Success

He Turned To Us

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2008

HE TURNED TO US Some years ago, the news service carried a story about a dramatic rescue. A California Highway Patrol officer received a call. It seems a woman was about to jump off a bridge. Immediately the officer, a woman herself, was confronted with a dilemma. This police officer had an ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Perfect Gifts

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

PERFECT GIFTS Everyone loves to receive gifts at Christmas time. And I am sure that as Christmas approaches, we are wondering what lies behind those wrapped presents. I remember as a child that these four weeks of advent were so difficult. I would go by that tree about 30 million times a day ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Tags: Christmas

If An Advert On The Television Is To Be Believed ...

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Feb 28, 2009

If an advert on the television is to be believed then temptation truly comes in the form of cakes or chocolate in the fridge; but of course temptation comes in many shapes and sizes, such as the story of Martin. Martin woke up one Monday morning particularly tempted to stay at home because he was ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Phil Vischer's Fresh ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

PHIL VISCHER’S FRESH START Phil Vischer is the creator of Veggie Tales. He is the voice of Bob the Tomato and other various characters. In 2004, Phil was one of the guest speakers at my minister’s convention that I attend each year. Phil told about his dream coming to an end. He told about Big ...read more

Tags: Mistakes, Trust God

Two Minutes

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 12, 2022

Two Minutes to Eternity Marshall Shelley tells the story of his son's short life - just two minutes.The baby boy was born with a "chromosomal abnormality" called Trisomy 13. After the delivery, the doctor passed the baby to his mom. He was a healthy pink; Then he began to turn ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:27, Psalm 90:10-12, John 14:1-3

Tags: Death, Eternity, Heaven, Birth, Grief  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Seven Life Lessons From Samson

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 13, 2022

Certainly the story of Samson and the prostitute of Gaza stands as a cautionary tale to all of us. Here are some of the obvious lessons: 1) Just because we think we have conquered a certain sin doesn’t mean it will stay conquered forever. 2) The price of long-term spiritual victory is continued ...read more

Tags: Sin, Temptation, Judgment, Samson, Brokenness, Backslidden  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Overwhelming Forgiveness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

A wonderful example of how to practice the lifestyle of grace comes from an incident in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on October 2, 2006, when a man entered an Amish schoolhouse and murdered 5 girls while wounding 5 others before killing himself. As horrific as this was, the greater story was the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 65:3

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

Who Are We Here For??

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 9, 2023

The story has often been told about the message the founder of the Salvation Army sent to their international convention. General William Booth was unable to attend personally because of ill health, so he cabled the delegates a message containing one word: "OTHERS!" In the popular comic ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-10

Tags: Service, Ministry, Selflessness, Others, Bearing Burdens, One Another  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Census At The Birth Of Jesus

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 9, 2023

Historians have been puzzled about the census. The one taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. While all this begins to explain why Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, Luke is making a point. The birth of this little boy is the beginning of a confrontation between the kingdom of God - in all its ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-2

Tags: Mary And Joseph, Quirinus, Caeser Agustus, Bethlehem, Birth, Census  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Don't Pass Up 200 Pennies To Pick Up A Dollar Bill

Contributed by Rev. Dr. David T. Williamson on Jun 15, 2024

Don't pass up 200 pennies to pick up a dollar bill. In other words, it's the little things in life that happen along the way that can add up. It's the little things in life that make a big difference! Generosity means being willing to give of yourself, even when not asked, and small ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:10, Zechariah 4:10

Tags: Giving, Finances, Generosity

Denomination: Baptist

When Life Sucks You In

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 6, 2025

Chippie the parakeet never saw it coming. One moment, he was perched in his cage singing his little heart out. The next, his whole world collapsed. It started when his owner decided to clean his cage with a vacuum cleaner. She took the nozzle off, stuck the hose inside, and at that very moment the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 40:2, Romans 8:28

Tags: Faith, Resilience

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Don’t Hide The Light: The Blackberry Pocket Parable

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 20, 2026

When I first got my Blackberry (throwback, anyone?), it had an annoying habit of opening up to the camera and taking literally hundreds of pictures of the inside of my pocket with the flash going. The camera was not intended to take pictures of lint covered peppermints or the amount of change I’ve ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16, Isaiah 49:6

Tags: Evangelism, Light, Light To The Nations, Hiding The Light

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed