In Sermon Illustrations: "temptation"

Seared Conscience  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 27, 2013

Years ago a wise man wrote this, "In my heart is an arrowhead with sharp edges. If I do wrong, it turns and it cuts me. If I do wrong too much, I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:2, Nehemiah 1:4-10

Tags: Sin, Conscience, Temptation General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Visiting Preacher  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 13, 2014

A pastor went out visiting his church members on a Saturday afternoon. At one house, it was obvious that someone was home, but nobody came to the door even though the preacher knocked several times. Finally, the minister took out his church business card and wrote out "Revelation 3:20" on the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-10

Tags: Sin, Temptation, Adam And Eve

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Trials And Tea Bags

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 14, 2014

Christians are like tea bags --- they always do their best when ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Temptation, Christians, Troubles, Trial

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Keep Looking Up!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 9, 2020

A father and son were driving down a country road and saw a watermelon patch a little way off the highway. The father told his son to keep a lookout while he went to get a melon. He snuck into the patch, took a melon and called to the boy, "Is anyone coming? Look both ways." The boy ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Colossians 3:1-4

Tags: Temptation, Stealing, Looking Up

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Drugs Are No Game

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 7, 2020

You’ve probably heard and seen it all when it comes to warnings about “don’t do drugs,” and so forth. Frankly, I’ve seen and heard a lot of them, and I’m sure glad someone told me about the dangers of drugs and drug abuse. Someone took a lot of time to get the information out and thanks to those ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Tags: Drugs, Temptations, Drug Abuse

Denomination: Baptist

Two Men Are Seated In A Plane. The First Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Two men are seated in a plane. The first is given a parachute and told to put is on as it would improve his flight. He’s a little skeptical at first because he can’t see how wearing a parachute in a plane could possibly improve the flight. After a time he decides to experiment and see if the claim ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:1-23, Psalm 66:10

Tags: Temptation, Tempt, God's Provision

Marriage Is Always Popular Because It Combines ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Marriage is always popular because it combines the maximum of temptation with ...read more

Tags: Marriage General

Philip Yancey, In His Book, The Jesus I Never ...  PRO

Contributed by Floyd Johnson on Mar 18, 2003

Philip Yancey, in his book, The Jesus I Never Knew, suggests that each temptation parallels the expectation of 1st century culture for the coming Messiah: A People’s Messiah could feed the multitudes A man who would be King not just of Israel but of the whole world A King who is rooted in the ...read more

Tags: Humility, Jesus Life

Denomination: Methodist

There Is Almost Nothing Like It In The World. To ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hiehle on Jul 10, 2001

There is almost nothing like it in the world. To see the eyes and expression on a little boy’s face the very first time he experiences it. Little boys dream about it. Old men still tell about it with great excitement and enthusiasm. Nothing else compares to the thrill of fighting to bring in ...read more

Scripture: James 1:14-15

Tags: Temptation General, Satan, Sin Deceptive

Denomination: Nazarene

British Writer, Oscar Wilde, Once Said, "I Can ...

Contributed by Scott Maze on Feb 15, 2007

British writer, Oscar Wilde, once said, “I can resist ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Bridge That Wouldn't Break

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 8, 2024

As the Union Pacific Railroad was being constructed, an elaborate trestle bridge was built across a large canyon in the West. Wanting to test the bridge, the builder loaded a train with enough extra cars and equipment to double its normal payload. The train was then driven to the middle of the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, Sin, Satan, Jesus, Defeat, Victory  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Erwin W. Lutzer, Pastor And Author - Each ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Erwin W. Lutzer, pastor and author - Each temptation leaves us better or ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Seven Life Lessons From Samson

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton 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: Brokenness, Backslidden, Judgment, Samson, Sin, Temptation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What We Need In Appointive Positions Are Men Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

What we need in appointive positions are men of knowledge and experience who have sufficient ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Celebrities Tend To Misbehave In Tiresome And ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2002

Celebrities tend to misbehave in tiresome and predictable ways--tantrums, affairs, addictions--and we tend to think they’re spoiled. But one psychiatrist, Cornell’s Robert B. Millman, says they’re not spoiled, they’re sick. The affliction is Acquired Situational Narcissism. ASN develops when ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Temptation Pride, Humility

My Brethren, If You Were Left To Yourselves, You ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 9, 2006

My brethren, if you were left to yourselves, you would be overcome by every temptation with which you ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Middle Age Is When You're Faced With Two ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Middle age is when you're faced with two temptations and you choose the one that will ...read more

Tags: Aging

The Magazine "Discipleship Journal" Asked Its ...

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jan 21, 2008

The magazine “Discipleship Journal” asked its readers to rank the areas of greatest spiritual challenge to them. The results came back in this order: (the top 5 were) 1. Materialism 2. Pride 3. Self-centeredness 4. Laziness 5. (Tie) Anger/Bitterness and Sexual lust The respondents also noted that ...read more

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

In The Tumult Of Men And Events, Solitude Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"In the tumult of men and events, solitude was my temptation; now it is my friend. What other satisfaction can be ...read more

Tags: Suffering Loneliness