In Sermon Illustrations: "Thank You"

Jesus Gives Pony Rides When You Miss Church!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 31, 2021

It was Palm Sunday but because of a sore throat, 5-year-old Annie stayed home from church with her mother. When the rest of the family returned home, they were carrying palm branches. Annie asked them what they were for. “People held them over Jesus’ head as he rode by on a colt,” her father ...read more

Tags: Children, Humor, Palm Sunday, Children's Stories

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Do You Make People Feel About Themselves?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 14, 2022

How do you think the people on your staff, in your family or church, or even close friends would say that you make them feel about themselves?? Consider these great quotes on how we treat others: John Maxwell – "People may hear your words, but above all, they feel your attitude. Your ...read more

Tags: Leadership, Importance, Feelings, Self Worth, Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do You Think God Knows What He Is Doing?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on May 4, 2022

A young woman prepared for missionary service on foreign fields. She had been appointed by the mission board and was ready to sail when she received a telegram saying that her sister had died in a western state. She cancelled her reservation and went home. The sister left four little children ...read more

Tags: Missionaries, Sovereignty Of God, Evangelism, Missions, Trusting God, Providence, Will Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Don't Love Me Any More!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 30, 2022

A married couple was reflecting on their 50th wedding anniversary and all of the great times they had been blessed to share together through the years. The husband was sitting in his recliner and the wife was sitting in her recliner. “You know something,” she said, “things have really changed ...read more

Tags: Love, Marriage, Romance, Revival, Anniversary, Bride Of Christ, Affection, Husbands, Wives  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Your Unsaved Friends Want You To Talk About Jesus!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 19, 2023

73% of Christians believed it was their responsibility to share their faith. Yet only 52% of them had actually shared their faith at least once with someone in the last year. Millennials were the only age group where the percentage of those evangelizing was increasing. Only 29% of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Evangelism, Sin, Salvation, Cross, Justification, Witnessing, Lost, Unchurched, Roman Road  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do You Want To Play Beethoven's Piano?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 5, 2023

J Vernon McGee offers the following illustration of humility of mind and adds a practical application. The story is told of a group of people who went in to see Beethoven’s home in Germany. After the tour guide had showed them Beethoven’s piano and had finished his lecture, he asked if any of them ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-11, Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Humility, Spiritual Gifts, Position, Servants, Lowliness Of Mind, Service, Honor  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[134]. A Message From A Poem – I Am With You Always

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 17, 2025

[134]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS This poem was written in a time of great trial that had been a lengthy one. It is so precious to know the Lord is with us always and never will He sleep or miss something. He knows our end from our beginning. I want to honour God in this ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:4-5, Matthew 28:20

Tags: Emmanuel, Jesus, Presence Of Jesus, Delight Yourself In The Lord, Close At Hand, I Am With You Always, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Commit Your Way To The Lord  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Word Is Alive - Let It Flow Through You Even Once

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 28, 2026

A man told his pastor that he received no inspiration ... from reading trough the Bible. His response speaks volumes: "Let it flow through you once," replied the elderly pastor ... "Then you will tell a different story!" Beloved ... it is so alive that you must not look to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12-16, Isaiah 55:11

Tags: Alive, Word, Scriptures

Denomination: Anglican

How Do You Make This Thing Work? War Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 3, 2026

The story is told ... about an Army sergeant ... who was caught near a beach ... by German artillery ... and managed to protect himself ... by moving to the water's edge. While improving his position with a trench shovel, ... he came upon an ornate crucifix ... the kind that prosperous ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-34, John 14:6

Tags: Faith, Lordship, War, Superficial

Denomination: Anglican

One Sunday, The Minister Was Giving A Sermon On ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Dec 5, 2002

One Sunday, the Minister was giving a sermon on baptism and in the coarse of his sermon he was illustrating the fact that baptism should take place by sprinkling and not by immersion. He pointed out some instances in the Bible. He said that when John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the River Jordan, ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, Bible Study

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Servants And Sons

Contributed by Jim Blevins on May 2, 2009

SERVANTS AND SONS Imagine at Mt. Sinai with all the lightning, thunder, smoke and the threat of death to any person or animal that even came close to the mountain, and how the people shuddered with fear as God was soon to speak His commandments. How would it have been if, after God had spoken ...read more

Tags: Arrogance

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Build Character Into Your Children  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2010

BUILD CHARACTER INTO YOUR CHILDREN David Kraft was a big, strong man -- all muscle. At the age of 32, he was six feet, two inches tall and weighed 200 pounds. He had been to seminary and ended up working with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, because of his athletic background. Then he was ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Tags: Father's Day

Out Of The Shade And Into The Light

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Feb 6, 2025

It’s been cold outside! Last week I walked into the office and commented that it's not fair that we have to suffer through the hot Texas summers AND these sub-freezing temperatures. But here in Texas the snow and ice quickly melt away—except not in some places. On my commute to church there ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 6:25

Tags: Melt, Revive, Sunlight, Thaw, Light, Worship, Revival  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Discipleship Calls For Wholehearted Commitment To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 31, 2009

Discipleship Calls for Wholehearted Commitment to Christ “I have seen the most horrible things, but I have met people who are still full of faith in spite of what they have endured.” That was the opening statement to a gathering of leaders and supporters of Samaritan’s Purse, the organization led ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Tags: Missions

Susie The Savior  PRO

Contributed by Ken Pell on Mar 30, 2013

SUSIE THE SAVIOR The story is told of a certain 9-year-old who is sitting at his desk in school when all of a sudden there is a puddle between his feet, and the front of his pants are wet. He thinks his heart is going to stop, because he knows when the boys find out, he'll never hear the end of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:4-5

Tags: Atonement

Denomination: Nazarene

Jingle Bells At A Funeral?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 22, 2022

Several years ago, a pretty well-known singing group made a monster mistake at a funeral service. This group traveled all around the USA singing and sharing Christ. One of the men in their home church back in Texas told them that he prayed for them, supported them greatly and loved to hear them ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9

Tags: Christmas, Communication, Confession, Confusion, Embarrassment, Funerals  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pray The Book Of Psalms

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 4, 2024

Wesley and Stacey Campbell describe in their book Praying the Bible: The Pathway to Spirituality: A few years ago, we were ministering in the mountains of Puebla, which is about a 4 hour drive from Mexico City. The situation was most desperate. The Indians of the area lived in villages built ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:164

Tags: Bible, Psalms, Prayer

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Voice Mail  PRO

Contributed by Dru Ashwell on Dec 20, 2001

VOICE MAIL While we have a direct access to our Heavenly Father, imagine if He had one of those computer-answering devices. It might be something like this: As we begin to pray we hear... Thank you for calling your Heavenly Father’s house. Your call may be monitored for quality assurance. Please ...read more

Tags: Ever, God's Omniscience, Illustration, Prayer Adoration, Prayer General  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Telegraph  PRO

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on Nov 10, 2008

THE TELEGRAPH Back when the telegraph was the fastest means of long-distance communication, there was a story about a young man who applied for a job as a Morse code operator. Answering an ad in the newspaper, he went to the address that was listed. When he arrived, he entered a large, noisy ...read more

Tags: Competition

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mrs. Thomas Works For An "Ear Doctor". She Told ...  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Jun 15, 2001

Mrs. Thomas works for an "ear doctor". She told us about one man who she had called to advise that his hearing aid had come in. The man was so happy, he jubilantly thanked Mrs. Thomas, saying, Oh thank you, I appreciate that...I love you, bye. Later that day the man’s wife called Mrs. Thomas to ...read more

Tags: Love, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: United Methodist