In Sermon Illustrations: "Thank You"

What Will They Say?

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 23, 2010

WHAT WILL THEY SAY? A minister, a priest and a rabbi die and go to heaven for orientation. They are all asked, "When you are in your casket, and friends, family, and congregants are mourning over you, what would you like to hear them say?" The minister says, "I would like to hear them say that I ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Brethren

Following Jesus

Contributed by David Simpson on Mar 23, 2017

Mark Batterson said in his book: “All In” – “Most people in most churches think they are following Jesus, but I’m not so sure. They may think they are following Jesus, but the reality is this: they have invited Jesus to follow them.” Too many times I want Jesus to follow me, to serve my ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:11

Tags: Following Jesus, Follow Jesus

Denomination: Christian Church

Why Worry?

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 15, 2019

WHY WORRY? Alarm clock didn’t go off, A case of the depressed blues is headed your way You’re late for work, have a flat tire, try to take wife’s car it won’t start she left the lights on, Get the jumper cables jump it off, in a hurry, Blue light special speeding ticket, Boss chews you out, wife ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Tags: Worry, Trouble

Denomination: Pentecostal

Funeral Illustration

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

I love that scene in The Pilgrim's Progress where Christian and Hopeful come to the final river of death. They are fearful that the water will be over their heads. But Hopeful goes first and calls back to Christian, “Be of good cheer, my brother; I feel the bottom, and it is good.” For every ...read more

Tags: Death, Heaven, Promises Of God, Valley Of The Shadow Of Death

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Just As We Are!" Exodus 14:13-14 Key Verse(S) ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 29, 2005

“Just As We Are!” Exodus 14:13-14 Key verse(s) 14:“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Keeping a positive outlook on life is pretty hard when nothing much positive seems to be happening in your life. Let’s face it, when things are going bad, really bad, there is nothing worse ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:13-14

Tags: Disappointment

Denomination: Lutheran

Afghan Spiritual Harvest

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 16, 2011

AFGHAN SPIRITUAL HARVEST In his book What Good Is God?, Philip Yancey writes: "This is a true story from Afghanistan that took place in the early 1970s, before the Russian occupation or the Taliban regime. At the time, the government allowed a small Christian church to service internationals who ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:9-11, Mark 19:1-20

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

Knock, Knock; Someone’s In Trouble

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 27, 2021

For some reason, the last several weeks we have been getting many visitors at our door. I'm not sure if this is a general trend or if it is just our door. Some of them have been salesmen, religious people, scam artists, and a host of other people. They only had one goal in mind, and that was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:31

Tags: Money, Telemarketers, Knocking On Doors

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Words, "Where Is The Messiah?" Are The First ...  PRO

Contributed by David Dykes on Mar 31, 2003

The words, “Where is the Messiah?” are the first recorded words spoken by a person in the entire New Testament. (In Matthew 1, only the angel Gabriel speaks.) What do you think is the first question ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

Denomination: Baptist

Nancy Spiegelberg, In The November Issue Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Jul 7, 2003

Nancy Spiegelberg, in the November issue of Decision magazine, wrote these words: Lord, I crawled across the barrenness to You with my empty cup, uncertain but asking any small drop of refreshment. If ...read more

Tags: Doubt, Faith General

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Early Church Leader Augustine Was Once ...

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Dec 31, 2003

The early church leader Augustine was once accosted by a heathen who showed him his idol and said, "Here is my god; where is thine?" Augustine replied, "I cannot show you my God; not because ...read more

Tags: Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Stop Playing Around With Christianity. Go All ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

Stop playing around with Christianity. Go all out at any cost so that when you get to the end of the road you will have that deep and abiding assurance from the Lord of well done. There is not one thing in this life ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity

A Turkish Soldier Had Beaten A Christian ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"A Turkish soldier had beaten a Christian prisoner until he was only half-conscious, and while he kicked him he demanded, What can your Christ do for you now? The ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

I Want To Give The Audience A Hint Of A Scene. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

I want to give the audience a hint of a scene. No more than that. Give them too much and they wont contribute anything themselves. Give them just a suggestion and you get them working with you. ...read more

Tags: Entertainment

Our Children Are Here To Stay, But Our Babies ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Our children are here to stay, but our babies and toddlers and preschoolers are gone as fast as they can grow up and we have only a short moment with each. When you see a grandfather take a baby ...read more

Tags: Family

In The Central Place Of Every Heart There Is A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"In the central place of every heart there is a recording chamber; so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, and courage, so long are you young. When the wires are all down and your heart is covered with the snows ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

The Real Heretic Is Not The Atheist Or Agnostic ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"The real heretic is not the atheist or agnostic (who are often decent people) but those who murmur it doesnt matter what you believe, as long as it makes you feel good. This turns religion into a subjective matter, ...read more

Tags: Truth Of Christ

Dobson Said (The Strong-Willed Child), "Whenever ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Aug 15, 2007

Dobson said (The Strong-Willed Child), “Whenever I’m tempted to become self-important and authoritative, I’m reminded of what the mother whale said to her baby: ‘When you get to ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

God's Hardening Is A Consequence Of Our ...

Contributed by Paul Steffens on Dec 12, 2007

"God’s hardening is a consequence of our hardening our own hearts...God will harden none, damn none, unless they willfully reject His grace. Here is a sobering thought: If you enter eternity with a hard, ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No Sacrifice Too Great

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A famous missionary by the name of C. T. Studd said; “If Jesus Christ be God, and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for him.” Mother Teresa once said, “if ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Aim At Heaven

Contributed by Thomas Cash on Jan 29, 2013

AIM AT HEAVEN There is no middle ground in our battle with evil. There are times when we must pick a side and take a stand. Truth demands a choice. "Aim at heaven and you’ll get earth ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ