In Sermon Illustrations: "The Cross"

It Is Finished

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 2, 2026

It is finished. In the Nicene Creed, we confess: "On the third day, he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father." (Pause) What does this mean? The Scriptures share with us ... this truth: BIBLE My little ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:1-2, John 19:30

Tags: Finished, Attorney, Pleading Throne, Righteous, Forgive, Defense, Right Hand, Scriptures, Nicene Creed, Mercy, Father, Power, Advocate, Culture  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Wrong Way Roy Riegels

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 13, 2022

In the 1929 Rose Bowl, Georgia Tech was playing the University of California when the ball popped out of the hands of a Georgia Tech back. Roy Riegels, the University of California center, scooped it up and cut across the field. Then, finding himself hemmed in, he reversed his field. It was at this ...read more

Tags: Grace, Repent, Legalism, False Teaching, Football, Sermon Introduction  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Consecrated To Do God's Will

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 25, 2017

Years ago a young girl entered a little Presbyterian Church out of curiosity. There she heard the gospel for the first time and was converted. She later heard God’s call on her life to go to China as a missionary. She was the only daughter of a multi-millionaire. She was socially prominent and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24

Tags: Sacrifice, Consecrated Life

Denomination: Charismatic

Eduardo Escobar's Blessed Bats

Contributed by Matt Neace on Jun 13, 2018

In 2017, Minnesota Twins All-Star third baseman Miguel Sano when down with a stress reaction to his shin. So Eduardo Escobar filled in at third. He proceeded to belt 10 of his career-high 21 home runs as a fill-in starter. Speaking of the home runs, Escobar told the Star Tribune, "The 20 home ...read more

Tags: Faith, Prayer, Opportunity

Denomination: Baptist

Punishment In Another’s Place

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Jul 25, 2018

Main Idea: When Jesus died on the cross, He took the punishment we deserve. Key Verses: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23-25

Tags: Salvation, Propitiation, Sacrifice Of Christ

Denomination: Charismatic

Dual Citizenship In The Kingdom Of God And The Kingdom Of Darkness?

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Feb 12, 2019

Try to imagine this. It is the year 1944 and Germany is at war with England. Now suppose you have dual citizenship in both Germany and England and you are living in Germany. How will you be treated? Conversely, suppose you have dual citizenship in both Germany and England and you are living in ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:4-10, Matthew 6:24, Romans 6:22-23, 1 John 1:6

Tags: In Christ, Living In Christ, Carnal Christian, Sinful Life, Holilness, Righteous Christian, Alive In Christ, Living In Sin, Living In Darkness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

Forgive Us Our Debts

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 20, 2019

The debt has been paid… (forgive us our debts…) The graduating class of Morehouse College got a surprise gift on Sunday (May 19, 2019) when billionaire Robert F. Smith announced during his commencement speech that he would pay off the entire student debt of the graduating class. Student loans in ...read more

Scripture: John 8:36

Tags: Forgiveness, Freedom, Generosity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Word Of God Is Not Bound.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 2, 2020

Voltaire was born in Paris, France in 1694. As a philosopher, historian and free thinker, he became a most influential and prolific writer during what has been called the Age of Enlightenment. He vehemently opposed the Christian faith and wrote many rather scoffing works expressing his disdain ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Timothy 2:9

Tags: Scripture, Word Of God, Atheism, Sovereignty Of God, Voltaire  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Joy

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Joy In Galatians 5: 22 we read that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is joy. The Greek word means an inner gladness, a deep pleasure which comes from an inner assurance and confidence that God does all things for His good purposes. This joy is not the same as the joy found in ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22, Matthew 2:1-23

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

My Name Is Dawn Stefanowicz. I Grew Up In A ...  PRO

Contributed by Chris Kelly on Oct 21, 2008

"My name is Dawn Stefanowicz. I grew up in a homosexual household during the 60s and 70s in Toronto, exposed to many different people in Gay, Lesbian, bisexual, Transsexual subcultures and explicit sexual practices. My biggest concern is that children are not being discussed in this same-sex ...read more

Tags: Children, Parenting, Homosexuality, Fatherhood

Denomination: Wesleyan

Suspension Bridge

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2009

Robert Lewis writes, “In 1851, many of the most accomplished engineers in the country thought James Roebling was out of his mind. That year, he began to work on the unthinkable: building a bridge over the Niagara River Gorge. Disaster was nearly universally predicted. There was the sheer ...read more

Tags: Outreach

Denomination: Methodist

Wait...god Did Come

Contributed by Soon-Hock Lim on Dec 23, 2010

WAIT...GOD DID COME Philip Yancey tells the story of a migrant farmhand in his book "Where is God When It Hurts": Last year we went to a little church in New Jersey.... We had all our children there, the baby included. The Reverend Jackson was there, I can't forget his name, and he told us to be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:23

Tags: Christmas, Incarnation

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Saint Francis Xavier

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Feb 20, 2024

Saint Francis Xavier: An Example of Indian Missionary Enthusiasm and Cultural Fusion In India, the 16th century Catholic saint Francis Xavier is revered as a symbol of missionary zeal and cross-cultural harmony. One of the earliest Jesuit missionaries, Xavier was born in Spain in 1506, and he and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Tags: Missionary, Mission

Denomination: Other

Jesus Our (Lawyer) Advocate

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Jun 10, 2024

I would like for you to picture a scene. There is a court room. The judge is seated behind the bench. The jury is in place. There are people watching the proceedings. There is someone on trial sitting before the judge. And that person is you! The charge against you is that you are a ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:1-2

Tags: Forgiveness, Advocate, Judgment Seat, Lawyer, Court Room  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fleeing Unto Jesus, Not Away From Him

Contributed by N A on Dec 5, 2009

FLEEING UNTO JESUS, NOT AWAY FROM HIM (JESUS IS ANOINTED BY MARY AT BETHANY) "I heard (this story) from a friend who works with the down-and-out in Chicago: "A prostitute came to me in wretched straits, homeless, sick, unable to buy food for her two-year-old daughter. Through sobs and tears, she ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: *other

Jackie Chan Movie. This Man Is Very Innovative ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on May 3, 2001

Jackie Chan movie. This man is very innovative in the way that he makes fight scenes. Instead of just using normal karate chops and the like, he will use common every day items and create unbelievable fight scenes with them. In one scene, he fights off dozens of men with a common every day step ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:16-30

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, Jesus, Jesus Teachings, Hands, Wonder, Faith And Works, God The Father  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Suppose There Was A King Who Loved A Humble ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on May 25, 2001

Suppose there was a king who loved a humble maiden. The king was like no other king. Every statesmen trembled before his power. No one dared breathe a word against him, for he had the strength to crush all his opponents. And yet this mighty king was melted by love for a humble maiden. How could ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Christmas, Humanity Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Paul Esheman, The Man Responsible For ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Apr 8, 2002

: Paul Esheman, the man responsible for distributing millions of copies of the Jesus film around the world, tells bout the time that the film was shown at a refugee camp I Mozambique on the southeast coast of Africa. Although most of the people had never heard the gospel, they fell in love with ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Can Remember In My Very Early Bible College ...

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Feb 20, 2005

I can remember in my very early Bible college days, how that a love for the Word of God begin to develop within my own life. I had one particular instructor, Kelsey Griffin, who really turned me on to the power of the Word of God. I can remember sitting up night and night and poring over ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, Apologetics The Bible

Denomination: Pentecostal

Today I Had Lunch With A Man Who Is What We Call ...

Contributed by Ian Johnson on Sep 7, 2005

Today I had lunch with a man who is what we call a Maori Kaumatua, or leader. He is in His late 50’s, when he was 10 he and His family had no knowledge of Jesus or his claims on their lives. In fact they were deeply into the other side, having open visions of their tribal guardian and other ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:18

Tags: Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Pentecostal