In Sermon Illustrations: "The Gospel Message"

The Sandwich-Sign Parable

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Mar 24, 2009

THE SANDWICH-SIGN PARABLE The faces of the three men were solemn as the mayor informed them of the catastrophe. "The rains have washed away the bridge. During the night many cars drove over the edge and into the river." "What can we do?" asked one. "You must stand on the side of the road and ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

Denomination: Baptist

Forgiveness

Contributed by Steve Malone on Feb 3, 2021

It was in a church in Munich that I saw him, a balding heavyset man in a gray overcoat, a brown felt hat clutched between his hands. People were filing out of the basement room where I had just spoken, moving along the rows of wooden chairs to the door at the rear. It was 1947 and I had come from ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Tags: Hurt, Forgiveness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Keep Your Fork  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Jones on Feb 15, 2005

KEEP YOUR FORK There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things "in order," she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs ...read more

Tags: Death Nearness, Death, Knowledge, Funerals Christian

Denomination: Pentecostal

Discernment—or Judgment?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2009

DISCERNMENT--OR JUDGMENT? So how does a critical attitude come back to haunt you? Here’s one way. A man wanted to impress his friends with his eye for art as they went to an art gallery together. He forgot his glasses, was nearsighted, and couldn’t hardly see his hand in front of his face. But he ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-6

Tags: Gifts Discernment

We Will Tell Your God On You!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Apr 13, 2015

by Amy Carson Phillips (Adapted by Melvin Newland) “Night is falling on the Congo, O’er the jungles far and near. Soon the blackness will be brooding - He who walks will walk in fear. Yet no black man seeks his hut, All are waiting on the shore, Gazing, peering through the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Poem, Mission Of Church, Evangelism, Hope, Africa, Despair  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Heard A Story Some Time Ago Of A Missionary In ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 14, 2001

I heard a story some time ago of a missionary in Africa who gave a Bible to one of the African men. When it was given to him, the man hugged it close & expressed great appreciation for the precious gift of God’s Word that the missionary had given him. But when the missionary saw him a few days ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12

Tags: Sharing Your Faith, Bible, Bible Influence

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Richie Cunningham Had Been Watching Her Walk By ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on May 10, 2001

Richie Cunningham had been watching her walk by his house for days. Every day a certain neighbor gal walked by, the more he noticed her long dark hair - her gentle smile - her soft features - they were all things that beckoned his heart to go beyond the living room window and meet this girl of his ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Romantic Love

Denomination: Lutheran

Requires A Can Of Coca-Cola) Coca-Cola Is One ...  PRO

Contributed by R. Darrel Davis on Jun 2, 2001

(Requires a can of Coca-cola) Coca-cola is one product that has far outgrown its humble beginnings. In 1886, Dr. John Pemberton first introduced Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia. The pharmacist concocted a caramel-colored syrup in a three-legged brass kettle in his backyard. He first "distributed" ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Sharing Your Faith, What Is Evangelism?, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Baptist

Kay Arthur Has Become A Well-Known ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Aug 14, 2001

ILL. Kay Arthur has become a well-known Christian author & speaker who has influenced tens of thousands for Jesus. Her testimony is written in her book, "Lord, I Need Your Grace Because I Can’t Make It On My Own." In it she talks about her life & her struggles in coming to Christ. As a young ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Tags: Government

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

There Is A Story Of A Young Hippie Who Gave His ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Oct 16, 2001

There is a story of a young hippie who gave his life to Christ during the Jesus Movement of the late sixties and early seventies. One Sunday he went to a church, not knowing it was one of the more “upper class” churches in the area. He was late to the service, and the pastor was about to begin ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-4

Tags: Jesus' Ministry, Christian Love, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Wesleyan

In His Book "One Lord, One Faith," Author Rex ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Nov 16, 2001

In his book "One Lord, One Faith," author Rex Koivisto warns: We cannot read into the [biblical] text some meaning if it conflicts with the writer’s intended meaning. [For example,] in the early 1960’s the folk group Peter, Paul, and Mary sang a song about a young boy’s ...read more

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Saving Grizzly Adams  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Mar 15, 2002

SAVING GRIZZLY ADAMS Rick Stacy, Pastor in Okemos, Michigan tells a story about Ken Bailey. Ken was a laborer on the Alaska Pipeline back in the mid 70’s. He worked up in the icy cold for a year and came back with $30,000. That was a lot of money 30 years ago! He blew it all in a month. He ...read more

Tags: Repentance, God's Forgiveness, Basics Of Christianity

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Spirit Shines On The Savior  PRO

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 28, 2002

THE SPIRIT SHINES ON THE SAVIOR The Holy Spirit’s distinctive role is to fulfill what we may call a floodlight ministry in relation to the Lord Jesus Christ. When floodlighting is well done, the floodlights are placed so that you do not see them; in fact, you are not supposed to see where the ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Baptist

As We Conclude – Today I Want You To Imagine That ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Nov 19, 2002

AS WE CONCLUDE – today I want you to imagine that your life is over… and you are led to a room.. there are 2 chairs in the room, one is for you and one for God and there is a DVD player. God pops in the DVD. It has your name on it – it says “Steve Malone – What Might have Been” IMAGINE – ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Gifts General, Good News, Death Nearness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Car Radio. (I Kings 19:9-13 ...  PRO

Contributed by Raymond Petzholt on Mar 25, 2004

Illustration: Car Radio. (I Kings 19:9-13 Elijah, still small voice). One of my Professors at Seminary shared about a time he was driving to a speaking engagement with his wife. There was a storm coming so he needed to listen to the radio to hear the weather report. But he also wanted to talk ...read more

Scripture: John 10:27

Tags: Prayer In The Spirit, Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Baptist

I Am Not A Connoisseur Of Great Art, But From ...  PRO

Contributed by Bart Leger on Feb 9, 2005

I am not a connoisseur of great art, but from time to time a painting or picture will really speak a clear, strong message to me. Some time ago I saw a picture of an old burned-out mountain shack. All that remained was the chimney...the charred debris of what had been that family’s sole possession. ...read more

Tags: Double-Minded, God's Provision, Indecision, Mind

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Jim Dobson Tells The Story About A Couple Whose ...

Contributed by Jim Kane on Mar 12, 2005

Jim Dobson tells the story about a couple whose husband placed an ad in the Rocky Mountain News just prior to a Super Bowl a few years ago. WILL TRADE Will trade my noncooking and Nonshopping wife with attitude problem For one Super Bowl ticket No Indiangivers Call so-and-so at ...read more

Tags: Marriage General, Marriage Commitment

Denomination: Church Of God

On December 17, 1903, Orville And Wilbur Wright ...  PRO

Contributed by Alan Tison on Dec 10, 2005

On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made their first flight of an airplane at Kitty Hawk NC. On their 5th attempt, the plane under the control of Orville, embarked on a 12 second flight. Wilbur rushed to the local telegraph office and sent the following message – WE HAVE FLOWN FOR 12 ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus Was Crucified, Not In A Cathedral Between ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 20, 2005

Jesus was crucified, not in a cathedral between two candles, but on a cross between two thieves. - George F. MacLeod The cross cannot be defeated, for it is defeat. - Gilbert K. Chesterton There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below. - Charles Haddon Spurgeon We ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:5

Tags: Lordship Of Christ

On January 29, 2003, Athina Roussel Became The ...  PRO

Contributed by Rob Willis on Jan 30, 2006

On January 29, 2003, Athina Roussel became the richest teenager on the planet, inheriting a fortune estimated at that time to be between $800 million to $1 billion, and it all came from her grandfather, Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis through her mother. In 1988, when Athina was 3, her ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God

Denomination: Baptist