In Sermon Illustrations: "The Great Tribulation"

Helping People Go Home

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 11, 2015

The conductor of a railroad was on his last day before retiring. As he was going through the cars punching tickets, he came to the third car and there was a man who had ridden that car through the years with the conductor. He stopped him by grabbing his shirt sleeve and said, “Hey Jim, how do you ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-18

Tags: Evangelism, Death, Salvation, Going Home

Denomination: Methodist

Hope

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Mar 1, 2016

In September 1988, Hurricane Gilbert hit the Louisiana coast. At that time it was considered the “Storm of the century.” It battered the shoreline, severely disrupting the shrimping business. Many shrimp boats were lost, causing great concern for several families dependent on shrimping for their ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:1-16

Tags: Hope, Hope Deferred

Denomination: Baptist

Preachers Who Make You Throw Up!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 12, 2019

A Pastor was doing his Children's Church sermon where all the kids come down to the front & hear a story. The Pastor was discussing the story of Jonah. He quoted the Scripture from Jonah: "The Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah upon the dry land." When the Pastor ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 2:1-7

Tags: Jonah, Bad Preaching, Children's Church, Embarrassing Moments

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Four Levels Of Spiritual Maturity

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 15, 2019

There are 4 levels of spiritual maturity for believers in Christ. I have created the names of each phase to add to this great quote from John Maxwell: #1 - REBELLION: I'm going to do what I want regardless of what God says. #2 - CONDITIONAL LOVE: If God gives me what I want, I will give Him ...read more

Tags: Spiritual Maturity, Growing In Grace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Eat Twinkies Together

Contributed by Davon Huss on Nov 23, 2019

A Harvard study of 7,000 people found that the most isolated people were 3 times more likely to die than those with strong relationships. Reporting on the study, John Ortberg writes that “people who had bad health habits (such as smoking, poor eating habits, or alcohol use) but strong social ties ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:15

Tags: Church, Relationships, Synergy

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Revival Begins In The Prayer Closet

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 31, 2022

E.M. Bounds, who was born in 1835, began his three-hour prayer routine at 4am. To him, prayer was not a prelude; it was a priority. Edward Payson, who ministered during the Second Great Awakening, was said to have worn grooves into his hardwood floors as a result of prayer. Adoniram Judson ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3, 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Holy Spirit, Prayer, Revival, Repentance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

And We Can't Even Preach Without A Sound System Today???

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 19, 2022

Peter's sermon to such a large crowd of Jews reminds us of stories of how God's Spirit used George Whitefield in the 1700's as an instrument to bring about the First Great Awakening in America. John MacArthur says that "Whitfield preached in Bristol to 20,000 people regularly, ...read more

Tags: Preaching, Revival, Word Of God, Whitfield, Simon Peter, Power Of God's Word, Evangelism, Pentecost, Gospel, Missions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Fulness Of Time, God Sent His Son

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 19, 2022

•When God sent His Son into the world, the ancient world benefited from several conditions that made it far easier to spread the news of the good new of salvation. Some of those conditions were: • Roman Law - This protected Paul and others as they traveled the Roman world and preached the ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Bethlehem, Rome, Prophecy, History, Sovereignty Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Captain Of The Lord's Hosts

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 17, 2023

The “Captain of the Lord’s Hosts” is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. We call this a CHRISTOPHANY. The word translated as, “Angel”, is another word for “Messenger” and does not limit the Divinity of Christ or make him a mere angel. What does Scripture say about the ...read more

Tags: Joshua, Jesus, Christophanies, Worship, Angels, Captain, Sovereignty Of God, Types, Christ In The Old Testament  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thank God For Blessed Subtractions!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 10, 2023

Three local pastors were discussing their Easter Sunday results with one another on the Monday after Easter. The Methodist minister said, "Easter services worked out great for us! We gained four new additions at First Methodist!" Praise God! The Baptist preacher grinned ...read more

Tags: Arrogance, Bragging, Preachers, Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, Easter, Revival, Church Growth, Pride, Pastors  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Chekhov's Advice

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Sep 6, 2023

The great Russian playwright Anton Chekhov wrote to his younger brother in 1879 responding to a letter in which the brother had signed himself as “your insignificant and obscure little brother.” Chekhov’s answer to this false humility is classic. “Do you know,” Chekhov asked in reply, “before whom ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:7-11

Tags: Humility, Pride

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How Much Does The Bible Talk About The Second Coming?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 28, 2023

Biblical prophecy provides some of the greatest encouragement and hope available to us today. Just as the Old Testament is saturated with prophecies concerning Christ's first advent, so both testaments are filled with references to the second coming of Christ. One scholar has estimated that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, John 14:1-6

Tags: End Times, Prophecy, Second Coming, Last Days, Rapture, Day Of The Lord, Return Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sin Is Sin It Leads To Death No Matter How It Isillustrated.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Oct 25, 2024

We the Church need to be aware of the danger there is from those who prophecy falsely, there is a great push within Christian circles to accept people's immorality in the name of God’s love, and grace. Sin remains sin, those of us who have repented of our sins know the release and joy that ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:1-41, 2 Corinthians 5:15

Tags: Grace, Acceptance, Salvation, Joy, Power, Redemption, Denial, Punishment, Repentence, Recrucifying Christ, Immorality, Danger, False Teachers, Release, Sanctification, Regeneration  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Moving Mountains A Figure Of Speech

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

The imagery of a mountain is HYPERBOLE. Zechariah 4:7a, “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubabel you shall become a plain.” "The Jews used to set out those teachers among them, that were more eminent for the profoundness of their learning, or the splendour of their virtues, by such ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:23, Matthew 17:20-21

Tags: Mountains, Hyperbole, Moving Moutains

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Group Of Infantry Soldiers Were Going Through ...

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 7, 2008

A group of infantry soldiers were going through Airborne School at Fort Benning Georgia. As they prepared for their first jump, the jumpmaster explained that when the green light went on, everyone was to stand up, hook up, jump out, count to four and the chutes would open. If that failed, they ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Congregational

Prayer: Specific ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2008

PRAYER: SPECIFIC DIRECTION The late great English writer, journalist, philosopher, poet, biographer, and Christian apologetic Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874 - 1936) and several other literary figures were asked one evening what book they would prefer to have with them if they were stranded on a ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Ever Hear This Phrase? There Is Some Truth ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 15, 2008

Ever hear this phrase? There is some truth there. In this perspective, religion is seen as something negative and even detrimental at times to one’s spiritual walk. Common conceptions here might include the idea that I really don’t need a religion or a church or a faith community as long as I still ...read more

Tags: Religion

Denomination: Church Of God

My Wife And I Have Invested In Some Exercise ...

Contributed by Scott Jensen on Nov 12, 2008

My wife and I have invested in some exercise equipment through the years. We’ve bought a stationary bike, an exercise ball, a weight set and even an Abs-machine. But, most of these items never met their intended goal. Our tone didn’t improve like we intended and we didn’t get stronger. Why? ...read more

Tags: Preparation

Denomination: Lutheran

Nothing But The Cross

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

NOTHING BUT THE CROSS J. A. James is quoted as saying, "Although the pulpit is intended to be a pedestal for the cross, even the cross itself is sometimes used as a mere pedestal for the preacher's fame. We may roll the thunders of eloquence, we may scatter the flowers of poetry, we may diffuse ...read more

Tags: Preaching

Preach The Cross

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

PREACH THE CROSS J. A. James is quoted as saying, "Although the pulpit is intended to be a pedestal for the cross, even the cross itself is sometimes used as a mere pedestal for the preacher's fame. We may roll the thunders of eloquence, we may scatter the flowers of poetry, we may diffuse the ...read more

Tags: Crucifixion