In Sermon Illustrations: "The Lost Coin"

We Were Desperate Without Christ!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

Steven Cole has a good discussion on salvation writing… As I’ve often said, salvation is a radical word. You don’t need saving if you’re in pretty good shape. All you need then is a little help. You need saving when you’re perishing and are helpless to save yourself. The Bible uses a number of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1

Tags: Evangelism, Grace, Mercy, Salvation, Gospel, Lost  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Faking It

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 8, 2021

One of my wife’s third graders was wearing a Fitbit watch, which prompted my wife to ask, “Are you tracking your steps?” “No,” said the little girl. “I wear this for Mommy so ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:1-13

Tags: Deception, Torah, Works Righteousness, Religious But Lost

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Prodigal Son In The Key Of F

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 14, 2022

Feeling footloose and frisky, a foolish fellow forced his father to fork over his fourth of the family farthings and flew far to a foreign field where he fast frittered his father's fortune feasting foolishly with faithless friends. Fleeced by his fellows and folly, and facing famine he found ...read more

Tags: Prodigal Son, Humor, Repentance, Parables, Lost  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Light In The Dark

Contributed by Carl Allen on Jul 8, 2022

While leaving in Germany, I had the fortune of going camping in the black forest. I found out quickly why they call it the black forest. When the sun goes down it is pitch black and you can barely see your hand in front of your face. We had just finished setting up camp and I had to run back out ...read more

Scripture: John 9:5, Psalm 119:105

Tags: Direction, Light, Darkness, Lost, Saved, Found  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Funnnnnnnnny Story About Lazarus!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 13, 2022

A teacher in children's church was telling the story of the rich man and Lazarus. She said that Lazarus sat outside the rich man's gate covered with sores and begging for food. And that the rich man passed Lazarus without even seeing him. But when they both died, Lazarus went to Heaven, ...read more

Tags: Hell, Death, Heaven, Salvation, Lost, Funerals  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Are His Hands And Feet.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 27, 2023

After World War II, a group of German students volunteered to help rebuild an English cathedral that had been severely damaged by German bombs. As work progressed, they became concerned about a large statue of Jesus, whose arms were out-stretched and beneath which was the inscription: “Come unto ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Service, Ministry, Outreach, Discipleship, Witnessing, Lost  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Can't Remember When I Was Saved!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 12, 2023

If you have not realized it yet, over time you are going to forget some things. I think of the two older men that were playing golf. One had trouble seeing and other had trouble remembering. The one with a seeing problem said to the other, "Now, watch my ball, for I can’t see where it ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, 1 John 5:1-13

Tags: Memory, Salvation, Gospel, Assurance, Lost, Saved  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Reason For Evangelism

Contributed by John Bright on May 15, 2025

The Reason for Evangelism The “WHY” might be the most important missing part for choosing to not share a personal testimony and the Good News with other folks. I recently read the book, “Five Little Words to Change a Life,” by Nick and Rozanne Savoca (2022). Nick shares an experience that uses a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 15:11-32

Tags: Evangelism, Prodigal Son

Denomination: Methodist

The Time-Lapse Of Sin  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Apr 4, 2001

THE TIME-LAPSE OF SIN Time-lapse photography compresses a series of events into one picture.Such a photo appeared in an issue of National Geographic. Taken from aRocky Mountain peak during a heavy thunderstorm, the picture captured the brilliant lightning display that had taken place throughout ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, God's Provision, Sin Hurtful To God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In Preparation For A Meeting In A Large City, ...  PRO

Contributed by Evie Megginson on Apr 5, 2001

In preparation for a meeting in a large city, famed evangelist Billy Sunday wrote a letter to the mayor in which he asked for the name of individuals he knew who had a spiritual problem and needed help and prayer. How ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, Sin General, Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Baptist

How Righteous Are You?  PRO

Contributed by Richard Wilson on Nov 26, 2001

HOW RIGHTEOUS ARE YOU? Some folks think they are good really good people. Let’s suppose that a person on sins 3 times a day. A sin in the morning, a sin during the day and a sin at night. Sounds like a pretty good person! Let’s think for a moment. If that person is saved at 10 years old and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:22-23

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, Emotions, Sin Separates From God

Denomination: Baptist

I Will Save You  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 10, 2002

I WILL SAVE YOU John Piper puts it this way: If we only knew it, every one of us is stranded on an ice face in Greenland, and the wind is blowing fiercely. Our position is so precarious that even if we inhale too deeply our weight will shift and we will plunge to our destruction. God comes to us ...read more

Tags: Faith Vs. Works, Evangelism The Lost, Lordship Of Christ

Guarded By The Shepherd  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 14, 2003

GUARDED BY THE SHEPHERD Charles Spurgeon says this about the Great Shepherd: What is there in you, dear friend, more than there is in any other professor, why you should not prove an apostate after all? What is there about me that I should stand where so many others have fallen? There is ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ, People In Acts, Parable Lost Sheep

That's When The Angels Rejoice  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 11, 2004

THAT’S WHEN THE ANGELS REJOICE There’s a gospel song entitled, “That’s When The Angels Rejoice” written by Larry Bryant: When the Model T first hit the street, It didn’t bring all heaven to its feet. And when the first computer was born, They didn’t blow Old Gabriel’s horn. There’s only one thing ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32, Luke 15:1-31

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, Parable Prodigal Son, Promises Of God

God Is Seeking Me Out  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 11, 2004

GOD IS SEEKING ME OUT Nikki was a Jewess. Born of Jewish parents and raised in the Temple, she had never wanted anything to do with the church. But just because her friend Dana had invited her, she agreed to attend go - just this once. The next week she came back. And the next week, and the next. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-31

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, Parable Prodigal Son, Promises Of God

Remembering My Purpose  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 22, 2004

REMEMBERING MY PURPOSE The Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful and costly tombs ever built, but there is something fascinating about its beginnings. In 1629, when the favorite wife of Indian ruler Shah Jahan died, he ordered that a magnificent tomb be built as a memorial to her. The shah ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-14, John 2:14-25

Tags: Fulfillment, Lost, New Year's Day, Purpose, Communion  (view more)  (view less)

Weeping Over Others

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 15, 2020

Do you weep for your family, friends, church, nation and world? 1) Jesus did- Jesus wept over the sins of others, over their bitter consequences in judgment and death, and over Jerusalem which would not receive him. Jesus was a Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53). Why? Because he took our sins upon ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Intercession, Beatitudes, Lost, Weeping, Mourning, Evangelism, Prayer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christian In Name Only

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 2, 2022

As a result of poor planning, a man needed some same-day dry cleaning before he left on a trip. He remembered one store with a huge sign, "One-Hour Dry Cleaners," on the other side of town, so he drove out of his way to drop off a suit. After filling out the tag, he told the clerk, ...read more

Tags: Deceived, Eternity, Truth, False Teachers, Lost, Unsaved  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Melt The Saints And Get Them Into Circulation!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 4, 2022

During the reign of Oliver Cromwell, there was a shortage of currency in the British Empire. Representatives carefully searched the nation in hopes of finding silver to meet the emergency. After one month, the committee returned with its report. "We have searched the Empire in vain seeking ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19-20

Tags: Evangelism, Church, Gospel, Witnessing, Lost, Great Commission  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Powerful Illustration For A Funeral

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 13, 2022

There is an old story of a king and his clown or “jester” who sometimes said very foolish things. One day the jester had said something so foolish that the king handing him a staff, said to him: “Take this, and keep it till you find a bigger fool than yourself.” “Some years later, the king lay on ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 14:1

Tags: Funerals, Evangelism, Death, Salvation, Lost, Time, Fools  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational