In Sermon Illustrations: "Thinking"

The Big Turkey In The Freezer

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 21, 2023

A Christian woman went into the local pet shop to buy a parrot for company. She selected a beautiful bird, but the pet store owner said he didn't think that she'd be happy with this particular parrot because he had belonged to a salty old sailor who used very bad language. She replied ...read more

Tags: Birds, Parrots, Holidays, Food, Profanity, Punishment, Discipline, Cursing, Thanksgiving  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Giving

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Nov 22, 2023

I was raised in the church. My dad pastored 65 years. I graduated college and was married. We returned home for Christmas. We all gathered around the tree. I remembered my speedometer and God’s goodness. My wife and mom handed out the presents. Each family member had several gifts. In the ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Jesus, Giiving

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Significance Of The Manger

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 9, 2023

If you try to point out something to a dog, the dog will often look at your finger instead of the object you’re trying to point to. This is frustrating, but it illustrates a natural mistake we all make from time to time. It’s the mistake many people make when reading the Christmas story in Luke’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Tags: Sign, Messiah, Christmas, Manger, Shepherds  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Charles Schwab's Challenge

Contributed by David Swanger on Jan 19, 2024

Dale Carnegie tells of a mill manager whose men were not producing. The owner, whose name was Charles Schwab, asked why. The manager had no idea. "I've coaxed the men; I've punished them; I've sworn and cursed; I've threatened them with damnation and being fired. But nothing ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:10

Tags: Challenge, Motivation

Ten Dollars Is Ten Dollars

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 28, 2025

A man named Stumpy illustrates how money affects people. Stumpy and his wife Martha went to the state fair every year and every year when Stumpy saw the antique bi-plane he would say, “Martha, I’d like to ride in that airplane.” Martha always replied, “I know Stumpy, but that airplane ride costs ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:24-28

Tags: Money, Stewardship

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Pappy Was A Pleasant Fellow. His Face Was Quite ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Heartsill on Oct 25, 2000

Pappy was a pleasant fellow. His face was quite drawn from age, but when he smiled, even his wrinkles seemed to smile with him. Pappy owned a pawnshop. Everyone who knew him respected and adored him. There was a room in the back of his shop where he spent time tinkering with his own precious items. ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Parable Prodigal Son, Parenting

Denomination: Baptist

Byron Deel, Grew Up With An Alcoholic And Abusive ...  PRO

Contributed by Ian Biss on Oct 1, 2001

Byron Deel, grew up with an alcoholic and abusive father. Byron had two brothers and three sisters, a large family, but his dad spent the family income on alcohol, and he drank and ranted and raved and hit them. When Byron was twelve, his father walked away from the family, and did absolutely ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:6

Tags: God The Father, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Grace Brethren

His Name Is Roger Crawford … He's About Forty ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 6, 2001

His name is Roger Crawford … he’s about forty years old. He makes his living as a consultant and public speaker. He has written two books and travels all across the country working for Fortune 500 companies, national and state associations, and school districts. Those aren’t bad credentials. But ...read more

Not A Mountain Top Experience!" 1 Peter 1:13-25 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 2, 2005

“Not A Mountain Top Experience!” 1 Peter 1:13-25 Key verse(s): 15-16:“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” Blending in! Some of us prefer blending in to sticking out in a crowd. Then again there are others who are quite ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-25, Luke 24:1-50

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Distract, Focus

Denomination: Lutheran

The Guest Of Honor — Uninvited  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Dec 16, 2005

Illustration – e-mail letter I received As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, ...read more

Tags: Christmas Advent

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

So If The Kingdom Of Heaven Is So Valuable, Why ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

So if the kingdom of heaven is so valuable, why doesn’t everybody do everything they can to be a part of it? I think it’s because value is often in the eye of the beholder. What has value and what doesn’t is really up to personal interpretation. What some people think are valuable have no value at ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-12

Tags: Fig Tree, Parable General

My Family Was Infected With Some Kind Of Sickness ...

Contributed by Chris Surber on Dec 7, 2007

My family was infected with some kind of sickness a couple of months ago that we have had the most terrible time getting over. In fact, I think we may still have it. It all started when my wife Christina had a small cough and a little bit of a sore throat. At first we just thought it was a ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

This Passage From The Bible Says That If A Person ...

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Aug 3, 2008

This passage from the Bible says that if a person “has” Jesus in his or her life, then they have “eternal life.” What’s eternal life? The bottom line is that it means Heaven. Forever. And how do we get that eternal life? By having Jesus in your life. This says that if we have Jesus, we have ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Wesleyan

There Was Once A Preacher Who Was Traveling ...

Contributed by Jay Winters on Apr 2, 2009

There was once a preacher who was traveling between cities. He had lived in cities all of his life. He could tell you how to find a good parking spot, what neighborhoods to avoid within the city, and how to avoid traffic by using the backstreets. He was a smart guy with plenty of personality, ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices

Denomination: Lutheran

The Word Of God—the Owner's Manual

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 21, 2009

THE WORD OF GOD--THE OWNER'S MANUAL As a kid, I remember a very popular game. Simon Says. Usually played at school or parties, several of us would do whatever "Simon" told us to do, as long as it was preceded by the phrase: "Simon Says". It seems to me that we have become a society of "Simon ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Bible Truth

Barna On Parenting

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 22, 2009

BARNA ON PARENTING George Barna in his book "Revolutionary Parenting" gives us the bad news about the family today -- especially many Christian families: What does God measure? In other words how does God evaluate what is a healthy family and an unhealthy family? Barna states: What does God ...read more

Tags: Family

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cuban Missle Crisis Compared To Spiritual ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 1, 2009

Cuban Missle Crisis Compared to Spiritual Brinkmanship It is October 14th, and the sun is reflecting mirages of water on an Air Force base runway in southern Florida. The silence of that scene is interrupted as a long-winged plane touches down on the runway and taxies to the hanger. A thousand ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:1

Tags: Holiness

Brad Pitt ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2010

Brad Pitt Interview Interview with the actor, Brad Pitt, in Parade magazine. Pitt grew up in Springfield, MO, the oldest of three children in a conservative, Southern Baptist family. His mother was a school counselor; his father ran a trucking company. "My dad made sure our needs were met," he ...read more

Scripture: John 17:17

Tags: Bible Truth, True Gospel

Guardrails

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 30, 2012

GUARDRAILS A guardrail is actually a system designed to keep vehicles from straying into dangerous or off-limit areas. Now, nobody pays attention to guardrails unless you need one. There are all different kinds of guardrails, but guardrails are that invisible part of our driving experience. We’re ...read more

Scripture: Acts 24:15-16

Tags: Conscience

Parable Of An Old Farmer And His Massey ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 27, 2012

PARABLE OF AN OLD FARMER AND HIS MASSEY FERGUSON “One cool spring morning a old man got up and opened the back door to his little farm house. It’s early in the morning and there are still a couple stars out; the grass is covered in dew. He walks over to the barn and pulls the large doors open to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-30

Tags: Parable Sower And Seed