In Sermon Illustrations: "Trials Mature Us"

God Communicates Through Dreams

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

God still speaks in dreams today. In the second year of serving at Gretna, I had a dream that the 2 acres next door where a pediatrician’s office was located was going to be sold and become townhouses. The owner Dr. Jerry Fortino attended the WestBank Rotary Club which met at the church every ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:1-10

Tags: Holy Spirit, Dreams, God's Leading

Denomination: Methodist

Clean Pigeon

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 9, 2015

Lester Roloff told about visiting a friend in Massillon, Ohio who had a number of pigeons. During the visit his friend showed him one of the birds and said, “See this bird. She just flew 500 miles from St. Louis to Massillon non stop.” Roloff interrupted his host: Come on, non stop! How do you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Tags: Clean, Holiness, Sanctify

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Ten Word Sermon

Contributed by Kevin Barron on Aug 31, 2018

The shortest sermon I know is only ten words. It was preached by my grandfather to a small, country congregation on the story of the Good Samaritan (Mark 10:35-45). He read the account of an outsider who demonstrates true neighbor love by stopping on the road to care for a bleeding and badly ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

Tags: Compassion, Good Samaritan

Denomination: Methodist

How Jesus Trained The Disciples

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 2, 2020

Robert E. Coleman wrote the book, The Master's Plan of Evangelism, and gave us the principles that Jesus used to spread the Gospel around the world until He returns. Here is the list: 1. SELECTION:   “He chose from the twelve.” (Luke 6:13)  2. ASSOCIATION: The principle of ...read more

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

Tags: Evangelism, Outreach, Discipleship, Missions, Witnessing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Put Out A Fire

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 20, 2022

It was Pentecost Sunday. As the congregation filed into the church, the ushers handed each person a bright red carnation to symbolize the day's festive spirit. The people listened attentively to the reading of the Pentecost story from the Book of Acts about how the disciples had heard “what ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1

Tags: Giving, Tithes, Offerings

Self Control - The Conductor Of Your Orchestra!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 27, 2023

Let’s face it. We’ve been created with a multitude of moods, passions, and desires. They all need managing. They must be under control or they will end up controlling us. Lewis Smedes says that self-control is like the “conductor of a symphony orchestra.” Under the conductor’s baton the multitude ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Works Of The Flesh, Self Control, Spirit Filled Life, Holy Spirit, Lust, Spiritual Warfare, Fruit Of The Spirit, Spiritual Victory, Desires  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Dangers Of Toying With Sin

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 12, 2023

Several years ago our family visited Niagara Falls. It was spring, and ice was rushing down the river. As I viewed the large blocks of ice flowing toward the falls, I could see that there were carcasses of dead fish embedded in the ice. Gulls by the score were riding down the river feeding on the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Sin, Salvation, Temptation, Deceit, Sinners, Sin Nature  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Silent Night (Stille Nacht)

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 3, 2025

It’s Christmas Eve in 1818, in the little village of Oberndorf near Salzburg. St. Nicholas Church will soon be full. Father Joseph Mohr has words for a new carol—but no melody. He walks through the snow to the nearby village of Arnsdorf and asks his friend, schoolteacher Franz Gruber, “Could you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:10-14, Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2

Tags: Worship, Peace, Incarnation

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Verbal Plenary Inspiration

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 15, 2026

Can we trust God’s Word as the truth? Can it be a light into the darkness we face? I want to briefly explain, again, what I believe about how we got the Bible. This is referred to as “Verbal Plenary Inspiration.” I believe the words of Holy Scripture were given to the men who wrote the original ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:19-21, Hebrews 4:12

Tags: Bible, Hope, Inspired Word Of God

Denomination: Methodist

What You Believe About Jesus Mattters

Contributed by John Hamby on Jun 1, 2026

Does it matter WHAT You Believe about Jesus? C.S. Lewis very wisely wrote, “I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing that we must ...read more

Scripture: John 11:26

Tags: Belief, Saving Faith

Denomination: Baptist

I Am Absolutely Convinced That No Wealth In The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

I am absolutely convinced that no wealth in the world can help humanity forward, even in the hands of the most devoted worker. The example of great and pure individuals is the only thing that can lead us to noble thoughts and deeds. Money only appeals to selfishness and irresistibly invites abuse. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21

Tags: Giving General, Envy, Money

A Woman Testified To The Transformation In Her ...  PRO

Contributed by Darren Ethier on May 9, 2002

A woman testified to the transformation in her life that had resulted through her experience in conversion. She declared, "I’m so glad I got religion. I have an uncle I used to hate so much I vowed I’d never go to his funeral. But now, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Tags: Anger, Forgiveness General, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Pentecostal

Biochemist, Dr. Duane Gish, Notes, "Evolution Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Dana Chau on Sep 9, 2002

Biochemist, Dr. Duane Gish, notes, "Evolution is the most wasteful, inefficient and cruel method that could ever be devised to create living things ... mutations (the process of evolution) leads almost always to bad outcomes: crippling, sickness, disfigurements and deaths. Good mutations are rare ...read more

Tags: Evolution

Denomination: *other

Calvin On This Point Is Instructive: Whatever ...

Contributed by Gregg Strawbridge on Apr 13, 2003

Calvin on this point is instructive: Whatever title then men may hold, they are to be listened to only on the condition that they do not lead us away from obeying God. So we must examine all their traditions by the rule of the Word of God. We must obey princes and others who are in authority, but ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Do You Believe?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 30, 2004

DO YOU BELIEVE? Americans are three times as likely to believe in the Virgin Birth of Jesus (83 percent) as in evolution (28 percent) Not only do 91 percent of [American] Christians say they believe in the Virgin Birth, but so do an astonishing 47 percent of U.S. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:2-20

Tags: Humanity Of Christ, People In The Gospel, Mary Jesus Mother

When G. Campbell Morgan Was A Young Christian He ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 29, 2004

When G. Campbell Morgan was a young Christian he used to visit several elderly ladies once a week to read the Bible to them. When he came to the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Morgan read, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age." He added, "Isn’t that a wonderful ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:20

Tags: Examples Of Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Cannot Choose Your Calling. Your Calling ...

Contributed by Richard Mcnair on Oct 27, 2004

You cannot choose your calling. Your calling chooses you. You have been blessed with special skills that are yours alone. Use them, whatever they may be, and forget about wearing another’s hat. A talented chariot driver can win gold and renown with his skills. ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Baptist

German Emperor Wilhelm The First Adopted A Motto ...

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Nov 15, 2005

German emperor Wilhelm the First adopted a motto with his generals – “GOTT MIT UNS” or “God with us.” On the American front the northern preachers who supported Abraham Lincoln during the civil war at a time when the war hung in the balances, made the same declaration to President Lincoln that God ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Salvation Army

In The Lion King The Hyenas Are Talking About The ...  PRO

Contributed by Tanner Smith on Nov 18, 2005

In the Lion King the Hyenas are talking about the King Lion, Mufasa. When one hyena says Mufasa’s name, the other hyena shivers and says "OOO, say it again!" The other hyena responds "Mufasa, Mufasa, Mufasa." The point is that the name of Jesus can elicit many feelings in us. In this case, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-40

Tags: Jesus Life

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

In '70, Unmarried People Represented 28% Of The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 6, 2006

In ’70, unmarried people represented 28% of the adult population in the U.S. In ’96 40% of all adults are unmarried. Causes are postponement of first marriage (average age is now 27.1 for men and 24.8 for women), higher levels of divorce (10% of the population has been divorced and not remarried) ...read more

Tags: Marriage General