In Sermon Illustrations: "True Love"

From Boxer To Preacher

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Mar 22, 2025

George Foreman died in March 2025 at age 76. Foreman was a heavyweight boxer for the USA in the 1968 Olympic Games - winning the Gold medal. He later became a professional Boxer and world Champion. In 1977 after a fight with heavyweight Jimmy Young, Foreman had a crisis experience. He thought he ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10, Luke 19:1-10

Tags: Salvation, Gospel, Born Again

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Little Word That Changes Everything

Contributed by David Dunn on Dec 26, 2025

Opening (attention hook) (Hold up a big card with the word IF written on it) “Does anyone know this word?” (Let them shout: IF!) “This is a tiny word… but it can change what happens next.” >> The Story There was a little girl named Lily, and Lily loved to ask questions. One morning her ...read more

Scripture: John 14:15, James 1:22

Tags: Obedience, Choice

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Year I Thought I Killed The Vine

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 20, 2026

Years ago, my wife and I moved into a new house in Michigan. There was a grapevine growing along the fence. We were getting into gardening, and I thought, “This is fantastic. We have a grapevine.” The first year, the vine looked amazing. It was long and healthy. It stretched along the fence, ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Tags: Spiritual Fruit, Spiritual Growth, Abiding In Christ, Pruning

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Vernon And Joey

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Oct 13, 2012

It is fitting that we begin with a true story involving three main characters: an elderly man nearing death, a kindhearted woman in robust health, and a deceased boy very much alive. Five months earlier, physicians had diagnosed sixty-five-year-old Vernon Samuels with terminal lung cancer. They ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:3-4

Tags: Death

Denomination: Baptist

And Then It Was Silent No More

Contributed by James Snyder on May 23, 2020

During this time of exclusive lockdown, I and the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage have grown accustomed to silence. Don't get me wrong here. I do not object to noise as long as it's the right kind of noise. However, I do have a good warm feeling about silence. What was that song? ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:13

Tags: Books, Silence, Noise

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Hallelujah… She’s Baaaaack

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 4, 2021

I have learned that you don't miss something until it is gone. Unfortunately, sometimes, it's too late. Over six weeks ago, or was it nine months, I took my truck in for a regular checkup. I was going away for the week, so I thought I would drop the truck off and let them work on it when ...read more

Scripture: 2 John 1:8

Tags: Stress, Humor

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Why Does Monday Have To Follow Sunday?

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 9, 2024

The older I get, the more I wake up not knowing what day it is. That is particularly true on Mondays. My favorite day of the week is Sunday. I enjoy attending church, fellowshipping with other Christians, and of course, the Sunday worship services. I enjoy Sunday morning and evening like no other ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6

Tags: Stress, Frustration, Planning

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Whatever Happened To Reality

Contributed by James Snyder on May 18, 2024

During my health hiatus I did things I never had time to do before. One of them was to check out some Reality TV Shows. I never had much interest in these TV shows, but I thought now would be a good time to check some of them just to see what their idea of reality really was. Of course, my health ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8

Tags: Reality, Tv Shows

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

How Can I Get My Sneeze Back?

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 28, 2024

I've had a lot of health issues during this past year, and now that I seem to be over them, something else has taken their place. I have had a sneezing fit for the past two weeks that I've never experienced before. Every time I sneeze, it is in triplets. I don't know why I have to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Health, Sneezing

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

[202]. A Message From A Poem – Pictures From A Counting Song – (Part 2)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 16, 2025

[202]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – PICTURES FROM A COUNTING SONG – (PART 2) THIS SECOND PART OF THE POEM IS PART 2. IT CONTINUES FROM THE PREVIOUS POST. “ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE” OR “1, 2, BUCKLE MY SHOE” is a counting song dating back to late 18th century in the USA. It was heard for the first ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Counting Song, Song For Children, Wrentham Massachusetts, Songs For The Nursery, Christian Application, Nursery Rhyme, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[326]. Poem - Victory Through Sorrow’s Deep Sea – Easter Poem – Part 1

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 27, 2026

[326]. POEM - VICTORY THROUGH SORROW’S DEEP SEA – POEM FOR EASTER – PART 1 SPECIAL NOTE – This poem is too long for SermonCentral’s limited space for Sermon Illustrations, so I have had to cut it in half but don’t really want to do that. THIS IS PART 1. This is a serious poem. It covers the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 22:13-16, Psalm 69:14-15, Isaiah 53:6-7

Tags: Easter, Suffering, Victory, Gethsemane, Sorrow, Calvary, The Cross, Golgotha, Man Of Sorrows, Jesus Before Pilate, The Crucifixion, Easter Message, Christian Poems, Poem For Easter, Jesus Dies For Sins, The Lamb On The Cross  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[363]. A Message From A Poem – Don’t Follow And Be Aware

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 6, 2026

[363]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DON’T FOLLOW AND BE AWARE This is a corrupt world and I think that is the general consensus among people, though the non-believers see some things differently. Jesus said something once that is hard to put into practice. {{Matthew 10:16-17 “Behold, I send you out ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:16-17, Luke 16:8, 1 John 4:4, John 17:14-16

Tags: Shrewd, Beware, Imposters, Evil One, Crooks, Unbelievers, Thieves, Aware, Fakes, Rogues, Scammers, Frauds, Cheats, Christian Poems, Phoneys, Beware Of Men  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The First And Last  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2002

THE FIRST AND LAST He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End! He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all! He is the Architect of the universe and The Manager of all times. He always was, He always is, and He always will be... Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone! He ...read more

Tags: Undefeated, Blind, Descriptions Of God, Creation, Confession, Guide, God The Father  (view more)  (view less)

On Our Trip Home From Orlando After The ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Pace on Apr 11, 2002

On our trip home from Orlando after the conference that I attended, we got to meet a lady who shared one of the most powerful testimonies that I have ever heard. Because that week’s Bible Study was on the subject that I am preaching on today she shared her testimony and I think it fits so well… Let ...read more

Tags: Abortion

Denomination: Baptist

Chris Had A Vision To Share The Gospel With Every ...

Contributed by Ken Sowers on Nov 11, 2002

Chris had a vision to share the gospel with every student at Dunwoody high school. Problem was that Chris was a skater and had very few friends. But he did have a great dream. Mark grew up in Miami with his mom. His folks split up and he moved to Atlanta, when he became a teen be fell to alcohol ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony, Sharing Your Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mitsuo Fuchida Was The Pilot In Charge Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jul 26, 2004

ILL. Mitsuo Fuchida was the pilot in charge of one of the most successful aerial attacks in recorded history. Under his command was a squadron of 360 specially selected pilots, & on Dec. 7, 1941, Fuchida’s squadron bombed Pearl Harbor. He quickly became one of the most highly decorated pilots ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-47

Tags: Change

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Like Blind Beggars! (08.15.05--Envy!--John 21: ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 11, 2005

Like Blind Beggars! (08.15.05--Envy!--John 21: 20-23) “No one has done a better job of portraying envy than Dante, In his Purgatory . . .the envious sit like blind beggars by a wall. Their eyelids are sewn shut. the symbolism is apt, showing the reader that it is one of the blindest sins--partly ...read more

Scripture: John 21:20-23

Tags: Envy

Denomination: Lutheran

Philip Yancey Wrote In His Book, "What's So ...

Contributed by Danny Rogers on Oct 18, 2006

Philip Yancey wrote in his book, “What’s so Amazing about Grace?” There was a woman brought before Jesus caught in the act of adultery. The Pharisee wanted her to be stoned as the Law commanded. They wanted to trick Jesus, they wanted to find fault with his teachings. He bent over and began writing ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Story Of Squanto  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 26, 2007

The Story of Squanto Most of us know the story of the first Thanksgiving -- at least, we know the Pilgrim version. But how many of us know the Indian viewpoint? No, I’m not talking about some revisionist, politically correct version of history. I’m talking about the amazing story of the way God ...read more

Standing In The Doorway  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

STANDING IN THE DOORWAY John Todd was born in Rutledge, Vermont, into a family of several children. They later moved to the village of Killingsworth back in the early 1800s. And, there, at a very young age, both John’s parents died. The relatives wondered what they would do with so many ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-3

Tags: Death