In Sermon Illustrations: "True Story"

How To Find Your Mom In A Supermarket

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 3, 2013

HOW TO FIND YOUR MOM IN A SUPERMARKET I read a story about a six-year-old boy who was separated from his mother in a supermarket. So he frantically called, "Martha! Martha! Martha!" That was his mother's name and she came running to him quickly. "But, honey," she admonished, "you shouldn't call ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-3

Tags: Mother's Day

A Band Of Theologians  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 4, 2014

A BAND OF THEOLOGIANS Dr. Robert Jastrow, scientist and agnostic once said, "Now we see how astronomical evidence leads to a biblical view of the origin of the world." He concluded w/a monumental statement: "For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 18:1-5

Tags: Science, God, Atheism, Agnostic

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Praying For Revival - Martin Lloyd-Jones

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on May 24, 2018

When did you last hear anyone praying for revival, praying that God might open the windows of heaven and pour out his Spirit? When did you last pray for that yourself? I suggest seriously that we are neglecting this almost entirely. We are guilty of forgetting the authority of the Holy Spirit. . . ...read more

Tags: Prayer, Revival

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Obscurity

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Aug 20, 2019

In his book Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places, Eugene Peterson recounts the story of the fourth century church father Gregory of Nyssa whose brother Basil had arranged for him to be made bishop of Cappadocia. "Gregory objected," Peterson writes. "He didn't want to be stuck ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-12

Tags: Obedience, Identity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Baptism

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Jun 19, 2020

The story is told about the baptism of King Aengus by St. Patrick in the middle of the fifth century. Sometime during the rite, St. Patrick leaned on his sharp-pointed staff and inadvertently stabbed the king's foot. After the baptism was over, St. Patrick looked down at all the blood, realized ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:38

Tags: Baptism, Suffering

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Bible Makes A Difference!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

The story is told of a South Sea Islander who proudly displayed his Bible to a G.I. during WW II. He had received it as a present from a missionary some time before. The soldier said, “Oh, we’ve outgrown that sort of thing like the Bible.” The native. who had been a Cannibal before he was ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Bible, Humor, Miracles, Missionaries, Scriptures  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Proving That Jesus Won't Sin

Contributed by Brian Harvison on Oct 4, 2023

As the Union Pacific railroad was being constructed • There is a story about an elaborate trestle bridge that was built across a large canyon out West • Wanting to test the bridge the builder loaded a train with enough extra cars and equipment to double its normal payload • The train was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Tags: Jesus Can't Sin, Sin

Denomination: Baptist

The Conversion Of John Newton

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 21, 2025

Story: In the 18th Century, John Newton was the slave trader. He swore and cursed. He sold slaves. He nearly lost his life in a storm and it was in that storm that he found God. He renounced his evil ways and eventually became a vicar in the Anglican Church. He helped William Wilberforce in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Tags: Amazing Grace, John Newton

Denomination: Anglican

Don Richardson Spent Several Frustrating Years ...  PRO

Contributed by John Weeks on Dec 9, 2006

Don Richardson spent several frustrating years among the Sawi tribe in New Guinea. He had come from America as an anthropologist/missionary, hoping to bring the Christian message to a nearly stone-age tribe. But his message kept colliding with the tribe’s unusual beliefs. Christian values of love ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, John 3:16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Behind Every Big Dream  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 2, 2004

BEHIND EVERY BIG DREAM Charles Swindoll shares this story in an issue of Leadership magazine: “On May 24, 1965, a thirteen-and-a half-foot boat quietly slipped out of the marina at Falmouth, Massachusetts for Falmouth, England. It would be the smallest craft ever to make the voyage. Its name? ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:1-31

Tags: Leadership General, Marriage Obligations

Make A Friend, Find A Friend!" Proverbs 18: 24 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 11, 2004

“Make a Friend, Find a Friend!” Proverbs 18: 24 Key verse(s): 24: “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” I am reminded of the story of the great patriot John Randolph of Virginia. Known for his intelligence and generosity, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:24

Tags: Friendship New Friends

Denomination: Lutheran

Longer, Daddy… Longer By John Trent  PRO

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on May 22, 2007

"Longer, Daddy.. .Longer" by John Trent. Recently, a woman grabbed my arm at a conference after I had finished speaking on the enormous need we all have for affirmation. "Dr. Trent, may I tell you my story?" she asked. "Actually, it’s a story of something my son did with my granddaughter that ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Apostles Were A Great Example Of The ...

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Jun 3, 2007

The apostles were a great example of the difficulties of loving one another, and Jesus knew it. There’s a scene in the epic Franco Zefferelli movie, Jesus of Nazareth, in which Jesus arrives at the house of Matthew, the tax collector, for dinner as he told Matthew he would. Peter and the other ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Sing

Contributed by Thomas Cash on Apr 21, 2008

SING Let me tell you about some dear friends of mine: "Punk" and "Beanie" Peters. Punk’s real name was Ralph; Beanie’s was Lavena. They were members of Driftwood Christian Church near Vallonia, Indiana. Beanie was a simple farm wife who had an unshakable faith. Dying of liver cancer, I was at the ...read more

Tags: Peace

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Legend Of Momo

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

THE LEGEND OF MOMO Back in 1971 and 1972 around Louisiana, MO there was a story that stirred up the nation. It is the legend of MOMO the Missouri Monster. Witnesses claim to have seen a huge, hairy, hulking creature stalking the woods and lonely country roads. The creature is similar to the ...read more

Tags: Apologetics The Bible

Soldier Lies To Napoleon About Heroism, Israeli ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 8, 2009

Soldier Lies to Napoleon About Heroism, Israeli Woman Lies About Age Napoleon often told this story: Once, while visiting a province he came on an old soldier with one arm severed, dressed in full uniform. On his uniform the proud fighter displayed the coveted Legion of Honor. “Where did you lose ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:17

Tags: Lies

God Uses Tragedy To Draw Couple To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 28, 2010

God Uses Tragedy to Draw Couple To Himself Cathy’s story: A few years ago a woman and a man who were living together started coming to the church I pastor. She had gotten pregnant and was expecting. Though they weren’t saved, they were beginning to seek the Lord. I was much in prayer for them. When ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:21-22

Tags: Tragedy, God's Sovereign Will

Thankful People Are Happy People  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 19, 2011

THANKFUL PEOPLE ARE HAPPY PEOPLE I read a news story once of a woman who was getting ready to jump off a 44 story building in New York City. Witnesses said that she did not look like the type of person who would do such a thing. She was very distinguished and well dressed. All the attempts ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5

Tags: Family, Gratitude, Share

Love Is Face To Face

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jul 6, 2012

LOVE IS FACE-TO-FACE By Erwin Raphael McManus in SOUL CRAVINGS – PREQUEL, pp. 28ff: "I once met a girl named Kim, and I fell in love. I pursued her with my love and pursed her with my love until I felt my love had captured her heart. So I asked her to be my wife, and she said no." I could feel ...read more

Tags: God's Love, Galilee, Feeding 5000, Five Thousand

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Covetousness And The Emperor's New Grove

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2013

COVETOUSNESS AND THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROVE In Disney's thirty-ninth animated film, "The Emperor's New Groove," self-proclaimed "King of the World" Kuzco (COOS-coh), who had an evil female advisor named Yzma (EEZ-muh), made plans to demolish an entire village to build a new water park. At the highest ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 21:1-29

Tags: Greed