In Sermon Illustrations: "True Story"

Stop "Supposing"

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 21, 2011

STOP "SUPPOSING" I remember reading the story of a faithful but fairly poor Christian woman. She was always cheerful and smiling and excited about life. But she was so cheerful that a friend of hers decided she was too cheerful. She needed a dose of "reality" and perspective. So the friend said ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Style Of Indiana Jones In Discovering ...

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Dec 20, 2011

The style of Indiana Jones in discovering "Biblical treasures"!!! Yes, Indiana Jones stories are juicy and spicy, for they stoke the fires of inherent sense of discovery in all of us. Add to that breathtaking stunts and adventure, you have a heady mix guaranteed to give one some goose bumps. ...read more

Tags: Bible Study, Indiana Jones

Denomination: *other

Bound To Christ  PRO

Contributed by Perry Greene on Feb 29, 2012

BOUND TO CHRIST F.B. Meyer wrote about two Germans who wanted to climb the Matterhorn. They hired three guides and began their ascent at the steepest and most slippery part. The men roped themselves together in this order: guide, traveler, guide, traveler, guide. They had gone only a little way ...read more

Tags: Trust

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

That's My Country

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Mar 11, 2012

THAT'S MY COUNTRY George Shultz, when Secretary of State during the Reagan administration, kept a large globe in his office. When newly appointed ambassadors had an interview with him and when ambassadors returning from their posts for their first visit with him were leaving his office, Shultz ...read more

Tags: Missions

People Matter

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Apr 13, 2012

PEOPLE MATTER During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: 'What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely, this was some kind of joke. I had seen ...read more

Tags: Gratitude

Denomination: Christian Church

The Enduring Frog

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 13, 2012

THE ENDURING FROG We can flourish and develop in new ways or we can drown in despair. Story from India: One night two frogs found themselves in a dairy. Hopping and jumping around as frogs do they both jumped into a milk pail half full of milk. After swimming around for some time they tried to ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Friend Of Mine

Contributed by Spencer Miller on Jun 3, 2013

A FRIEND OF MINE Branch Rickey, whose name was recently placed back into our memories in the wonderful movie '42' a story about the baseball great Jackie Robinson, was a devout Christian. Once while head of the old Brooklyn Dodgers, he attended negotiations involving a certain ballplayer's ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Baptist

Patience Is A Virtue

Contributed by Pastor Randall Timblin on Aug 20, 2018

My Mother always used to say, 'Only Fools rush in, son!' As I grew and matured, I heard that a lot less because I started to see the wisdom in what she had said and the foolishness in which I, as a young man, was a prime example. Matter-of-fact, if you had looked up foolishness, you would ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:5

Tags: Patience, Rushing

Denomination: *other

Flies In The Perfume

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 13, 2019

Perfume maker Many years ago, there was a perfume maker who made the best perfume. He had been working on his latest creation for over a month. All his work was beginning to pay off, this was the best perfume he had ever created. He couldn’t wait to show it to the queen, she would be impressed. In ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10:1-3

Tags: Sins, Dead Flies

Denomination: Pentecostal

Carry Your Cross

Contributed by Anitha Jabastion on Aug 4, 2020

A story is told about a boy who desperately wanted to meet Christ. He was praying hard about it. One day, the Lord told him to walk up the mountain carrying his cross. He took his cross and began his journey. In some time, he began to feel the heaviness of the cross. He cut out a small portion of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Following Jesus, Carrying The Cross, Denying Oneself

Funny Church Feuds

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

Church feuds are not uncommon, especially among cliques in the congregation. But when the pastor and choir director get into it, stand aside. One week, the preacher preached on commitment, and how you should dedicate yourselves to service. The director then led the choir in singing, 'I Shall ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Unity, Hymns, Division, Church Fights

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Way Is The Best.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 31, 2022

I read the story about a young woman who had prepared for missionary service on foreign fields. She had been appointed by the mission board and was ready to sail when she received a telegram saying that her sister had died in a western state. She cancelled her reservation and went home. The ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Faith, Trust, Obedience, Purpose, Providence, Will Of God, Sovereignty Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lost & Found

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Nov 29, 2022

Melissa Highsmith was kidnapped by a babysitter in 1971 at the tender age of 22 months. Over the next 51 years, Highsmith's family and the police searched for her without success. Finally, with the use of DNA technology, her identity was confirmed and she was reunited with her family. Melissa ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10, Luke 15:1-7

Tags: Salvation, Gospel, Lost, Saved, The Cross  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Achilles' Heel

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2024

The ancient Greeks told a story of a warrior named Achilles. His mother had been warned that he would die of a wound, so she dipped him as an infant in the river Styx. That was supposed to make him invincible. THERE WAS ONE PROBLEM -- she held him by one heel which the protective waters did not ...read more

Scripture: James 1:9-15

Tags: Evil, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, Trials, Lust  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Helping Others

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 12, 2024

John Chrysostom once preached a message which said, “It is foolishness and a public madness, to fill cupboards with clothing and allow men who are created in God’s image and our likeness to stand naked and trembling with the cold so that they can hardly hold themselves upright… You are large and ...read more

Scripture: John 3:17-18

Tags: Giving, Need, Helping

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

My Donkey Stopped, What Now?

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Oct 25, 2024

Well, this is where it gets interesting. Say 100 years ago, two hundred years ago, I can almost certainly state as a matter of fact that if you were living at that time, you or someone you knew would have had a donkey, or a mule or a horse or a bullock. A beast that has been replaced by the ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:1-41

Tags: Death, Justification, Combustion Engine, History, Sword, Context, Angel, Repentence, Lithium Ion Battery  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Journey Of A Black Artist

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Dec 30, 2024

Consider the journey of a fictional Afro American artist named Maya, who grew up in a neighborhood plagued by inequity. Her early life was fraught with challenges—families losing homes, schools underfunded, and dreams foiled by systemic barriers. However, Maya found solace in art, a channel ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:25

Tags: Hope, Faithfulness, Restoration

Denomination: Methodist

He Still Brings The Dead Back To Life

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Apr 20, 2025

A friend shared this story with me on Resurrection Sunday, it happened on the same day 20 years earlier. Proof God is still bringing the dead back to life - I wanted to share a resurrection Sunday testimony from around 20 years ago, I bought a very used small pickup and the seller claimed the AC ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:20

Tags: Resurrection, Miracles

Denomination: Charismatic

Conflict Between The Preacher And The Organist

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

Conflicts are not uncommon in church, but when the preacher and song leader get into it, stand aside. One week, the preacher preached on commitment, and how we should move forward into doing service for others. After this sermon, the song leader led the congregation in singing, "I Shall Not ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:11

Tags: Organist, Pastor, Conflict, Preacher

Denomination: Anglican

Be Faithful

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 1, 2026

DO WE UNDERSTAND FAITHFULNESS? Have you heard RHONDA VINCENT’S STORY OF FAITHFULNESS? Rhonda and her family were under contract at SILVER DOLLAR CITY TO DO 5—ONE HOUR MUSIC PROGRAMS A DAY. One day it was raining real hard. No one was in the crowd. No one, but the contract was for 5 shows. Rhonda ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:2

Tags: Faithfulness, Choices

Denomination: Assembly Of God