In Sermon Illustrations: "Turn The Lights On"

Absence

Contributed by Stephen Funderburk on Jan 18, 2009

Absence A strange silence I have never heard As I walk a path alone, An unfamiliar moment When I realize you are gone. As I look around to notice That the roads have all been changed For there's one that now is fading At a place I called your name. So I must go on without you With the memories ...read more

Scripture: James 4:14

Tags: Death

Denomination: Assembly Of God

When The Preacher's Car Broke Down On A Country ...

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jan 19, 2009

When the preacher's car broke down on a country road, he walked to a nearby roadhouse to use the phone. After calling for a tow truck, he spotted his old friend, Frank, drunk and shabbily dressed at the bar. "What happened to you, Frank?" asked the good reverend. "You used to be rich." Frank told ...read more

Tags: God's Sovereign Will

Denomination: Baptist

The Need For Human Relationships Is A Deep As ...

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Jan 22, 2009

“The need for human relationships is a deep as anything humans experience. Infants who are given adequate amounts of food and water die if they do not receive human contact. Adults surrounded by people all day long cry out for friendships that will break down the walls of loneliness around them. ...read more

Tags: Compassion

Denomination: Pentecostal

Solong's Faith

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Feb 4, 2009

SOLONG'S FAITH I gave blood on Friday. A lovely woman named Solong sampled my blood to insure that I had enough iron. We struck up a conversation, and it turns out she is a Christian. She told me that in 2006 she felt God calling her to go back to school. She didn't have enough money to go, but ...read more

Tags: Examples Of Faith

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Evangelism: Aquariums And Fires

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

EVANGELISM: AQUARIUMS AND FIRES The late Sam Shoemaker, an Episcopalian bishop, summed up the situation this way: "In the Great Commission, the Lord has called us to be--like Peter--fishers of men. We’ve turned the commission around so that we have become merely keepers of the aquarium. ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

What Is Your ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

WHAT IS YOUR NAME? The story is told of a soldier in the army of Alexander the Great, who was brought before the great world-conqueror for court martial. When the emperor had listened to the charges and the evidence, he turned to the soldier facing condemnation and said, "What is your name?" ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7

Tags: Christian Values

The Sermon On The Mount Quote By Oswald Chambers

Contributed by Matthew Redder on Sep 25, 2018

The impossibly difficult instructions found in the sermon on the mount have often troubled me. When I think about loving enemies, turning the other cheek, giving to the poor, storing up treasures in heaven, etc... I often feel like there's NO WAY I can be successful in the correctives Jesus ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15, Matthew 4:23

Tags: Disciples, Jesus Christ, New Creation, Devotional, Sermon On The Mount, Love Your Enemies, Oswald Chambers, Sermon, My Utmost For His Highest  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Captain Is My Daddy

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 24, 2018

A little boy was standing on the banks of the Mississippi River waving and shouting at a steamboat that was going by. He was beckoning the steamboat to come to shore. A stranger came by and said, “That's foolish young man. The boat will never come ashore for you. The captain is too busy to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:16

Tags: Father, Answered Prayer

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Kill The Spider!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 15, 2020

A man continually "rededicated" his life and always prayed the same prayer, "Lord, take the cobwebs out of my life. Oh, Lord.....take the cobwebs out of my life!" His pastor had heard this prayer more times than he cared to remember and was tired of hearing it. Finally, when ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Hebrews 12:1-2, 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Confession, Repentance, Mourning Over Sin

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Missing Pieces

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 25, 2020

A not-so- bright gal calls her boyfriend and says, “Please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can’t figure out how to get it started.” He asks, “What is it supposed to be when it’s finished?” The girl says, “According to the picture on the box, it’s a tiger.” Her ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:1-10, Acts 18:24-28

Tags: Wisdom, Learning, Ignorance, Immaturity, Thinking, Gaps, Missing Information, Dunning Kruger  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Who Tore Down The Walls Of Jericho??

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

A pastor entered a class as the lesson was in progress and asked, "Who broke down the walls of Jericho?" A lad answered, "Not me, sir." The pastor turned to the teacher and asked, "Is this the usual behavior in this class?" The teacher replied, "I believe ...read more

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

Tags: Bible, Scripture, Jericho, Humor, Miracles, Unbelief, Ignorance Of Scripture  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Not Loving The World

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Jul 30, 2021

It was very late Wed. Night of last week. I had only just finally gotten to relax after working on sermons all day and helping my friends a little with their move. So my plan was, while I was working some more on my sermons, to listen to a documentary about John Foxe, the author of Foxes Book of ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:15, Romans 12:2

Tags: Obedience, Taking Up Your Cross, Not Loving The World

Denomination: Charismatic

The Door Is Always Unlocked When You Come Home...

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 15, 2022

J. C. Ryle tells of a mother whose daughter ran away and lived a life of sin. For a long time, no one knew where she was, but she finally came back, turned to Christ in repentance, and believed in Him. Someone asked the mother what she had done to bring her daughter back and she replied, “I prayed ...read more

Tags: Parables, Rebellion, Lost, Lost Sheep, Prodigal Son, Daughters, Parents, Mothers, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Keys To Understanding The Parables

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 13, 2022

KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING THE PARABLES Parables provide insight into the nature, coming, growth and of the Kingdom of God. Parables are by design intended to be surprising. They often sneak up on us. Parables are used to simulate thinking and cause the hearer to carefully contemplate what they ...read more

Tags: Teaching, Truth, Preaching, Parables, Kingdom Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Door To The Father's House Is Always Open (Father's Day Story)

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 7, 2023

JC. Ryle tells of a mother whose daughter ran away and lived a life of sin. For a long time, no one knew where she was, but she finally came back, turned to Christ in repentance, and believed in Him. Someone asked the mother what she had done to bring her daughter back and she replied, “I prayed ...read more

Tags: Fathers, Families, Children, Father's Day, Prayer, Mothers, Prodigal Son  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Persecution Under Nero

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Aug 27, 2023

The Coliseum was not the first Roman Arena designed for the glorification of gore during the persecution of Christians and the bloodthirsty desires of Nero. Within walking distance of the Coliseum is the site where Nero’s circus once stood. It was here, just a few years before the construction of ...read more

Scripture: John 15:18-27

Tags: Coliseum, Persecution

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Eating Ashes

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 6, 2025

In Isaiah 44:20, we read: “He feeds on ashes; A deceived heart has turned him aside; And he cannot deliver his soul, Nor say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?” The deceived heart is a word picture of iniquity. It’s on the inside, but it steers what happens on the outside. It’s like the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 44:20

Tags: Ashes, Pica, Steering Wheel

Denomination: Methodist

In His Book "The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Chris Santasiere on Aug 29, 2001

In his book “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”, John Maxwell tells the story of one of the most incredible restorations in American business history. It happened at the Chrysler Corporation in the early 1980’s. Chrysler was in a mess, despite a long history of success. At one point in ...read more

Tags: Workplace Evangelism, Endurance, Leadership General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

57 Cents  PRO

Contributed by Scott Sharpes on Feb 16, 2002

57 CENTS One afternoon a little girl, who had eagerly wished to go, turned back from the Sunday-school door, crying bitterly because there was no more room . . . [I] asked her why it was that she was crying, and she sobbingly replied that it was because they could not let her into the ...read more

Tags: Death, Church Practices, Life

Denomination: Nazarene

Abortion Guilt Removed  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Jan 12, 2004

Pastor Lee Strobel shares this account: We were doing a baptism service. We told people before they came up to the platform to be baptized to take a piece of paper, write down a few of the sins they’ve committed, and fold the paper. When they come up to the platform, there was a large wooden cross ...read more

Tags: Abortion, God's Forgiveness, Promises Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational