In Sermon Illustrations: "Used For Bad"

The Emporer's Clothes

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Dec 19, 2014

Do you remember the story of the emperor’s clothes? If I am recalling it right, someone persuaded the emperor to buy a suit of clothes that only people with the most exquisite taste in fashion could see. Of course, the emperor could not see the clothes, nor could anyone else – because the peddler ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:10-11

Tags: Flattery, Self Deception

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Slow And Steady

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2022

The power of the Holy Spirit is not just for salvation, but for sanctification, a process that is slow and gradual. The difference might look like this: You can take ten gallons of gasoline and release a tremendous amount of power and energy by just dropping a lighted match into it. It makes a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8

Tags: Holy Spirit, Energy, Fuel

Fear Overtakes The Boat - Matthew 8:23-27

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 19, 2022

FEAR OVERTAKES THE BOAT Matthew 8 v 23-27 “When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him Matt 8:24 and behold, there arose a great storm in the sea so that the boat was covered with the waves but He Himself was asleep, and they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord. We are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:23-27

Tags: Fear, Security, Authority

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Angel Of Music

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 14, 2023

In Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical The Phantom of the Opera, a young chorus girl named Christine Daae receives voice training from a mysterious musician she calls the “Angel of Music.” Christine believes this is the angel her dying father had promised to send to complete her musical training. As ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:8, 1 John 4:4

Tags: Evil, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, Armor Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Seeing The Light, Reflecting The Light.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jan 24, 2025

Did anyone else see the comet during the week, Comet Atlas 3G? Janaki and I went out to Titahi Bay to see it, thankfully we had another dad and daughter park near us who could point it out, otherwise we might not have seen it. The power of their witness was in instructing us where to look. ...read more

Scripture: John 8:12, Matthew 5:14-16

Tags: Witness, Testimony, Salt, Salt And Light, The Light Of God, The Light Of The World, Reflecting Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Is He Welcome

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Feb 21, 2025

John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. Sadly, there are many buildings with church on the sign that Jesus is knocking on the door to get in. Some He has never been in and others He had been in but they turned Him by denying the Scriptures. Many people in those buildings ...read more

Scripture: John 1:11

Tags: Service, Wash, Salvation, Confession, Presence, Apostasy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Discipline Of Prayer

Contributed by John Bright on Sep 24, 2025

We refer to many of the practices that aid in our ongoing sanctification as Spiritual Disciplines. These include prayer, Bible reading/study, tithing/generosity, fasting, silence, and worship. This is not a complete list. All Spiritual Disciplines have the same goal – increasing your intimacy ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7, John 15:4, Ephesians 6:18, Colossians 4:2

Tags: Prayer, Spiritual Disciplines, Richard Foster, Prayer Forms

Denomination: Methodist

Trust God And You Will Be Firm

Contributed by Arulselvam Rayappan on Jan 13, 2026

Trusting the Lord is a recurring theme in the Prophet Isaiah. “Unless your faith is firm, you shall not be firm” Is 7: 14. Advent is a time of trusting the Lord. God alone can save those who place their trust in Him. At times we are confused concerning the choices we have to make. On the one hand ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14

Tags: Fear, Trusting God, Afriad

Denomination: Catholic

The Most Glorious Promises Of God Are Generally ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

“The most glorious promises of God are generally fulfilled in such a wondrous manner that He steps forth to save us at a time when there is the ...read more

Tags: Descriptions Of God, God's Provision, Knowing God's Will

Oswald Chambers Wrote, "If The Bible Agreed With ...  PRO

Contributed by Dana Chau on Sep 9, 2002

Oswald Chambers wrote, "If the Bible agreed with modern science, the Bible would soon be out of date." The Bible is the trustworthy Word of God. ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, Apologetics The Bible, Trust

Denomination: *other

It Was Jesus' Habit Was To Go To "Church" ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Mills on Oct 13, 2002

It was Jesus’ habit was to go to "church" (synagogue) on Sabbath (Sunday). What makes us think that we are any better than Jesus, so ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Church Body Of Christ

God Is Not Discoverable Or Demonstrable By Purely ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 11, 2002

God is not discoverable or demonstrable by purely scientific means, unfortunately for the scientifically minded. But that really proves nothing. It simply means that the wrong ...read more

St. Francis Said, "Preach The Gospel To All The ...  PRO

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Jan 10, 2003

St. Francis said, “preach the gospel to all the world and if necessary use words.” Someone else has said that our lives ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Assembly Of God

What God Chooses

Contributed by David Rogers on Nov 23, 2004

What God chooses, HE cleanses What God cleanses, He molds What God molds, He fills What ...read more

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Baptist

Our Prayers Ascend

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Jul 9, 2005

Our prayers ascend to heaven’s throne Regardless of the form we use; Our Father always hears His own ...read more

Tags: Prayer How To

Denomination: Baptist

And One Particular Four-Year Old Prayed, "And ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 8, 2005

And one particular four-year old prayed, "And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in ...read more

Tags: Lord's Prayer

Per Capita Clout: Wal-Mart Generates $440 In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 16, 2006

Per Capita Clout: Wal-Mart generates $440 in sales yearly for every man, woman and child in the U.S. (Foster ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment

An Estimated 22 Million Adults Have Been Added To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

An estimated 22 million adults have been added to the numbers of churched individuals in the U.S. during the past decade. ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?

There Were 49.6 Million Children Attending Public ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

There were 49.6 million children attending public and private schools in the U.S. in ’03, the highest number ever. (Foster ...read more

Tags: Children

Women Are Either Directly Responsible For Or ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Women are either directly responsible for or influence 80¢ of every dollar spent in the U.S., including stocks, computers, and autos. ...read more

Tags: Women