In Sermon Illustrations: "Used For Good"

Pastor, Please Don't Stop Preaching On Hell.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 18, 2022

"Preachers must not neglect preaching on the reality of Hell and the catastrophic consequence of rejecting Christ. When you abandon preaching on Hell, you ignore the accent in the Epistles on the coming judgment, you will need to skip large portions of Jesus’ teaching in the Gospels, and you ...read more

Tags: Preaching, Judgment, Repentance, Pastors, Preachers, Hell, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Means Business

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on May 28, 2022

Little Johnny was going to a public school and he was doing very poorly in math. So his mother decided to put him into a Catholic school. When she got his report card at the end of the term, his grades in math had improved tremendously. So she asked him why. He replied, "When I saw that ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Cross, Hope In Jesus, Sin's Penalty, Law Upheld

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Does It Mean To Be Crucified With Christ?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 6, 2022

To participate in the life of Christ, we must first be identified with Him in His death. "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection" (Ro 6:5-note). Those of us who now have eternal life have died in the person ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:1-11

Tags: Discipleship, Self, Dying To Self, Crucified Life

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Churches Closed Due To Lack Of Power!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 10, 2023

Bill Crowder gives us a pithy Illustration of Need for Power. The first winter that my wife Marlene and I were married was marked by severe blizzards. I can vividly remember one Sunday when we awoke to find that the electricity had been knocked out by an ice storm. Huddled around a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Church, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Power, Acts  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Because He Loved Them

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Mar 14, 2023

Because He Loved Them They tried to shame Him. They tried to destroy Him. They tried to ruin Him. He died for them! They despised Him. They mocked Him. They humiliated Him. He died for them! They stripped Him. They spat in His face. They beat Him. He died for them! They made Him bear the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 10:9-10

Tags: Easter, Crucifixion, Salvation, Redemption, God's Love, Greater Love, Poems Of God's Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Formula For Going To Heaven

Contributed by John Bright on May 27, 2023

That’s right – heaven or hell is the final destination for every human being. I want to crystal clear about this! All humans have been born into a state of Sin (with a big S). We commit sin (with a little s) because we are Sinners – not vice versa. At the instant of salvation, our Sin nature is ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:12-19

Tags: Hell, Atonement, Sin, Heaven

Denomination: Methodist

Jonathan Roumie's Path Towards Heaven

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 16, 2024

Jonathan Roumie, who portrayed Jesus in 'The Chosen,' profoundly stated, "Instead of waiting to go to heaven, I will work diligently for heaven until I enter." His life, marked by faith and service, mirrors this philosophy. Despite his role's fame, he focuses on his spiritual ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:20

Tags: Faith, Heavenly, Active, Goal

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas Suicide Myth

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 3, 2024

It is a myth that suicide rates increase during the holidays. It is true that deaths rise around Christmas and New Year’s Day. Authorities are not sure why, but some suspect it is because people delay addressing health concerns until after the holidays and/or because hospitals, nursing homes, and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Tags: Christmas, Suicide, Christmas Myth

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Ten Reasons Why I Never Wash My Hands!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 25, 2024

"Ten Reasons Why I Never Wash." 1. I was forced to wash my hands as a child. 2. People who wash their hands are hypocrites--they think they’re cleaner than others. 3. There are so many kinds of soap, I could never decide which was right. 4. I used to wash my hands, but it got ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:25

Tags: Church, Easter, Attendance, Hypocrites

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Formula For Peace

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 16, 2025

Most of the time, we have no control over the circumstances of our lives, so we react by way of rebellion and complaining. Let me share a little formula with you: E + R = O Event + Response = Outcome We have no control over the events – things just happen. We often try hard to control ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:18

Tags: Peace, Response, Outcome, Event

Denomination: Methodist

What Are We Teaching?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Aug 22, 2025

WHAT ARE WE TEACHING OTHERS? I recently heard the story of a German shepherd that was expecting little ones. She ran out in front of a car and injured her back legs. The doctor said she would heal but it would take a long time. The dog had her litter of puppies. When their eyes were open, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13

Tags: Teach, Example

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Seeing What You Want To See

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 20, 2026

“People find what they want in the Bible. If one looks hard enough, he can find “biblical” support for reincarnation, Eastern religions, Jesus as a guru, divorce for any reason, and flying saucers. Every cult of Christianity uses the Bible to validate its claims, and so does some of the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 2:4-10, Jude 1:5-7

Tags: False Teachers, Sodom, Sexual Immorality

Denomination: Methodist

One Saturday Afternoon A Father And His Six-Year ...  PRO

Contributed by Brent Zastrow on Apr 18, 2001

One Saturday afternoon a father and his six-year old son Mickey were fishing near a bridge by the Kokomo Reservoir when a woman lost control of her car, slid off the bridge and hit Mikey at a rate of about 50 mph. Sheriff Marr, the boys grandfather, had seen the results of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:10

Tags: Saint, Miracles Of Jesus, Jesus Christ, God's Provision

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How Much Does Prayer Weigh?  PRO

Contributed by Danny Thomas on May 21, 2001

How Much Does Prayer Weigh? Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill ...read more

Tags: Prayer Answered, God's Provision, Examples Of Faith

Denomination: Pentecostal

Adopted By Christ  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Jul 9, 2001

Illus.: “Adopted by Christ” John was born into a family of 12 children. They were very poor. He was the youngest. He never remembered his father eating a meal with the rest of the family. He had to work long hours to feed his family. One day his father ran off with another woman, leaving his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:11-20

Tags: Beauty, Ashes, Children, God's Provision, Trinity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Wesleyan

: "Scarred Hands” (James S. ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Aug 21, 2001

Illus.: “Scarred Hands” (James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited, pp. 119-120) A small orphaned boy lived with his grandmother. One night their house caught fire. The grandmother, trying to rescue the little boy asleep upstairs, perished in the smoke and flames. A crowd gathered around the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:6-8

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Christian Disciplines, Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Wesleyan

Want To Know What Your Boat Is? Your Fear Will ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 22, 2001

Want to know what your boat is? Your fear will tell you. Just ask yourself this: What is it that produces fear in me - especially when I think of leaving it behind and stepping out in faith? For David, it is his vocation. He has been a builder for thirty-five years; he is in his late ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

A Preacher Recalls One Such Instance During ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Oct 11, 2001

ILL. A preacher recalls one such instance during the Sunday evening service. When he finished speaking, he asked, "Is there anyone else who would like to say something?" At that, a rather dignified visitor stood up & said, "Yes, sir, I’d like to say something. This is the first time I’ve been ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Tags: Repentance, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Imagine A Group Of People Coming To Your Home And ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2002

Imagine a group of people coming to your home and interrupting your Twinkie-eating, TV-watching routine with an urgent message: “Good News! We’re from the United States Olympic Committee. We have been looking for someone to run the marathon in the next Olympics. We have statistics on every person ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:24, 1 Corinthians 9:24, 2 Timothy 4:7, Hebrews 12:1, James 1:1-4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Race, Discipleship, Disciplines

Praying For Reagan  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 29, 2002

PRAYING FOR REAGAN Peggy Noonan, in her book "When Character Was King" shares a facinating story about President Reagan and his belief in Prayer: "'Do you know about his ulcer?' Nancy Reagan asked me. We were talking about his early days in the governship. He came home a few months into ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence, Worry, Prayer Adoration, Prayer General