In Sermon Illustrations: "Walk In The Spirit"

Being Self

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Feb 29, 2016

A little boy named Adam wanted to be like his friend Bobby. Adam loved the way Bobby walked and talked. Bobby, however, wanted to be like Charlie. Something about Charlie’s stride and accent intrigued him. Charlie, on the other hand, was impressed with Danny. Charlie wanted to look and sound like ...read more

Scripture: John 2:21

Tags: Acceptance

Denomination: Baptist

You Are The One On Trial

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 17, 2017

Some people come to the Bible or to any work of great literature without the capacity to understand what is in it. They are like a person who comes to a well for a drink of water, only to find that there is no bucket to draw the water out of the well. When people say, "I don’t get anything out ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Bible, Scripture, Unbelief, Mocking God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Monkey On Your Back?

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 15, 2019

Get that monkey off your Back (Heb.12:1) Intro: Inter the area carrying a stuffed animal monkey on you shoulder act like it gets heavier every step GET THAT MONKEY OFF YOUR BACK The Monkey --little baby monkey--then chimp -the gorilla Christians are always struggling, one minute they are running on ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1

Tags: Sins, Weights

Denomination: Pentecostal

Jesus, Hand Me That Can Of Tomato Soup!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 2, 2020

5-year old Johnny was in the kitchen as his mother made supper. She asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup, but he didn't want to go in alone. "It's dark in there and I'm scared." She asked again, and he persisted. Finally she said, "It's ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7, Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 43:1-2

Tags: Faith, Fear, Children, Humor, Presence Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Clever But Mean

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 22, 2025

A Welshman, Scot and Englishman are walking when they come across a lantern and a genie pops out and grants them one wish each. The Scot says: “I am a sheep herder, like my dad before me. I want my country to be full of lovely sheep farms.”  Whoosh, and so it was. The Englishman was amazed and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:1-5

Tags: Prejudice, Superiority, Getting Even, Loving Others, Vengence, Shrewdness, Ethnicity, Hating Others, Ethnic Hatred  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Mansion Builder

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 7, 2025

A story is told of a believer who arrived in heaven and was greeted by an angel who offered to show him his new home. They walked down golden streets lined with breathtaking mansions. Each home seemed larger and brighter than the one before—until they reached a small, simple cottage at the end of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21, Revelation 22:12, 1 Timothy 6:18-19, Luke 12:33-34

Tags: Eternity, Stewardship, Faithfulness, Generosity

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Buying Them Back

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Aug 11, 2009

BUYING THEM BACK We're told about a gift of grace (singular) and informed that it will help us to build up the church in LOVE. Do you see a pattern, here? Whatever we have to use in God's service comes directly from God. It's a lot like a former colleague experienced at Ziff-Davis Publishing. He ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: *other

Black Market Sacrifices (Plagiarism)

Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Jul 19, 2010

After choosing the title of this sermon I began looking for an illustration that captured the sense of what I meant by a “black market sacrifice.” And to my great distress I found one – kind of. The search for an illustration became the illustration. Confused? Let me explain. When I prepare ...read more

Tags: Preaching, Workplace Integrity

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Servanthood And Spiritual Growth  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 16, 2011

SERVANTHOOD AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH I surveyed my church to see if people saw a relationship between ministering to others and spiritual growth. When asked, "To what extent has your ministry or service to others affected your spiritual growth?," 92 percent answered positively. None responded that ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-8

Tags: Servanthood

Augustine And The Four States Of Man  PRO

Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Mar 5, 2012

AUGUSTINE AND THE FOUR STATES OF MAN In the 5th century AD, St. Augustine wrote about the "4 States of Man": * The first state of man (the haec sunt prima) is "living according to the flesh -- with reason making no resistance." This can be seen in so many ancient cultures and religions (and ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-15

Tags: Allegory

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

He Told Me So

Contributed by C. Scott Ghan on Jun 3, 2013

"HE TOLD ME SO" If you have ever clung to a child near death you know the dramatic fork in the road. You either give in almost totally to despair, fear, hopelessness, knowing death is eminent, realizing no miracle cure is coming, you are fighting a losing battle. --Or...you believe there is a ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:11

Tags: Prayer Answered

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unsung Heroines-Belshazzar's Grandmother; Daniel 5

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 28, 2022

Introduction: My late uncle preached a sermon on Daniel 5 many years ago. He began by saying, “When the little shot gets about half shot, he really thinks he’s a big shot!” That was certainly true for Belshazzar, who had the honor (??) of being Babylon’s last king. In the context, Belshazzar had ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 5:10-12

Tags: Daniel, Belshazzar, Unsung Heroines, Queens

Denomination: Baptist

A Word About Bread And Stones:

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jul 18, 2024

Text: Luke 4:1-4, KJV: 1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 3 And the devil said unto him, If thou ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-4

Tags: Bread, Jesus Christ, Temptations, Stones, The Devil  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

"a Candle In The Window: Embracing Hope This Advent"

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Dec 22, 2024

As the evening wore on and the fire crackled gently in the hearth, Old Thomas gathered his family close, the soft glow of the candle illuminating their faces. It was a time for connection, reflection, and the cherished rituals of Advent that had been passed down through generations. “Now, let’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-6

Tags: Love, Hope

Denomination: Methodist

[235]. A Message From A Poem - Romans 5 Verses 3 - 5

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 25, 2025

[235]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - ROMANS 5 VERSES 3 - 5 This is a shorter poem based solely on 3 verses from Romans. Here are those verses – {{Romans 5:3-5 “Not only this, but we also exult in our TRIBULATIONS, knowing that tribulation brings about PERSEVERANCE, and perseverance, PROVEN ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:35, Romans 5:3-5

Tags: Tribulation, Christian Poems, No Separation From Christ, Perseverance, Hope, Character  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Confirm Your Love

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 25, 2014

"It takes time and energy to have an enemy at work." - Gary Chapman Everyone’s mouth dropped open at the rude comment made to the receptionist by the higher ranking female employee. The receptionist was a plain, quiet woman, not dressed very well, who went studiously about her work and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:5-11

Tags: Forgive Your Enemy, Power Of The Tongue, Hold Your Tongue, Confirm Your Love

Denomination: Charismatic

Unfinished Flower Beds! (09.19.05--Grace ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 15, 2005

Unfinished Flower Beds! (09.19.05--Grace Walks!--John 17:17) When we purchased Beech Springs years ago, we arrived in a valley that was purposed by trees, trees and more trees. There was little lawn because the trees shaded it out. The trees fenced in the house and driveway so that there was scant ...read more

Scripture: John 17:17, John 17:6-19

Tags: Peace, Christian Love

Denomination: Lutheran

Introduction: Risks Can Be Scary. Risks Can Be ...

Contributed by John Harvey on Sep 10, 2006

Introduction: Risks can be scary. Risks can be life-changing and exhilarating, or they can be disasters. Some risks are easy to take and others come with considerable calculation of the costs. One constant thing about life is that we are going to encounter risks. Risks scare me. Some risks that I ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Which Way, O Lord?  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Which Way, O Lord? "This is what the Lord says; 'Stand at the crossroads and look... ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.'" Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV) The way many people attempt to determine the will of God would make a great new television ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 6:16

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Suffering Boy Given An Extravagant ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

SUFFERING BOY GIVEN AN EXTRAVAGANT GIFT In his book Everybody’s Normal Till You Get to Know Them, John Ortberg tells of a young man named John Gilbert. At age five, John was diagnosed with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic, progressive, debilitating disease. At age 25, the disease finally ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices