In Sermon Illustrations: "Wash Away Sin"

The $100,000 Car, The Thief, & The Tree Of Knowledge

Contributed by Jason Evans on Oct 4, 2016

Let’s say there is a man who owns a brand new $100,000 car. He decides he wants to take it out one day to go to the store and parks in a lot around a lot of other cars. When he comes out it has been stolen. When they find the thief and arrest him the thief says "Well you should have known better ...read more

Tags: Temptation, Temptation General, Tree Of Knowledge, Guilt Of Sin

Denomination: *other

Tweeners!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2019

"Too many Christians are “’tweeners”: they live between Egypt and Canaan, saved but never satisfied; they live between Good Friday and Easter, believing in the Cross but not entering into the power and glory of the Resurrection. It is clear, then, that the believer cannot deliberately be ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-8

Tags: Canaan, Crucified Life, Identification With Christ, Sin, Egypt  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Propitiation

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 30, 2019

The New Testament Greek word "hilasterion" (translated “propitiation” or “sacrifice of atonement”) suggests three related but nuanced concepts: (1) expiation – the legal removal of sin by means of the sacrifice; (2) propitiation – the removal of God's wrath toward the sinner (wrath ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-31

Tags: Atonement, Propitiation, Expiation, Forgiveness Of Sin, Penal Atonement  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Bible – For Mature Audiences Only

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Nov 5, 2019

Recently I have been preaching sermons on topics submitted by the members of the church. I thought that was a good idea until someone requested I preach from Genesis 38. It’s not your typical children’s bedtime Bible story. It’s more on the lines of a scandalous storyline for a daytime soap ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:5-10

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness, Sin, Rahab, Samson, Judah, Tamar  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Is Missing!!!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2020

Two young boys in a Christian school had been continually mis-behaving and were sent to the principal’s office on several occasions. The principal knew what they really needed was to have God in their lives, so she brought the first boy in and set him down. “I want to ask you a question. Where is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 46:10, John 3:16, Romans 5:8

Tags: Humor, God's Love, Guilt, Unconfessed Sin, Confusion  (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

Misusing The Image Of God

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Nov 27, 2022

Genesis 11:1-9… v1: as Noah and his family continues life from the ark (likely they had other children) A couple of things in context helps us: Genesis 10 talks about the nations of people and their own languages Gen 10:24 on – we only read about Joktan’s sons, not Peleg’s Gen 11:10 – only 2 ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

Tags: Man, Sin, Babel, God's Image, Nations, Languages  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

3 Temptations Satan Uses Against Us

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

Eve’s descent into depravity is an illustration of James 1:14-15: “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” This is the Bible’s description of sin’s slippery ...read more

Scripture: James 1:14-15

Tags: Eve, Sin, Satan, Temptation, Garden Of Eden, Backsliding  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Artist And The Beggar

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 12, 2023

Some time ago an artist wanted to find a man that would represent the prodigal. One day, walking up the streets, he met a poor beggar, and the thought occurred to him: “That man would represent the prodigal.” He told him what he wanted, and found the beggar was ready to come to his place of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:1-23

Tags: Evangelism, Grace, Sin, Salvation, Redemption, Justification, Sinners  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Comparing Cain And Abel

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 26, 2023

"Physically, Cain still lived, while spiritually he was dead. Physically, Abel was dead, but spiritually, he gloriously lived. You can think of Abel in death, but you can also think of Cain in death. The sinner is dead, while he lives. The ...read more

Tags: Sin, Murder, Adam, Hate, Cain, Abel, Eve  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Six Misunderstandings About Temptation

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 8, 2024

Misunderstandings regarding temptation: 1) Temptation itself is sin. 2) We fall into temptation. 3) God is disappointed and displeased when we are tempted. 4) To be strongly tempted means we are as guilty as if we had actually committed sin. 5) We overcome all temptation by separation ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Satan, Temptation, Failure, Tests, Trials, Sin, Lust  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[005]. Message From A Poem - A Mirror On The State Of The World

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 29, 2024

[005]. MESSAGE FROM A POEM - A MIRROR ON THE STATE OF THE WORLD We are citizens of this world, but we also are citizens of heaven. Those dear souls who are unsaved are just citizen of this world. They have singular citizenship. When we look at the awful political systems the world has, and at ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, John 16:33

Tags: Authority, Sadness, The World, Sin, Suffering, Mirror, Distress  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rebellion At The Heart Of Mankind (Funny Story)

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 20, 2025

When my granddaughter was about three years old, ... my wife Lee and I ... were babysitting our grandchildren in Morton Illinois. Anna wanted to go outside and play on our own. I thought this was a good teaching moment. So, ... I knelt down beside her ... so that we could look at each other ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 6:12-23, Romans 6:16-18, John 8:34, John 8:31-32  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Slave, Mortal, Freedom, Sin, Heart, Teach, Rebellion  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

That Was Lee Risler’s Problem According To ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2001

That was Lee Risler’s problem according to the Associated Press1. Mr. Risler, a 53-year-old sandal maker, was driving from his high desert home in Lucerne Valley, California to Hermosa Beach to sell his wares at a craft fair, when the accident occurred. For some reason, Risler’s van veered off ...read more

Tags: Repentance, Creator, Elohim, Evangelism The Lost, Sin Separates From God  (view more)  (view less)

I Once Heard A Humorous Story About The Pope Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Philip Makari on Jan 8, 2001

I once heard a humorous story about the Pope who was on a visit to America for a period of time. On his last day of the visit, he was delayed due to meetings and was unable to break away to catch a flight. Since he couldn’t depend on his Pope Mobile, he phoned for a limousine. When the limousine ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-16, Luke 24:13-16

Tags: Mistakes, Patience, Humility, Substitute, Sin General, Scapegoat, Temptation Pride  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Dual Citizenship In The Kingdom Of God And The Kingdom Of Darkness?

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Feb 12, 2019

Try to imagine this. It is the year 1944 and Germany is at war with England. Now suppose you have dual citizenship in both Germany and England and you are living in Germany. How will you be treated? Conversely, suppose you have dual citizenship in both Germany and England and you are living in ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:4-10, Matthew 6:24, Romans 6:22-23, 1 John 1:6

Tags: Carnal Christian, Sinful Life, Holilness, Righteous Christian, Alive In Christ, Living In Sin, Living In Darkness, In Christ, Living In Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

Kaboom!  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on May 25, 2001

True story happened Friday in Montreal - A hospital patient who insisted on lighting a cigarette while hooked to an oxygen supply caused a small explosion, according to a hospital spokesperson. The 73-year-old, who suffered minor burns in the blast, had been told not to light up but she ignored ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1, Galatians 5:13-15

Tags: Sin, God's Omniscience, Authority, Faith, Free Will, Freedom, Doing God's Will, Warning  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Buried In The Deepest Sea  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Mar 8, 2002

BURIED IN THE DEEPEST SEA Several years ago Rick Stacy baptized a man in Lake Superior. It was late October and about 9:00 PM. Rick had been talking with Myron and his wife about accepting the Lord as their personal savior and sealing that decision with baptism into Jesus. Myron was hesitant ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3:3, Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:11-15

Tags: Grace, God's Forgiveness, Forgiveness, Born Again, Baptism, Atonement, Redemption, New Life, Sin  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[030] A Message From A Poem – Beauty From Ashes

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 18, 2025

[030] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BEAUTY FROM ASHES One of the deepest emotions we have is shame. Shame happens when sin has caused havoc in a person’s life, and the realisation of it bursts like a cloud over the person. Shame brings guilt and guilt can affect a person greatly, even causing ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:10, Psalm 51:1-2, Psalm 51:12, 1 John 1:7-9

Tags: Ashes, Sinning, Repentance, Guilt, Shame, Bathsheba, Conviction, Poetry, David, Forgiveness, Beauty, Holy Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Right From Wrong  PRO

Contributed by Lynn Floyd on Apr 25, 2001

Every day: 1,000 unwed teenage girls become mothers 1,106 teenage girls get abortions 4,219 teenagers contract sexually transmitted diseases 500 adolescents begin using drugs 1,000 adolescents begin drinking alcohol 135,000 kids bring guns or other weapons to school 3,610 teens are assaulted; 80 ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-22

Tags: Sin Exposed, Suicide, Teen, Music, Abortion, Evangelism The Lost  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist