In Sermon Illustrations: "We Are Frail"

Square Fillers

Contributed by Doug Fannon on Oct 19, 2018

In the military we had a term that we called “square fillers.” We would have a check-list of requirements and before each requirement or inspection item, there would be printed a little square . When each requirement was completed, you would check off the appropriate square. The term came to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:13-36

Tags: False Religion, Unrighteousness, Outward Appearances, Minimum Requirements, Heart For God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Redwood Trees Teach A Lesson On Unity

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 12, 2019

The huge redwood trees in California are considered the largest living things on earth and the tallest trees in the world. Some of them are over 300 feet high and over 2,500 years old. One would think that trees so large would have a tremendous root system, reaching down hundreds of feet into the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-9

Tags: Unity, Working Together

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Framed

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 11, 2019

A cow and a chicken were framed and thrown into prison. They knew they had to get out to bring the criminals to justice so they spent weeks designing escape plans. Finally, a month after they had been thrown in, they escaped in the middle of the night. However, they weren't silent enough and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:1-23

Tags: Framed, Accused

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Meeting William Shatner

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 27, 2020

“When I was a kid, my dad and I were driving somewhere on a nice, sunny afternoon…. My window was rolled down. The town we live in isn’t known to be a destination for celebs of any kind. We pull up to a light; we’re the second car from the front. A polished limo pulls up next to us, and the window ...read more

Tags: Famous, Ordinary, Fame, Human, Celebrity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

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

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

Standing Where The Fire Has Already Been!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 26, 2023

“Many years ago, a father and his daughter were walking through the grass on the Canadian prairie. In the distance, they saw a prairie fire, and they realized that it would soon engulf them. The father knew there was only one way of escape: they would quickly begin a fire right where they were and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9

Tags: Reconciliation, Assurance, Blood Of Jesus, Roman Road, Wrath Of God, Holiness Of God, Forgiveness, Satan, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Repent For Better Health

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 10, 2025

Since this is the season of Lent, it’s a good time to repent of the unhealthy habits we have developed over the years. That means we tell God: “You’re right, and I’m wrong.” That’s the beginning of repentance. Then we need to make a plan. There’s an old saying: Those who fail to plan, plan to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:4-6, Acts 3:19

Tags: Diet, Food, Repent, Health, Sleep, Exercise, Bible Reading  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Prayer

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Sep 9, 2025

I read where a family bought a PRAYER BOOK for their son. Each night the boy would read a prayer before going to sleep. He was faithful to read a prayer. One night the boy was tired. He turned the light off and crawled into bed. He remember the prayer book. That night he called out to God: ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1, Matthew 21:13

Tags: Faith, Prayer

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Prison Release

Contributed by Kelly Benton on Feb 3, 2026

When a prison sentence is completed, the door open. Legally, the prisoner is free. But some inmates struggle to walk out because prison has trained them how to think, how to move, and how to live. The bars are gone, but the mindset remains. That’s a picture of many believers. Jesus paid the full ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1

Tags: Freedom, No Condemnation

Denomination: Other

Hope Is Certain, Not Uncertain

Contributed by John Boquist on Jul 25, 2008

HOPE IS CERTAIN, NOT UNCERTAIN Our use of the word "hope" is usually based on uncertainty. Suppose an engaged couple says, "We have an outdoor wedding planned for Saturday; we hope it doesn't rain." In saying this, they are saying that the possibility of rain is there, but their preference is for ...read more

Tags: Doctrine

Denomination: Baptist

He Comes To Us

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Dec 22, 2008

He Comes to Us During a Christmas program, the children's choir sang. A girl had a solo part and a pretty red dress that she could not wait to wear. When her time to sing came, she forgot the words and fell apart in tears. She walked back to the choir sobbing. Soon, the other children were ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Pentecostal

Hell Should Break Your Heart

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 26, 2009

HELL SHOULD BREAK YOUR HEART It is difficult for any of us to receive a hard truth, however necessary it may be for us to hear it. But it is always much easier to hear it if it is told in love. Pastor and author Ray Stedman tells of a congregation that had dismissed its pastor. Someone asked a ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

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

Another Thing That Bothers Most People Is That ...

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Mar 5, 2009

Another thing that bothers most people is that when we pray, we seem to get distracted. That is especially true when we are trying to listen for God’s word. There is an old story about St. Bernard, who once had a friend who told him her never had any distractions. Bernard confessed to having ...read more

Tags: Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Giving Heart

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Mar 5, 2005

THE GIVING HEART The heart does not receive blood to store it up. While it pumps blood in at one valve, it sends it out at another. The blood is always circulating everywhere, and is never stagnant. The same is true of all the fluids in a healthy body; they are in a constant state of ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Few Years Ago, When I Lived In West Virginia ...  PRO

Contributed by Drake Caudill on Mar 8, 2005

A few years ago, when I lived in West Virginia with my parents, my father wanted some chickens. My mother did not really want any chickens running around the yard, but she finally gave in. So my father went on a search to find some chickens. He finally found some "Game" chickens. I did not know ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:25-41

Tags: Frustration, God's Provision, Storms Of Life, Promises Of God

Denomination: Baptist

One Other Comment I Would Like To Make About ...  PRO

Contributed by Peter Amerman on May 25, 2005

One other comment I would like to make about Miriam’s leadership. I believe that we as a church need to affirm and draw out the gifts of leadership in more of the women in our church. God commended the leadership of Moses and Aaron together with the leadership of Miriam. In contrast with other ...read more

Tags: Women

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bigger And Better Rattle Snakes  PRO

Contributed by Larry Jacobs on Jun 4, 2005

"BIGGER AND BETTER RATTLE SNAKES" Mr. Jones called his pastor from the hospital one day and frantically said, "Oh, pastor come quickly, my son, John was just bitten by a rattle snake and is at the point of death." Of course the pastor hurried to the side of the worried father. ...read more

Tags: Doubt

Denomination: Baptist