In Sermon Illustrations: "What Is Evangelism"

Wild Bill Resurrected?

Contributed by Perry Greene on Apr 15, 2013

WILD BILL RESURRECTED? In 1876, Wild Bill Hickock was killed in Deadwood, SD by Jack McCall while playing poker at the Nuttal and Mann's Saloon. You may recall that he was holding what has been referred to as the "Dead Man's Hand" (2 8s and 2 Aces -- all black with an unknown 5th card). He was ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Two Farmers

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 14, 2019

Two Farmers One time there were two farmers who were going through a period of terrible drought, they were at a place of discouragement. One farmer went ahead and plowed his fields, trusting GOD to send the rain. The other farmer thought “What’s the Use. Planting time came, Still no rain. The first ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 28:1-41

Tags: Doubt, Believe

Denomination: Pentecostal

Starving For God

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 23, 2020

BEATITUDE #4 - "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." “What Jesus is talking about is no mere reference to hunger which could be satisfied by a mid-morning snack. The thought is that of STARVATION. Are you longing for God like that? ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Beatitudes, Hungry For God, Thirsting For God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Need Revival When.....

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 30, 2020

1. You are entertained by things that once grieved you. 2. You are silent where you once spoke. 3. Your prayer closet has cobwebs and your Bible is dusty. 4. You have ceased to grieve over your own sin. 5. You have stopped sharing your faith. 6. You are more excited about your personal agenda ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Revival, Beatitudes, Thirsting For God, Hungering For God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Maturity

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 27, 2020

Automatic behaviour is the hallmark of immature people bent on survival, they accept few challenges and experience little growth. Immature people react with a small part of themselves to a small part of the world. They limit themselves by paying attention only to what is close-up, by focusing on ...read more

Scripture: John 12:24

Tags: Maturity, Immaturity

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Communication: Who Is The Problem, Really?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 8, 2021

. A woman met with a counselor and stated, "I want to divorce my husband." ?On what grounds?” asked the counselor. ?Grounds? We have two acres at the edge of town with a big lawn and some fruit trees.” ?No, that's not what I meant. Do you have a grudge?” ?Yes, we've a two car ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:2, Jeremiah 17:9

Tags: Communication, Blame, Rationalization, Blaming Others

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Cs Lewis On Repentance - The Hole We Find Ourselves In

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Sep 19, 2022

Now what was the sort of hole man had got himself into? He had tried to set up on his own, to behave as if he belonged to himself. In other words, fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms. Laying down your arms, saying you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Romans 2:4, Mark 1:15, 2 Corinthians 7:9-10, Romans 6:23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Sin, Salvation, Gospel, Repentance, The Cross  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The (Unwise) Wisdom Of The World

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Mar 24, 2025

The world in its wisdom may tell us that there is no such thing as truth. That there is no such thing as that which is right and that which wrong. But our experience, of even the simplest of human experiences, will cause us to question that. If you were to ask a gas station attendant for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:18-23

Tags: Better, Follow Jesus, Unwise, Directions, Wisdom Of The World  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Horse In The Basement

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 6, 2025

Imagine having what we need but not using it – like the hoarse in the basement or the car that can drive at highway speed but you never go over 25mph. I heard a story about a guy who was looking at chainsaws at the hardware store. The salesman told him, “If you buy this chainsaw, you can cut ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Holy Spirit, Spiritual Gifts, Car, Horse, Chainsaw  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

The Cookie-Jar

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 7, 2025

A pastor was teaching the Ten Commandments to a group of children. When he came to “Thou shalt not steal,” he leaned forward and said, “Now, children, what would the cookie jar say to you if it could talk?” A little girl lifted her hand and said, “It would say, ‘Suffer the little children to come ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:7, Romans 7:19, Galatians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 10:13, James 1:14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Temptation, Desire, Choice, Grace, Obedience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Girolamo Savonarola

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

At the very start of his ministry there, Savonarola noticed an elderly woman who used to come and pray regularily before that statue of the Virgin Mary. One day, he took an elderly priest aside who had been serving in the cathedral for many years and said, "Look how devoted this woman is. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Tags: Girolamo Savonarola, Faith

Denomination: Anglican

Jean-Paul Sarte Said, "You Will Never Find Peace ...  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Clark on Apr 12, 2001

Jean-Paul Sarte said, "You will never find peace and happiness until you are ready to commit yourself to something worth dying ...read more

Tags: Christian Values, Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Baptist

Helen Keller, Probably The Most Recognized Blind ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Oct 3, 2001

Helen Keller, probably the most recognized blind person who has ever lived, once said, “What would be worse than being ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Workplace

Denomination: Wesleyan

Ralph Waldo Emerson Observed That If The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2002

Ralph Waldo Emerson observed that if the constellations appeared only once in a thousand years, imagine what an exciting event that would be. But because ...read more

Tags: Divinity Of Christ, Creation

A Little Girl Was Drawing A Picture Of God. Her ...

Contributed by Ed Wood on Jun 29, 2005

A little girl was drawing a picture of God. Her mother told her that nobody knew what God looks like. The girl replied that they ...read more

Tags: God The Father

Denomination: Baptist

Creativity Often Consists Of Merely Turning Up ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

Creativity often consists of merely turning up what is already there. Did you know that right and left shoes were thought ...read more

Tags: Art

One Of The Most Pressing Problems Of Our ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"One of the most pressing problems of our country today is the urgent need for new creative talent. It is not enough that we train more engineers, scientists, or ...read more

Tags: Art

Some Regard Private Enterprise As If It Were A ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

Some regard private enterprise as if it were a predatory tiger to be shot. Others look upon it as a cow that they can milk. Only a handful see it for what it ...read more

Tags: Business And Marketplace

It Is A Spiritual And Psychological Fact: We Move ...

Contributed by Michael West on Dec 20, 2008

It is a spiritual and psychological fact: We move toward what we see in our minds. If you can’t see it, most likely ...read more

Tags: Thought

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Wayne Gretzge Was Asked How He Scored So Many ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Wayne Gretzge was asked how he scored so many goals…he replied, “I go where the puck is going to be.” He in a ...read more

Tags: Sin Deceptive