In Sermon Illustrations: "What Is Holy Spirit"

The Water Pump

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 9, 2011

THE WATER PUMP Many years ago A.J. Gordon went to the World’s Fair. From a distance he saw a man pumping water with one of those old hand pumps. The water was pouring out and he said as he looked, "That man is really working hard at pumping water." But when he got closer, he discovered that it ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Brethren

As One Biblical Scholar Put It, "Christianity ...

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Jan 26, 2012

As one Biblical scholar put it, "Christianity can never become our responsibility until we acknowledge that it is primarily ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: *other

Our Guide Home

Contributed by Perry Greene on May 3, 2012

OUR GUIDE HOME A certain guide in the deserts of Arabia never lost his way. He carried a homing pigeon with a fine cord attached to his leg. If he doubted which path to take or if he was caught in a sand storm, he would release the bird. The pigeon would fly in the direction of home. The guide was ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Keeper Of The Springs By Peter Marshall  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

THE KEEPER OF THE SPRINGS by Peter Marshall Once upon a time, a certain town grew up at the foot of a mountain range. It was sheltered in the lee of the protecting heights, so that the wind that shuddered at the doors and flung handfuls of sleet against the window panes was a wind whose fury was ...read more

Scripture: John 4:4-42

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Christlikeness: A Painful Process  PRO

Contributed by Josh Hunt on May 9, 2012

CHRISTLIKENESS: A PAINFUL PROCESS The truth is that the Spirit of the living God is guaranteed to ask you to go somewhere or do something you wouldn’t normally want or choose to do. The Spirit will lead you to the way of the cross, as He led Jesus to the cross, and that is definitely not a safe or ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18, Matthew 16:24-25, Revelation 12:1-2

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Baptist

It Is Said That God Doesn't Call The Qualified ...

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Dec 2, 2012

It is said that God doesn't call the qualified but qualifies the called. Joshua who succeeded Moses was not that great leader's biological son but rather was hand-picked by the Almighty out of His grace alone to replace Moses (Numbers 27:12-23). Cannot the same be said of Jesus' disciples? They had ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: *other

Less Room For Me

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 12, 2013

The only way to be filled with the Spirit is to empty myself to me. When I empty me of me, it provides space for the Holy Spirit to fill me. The more he fills me the ...read more

Scripture: John 16:5-15

Tags: Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Woman Sees A Father Shopping With A Fussy ...  PRO

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Jun 3, 2013

A woman sees a father shopping with a fussy two-year-old in his grocery cart. “Be patient, Billy,” he whispers. “You can handle this, Billy. It’s okay, Billy.” The woman said to him, “I don’t mean to interrupt your shopping, but I just had to tell you how wonderfully loving and patient you are ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-33, Genesis 15:1-6

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Baptist

Like A Glove

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 23, 2022

Here’s a story of how I explain the Holy Spirit in us to children. I take an empty glove and tell the kids that it's a magic glove. I tell them it is amazing because it can pick things up. Then, I drop it on a hymn book or Bible and tell it to pick up the book. When it doesn't move, I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Holy Spirit, Abiding

Stopping To Focus

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 28, 2022

Have you ever wondered why a pigeon walks so funny? According to an interesting article in the Detroit Free Press, a pigeon walks the way it does so it can’t see where it’s going. Because it can’t adjust its focus as it moves, the pigeon actually has to bring its head to a complete stop between ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1, John 15:1-11

Tags: Holy Spirit, Dependence

A Fair Piece To Go!" Zechariah 12:10-14 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 16, 2005

“A Fair Piece to Go!” Zechariah 12:10-14 Key verse(s) 10:“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.” Restlessness! When we were children it was not unusual for us to be restless. In fact, it was that restlessness that often got ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 12:10-14

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, Holy Spirit In Believers, Cleansing

Denomination: Lutheran

I Read The Story About A Football Player Whose ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Jun 3, 2003

I read the story about a football player whose performance exceeded the expectation of others. "…. In the last two minutes of the game, with the score against his team, makes a touchdown. He runs faster than his legs can carry him, and farther than he has ever dreamed of running. When he comes ...read more

Tags: Change, Holy Spirit General, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: United Methodist

Emptied Out And Filled Up  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jun 28, 2003

EMPTIED OUT AND FILLED UP D. L. Moody said, “I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and everything that is contrary to God’s law, the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts. But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18, Hosea 5:4

Tags: Law, Holy Spirit In Believers, Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Baptist

That Holy Communion Moment At The Hospital

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 11, 2018

Note: this happened to me personally - you can reference Jim Butcher of Madison WV. Some of you have heard me share this story over the last few weeks, but I think it’s worth sharing again for those who haven’t had the chance to hear it. In early March, Patti Price asked me to bring communion to ...read more

Tags: Love, Communion, Marriage, Old Age

Denomination: Baptist

Recently I Read The Biography Of Norman Grubb, A ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

Recently I read the biography of Norman Grubb, a missionary in Africa and the leader of his mission for 30 years. I was struck by what he wrote: "At conversion we learned that we had not done what we should, but then we soon learn that of ourselves we cannot do what we should." We need the enabling ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit Attributes, Love Of The Disciples, Lead, Justification, Holy Spirit In Believers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Asking Ourselves "What Would Jesus ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on May 23, 2001

"Asking ourselves “What would Jesus do?” when suddenly in the face of an important situation is not adequate discipline or preparation to enable one to live as he lived. It no doubt will do some good and is certainly better than nothing at all, but that act alone is not sufficient to see us boldly ...read more

Tags: Holiness, Discipleship, Disciplines General

Denomination: Evangelical Free

This Single Fruit Of The Spirit Is Quite ...  PRO

Contributed by Edward Frey on Jul 18, 2001

This single fruit of the Spirit is quite dynamic. It has many dimensions to it: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It’s as if this single fruit has multiple flavors. I’m reminded of the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. There ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, Galatians 5:22-25

Tags: Character, Kindness

Denomination: Lutheran

God's Judgement

Contributed by John Bright on Sep 23, 2025

I don’t believe that God’s Judgement should be our main focus, but I also believe it’s wrong to never mention the Judgement of God. Remember, God must judge humanity because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Our God is a Holy God who also wants us to be holy. (1 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:5, Romans 3:23, 1 Peter 1:16

Tags: Grace, Holy Spirit, Judgment, Holiness

Denomination: Methodist

A Contentious Spirit - Speaking Strife

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 11, 2025

Here’s a fun fact: You don’t actually have to correct someone when they’re wrong. Shocking, I know! There’s no official appointment letter naming you Earth’s Guardian of Truth and Accuracy. (If there is, it probably got lost in the mail.) Sometimes, it’s okay to just let it go—yes, even if they ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:9, Proverbs 26:21

Tags: Contentious, Strife, Contentious Spirit

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Your Spirit Does Matter

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

YOUR SPIRIT DOES MATTER A preacher wrote: "Today we have people who claim to be Christians shouting ’God hates fags’ at the funerals of soldiers who have died in Iraq, because these ’Christians’ believe God is punishing America for its tolerance of homosexuals. A recent editorial in the paper ...read more

Tags: Anger