In Sermon Illustrations: "Why"

A Boy Without Athletic Ability Is Chosen To Play ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 30, 2010

A Boy Without Athletic Ability is Chosen to Play a Game There was a boy who did not have much athletic ability. Every time he and his friends would play some game, he was always the last to be chosen. One day two new fellows came to play with them and were allowed to be team captains because they ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:11-13

Tags: Compassion

The Love Of Christ Alone

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 22, 2010

THE LOVE OF CHRIST ALONE When Hudson Taylor was director of the China Inland Mission, he often interviewed candidates for the mission field. On one occasion, he met with a group of applicants to determine their motivations for service. "And why do you wish to go as a foreign missionary?" he asked ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:14

Tags: Missions

Denomination: Brethren

About The Tongue

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 1, 2011

ABOUT THE TONGUE There's an old story that the Jewish rabbis tell. As the story goes, one day a rabbi asked his servant to go and buy some good food for him in the market. When the servant returned home, he presented the rabbi with a tongue. The next day, the rabbi told the servant to go the ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

Tags: Tongue

Are You Prepared?

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Sep 25, 2011

ARE YOU PREPARED? One day, a king died. His servants spread the unbelievable news all over the palace. He had died in his bed of natural causes. "Where has he gone?" asked one of the king's wisest counselors "Why, to Heaven of course!" answered all the others. "No", said the other gravely, "I ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Baptist

Flight Check

Contributed by Brad Froese on Oct 4, 2011

FLIGHT CHECK When you're a pilot and you're getting ready to go on a flight, you always run through a checklist: to assess the air worthiness of the aircraft, and the conditions you'll be flying in before you commits to the flight because all the weather information and every surface and ...read more

Tags: Family

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Ultimate

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Feb 1, 2012

THE ULTIMATE In the early 1970s the Dallas Cowboys had a star running back named Duane Thomas who was kind of a head case. One year the Cowboys made it to the Super Bowl and someone asked Duane Thomas what he thought about playing in the "ultimate game." He replied "If this is the Ultimate Game, ...read more

Scripture: John 19:30

Tags: Apologetics Jesus

Compromise

Contributed by Gordon Curley on May 20, 2012

COMPROMISE A hunter went out into the forest to shoot a bear. With winter fast approaching he planned to make a warm coat out of the bearskin. Soon he saw a bear coming toward him, he raised his gun and took aim. "Wait," said the bear, "why do you want to shoot me?" The hunter replied: ...read more

Tags: Sin Wages Of

Denomination: Brethren

Uh, That's "Maranatha"

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 1, 2012

UH, THAT'S "MARANATHA" An elderly Christian lady attended a Christian conference gathering, similar to Keswick/Spring Harvest etc. For her it was really the first time she had mixed with Christians from other denominations. This really blessed her and opened her eyes to the richness of Christian ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: Brethren

The Woman And Acts 2:38

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 1, 2014

THE WOMAN AND ACTS 2:38 An elderly woman had just returned to her home from a church service when she was startled by an intruder. As she caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables, she yelled, "Stop--Acts 2:38!" (..repent, turn from your sin..".). The burglar stopped dead ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:38

Tags: Prayer, Repent, Humor

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Talking About Heaven

Contributed by John Crowe on Jul 17, 2014

My 5-year-old great – grandson, Travis, and his mother had a conversation about heaven. “Mom, I don’t think I want to go to heaven.” “Sure you do.” “No. I don’t think so.” “But why not?” “I think I’ll be hungry.” “No, baby. Jesus will make sure to feed you.” “I know, but Jesus feeds everybody fish, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-5

Tags: Children, Heavenly Things

Denomination: Baptist

How To Persuade A Burglar

Contributed by Larry Hinkle on Jun 12, 2020

An elderly Widow woke in the middle of the night, alerted by a noise> She tiptoed down steps to discover she had a Burglar in her home. She shouted at the intruder, “Stop in the name of the Lord, repent for the forgiveness of your sins. Acts 2:38!” the burglar immediately froze, raised both arms ...read more

Scripture: John 16:8, Acts 2:38, Hebrews 9:14

Tags: Persuasion, Communication, Conscience, Conviction

Denomination: Methodist

Cheeful Giver

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Nov 20, 2020

A missionary in Africa was preaching his first sermon in a mission church. When time came for the offering, the people danced their offerings forward. They danced and sang praise to God as they brought their offerings to the altar. For they were “coming before God's presence with ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7

Tags: Cheerful Giving, Dancing

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Funny Marriage Sermon-Starter

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 23, 2022

An 80 year-old woman was recently married to her 4th husband. A reporter questioned the occupation of her newly acquired husband. She replied that he owned a funeral home. Curious about the other husbands, the reporter also asked about their occupations. The woman paused for a while and stated ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18-31

Tags: Death, Marriage, Humor, Husbands, Wives, Widows  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

William Wilberforce

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 16, 2025

One example of living for Christ in the midst of suffering is William Wilberforce (1759 – 1833). There is a wonderful movie about him that came out in 2006 – “Amazing Grace.” You can watch is for free on Youtube. The movie opens in the year 1797 with Wilberforce suffering and feeling very ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:21-25

Tags: Slavery, Amazing Grace, William Wilberforce, Abolition

Denomination: Methodist

The Sheep Who Went "moo"

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 22, 2025

A flock of sheep are grazing in a field, happily going "baa baa" to one another and discussing life as usual when suddenly they hear a "moo mooooooooooo!" They look around &see only sheep. They carry on grazing as before. "Moo moo!" One sheep can hear it all too ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:26-31, 1 Corinthians 9:19-22, Nehemiah 8:8, Acts 2:5-13

Tags: Language, Midrash, Reading, Paraphrasing, Translating  (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

Did My Body Warranty Just Expire?

Contributed by James Snyder on Jun 21, 2025

Just when I recover from the latest ache in my body within a few minutes, I will get a “Boo, I’m back.” I’m not quite sure why these Aches and Pains love my body so much. Why don’t they just get over it and move on to another circus. The problem is, after I’m through with one ache, the next ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Tags: Pain, Blessing, Warranty

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Illustration] Some Of You Are Aware That Robin ...

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Jan 3, 2008

-[Illustration] Some of you are aware that Robin and I are in the middle of a house hunt. We would like to buy a house, and live there for quite awhile, if the Lord is willing. We have wanted to buy a home all along, but I just always assumed that we did not really have the buying power to purchase ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

[077]. A Message From A Poem – Eyes And Ears - Blind And Deaf

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 11, 2025

[077]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – EYES AND EARS - BLIND AND DEAF Stubbornness is so bound up in most people that it will not release them, particularly when the things of God are presented. Stubbornness refuses to see reason and to see the light, and to hear and obey. The prophets were frustrated ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 42:20, Isaiah 6:10, Isaiah 43:8, Isaiah 35:5

Tags: Poetry, Stubbornness, Poem, Deaf Ears, Blind Eyes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Ran Across This Editorial Written A Few Years ...  PRO

Contributed by Jerry Falwell on Dec 3, 2001

I ran across this editorial written a few years ago by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television commentator. The following text was printed in our nation’s Congressional Record: This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least appreciated ...read more

Tags: Independence Day, Christian Love

Denomination: Baptist