In Sermon Illustrations: "Witness Let It Show"

It's Ok To Clap

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 17, 2011

IT'S OK TO CLAP In 1989, I was an intern pastor at Boston Avenue UMC, a 8,300 member church in downtown Tulsa, OK. Let me give you an image of our worship service. We wore full robes and vestments, we processed with a choir of more than 60 people with the the cross leading the way. We sang hymns ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Methodist

Falling After Dark

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2011

FALLING AFTER DARK There is a story told about a construction worker. This construction worker was employed on a high-rise building project, which required him and others to work after dark. He was busy on the edge of one of the walls which was many stories high, when he suddenly lost his balance ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Tags: Fear And Worry

Live In A Way That Glorifies God  PRO

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Jul 19, 2011

Live in a Way That Glorifies God Dan Blocker was my favorite character, Hoss, on the TV series Bonanza. When he died unexpectedly, Hoss died. The producers knew they could not replace him. The story was that woman was caught in a flood. Hoss held her above the water with one hand and held a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:31, Matthew 5:16, 1 Peter 2:12

Tags: Glory

Denomination: Baptist

The Wrong Oil  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 8, 2011

THE WRONG OIL Phil (a member of our congregation) owns a stunning sports car. It's a Viper. It's a thing of beauty. And it has a powerful engine with 10 cylinders. Most of us common folks have cars with 6 and 8 cylinders... but this car has TEN cylinders. I'm pretty sure it can take you anywhere ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:3-4

Tags: Doctrine

The Hard Work Of Farming

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 9, 2011

THE HARD WORK OF FARMING I was raised in town and not on a farm. However, in 1969 I moved to a small farming town in Iowa called Bayard. It’s about 65 miles northeast of Des Moines, IA. And that’s where I began to learn a little about farming and harder work than I was used to! I had some grain ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:6

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Visions Of Glory

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 9, 2011

VISIONS OF GLORY Chan Gailey, who just began his second season as head coach for the Buffalo Bills, got his start coaching football at Alabama's Troy State University. In 1984, with a 12-1 record, he led the Troy State Trojans to a Division II NCAA national championship. A week before the big ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5-6

Tags: Pride

Anger Management

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 28, 2011

ANGER MANAGEMENT Mr. Burton was not angry enough to hire a hit man to knock off the AD at the University of Connecticut...but he was angry enough that he wanted to punish him even if it hurt the students and the program he is said to have loved. In a letter sent to the Athletic Director of the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:29

Tags: Anger

The First Thanksgiving

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Nov 19, 2011

THE FIRST THANKSGIVING Let's consider the first Thanksgiving in America. It was in the fall of 1621, one year after the Pilgrim’s landed. There was great affliction in their voyage. 102 Pilgrims the left Holland, stopped briefly in England before sailing to America. They were at sea for 66 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Know Our Future Includes A Promise. But We Do ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Lu on Nov 26, 2011

We know our future includes a promise. But we do not know how to transition into that promise. Maybe ’not knowing’ is just an excuse – we just straight out refuse to take that next step. That’s because while we are in the present, we often permit the past to occupy and govern our emotions. We drag ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:17-21, 2 Kings 5:1-14

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Baptist

Only In Obedience Are We Free

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Feb 19, 2012

ONLY IN OBEDIENCE ARE WE FREE In his book "Run with the Horses," Eugene Peterson tells how he saw a family of birds teaching their young to fly. Three young swallows were perched on a dead branch that stretched out over a lake. One adult swallow got alongside the chicks and started shoving them ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Denomination: Brethren

A Mother's Christmas Prayer

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 19, 2012

A MOTHER'S CHRISTMAS PRAYER On Christmas Day, Mike Nicholas, a tall and slim young man with dark hair was making his way south on I-85 just below High Point, NC trying to hitch a ride. For two years, he hadn't been home. His family had heard nothing from him. He and his mother had a disagreement ...read more

Tags: Christmas Eve

Denomination: Methodist

Hold Fast

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2012

HOLD FAST A ships crew can be suddenly obligated to ABANDON SHIP and take to the life boats. Such was the case of an American whaling ship in the South Seas. A huge leviathan of the deep, wounded by his pursuits, ran out the mile long line then returned again and struck the ship with incredible ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:10-19

Tags: Truth Of Christ

No Runs, No Hits, No Errors  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 17, 2012

NO RUNS, NO HITS, NO ERRORS In one little Midwestern town, Miss Jones had the distinction of being the oldest resident in town. So when she died, the editor of the local paper wanted to print a little article remembering this dear old lady, except he couldn't think of anything to say when he sat ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:11-14, Revelation 3:14-22

Tags: Race, Run, Lukewarm, Car

Eat, Drink And Be Merry...?

Contributed by Perry Greene on Sep 11, 2012

EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY...? After the "Cold War" was over, a squadron of Russian pilots was invited to participate in tactical war games at a U.S. Air Force base. A gala dinner was planned by the Base Commander. Thinking to relax the guests, he offered a WW II toast to open the meal. Smiling, he ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Two-Headed Lamb

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 7, 2014

THE TWO-HEADED LAMB Dr. H.A. Ironside once shared a story that was the clearest illustration of the Gospel I have ever heard. He said that he was visiting in South Texas and had the opportunity to visit a sheep ranch. While he was there, he spotted what he thought to be a two-headed lamb. He ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Tags: Atonement, Heaven, Gospel, Cross

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Notre Dame On Fire

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Apr 18, 2019

Just this last Monday (April 15, 2019), many of us were horrified to watch the great Cathedral of Notre Dame on fire. Its great spire toppled into the roof of the cathedral, and many feared that Paris’ most iconic landmark would be a total loss after standing for 850 years. However, early the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:20-23, Romans 6:4

Tags: Sanctification, Salvation, Restoration

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Astray

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 23, 2019

Astray They sing, Farther along we'll understand. Oh, how I wish I'd been a holy man, But I wandered so far astray Now all I can see is Judgment Day. I fell on my knees and begged for Your grace, Then turned around and spat in Your face. I walked along in my foolish will, Now I fear ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:14

Tags: Sin, Repentance, Backsliding

Denomination: Baptist

Thanksgiving Joke

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 20, 2019

A lady purchased a parrot whose previous owner had taught him profanity and decided that she would reform him. The parrot learned a number of Christian words and Bible verses to replace the cuss words. However, the owner caught him cussing one day and grabbed him and said, "I'll teach ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving, Turkey, Jokes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Joy Vs. Happiness

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Dec 15, 2019

Joy (used in "Joy Born at Christmas" sermon - 12/11/2019) From Isaiah 35:8-10 (verses below) Someone once said, “The difference beween happiness and joy is that happiness comes from happenings and joy comes from Jesus.” A few years ago Michael Bublé wrote a song that became very ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 35:8-10, Philippians 4:4

Tags: Christmas, Advent, Joy

Denomination: Baptist

Integrity Wins

Contributed by Robert Butler on Dec 18, 2019

On December 2, Basque athlete Iván Fernández Anaya was competing in a cross-country race in Burlada, Navarre. He was running second, some distance behind race leader Abel Mutai - bronze medalist in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the London Olympics. As they entered the finishing ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:15, Hosea 12:6, Matthew 12:18-20

Tags: Love, Compassion, Integrity, Justice

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational