Sermons on Illustrations:

How Not To Pray

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 27, 2005

Brief Message w/ good illustrations...In answering the disciples request "Teach Us To Pray", Jesus told them how NOT to pray: Don’t Pray HAZY, Don’t Pray CRAZY, and Don’t Pray LAZY. Powerpoint at website.

How Not to Pray Mt. 6:5-13 Powerpoint for this and hundreds more free sermons at our website: http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons.html "The proper way for man to pray," said Deacon Lemuel Keyes; "The only proper attitude is down upon his knees." "Nay, I should say the way to pray," said Reverend ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-13

Denomination: Baptist

Friends Don’t Let Friends Die Lost

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Sep 26, 2007

If you would take the car keys away from a drunk then you should witness to a friend. Going - Weeping - Sowing - Reaping. Deathbed quotes illustrate how real hell is. Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Pres.

Friends Don’t Let Friends Die Lost Ps. 126:5, 6; II Cor. 4:3 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/FriendsDieLost.html Would you pull out your garden hose to help save your neighbor from a fire? If you were a doctor, would you be able to tell someone if they had a terminal disease? How about if you had ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 126:5-6

Denomination: Baptist

Freedom: Devotion Or Devouring?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 11, 2007

Black History Month and Amazing Grace Sunday: there is much to celebrate about freedom, when we review history. But we either devote ourselves to freedom (political, social, spiritual) or we devour ourselves. Newton’s story illustrates. Montgomery Hill

It’s a glorious thing to discover that you are free. Freedom tastes good, smells good, feels good. But after you find out you are free, then what? What do you do with your freedom? There are only two answers to that question: freedom either leads you to devotion; or it drives you to devour. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:13-15

Denomination: Baptist

Stewardship Of Our Congregation - Forward Steps 2 Series

Contributed by Spencer Homan on Nov 19, 2009

This is the second week of our Stewardship Series 2009. It is based upon the classic Christian poem "Footprints in the Sand." We can step out boldly knowing the God will always walk beside us. This sermon uses the "one body" illustration to bring us to

1 Corinthians 12:12-27 12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-- and we were all given the one Spirit ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Red Sticks - Blue Sticks

Contributed by Eloy Gonzalez on Aug 7, 2009

Ordinary Proper 14 - St. Paul draws a contrast between the follower of God and the person who doesn’t know of his love in Christ. He encourages us to guard our identity in Christ by illustrating what life in Christ "looks like".

Recently I was remembering the very first sermon that I preached. It was in the mid 70s at a Baptist Church. I was a young sailor recently married. My new bride had been raised in a Baptist church and I was a freshly catechized Lutheran. We tried the local Lutheran Church – but it was not an ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Messages From Our Resurrected Lord Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 22, 2005

Expository sermon concerning messages Jesus spoke to His disciples: (1)Peace be with you (2)I am sending you (3)Stop doubting and believe. Used video clip from "The Inn of Sixth Happiness" to illustrate being sent.

Messages from our Resurrected Lord Fortifying the Foundation # 45 John 20:19-31[1] 8-29-04 Come with me this morning to a small house in the city of Jerusalem 2000 years ago. The sun is setting as the first Easter day is coming to a close[2]. Some of Jesus’ closest followers have huddled ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31, John 19:21

Denomination: Charismatic

Ministry Essentials Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 22, 2005

Have you ever been confused or disillusioned about your calling? Expository sermon explores Jesus interation concerning Peter’s calling: (1)Motive (2)Assignment (3)Focus. Used clip from the movie "The Rookie" as illustration.

Ministry Essentials Fortifying the Foundation # 47 John 21:15-25[1] 10-03-04 Intro Have you ever been confused or disillusioned about your calling? Early in your experience, God spoke to you and called you to serve Him in a particular way. You knew it. You knew it was from God. You knew ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-25

Denomination: Charismatic

Narnia: Merry Easter (And Happy Christmas)

Contributed by Todd Anderson on Dec 8, 2005

A Christmas Eve or Christmas Day sermon or homily using an extended illustration from "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" to show how many miss(ed) Christ’s first coming and how we need to be ready for his Second Coming in power.

Title: Merry Easter! (a Christmas eve or Christmas day homily) While bagging groceries years ago in a supermarket during highschool I found it fun to mess with customers minds and say things like: “Have a Day! And hear them automatically respond: “You Too!” It was especially fun around the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Lutheran

How To Dine Well Series

Contributed by John Gullick on Jun 2, 2014

A sermon that looks at Psalm 23 verse 5. God has prepared a table before it but we need to come to it in the right way. I have included more than I preached because I thought the extra illustrations would help others.

Ever run a marathon or made a major physical effort? When you finish a marathon you become desperate for a drink and a meal and indeed while you are running you mind is often going ahead of you that the banquet ahead of you is worth finishing the race for. I remember once walking about 15 miles ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:5

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Eli's Sign

Contributed by William Akehurst on Feb 28, 2015

Eli's Sign is a real life experience of a 3 year old and his influence on his family that illustrates GOD'S love for us. Out of the mouth of babes...comes profound insight. Perhaps that is why GOD says we need to come to HIM as children.

2014.11.25_Eli’s Sign William Akehurst, HSWC Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Ephesians 5:1-2 1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It's God's Grace That Goes To Bat For Us.

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Jul 27, 2012

As long as mankind has been around there has never been an illustration or definition of God's grace that stays in the heart until it takes root and begins to grow. 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

It's God's Grace that goes to bat for us. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Heard about a man having a dream one night that he and the Lord was watching a baseball game. The Lord's ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Denomination: Baptist

Victory Over Temptation Series

Contributed by John Bartol on Sep 4, 2012

Ephesians 2 reminds us that temptation comes from three sources – a cursed world, a corrupt heart and a cunning devil. Accounts of both failure and victory are illustrated in the biblical stories of David and Joseph. In James 1:14,15 the enticement of tem

VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION “Blessed, or happy is the man who does not give in and do wrong when he is tempted. Because when he has stood the test he will receive as his reward, the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12). Is there anyone here today ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:1-27

Denomination: Baptist

Encourage Yourself

Contributed by Daniel Olukoya on Apr 22, 2010

Discouragement is a terrible disease and a very powerful weapon in the hand of the enemy of our soul. Consider this illustration. Something went bad for a lady and she became so sad that she cried herself to sleep. As she slept, she saw a vision where she

1 Samuel 30: 1-8 says, “And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire. And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:1-8

Denomination: Pentecostal

Plateau? Accepting The Little?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Dec 9, 2015

I use a rubber band to illustrate how faith must stretch us... Will we keep doing things the same old way and expect a different outcome. Lot settled for less than what God had planned. Faith reaches beyond...

PLATEAU? CHOOSING TO LIVE IN ZOAR, THE PLACE OF LITTLE... By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Thanks Garry Brackett for the trail to this lesson... I USE RUBBER BANDS FOR THIS LESSON... The real value of a rubber band is when you STRETCH IT. Discuss how a rubber band must feel when ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 13:12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Your Adversary The Devil? Again?

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Feb 13, 2013

This sermon is for the text Luke 4, the Temptation of Jesus, Lent I Jesus is tempted constantly to deny his mission. ((Matt. 1:21) The key is Luke's phrase: "until an opportune time" the same remains for us. some illustrations are from Leonard Sweet and

In Jesus Holy Name February 17, 2013 Luke 4:1-13 Lent I “Your Adversary the Devil, Again?” When I was a boy, I was told, "Baptists don't do Lent." No one knew why. I suspect that it was an anti-Catholic thing which I pray we are over. It was the old argument, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: Lutheran