Sermons on Illustrations:

What Does A Spiritual Person Look Like? Series

Contributed by Jason Pettibone on Aug 28, 2009

What does a Spiritual Person look like? For you, who models what a spiritual person is: Mother Theresa? Billy Graham? Your grandma? Joel Osteen? Bono? This pastor? All kidding aside, each of these people - including yours truly - illustrates a type of

This week I read a story about a profoundly disabled little girl named Danielle and Bernie and Diane, the middle-aged couple who adopted her. Dani spent the first 7 years of her life in miserable squalor, surrounded by roaches and maggots. She has no mental or physical disabilities but she is very ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-2

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Clearly Seeing Jesus

Contributed by Mike Dubose on May 8, 2008

Jesus gave sight to the blind! Many of us can see with our eyes, but our hearts are spiritually blind. This sermon helps illustrate the importance of being able to see clearly - and we can’t do that until we’re able to Clearly See Jesus.

Clearly Seeing Jesus John 9: 1-12 March 2, 2008 This morning we have another one of those beautiful stories of Jesus healing someone. Today, he heals a man who was born blind… A man that had never been able to see… And man that could truly say, “I once was blind, but now I see!” In this ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-12, Mark 8:22-25

Denomination: Methodist

Opie's Newspaper

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 7, 2014

A sermon on the tongue or the words that we use (Material adapted from Ben Patterson's book, He Has Made Me Glad, chapter 8 Words That Give Life; Opening illustration and title from Joey Fann's book, The Way Back to Mayberry, chapter 25)

HoHum: “Opie’s Newspaper” is an episode on the Andy Griffith Show. Opie’s friend, Howie, received a small printing press as a gift, and the boys decide to go into the newspaper business. They work hard and produce an initial issue of what they call the Mayberry Sun. The ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29-32

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus Is Unpredictable Series

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jun 19, 2010

This story illustrates three of the possible attitudes of people that encounter Christ. 1. There are those who run from him 2. There are those who tell him to go away and 3. There are those who embrace him, those whom Jesus heals and who then go ou

Rotherby 20-06-2010 I wonder, when you heard our Gospel reading read this morning if you like me focussed initially on the destruction of the pigs in this story. I wonder if you asked the question Why did Jesus allow the demons to enter into the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:26-39

Denomination: Anglican

Gods Word Never Returns Void!

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Feb 10, 2017

Gods words never come back empty to Him, they always accomplish what He wants! No one else, has a track record like God! Never illustrates complete perfection, Right on time, every time! Somebody Praise God for His faithful Word!

Gods word Never returns void! Illus. By Tim Harrison The story is told of a group of women that met for Bible study. While studying in the book of Malachi, chapter three, they came across verse three which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled the women and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

False Conversion And Its Rotten Harvest

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jul 7, 2021

The Lord Jesus warns that not everyone who calls Him, "LORD" is truly His servant. Works done in His name do not necessarily demonstrate a genuine love for Him. This is a terrifying illustration of false conversion, and what to do about it before it is too late.

Some things never change, especially towards the conclusion of the average worship service of the churches in which I have either been a member or have attended over the years. Many times the Sprit of God moves mightily in the hearts of members and visitors after the pastor has presented a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23, Luke 6:46, Luke 13:26-27, Mark 7:6, Titus 1:16, 1 John 2:9, 1 John 3:18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

"god Is Faithful" (4th In The Series)

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Oct 14, 2021

The Faithfulness of God...can become reality as a fruit of the Spirit in our lives if we keep in step with His Spirit. Illustration. Hosea demonstrated God's faithfulness. Abraham, Joseph, David experienced Gods' faithfulness. Faithfulness is a character trait that can grow.

In Jesus Holy Name October 17, 2021 Text: Galatians 5:22-23 “God is Faithful” 4th in the series Let me tell you a true but sad story about faithfulness. His name is not important at the moment. He fell in love with a beautiful girl. They got married. He ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22

Denomination: Lutheran

"Kingdom Power: Politics Or Service” Lent 5

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Mar 12, 2024

The illustration is a fictional story about "knowing the day of our death". Jesus knew why He was going to Jerusalem. The disciples believe the "kingdom" of the Son of Man, Daniel 7 is about to be fulfilled. Jesus turns Daniel upside down. Service!

In Jesus Holy Name March 21, 2024 Text: Mark 10:43b-45 Redeemer “Kingdom Power: Politics or Service” Years ago I heard or read a fictional story about a man who wanted to make a lot of money in the stock market. But there were just too many ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:43-45, Mark 10:35-45, Matthew 20:20-28

Denomination: Lutheran

The Two Sides Of God

Contributed by Steve Malone on Apr 2, 2004

These 2 sides of God are: God’s wrath and God’s grace. And in our study today, we will look the lives of 2 individuals (David and Jeroboam)in whose lives we see these 2 sides of God clearly illustrated. (1 Kings - pt 2)

"TWO SIDES OF GOD" TEXT: I KINGS 11-15 INTRODUCTION If I were to hold up a coin and show you that one side had on it George Washington and that the other side had on it Our National seal. And then if I were to say that the coin has 2 sides to it -- and the side you are facing -- is what ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Being A Finisher

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Jun 23, 2007

Athletic history records some leaps from worst to first. For example, the Minnesota Twins finished last in their division in 1990, yet came back to win the World Series in 1991, illustrating the maxim, “ it’s not how you begin, it’s how you finish!”

Being a Finisher Text: Hebrews 10: 32-39 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:32-39

Denomination: Pentecostal

Narnia: The Gift Of Assurance Series

Contributed by Philip Grose on Jan 17, 2006

Sermon#2 in a Series focusing on the gifts the children received while in Narina and how those gifts relate to the Gifts we recieve as Christians. Sermon focus is on God’s care for us as we cry out to Him in our desparation. Susan’s horn illustrates this.

Susan received two gifts during her journey to rendezvous with Aslan as she and her siblings attempt to save her brother Edmond. She received a quiver of arrows with a bow to shoot them with, and a horn. The bow and arrow is an obvious reference to the forceful offense that would be needed to ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 10:9

Denomination: Methodist

Picture This! Buried Treasure Series

Contributed by John Braland on Apr 3, 2007

Jesus used money and things to illustrate a spiritual point because everyone understands money. So if the kingdom of heaven is so valuable, why doesn’t everybody do everything they can to be a part of it? I think it’s because value is often in the eye o

I have always been a car nut. When I was fourteen I asked my dad if he was going to buy me a car when I turned 16. He told me that if I wanted a car, I had better start saving for one. So I did. I worked hard all summer helping to paint houses and stuck every penny I could into a savings ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:44-45

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Some Things We Should Not Do

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 13, 2010

The wilderness experience of the Israelites is an illustration of how God’s people can provoke His anger through disobedience and faithlessness. We must take heed lest we fall by the same experience of unbelief (v. 5 cf. 11, 12). The apostle lists some t

Intro: The wilderness experience of the Israelites is an illustration of how God’s people can provoke His anger through disobedience and faithlessness. We must take heed lest we fall by the same experience of unbelief (v. 5 cf. 11, 12). The apostle lists some things we, as Christians, must not do. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1-10

Denomination: *other

The Pharisee And Tax Collector Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Mar 22, 2010

The true “righteous” person is not someone who flawlessly observes all the “rules”, but someone who begs for mercy and is accepted by God--despite having plenty of human imperfections. To illustrate this, Jesus tells a story of two people who are polar o

In preparation for this sermon, I did my taxes last week…so I have lots to say about that tax collector! How do we get to Heaven? By human effort? By keeping the rules? That works only if we could obey perfectly, which excludes all of us. Occasionally someone comes along who thinks ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14, Luke 18:9, Luke 18:1-14

Denomination: Congregational

Would You Rather Be Dead?

Contributed by Jay Winters on Feb 9, 2008

This Ash Wednesday sermon uses a scene from "Fight Club" as its major illustration - it attempts to show that Christ doesn’t just give us a second chance, but that He puts us to death (while taking on our death) in Baptism and give us the empty tomb.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Three In One who makes our lives more beautiful than what they could ever be on their own. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, About ten years ago, a movie came out that just about everyone saw. It was called “Fight ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:3-14

Denomination: Lutheran