Sermons on Illustrations:

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

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

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

"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

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

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

Seeing Clearly Series

Contributed by Tim White on Mar 5, 2012

Jesus' healing of the blind man in Mark 8 illustrates four points: 1) Some people just want to come out of the darkness. 2) Our ministry can sometimes only lift the darkness. 3) The religious expectations of others can be harmful. 4) There are times when

Seeing Clearly Mark 8:22-26 Seeing is a strange thing. An infant can see a john deer tractor and not benefit from it. A farmer can see a jar of smashed carrots and not be drawn to it. A doctor can see blurry images on a glass slide and be excited about what it tells him. A preacher can see three ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:22-26

Denomination: Baptist

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

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

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

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 Floating Axe Head

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 9, 2014

This story from 2 Kings 6:1-7 is an Old Testament illustration pared with a New Testament admonition from Revelation 2:4-5 about losing your first love. If you lose your cutting edge, how can you get it back?

The Floating Axe head Revelation 2-3; II Kings 6:1-7 INTRODUCTION: Last week, Richard preached the last sermon in our 30-week series called The Story. That series took us all the way from Genesis through Revelation. In our last Pueblo group we were discussing the last lesson … from the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Who's Living In Your House?

Contributed by Wayne Lawson on Jan 21, 2020

In our text this morning, Jesus uses a strange illustration about demon possession to make a very important point about the problem of half-baked, external repentance. In this portion of the text, Jesus talks about an unclean spirit that has gone out of a person; but still seeking rest.

TITLE: WHO’S LIVING IN YOUR HOUSE? SCRIPTURE: ST. MATTHEW 12:43-45 Have you ever tried to help a friend or family member that found themselves without a roof over their head and you reluctantly and against your better judgment allowed them to come and stay in your house until they were able to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:43-45

Denomination: Baptist

Spiritual Fruit Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Nov 24, 2015

Your life should be more than a flurry of activity. You were meant to produce spiritual fruit. Paul uses the imagery of fruit trees to illustrate this. What you want out of a fruit tree is fruit. In the Christian life what we want is spiritual fruit.

Wouldn’t it be great if every time that you received a harsh criticism you returned it with a response of kindness? That is what it is like for the believer who has the fruit of the Spirit manifested in their life. Wouldn’t it be great the next time you are wronged, instead of rage ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-26

Denomination: Baptist