“Here we are, fools for the sake of Christ” (I Corinthians 4:10). There was a seminary professor who was much admired by his students because he always managed to keep his spiritual vitality at a…
Sermon Illustrations
“They will all be taught by God” (John 6:45). A University of New Mexico professor gave his students an opportunity to evaluate his Course at the end of the semester. One student said, “I liked…
“If you love Me you will keep My commandments” (John 14:16). An out-of shape, overweight man decided to take up tennis. He took several lessons from a pro. He also read several self-help books which…
“…on me alone, my Lord, be the blame” (I Samuel 25:24). Behold, a baseball team went forth to play a game. Just as the ump was saying “Batter up,” the pitcher for the home team…
“Love is always patient and kind…it does not take offense, and is not resentful” (I Corinthians 13:–5). Many people are ill not because of what they’re eating but what’s eating them inside. The Medical and…
“Never have grudges against others…or allow any sort of spitefulness” (Ephesians 4:31). The word resentment means to re-feel — to feel again a wrong that has been done to you by another, to re-feel the…
“Jesus began His preaching with the Message, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand’” (Matthew 4:17). An old Chinese proverb tells us: If you wish to be happy for a week, have…
“…and he will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelations 21:4). There is a story from the Middle Ages about a young woman who was expelled from heaven and told that if she would…
“…if you are repentant, produce the appropriate fruit” (Matthew 3:9). For many, repentance is a word that belongs to yesterday. It’s one of those slippery words. We hear the word and we speak the word…
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:3). In his famous novel, “The Death of Ivan Ilyich,” Leo Tolstoy has given us a classic example of repentance. Ivan is dying a horrible…
“They went out and preached that men should repent” (Mark 6:12). To conclude a long sermon on repentance, a fire-and-brimstone preacher said forcefully, “I want everyone in this congregation to know that there is one…
"He who is not with Me is against Me; and He who does not gather with Me scatters” (Luke 11:23). Someone has said of today’s Christians: “Too many people have just enough religion to feel…
“...if my blood has to be shed as part of your own sacrifice and offering — which is your faith -- I shall be happy and rejoice with all of you, and you must be…
The time in which we live has been called by many names. A few years ago, a philosopher suggested a name that never took hold, yet had the ring of truth to it. “We should…
“It was God who reconciled Himself to us through Christ and gave us the work of handing on this reconciliation” (II Corinthians 5:18). A woman who had no religion, decided to read the New Testament…
In an interview at Yale University, novelist Ayn Rand was asked by a reporter, “What’s wrong with the modern world?” She replied, Never before has the world been so desperately asking for answers to critical…
“I can do nothing by myself” (John 5:30). Author Gerald Kennedy often told the story of his visit to the office of a Bell Laboratories executive: On the man’s desk, I saw a small wooden…
“ . . . it is I, Yahweh, who gives you healing” (Exodus 16:26). A 78-year-old man was driving home from Church one Sunday evening. As he was passing through a shadowy, isolated stretch of…
“Well now is the favorable time; this is the day of salvation” (II Corinthians 6:2). A man set out to purchase a compact disc player. But what kind of CD should he buy? He begins…
“…yet not My Will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher, talked a great deal about establishing our life’s priorities. In one of his writings, he asks us to imagine life…