Sermon Illustrations
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The Medium is the Message
Culture is shaped by the primary medium of an era. Marshall McLuhan is widely known as the father of media studies. He coined the famous phrase “the medium is the message” in 1965. And while some to... -
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Seeing is Metamorphosis, Not Mechanism
James Elkins talks about how even the sense of sight is more complicated than we might believe: “Our eyes are not ours to command; they roam where they will and then tell us they have only been where ... -
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Without Applause, I die
There’s undeniably a dark side to restless ambition, however. You can see it in dramatic fashion in the documentary Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop , which follows the comedian on tour after he left the To... -
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An Analogy of Childlike Prayer
A father is delighted when his little one, leaving off her toys and friends, runs to him and climbs into his arms. As he holds his little one close to him, he cares little whether the child is looking... -
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The Origins of “Servant Leadership”
The Swiss-German novelist Hermann Hesse published a short story in 1932 called "Journey to the East." In it, a group of men go on a long journey. Throughout their trip, they are accompanied ... -
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Bruce Almighty Tries Granting Every Prayer
Have you ever thought to yourself, "I'm glad I'm not God!" Too much responsibility! In the 2003 movie "Bruce Almighty," Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey) gains God’s divine powers b... -
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The Charm of Beauty is to Win Hearts
Recently, when I was in London, I went to the National Gallery. It was a weekday, but it was still crowded with people wearing headsets, staring at famous paintings, listening to a narrator explain th... -
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Watching the Same Movie Over and Over Again
I met a man who watches The Lord of the Rings movies every night. When he told me this I pushed back: “Every night?” He said that when he gets off work he goes home, fixes his dinner, turns on the m... -
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Mammon: The Worst Species of Idol
Andrew Carnegie rose to become among the world's richest individuals through his steel empire. In the midst of this acquisition of massive wealth at just thirty-three years old—Carnegie conducted ... -
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Guard Dogs and False Suspicions
One day, a house-dog, standing at the window, was barking his head off at a passing mailman. The dog's owner, irritated, asks the dog, "Why do you always bark at that poor mailman?" The ... -
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Addictions Attach Desire
For generations, psychologists thought that virtually all self-defeating behavior was caused by repression. I have now come to believe that addiction is a separate and even more self-defeating force t... -
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How Good to Center Down!
How good it is to center down! To sit quietly and see one’s self pass by! The streets of our minds seethe with endless traffic; Our spirits resound with clashing, with noisy silences, While some... -
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How Jesus Prayed
Many of us may have wondered what types of prayers Jesus would have prayed during his time on planet earth. In his book Praying with the Church , Scot McKnight notes that Jesus and his disciples,... -
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Two Golden Days
There are two golden days in the week, upon which, and about which, I never worry—two carefree days, kept sacredly free from fear and apprehension. One of these days is Yesterday; Yesterday, with its ... -
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Honoring and Leaving
The challenge each of these faced in their deconstruction—and what we may face—is walking the tightrope between becoming our own person and honoring our past. In The Homeless Mind , sociologist P... -
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Heightening Powers of Perception: the Bad and the Good
The drug problems in the U.S. demonstrate this pattern: by heightening powers of perception, chemical stimulants open up a new world to a generation that has never learned to appreciate fully the worl... -
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The Debt Clock
If you are ever in the mood to feel overwhelmed, discouraged, and downright depressed, hail a cab to the corner of Avenue of the Americas and West 44th Street in New York City. There, you’ll find the ... -
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The Inuit and the Wolf
In the vast, frozen wilderness of the Arctic, an Inuit hunter used a clever technique to trap a wolf. He took a sharp knife and carefully coated its blade with layers of animal blood, letting each lay... -
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Lacking a Clear Path to Faith
One common mistake is assuming that everyone else finds faith easy, while we alone struggle. Yet there is comfort in recognizing that we are not alone in our pursuit of Christ in the midst of a broken... -
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Where’s the Value?
It’s not that unusual for a painting by a famous artist to go for over a million dollars at Sotheby’s in London. It is very unusual that, as soon as the deal is done, the painting immediately “s... -
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Money is Fiction
Jesus warns against greed and seeking wealth, because ultimately, money is fiction. Gold coins? Slips of paper? Ones and zeroes in a computer? They only have value because people think they do.... -
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More Value than a Coffee Pot
A missionary in a Muslim-majority country got a call one day from his wife. Their local house-helper (a common practice in that country) had accidentally dropped and broken their carafe from the coffe... -
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Forgiving Her Husband's Killers
Elizabeth Elliot's story of forgiveness started in 1956 on the banks of the Curaray River in Ecuador when her husband and four other young missionaries were attacked and killed by members of the H... -
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Grace Turns our World Upside Down
At the beginning to the musical Les Misérables , the lead character Jean Valjean is arrested by the police, with silver he has stolen from a kindly bishop who had given him shelter. Valjean is plainl... -
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Following Jesus Requires Real Commitment
What are you willing to do for love? An instructor for the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course shared with a class the major hang-up he had to get over before asking his wife to ma... -
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One Mile at a Time
Journalist Eric Severeid recalls a valuable lesson he learned at seventeen while preparing for an ambitious journey. He and a friend had set out to canoe from Minneapolis to the historic fur-trading p... -
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Learning to Pray by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
When our will wholeheartedly enters into the prayer of Christ, then we pray correctly. Only in Jesus Christ are we able to pray, and with him we also know that we shall be heard. And so we must learn ... -
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The Wordy Pianist
The renowned pianist Arthur Rubinstein (1887–1982), often hailed as one of the greatest musicians of all time, loved to share this humorous story about himself. Known for his gift of conversation—he s... -
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If birds could write books, their story of creation
If birds could write books, their story of creation would no doubt read quite differently than ours. In the first place, I expect they would make quite a lot out of that wind of God that swept over th... -
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Thinking Critically about Power
For years Kyle and I [Jamin Goggin] had no trouble looking critically upon others in their quest for power. We bemoaned the rock-star pastors who were in the spotlight, whose churches appeared to be m...
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Illustration Categories by Topic
A
- Abiding in Christ
- Ability
- Abundance
- Abundant Life
- Abuse
- Abuse of Power
- Accidents
- Accomplishment
- Achievement
- Actions
- Activities
- Addiction
- Advent
- Adventure
- Advice
- Affairs
- Affirmation
- Aim
- Air
- Alcohol
- Alcohol Abuse
- Alcoholism
- Amazement
- Ambition
- Anger
- Animals
- Answered Prayers
- Anticipation
- Anxiety
- Apologetics
- Appreciation
- Arrogance
- Art
- Arts
- Attachments
- Attacks
- Attention
- Authentic Faith
- Authenticity
- Awareness
- Awe
- The American Dream
B
- Bad Day
- Bad Habits
- Baggage
- Banquets
- Beauty
- Beggars
- Behavior
- Behavior Modification
- Being A Child Of God
- Being Enslaved To Sin
- Being Lost
- Being Set Free
- Believing in God
- Believing in Jesus
- Belonging
- Belonging to God
- Belongings
- Betrayal
- Biblical Faithfulness
- Bitterness
- Blind Spots
- Blinded by Sin
- Blindness
- Body and Soul
- Body Image
- Bold Prayers
- Boldness
- Boredom
- Brokenhearted
- Brokenness
- Building Trust
- Burdens
- Business
- Busyness
- Busyness of Christmas
- The Bible
- The Biblical Story
- The Body
C
- Calling
- Calling On God
- Celebrities
- Celebrity
- Challenges
- Challenges of Parenting
- Change
- Changing Habits
- Changing World
- Chaos
- Character Formation
- Character Transformation
- Charity
- Cheating
- Cheerful Giver
- Child of God
- Childlike Faith
- Childlikeness
- Children
- Children of God
- Choices
- Christ The King Sunday
- Christ's Resurrection
- Christian Authenticity
- Christian Community
- Christian Identity
- Christian Leadership
- Christian Love
- Christian Service
- Christian Story
- Christian Values
- Christians
- Christmas
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Gift-Giving
- Christmas Materialism
- Christmas Shopping
- Church and Politics
- Church and Power
- Church Politics
- Church Programs
- Church Unity
- Climbing the Ladder of Success
- Coffee
- Commitment
- Communion
- Community
- Community Service
- Comparison
- Competition
- Complementarity
- Completion
- Complexity
- Complexity of Life
- Concentration
- Confession of Sin
- Confidence
- Conflict
- Conflict Resolution
- Confusion
- Conscience
- Consequences
- Consumer Christianity
- Consumer Culture
- Consumerism
- Contemplation
- Contentment
- Control
- Conversation
- Conversational Prayer
- Conversion
- Cost of Discipleship
- Counting the Cost
- Courage
- Creation
- Crime
- Crises
- Critical Thinking
- Cross-Cultural Experience
- Crowds
- Crucified with Christ
- Cruciform Life
- Currency
- The Center
- The Christian Faith
D
- Dancing
- Dangers of Success
- Dangers of Technology
- Darkness
- Daydreaming
- Days
- Death
- Death and Dying
- Death Has No Power
- Debt
- Debt of Sin
- Decision-Making
- Decisions
- Decisive Moments
- Dedication
- Denying Self
- Dependence on God
- Deprivation
- Deserving
- Desire
- Despair
- Destructive Behavior
- Devil
- Dialogue
- Digital Age
- Directions
- Disappointment
- Discipleship
- Discipline
- Disconnection
- Discontent
- Discovery
- Disobedience
- Disorientation
- Distraction
- Do Not Fear
- Doctrine
- Dogs
- Domestic Abuse
- Double-Minded
- Drive
- Drugs
- The Digital World
- The Disciples
E
- Earthiness
- Easter
- Embodiment
- Emotions
- Empty Words
- Endings
- Enemies
- Entertainment
- Envy
- Epiphanies
- Equality
- Eschatology (End Times)
- Essentials
- Eternal
- Eternal Life
- Evangelism
- Everyday Life
- Evil
- Excellence
- Excitement
- Exile
- Existence of the Devil
- Expectations
- Exploitation
- Eye of the Heart
- Eyes
- Eyesight
- The Early Church
- The Epiphany
F
- Failure
- Faith
- Faith and Doubt
- Faith and Prayer
- Faith in Action
- Faith of the Church
- Faith Seeking Understanding
- Faithfulness
- False Religion
- Fame
- Family
- Family Dysfunction
- Father
- Father's Day
- Fatherhood of God
- Fathers
- Fathers and Sons
- Favoritism
- Fear
- Fear of Death
- Fears
- Feelings
- Fellowship
- Fickleness
- Financial Resources
- Financial Struggles
- Five Senses
- Flourishing
- Focus
- Following Jesus
- Food
- Football (American)
- Forgetfulness
- Forgiveness
- Forgiveness for the Past
- Formation
- Freedom from Sin
- Fullness of Life
- Funerals
- Future
G
- Gardening
- Genealogies
- Generosity
- Getting Comfortable
- Gifts
- Giving
- Giving and Receiving
- Giving Freely
- Giving in to Temptation
- Giving to the Poor
- Goals
- God
- God Cares For You
- God the Creator
- God the Father
- God's Creation
- God's Guidance
- God's Invitations
- God's Plans
- God's Promises
- God's Protection
- God's Provision
- God's Pursuit
- God's Silence
- God's Story
- God's Unfailing Love
- God's Will
- God's Word
- Going Through the Motions
- Going to Church
- Good and Evil
- Good Life
- Goodness
- Goodness of Creation
- Goodness of God
- Gospel
- Government
- Grace
- Gratitude
- Greatness of God
- Greed
- Growing Up
- Growth
- Growth Mindset
- Guidance
- The Glory of God
H
- Habits
- Happiness
- Hardship
- Harvest
- Having A Wake-Up Call
- Healing
- Healing the Past
- Healing Wounds
- Healthy Parenting
- Hearing What We Want to Hear
- Heart
- Heart Change
- Hearts
- Heaven
- Helping the Poor
- Helplessness
- High Performance
- Hoarding
- Holiness
- Home
- Home Ownership
- Homelessness
- Honesty
- Honor
- Hope
- Hospitals
- House of the Lord
- Human Condition
- Human Qualities
- Humanity
- Humble Prayer
- Humble Service
- Humility
- Humor
- Hunger
- Hypocrisy
- The Holy Spirit
I
- Identity
- Idolatry
- Idols
- Ignorance
- Illness
- Illusion
- Impact
- Impurity
- In, But Not Of, the World
- Information
- Information Overload
- Injury
- Injustice
- Inner Critic
- Inner Peace
- Insanity
- Insecurity
- Inspiration
- Integrity
- Intentionality
- Intimacy
- Investments
- Invitation
- Invitations
- Irony
- Irresistible
- The Image of God
- The Incarnation
- The Internet
J
L
- Lack of Forgiveness
- Lack of Presence
- Learning to Pray
- Legacy
- Leisure
- Lent
- Life
- Life after Death
- Life is Short
- Life of Faith
- Life of Purpose
- Life to the Full
- Light Bulb Moment
- Listening
- Little Things
- Living Sacrifice
- Living Water
- Loans
- Longings
- Losing Control
- Love
- Love of Money
- Loving God
- Loving our Enemies
- Loyalty
- The Lord's Prayer
- The Lord's Supper
M
- Mammon
- Manipulation
- Marriage
- Martyrdom
- Masks
- Materialism
- Maturity
- Meals
- Meaninglessness
- Media
- Meditation
- Memorization
- Mental Health
- Mental Illness
- Mercy
- Military Service
- Mind
- Ministry
- Missionaries
- Missions
- Mistakes
- Modern Life
- Modern Religious Life
- Modernity
- Moments
- Money
- Moral Choices
- Moral Failures
- Mortality
- Motivations
- Mourning
- Murder
- Music
- Mystery
- Mystery of Life
- Mysticism
- The Magi
- The Military
O
P
- Pace
- Pacifism
- Pain
- Pain and Growth
- Panic Attacks
- Paradox
- Parental Advice
- Parents
- Past, Present and Future
- Pastors
- Patience
- Paul
- Perfection
- Performance
- Perseverance
- Personality
- Perspective
- Pharisaism
- Pharisees
- Phones
- Plans
- Political Leaders
- Politicians
- Politics
- Poor
- Poor in Spirit
- Popularity
- Possessions
- Poverty
- Power of Sin
- Praise Music
- Prayer
- Prayer Life
- Praying for your Enemies
- Praying in Public
- Praying with Expectance
- Preaching
- Preaching Christ
- Preaching the Gospel
- Presence
- Pressure
- Pressure to Succeed
- Price
- Prices
- Pride
- Priorities
- Promises
- Prosperity Gospel
- Protection
- Providence
- Provision
- Public Witness
- Publicity
- Purity
- Purpose
- The Psalms
R
- Race (Running)
- Raising Children
- Reading the Bible
- Real Estate
- Reality
- Receiving Forgiveness
- Receiving Gifts
- Receiving Grace
- Reconciliation
- Recovery from Addiction
- Redemption
- Reflection
- Refugees
- Release
- Religion
- Religion and Politics
- Religions
- Religious Experience
- Religious Pluralism
- Relying on Jesus
- Repentance
- Reputation
- Rescue
- Resentment
- Resisting Temptation
- Rest
- Rest in God
- Restlessness
- Returning to God
- Revenge
- Rhythms of Rest
- Rich and Poor
- Righteousness
- Risks
- The Roman Empire
S
- Sabbath
- Sacrifice
- Sacrificial Giving
- Sacrificial Living
- Sacrificial Love
- Safety
- Saint Nicholas
- Salvation
- Sanctification
- Santa Claus
- Scars
- School
- Science
- Screens
- Scripture
- Scripture Application
- Secrets
- Security
- Seeking Power
- Seeking the Kingdom
- Self-Absorption
- Self-Achievement
- Self-Centeredness
- Self-Control
- Self-Destruction
- Self-Exaltation
- Self-Examination
- Self-Forgetfulness
- Self-Glory
- Self-Love
- Self-Promotion
- Self-Regard
- Self-Sacrifice
- Selfishness
- Selflessness
- Sermon on the Mount
- Servant Leadership
- Servanthood
- Service
- Serving God
- Serving your Neighbor
- Set Apart
- Sex
- Sexual Immorality
- Sexual License
- Sexual Temptation
- Shame
- Sight
- Silence
- Simplicity
- Sin
- Sinfulness
- Sins
- Slowing Down
- Smart Phones
- Smoking
- Social Media
- Society
- Soil
- Solitude
- Spacing Out
- Speaking Truth to Power
- Speech
- Speed
- Spiritual Disciplines
- Spiritual Formation
- Spiritual Nurture
- Spiritual Practices
- Spiritual Transformation
- Sports
- Starving
- Staying Humble
- Steadfast
- Stealing
- Step by Step
- Stewardship
- Stillness
- Storytelling
- Striving
- Struggles
- Struggles with Prayer
- Stuff
- Submission
- Success
- Suffering
- Surprise
- Surrender
- The Soul
- The Spiritual Life
T
- Taking A Leap Of Faith
- Taking Thoughts Captive
- Talents
- Talking
- Targets
- Technological Progress
- Technology
- Television
- Temptation
- Thanksgiving (General)
- Thinking
- Thought
- Thought Life
- Thought World
- Thoughts
- Time
- Today
- Tomorrow
- Tongue
- Tradition
- Training
- Transformation
- Trap
- Treasure
- Trust
- Trust in God
- Trust in Jesus
- Trust like a Child
- Truth and Beauty
U
Illustration_categories by Reference
Leviticus
Ruth
1 Samuel
1 Chronicles
Psalm
- Ps 1 (2)
- Ps 8 (1)
- Ps 16 (1)
- Ps 17 (1)
- Ps 19 (4)
- Ps 23 (5)
- Ps 24 (2)
- Ps 25 (1)
- Ps 34 (7)
- Ps 37 (8)
- Ps 39 (2)
- Ps 42 (1)
- Ps 46 (12)
- Ps 49 (1)
- Ps 51 (1)
- Ps 55 (1)
- Ps 56 (2)
- Ps 62 (3)
- Ps 63 (1)
- Ps 65 (1)
- Ps 73 (1)
- Ps 90 (4)
- Ps 91 (1)
- Ps 94 (1)
- Ps 96 (1)
- Ps 103 (2)
- Ps 104 (5)
- Ps 115 (5)
- Ps 118 (2)
- Ps 119 (7)
- Ps 121 (1)
- Ps 123 (1)
- Ps 127 (1)
- Ps 130 (1)
- Ps 131 (3)
- Ps 139 (2)
- Ps 141 (1)
- Ps 147 (1)
- Ps 148 (1)