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HomeIllustrations

8,948 Illustrations

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Top Rated Newest Oldest|All Sources Biblical Illustrator Spurgeon Maclaren

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Sermon Illustration

The Moment the Verdict Changed Everything

On June 19, 2019, a Dallas courtroom fell silent. Botham Jean had been shot and killed in his own apartment by off-duty police officer Amber...

Acts 2:14a, 36-41Universal

234 words

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Sermon Illustration

A Modern Story of Prophecy - Biblical Analogy

In the heart of our bustling city, where the noise of life often drowns out the whispers of hope, there’s a small café that has become a refuge for many. One rainy afternoon, a young woman named Sarah, weighed down...

Galatians 3:28Black Church

332 words

Sermon Illustration

When the Thunder Spoke Over Lake Pontchartrain

On August 29, 2021, Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana with 150-mile-per-hour winds. Marcus Thibodaux, a shrimper from Lafitte, had weathered dozens of storms in...

Psalm 29Universal

214 words

Sermon Illustration

The Save You Never Had to Click

Every writer over forty remembers the sickening moment: a power surge, a frozen screen, and the realization that you hadn't clicked "Save" in the last...

Universalgrace

220 words

Sermon Illustration

The Hymn That Emptied a Jewelry Box

In February 1874, Frances Ridley Havergal penned the words that would become one of the church's most beloved hymns: *Take My Life and Let It...

Universalsacrifice

256 words

Sermon Illustration

What the Shark Couldn't Reach

On October 31, 2003, thirteen-year-old Bethany Hamilton was lying on her surfboard off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, when a fourteen-foot tiger shark seized her...

Universalidentity

238 words

Sermon Illustration

The Dismantling Tyrannical Leadership Challenge - Biblical Analogy

In the heart of Jerusalem, over two thousand years ago, the prophet Micah stood before a people weary from oppression, their spirits crushed under the weight of tyrannical leaders. Can you picture it? The dusty streets, the hushed whispers of...

Micah 6:8Black Church

270 words

Sermon Illustration

A Story of Humility - Contemporary Example

In a small town, there lived a woman named Clara, known for her unassuming spirit and quiet strength. For years, she worked as a nurse in the local clinic, tending to the sick and weary with a heart full of...

Isaiah 40:31Reformed

256 words

Sermon Illustration

Lessons from Diversity & Inclusion - Contemporary Example

In our ever-evolving society, the concepts of Diversity and Inclusion can often feel like a turbulent sea, with waves of challenge crashing against our boats of faith. Yet, amidst this chaos, there lies a profound opportunity for us to live...

Romans 12:2Progressive/Social Justice

303 words

Sermon Illustration

The Composer Who Refused to Stay Silent

In the autumn of 1741, George Frideric Handel was a broken man. At fifty-six, the once-celebrated composer had suffered a stroke that paralyzed his right...

Universalperseverance

238 words

Sermon Illustration

When Gentleness - Contemporary Example

A few weeks ago, I came across a heartwarming story about a local soup kitchen that had recently faced a difficult season. Their long-time head chef, a spirited woman named Maria, had become ill and was unable to lead the...

John 3:16Reformed

262 words

Sermon Illustration

The Signal You Cannot See

Every time you open Google Maps on your phone, you participate in an act of trust so routine you have stopped noticing it. Your device...

Universalfaith

246 words

Sermon Illustration

Lessons from Mercy - Story

A few months ago, I found myself in a café, the kind with large windows that frame the busy street outside. I watched as a young mother gently cradled her newborn in one arm while expertly balancing a cup of...

John 3:16Anglican

261 words

Sermon Illustration

A Modern Story of Climate Change & Stewardship - Contemporary Example

In our current age, the climate crisis looms large as a profound moral challenge, echoing the ancient call of stewardship found in the parable of the talents. We have been entrusted with a precious gift—our planet—and we will be held...

Romans 12:2Progressive/Social Justice

326 words

Sermon Illustration

The Masterpiece Nobody Expected

In the spring of 1741, George Frideric Handel was a ruined man. His operas had fallen out of fashion in London. Creditors circled. A stroke...

Universalperseverance

253 words

Sermon Illustration

The Power of Justice - Story

In a small town, there lived a man named Thomas, known for his unwavering faith and commitment to justice. He spent his days working at the local food bank, ensuring that every family in need had enough to eat. One...

Jeremiah 29:11Traditional

257 words

Sermon Illustration

When Joy - Contemporary Example

Last summer, my neighbor, Miss Clara, decided to host a garden party for the community. Now, Miss Clara is in her late seventies, and while most of us might think of a quiet afternoon with a book at that age,...

2 Timothy 1:7Missional

251 words

Sermon Illustration

The Power of Courage - Contemporary Example

There’s a remarkable woman named Lydia, a seller of purple goods, whose story unfolds in Acts 16. She wasn’t just a businesswoman; she was a seeker of truth, a courageous heart in a world that often overlooked women like her....

Matthew 28:19-20Traditional

256 words

Sermon Illustration

A Story of Righteousness - Contemporary Example

There’s a woman named Mary who attends a small community church in our town. Mary has faced her share of struggles—divorce, unemployment, and the illness of a loved one. Yet, through it all, she has embodied a sense of righteousness...

Hebrews 11:1Eastern Orthodox

270 words

Sermon Illustration

The Player Who Won by Not Swinging Back

In August 1945, Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey sat across from Jackie Robinson and said something unexpected. "I'm looking for a ballplayer with guts...

Universalpatience

206 words

Sermon Illustration

The Letter That Arrived on a Tuesday

In 1987, a retired Sunday school teacher named Dorothy Caldwell lived alone in a small apartment in Terre Haute, Indiana. She had spent thirty-one years...

3 John 1:4Universal

243 words

Sermon Illustration

The Quiet Giant

In July 2016, Tim Duncan retired from the NBA after nineteen seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. Five championships. Two league MVP awards. Fifteen All-Star...

Universalhumility

232 words

Sermon Illustration

Science Illustration: Biology and the Gift of Life

Imagine standing in a sunlit forest, where the air is rich with the scent of pine and earth. As you gaze up at the towering trees swaying gently in the breeze, consider the delicate dance of life happening all around...

Psalm 104:24-30Universal

235 words

Sermon Illustration

The Father Who Kept the First Drawing

In 2014, a journalist interviewing retired schoolteacher Margaret Ellison in Savannah, Georgia, noticed something peculiar on her refrigerator. Pinned beneath a magnet was a crayon...

Hosea 11:1Universal

230 words