Browse Sermon Illustrations
967 illustrations available
Babette's Feast: Trust That Releases Control - Lutheran (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Picture a small, windswept Danish village, its cobblestone streets lined with quaint cottages, each one echoing with the familiar scents of simple, hearty meals. It’s here that Babette, a French woman with a mysterious past, arrives as a refugee, carrying...
The Chosen: Supernatural Power, Humble Service - Charismatic (Micah 6:8)
In the captivating series *The Chosen*, we witness a profound tapestry of grace woven through the lives of those often overlooked. Picture the dusty streets of Capernaum, where the air is thick with the scent of fish and the sounds...
The Wizard of Oz: There Is No Place Like Home (Psalm 90:1)
Imagine Dorothy Gale, a young girl with dreams as vibrant as the Kansas sunflowers swaying in the breeze. One fateful day, a cyclone rips through her small hometown, whisking her away to the fantastical land of Oz. There, she meets...
Sense and Sensibility: Love Balanced by Wisdom - Anglican (1 Corinthians 13)
In the heart of the English countryside, where the rolling hills meet the gentle streams, two sisters navigate the tumultuous waters of love in Jane Austen's *Sense and Sensibility*. Elinor Dashwood, the elder sister, is a portrait of grace under...
Cast Away: When God Feels Silent (Psalm 22:1-2)
Picture Chuck Noland, a man marooned on a desolate island, the relentless sun beating down on his weary back. He was once a busy FedEx executive, his life a flurry of meetings and packages, but now he finds himself alone—truly,...
The Passion of the Christ: Love Demonstrated at the Cross - Christocentric (1 Corinthians 13)
As I watched *The Passion of the Christ*, I was struck by a scene that encapsulated love in its most raw and powerful form. Imagine, if you will, the dusty streets of Jerusalem, the sun beating down with an intensity...
The Lord of the Rings: The Son Sent to Save Middle-earth - Christocentric
In *The Lord of the Rings*, we witness a profound tapestry woven with threads of sacrifice and redemption, echoing the heart of John 3:16. Picture the dark, foreboding mines of Moria, where Gandalf stands against the monstrous Balrog. As the...
The Letters: Mother Teresa and the Twelve Fruits - Catholic (Galatians 5:22-23)
In the film *The Letters*, we are invited into the profound life of Mother Teresa, a woman who vividly embodied the fruits of the Spirit as she served the poorest of the poor in the slums of Calcutta. Picture her...
The Mission: Fear Not in Mission Territory - Missional (Isaiah 41:10)
In the heart of the Amazon rainforest, where the cacophony of chirping insects and distant bird calls blend with the whispers of ancient trees, Father Gabriel stood at the edge of a village untouched by modern civilization. His heart raced,...
The Passion of the Christ: Christ's Weakness, Ultimate Power - Christocentric (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
Imagine a small, weary village, nestled in the shadow of towering mountains. The people here face relentless storms that batter their homes and threaten to wash away their hopes. One day, a humble carpenter named Elias arrives, carrying nothing but...
Facing the Giants: Personal Rest Through Personal Encounter - Baptist (Matthew 11:28-30)
As the sun began to set over the small town of Shiloh, Coach Grant Taylor stood at the edge of a vast, empty football field, the cool breeze ruffling the grass beneath his feet. In that moment, he was not...
Selma: Trusting God's Way Over Conventional Wisdom - Progressive (Proverbs 3:5-6)
In March 1965, the streets of Selma, Alabama, were filled with tension and uncertainty. The air crackled with a mix of hope and fear as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a diverse throng of men and women, young and...
Witness: A Counter-Cultural Community's Quiet Witness - Anabaptist (Great Commission)
In the movie *Witness*, we find a Philadelphia detective named John Book, played by Harrison Ford, who is thrust into the heart of an Amish community after witnessing a murder. What strikes him most profoundly is not just the simplicity...
It's a Wonderful Life: One Life's Ripple Effect (Matthew 5:13-16)
Picture George Bailey, standing on that frigid bridge, the chill of despair wrapping around him like a heavy cloak. The city lights of Bedford Falls flicker dimly in the distance, but to George, they are merely reflections of his own...
The Mission: Missionary Joy, Prayer, Thanks - Missional (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
In the film *The Mission*, we meet Father Gabriel, an unlikely hero who braves the dense, vibrant jungles of South America. Picture him there, surrounded by towering trees, their leaves whispering secrets in the wind, as he sets out to...
Jesus Revolution: Radical Surrender to the Spirit - Charismatic (Romans 12:1-2)
Imagine for a moment the vibrant streets of San Francisco in the 1970s, where the air was thick with the scent of incense and the sound of revolution echoed off the walls of colorful murals. Picture a group of young...
Cesar Chavez: Naming the Sin That Oppresses - Liberation (Genesis 3)
In the heart of California’s Central Valley, the sun beats down mercilessly upon the rows of crops. Workers, faces lined with fatigue yet filled with hope, toil in the fields, their hands stained with soil and sweat. But the promise...
Luther (2003): Word-Created Courage - Lutheran (Deuteronomy 31:6)
In the historic city of Worms, Germany, the air was thick with tension as Martin Luther stood before a formidable assembly of church leaders and the Holy Roman Empire. Imagine the scene: the grand hall, filled with the murmurs of...
The Tree of Life: Participating in Divine Love - Orthodox
In Terrence Malick's poignant film *The Tree of Life*, we are taken on a breathtaking journey that spans the vastness of the universe and dives into the intimate moments of family life. Picture a quiet Texas backyard, where the golden...
The Lion King: Remember Who You Are (1 Peter 2:9)
In the heart of the African savannah, a young lion named Simba stood at the edge of a vast horizon, grappling with the weight of his past. After the tragic death of his father, Mufasa, Simba fled into the wilderness,...
The Lord of the Rings: Armed for Spiritual Battle - Traditional (Ephesians 6:10-18)
Imagine, if you will, the scene as the Fellowship of the Ring gathers in the shadow of Mount Doom, the air thick with anticipation and fear. The sky hangs heavy like a shroud, dark clouds swirling as if echoing the...
Les Misérables: Growing Into Beatitude Character - Wesleyan (Matthew 5:3-12)
Picture a once-broken man named Jean Valjean, emerging from the shadows of a cold, damp prison cell. The clang of iron bars and the stench of despair had been his companions for years, but within him flickered a flame of...
Facing the Giants: Personal Courage Through Personal Presence - Baptist (Deuteronomy 31:6)
In the film *Facing the Giants*, we meet Coach Grant Taylor, a man grappling with the weight of despair. Picture him standing on the sidelines of a dusty football field, the sun setting behind him as shadows stretch across the...
Witness: The Shepherd's Alternative Community - Anabaptist (Psalm 23)
Imagine, if you will, a quaint Amish community nestled in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, where time seems to slow down and the burdens of modern life fade away like mist at dawn. Picture a serene afternoon as the sun...