Browse Sermon Illustrations
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Jesus Revolution: Trusting the Spirit Over Programs - Charismatic (Proverbs 3:5-6)
In the heart of the 1960s, a time of turbulence and change, there was a small church in Southern California that seemed worlds apart from the chaos outside. Pastors Chuck Smith and Lonnie Frisbee found themselves on the precipice of...
Harriet: Freedom Faith as Answer - Black Church (1 Peter 3:15)
In the quiet, moonlit nights of the Antebellum South, when the air was thick with the scent of magnolia and the distant sound of crickets sang a haunting lullaby, Harriet Tubman emerged not just as a woman of courage but...
Hidden Figures: Excellence Despite Injustice - Progressive (Colossians 3:23-24)
In the heart of NASA’s Langley Research Center during the 1960s, three remarkable women, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, forged their paths in a world that sought to confine them. Imagine Katherine, with her sharp pencil and tireless...
Chariots of Fire: Running With Fire - Wesleyan (Acts 2)
Imagine a small, dimly lit room on a chilly evening in Edinburgh. The air is thick with anticipation as a group of fervent seekers gathers to pray. Among them is John Wesley, a man whose heart yearns for an encounter...
Chariots of Fire: Ordered Life, Fearless Living - Anglican (Isaiah 41:10)
Imagine a foggy morning in the Scottish Highlands, where the world feels shrouded in uncertainty—much like the fears that often loom large in our own lives. In the midst of this, Eric Liddell, the famed Olympic runner, steps onto the...
The Prince of Egypt: When You Believe (Hebrews 11:1)
As the sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and crimson, the air was thick with the cries of despair and hope. Picture the Israelites, weary and trembling, standing at the edge of the...
The Prince of Egypt: Fire That Burns But Doesn't Consume - Pentecostal (Exodus 3)
Imagine the desert sun setting behind the rugged mountains of Midian, casting long shadows across the dry, cracked earth. In this desolate expanse, Moses, a man marked by past failures and uncertainties, wanders—his heart heavy with the weight of regret....
The Matrix: Red Pill or Blue Pill (John 8:32)
Imagine you’re in a dimly lit room, the air thick with anticipation. You're surrounded by people, each one wearing a mask of comfort, their eyes glazed over in a hypnotic state of contentment. This is the world Neo finds himself...
There Will Be Blood: I Have Abandoned My Child (1 Timothy 6:10)
Picture a desolate stretch of the California landscape, sunbaked and cracked, where Daniel Plainview stands, drill bit whirring like a hungry beast devouring the earth. He’s not just extracting oil; he’s unearthing a fortune that glimmers with the promise of...
The Sound of Music: Maria Training the Von Trapp Children - Catholic (Proverbs 22:6)
Picture the rolling hills of Austria, where the sun spills golden light over the verdant landscape, and a gentle breeze rustles through the trees. In a cozy home, filled with laughter and the sweet sound of children’s voices, Maria von...
Andrei Rublev: Icons as Light - Orthodox (Matthew 5:13-16)
Imagine stepping into a quiet, dimly-lit room, the air thick with anticipation. In front of you hangs a painting—a vibrant icon by the renowned Andrei Rublev. The hues of gold and deep blue shimmer, catching the flicker of candlelight, drawing...
I Can Only Imagine: Personal Joy Through Personal Trials - Baptist (James 1:2-4)
In the film "I Can Only Imagine," we journey alongside Bart Millard, a young boy growing up in a home steeped in turmoil. Imagine a modest living room filled with the echoes of a father’s angry shouts, the flickering light...
Jesus Revolution: Holy Spirit Boldness - Charismatic (Joshua 1:9)
Imagine a sun-soaked California beach in the late 1960s, the air thick with the sweet scent of saltwater and sunscreen. Waves crash rhythmically as groups of young people, adorned with colorful tie-dye and flowing hair, gather around bonfires. But amid...
The Pursuit of Happyness: Faith Through the Valley (Psalm 23:4)
In the film *The Pursuit of Happyness*, we are drawn into the heart-wrenching journey of Chris Gardner, a father who finds himself in the depths of despair, sleeping in a subway bathroom with his young son, Christopher. The cold tiles...
Gladiator: The King's Final Command - Traditional (Great Commission)
In the epic film *Gladiator*, we witness a heart-wrenching scene as the dying Emperor Marcus Aurelius, a philosopher-king, turns to Maximus, the valiant general who has fought tirelessly for Rome. With a frail hand resting on Maximus's shoulder, Aurelius entrusts...
War Room: Spirit-Empowered Ethics - Pentecostal (Micah 6:8)
In the heart of a bustling neighborhood, there lived a woman named Clara. Every Saturday, she would sit at her small kitchen table, surrounded by the soft glow of morning light spilling through the window. Yet, Clara's heart was heavy,...
This Is Us: Seasons of Life - Traditional (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
In the beloved series *This Is Us*, we journey through the intricate tapestry of the Pearson family’s life, where every laughter, tear, and quiet moment serves as a poignant reminder of the seasons we all experience. Picture Jack and Rebecca,...
Selma: Your Daughters Shall Prophesy - Progressive (Acts 2)
In the sweltering heat of Selma, Alabama, an ordinary Sunday afternoon transformed into an extraordinary moment in history. Picture the scene: the sun beating down on resilient marchers, their faces glistening with determination and hope. Among them were women like...
The Shawshank Redemption: Grace Offered, Faith Received - Wesleyan (Ephesians 2:8-9)
In the heart of the sprawling Shawshank prison, a flickering light of hope shines through a cracked window. It's a dim and unforgiving place, yet within these walls, a remarkable friendship blooms between two men: Andy Dufresne and his steadfast...
Left Behind: Urgent Mission Before the End - Dispensational (Great Commission)
Imagine a bustling city square, the air thick with the aroma of roasting chestnuts and the laughter of children playing nearby. In this vivid scene, a small group of friends gathers around a flickering campfire, sharing stories of adventure and...
The Chosen: Victory Through Apparent Defeat - Charismatic (Isaiah 53)
As I watched *The Chosen*, I was struck by the palpable tension as the storyline built toward Jerusalem. The familiar streets, dusty and worn, echoed with the footsteps of pilgrims, each step carrying them closer not just to a city,...
The Passion of the Christ: Looking to Jesus, Author of Faith - Christocentric (Hebrews 11:1-6)
Imagine a crowded stadium, the air thick with anticipation. Fans decked out in their team colors are buzzing with excitement, eyes fixed on the center of the field where a lone figure stands. This is not just any athlete; this...
Nomadland: Blessed Are the Poor - Progressive (Beatitudes)
In the film *Nomadland*, we meet Fern, a woman who, after the economic collapse of a small town in Nevada, finds herself living in a van, traversing the vast American landscape. As she travels from one dusty campsite to another,...
Romero: Rest for Prophetic Burden-Bearers - Liberation (Matthew 11:28-30)
In the shadow of El Salvador's rolling hills, Archbishop Oscar Romero walked a path laden with sorrow and strife. He was a shepherd among his people, yet his heart bore the weight of countless murdered priests and a flock threatened...