Browse Sermon Illustrations
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Facing the Giants: Personal Mercies for Personal Mornings - Baptist (Lamentations 3:22-23)
In the movie *Facing the Giants*, there’s a moment that resonates deeply with our own lives when we consider the mercies of God. Picture Coach Grant Taylor, a man weighed down by the burden of unmet expectations and looming defeat....
Jesus Revolution: Chuck Smith Training a Generation - Charismatic (Proverbs 22:6)
Imagine a sun-drenched morning in the early 1970s, the air rich with the scent of fresh coffee and the sound of guitars strumming softly in the background. In a humble church in Costa Mesa, California, Chuck Smith stands before a...
Harriet: The Call to Costly Obedience - Anabaptist (Exodus 3)
Imagine the heat of the Georgia sun beating down on Harriet Tubman as she stands at the edge of a dense forest, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and resolve. It is the mid-1800s, and every rustle in...
The Color Purple: Love That Liberates - Black Church (1 John 4:7-8)
In *The Color Purple*, we witness Celie's journey from darkness to light, a transformation sparked by the radiant love of Shug Avery. Imagine Celie, a young woman burdened by a lifetime of abuse, her spirit shackled by the chains of...
The Mission: Cross-Cultural Answers - Missional (1 Peter 3:15)
In the film "The Mission," we meet Father Gabriel, a Jesuit priest who finds himself in the heart of the dense, vibrant jungles of South America. Picture this: the lush green canopy overhead, the sound of exotic birds filling the...
Hacksaw Ridge: Nonviolent Courage - Anabaptist (Joshua 1:9)
In the harrowing landscape of World War II, amidst the chaos of guns and explosions, there stood a man who chose a path that bewildered those around him: Desmond Doss. With the roar of battle raging like a tempest, he...
Les Misérables: Love That Transforms - Traditional (1 John 4:7-8)
In Victor Hugo's *Les Misérables*, we encounter a transformative moment within the cold, dark streets of 19th-century Paris, where the weight of human despair hangs thick in the air. Picture the weary figure of Jean Valjean, a man hardened by...
Romero: Stillness Before Prophetic Confrontation - Liberation (Psalm 46:10)
In the heart of El Salvador, amidst the tension that crackled like electricity in the air, Archbishop Oscar Romero would often retreat to the chapel, the flickering candlelight casting gentle shadows on the walls as he knelt before the Blessed...
Facing the Giants: Personal Witness in Community - Baptist (Matthew 5:13-16)
Imagine a high school football field on a crisp autumn Friday night, the air thick with the scent of popcorn and hot dogs wafting from the concession stand. The bleachers are packed, a sea of faces illuminated by the flickering...
Les Misérables: Armor That Must Be Put On - Wesleyan (Ephesians 6:10-18)
In Victor Hugo’s *Les Misérables*, we find Jean Valjean, a man forged in the fires of relentless adversity. Imagine him, weary yet resolute, standing in the shadow of the prison where he once lost his freedom. Every day, he awakens...
Call the Midwife: Corporal Mercy in Action - Catholic (Romans 12:9-21)
In the bustling streets of post-war London, amongst the shadows of bombed-out buildings, the nuns and midwives of *Call the Midwife* emerge as beacons of genuine love and compassion, living out the profound truths found in Romans 12. Picture Sister...
Babette's Feast: Cooking as Divine Service - Lutheran (Colossians 3:23-24)
Imagine a humble kitchen in a small, windswept village nestled between rolling green hills—this is the world of Babette, a refugee who has found sanctuary among a group of devout Scandinavian Lutherans. With the flicker of candlelight dancing off the...
Harriet: The Way to Freedom - Black Church (John 14:1-6)
As we reflect on the truth that Jesus is "the way," let us turn our hearts to the remarkable journey of Harriet Tubman. Picture the dark, moonlit nights in the deep South, where hope flickered like a candle in a...
Selma: The Shepherd Who Leads Through Struggle - Progressive (Psalm 23)
As the sun rose over Selma on that fateful day in March 1965, the air buzzed with a mixture of hope and trepidation. Thousands gathered, their voices rising in unison, marching resolutely toward the Edmund Pettus Bridge. They knew the...
Romero: Prophetic Joy, Prayer, Thanks - Liberation (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
In the heart of El Salvador, amidst the swirling dust of conflict and the cries for justice, stood a man whose life echoed the words of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Archbishop Oscar Romero was no ordinary shepherd; he was a beacon...
The Truman Show: Good Morning and Good Night (1 John 2:15-17)
Imagine yourself in the quaint town of Seahaven, where the sun always seems to shine just right, casting a warm golden glow over perfectly manicured lawns and white picket fences. It’s a place where everyone knows your name, or at...
Romero: Revolutionary Fruit - Liberation (Galatians 5:22-23)
In the heart of El Salvador, during the turbulent days of the late 20th century, Archbishop Oscar Romero stood as a beacon of hope amidst despair. Picture a dimly lit church filled with the weary faces of the marginalized—farmers who...
Babette's Feast: Fruit That Flows From Grace Received - Lutheran (Galatians 5:22-23)
In the heart of a small Danish village, Babette, a French refugee with a past shrouded in both pain and beauty, inherits a fortune from a long-lost relative. Instead of retreating into her newfound wealth, she decides to host a...
Facing the Giants: Personal Armor for Personal Battle - Baptist (Ephesians 6:10-18)
Picture this: it’s a Friday night in a small-town high school gym, the air thick with the scent of popcorn and the electric buzz of excitement. The bleachers are alive with the cheers of fans—friends, family, and neighbors—all gathered to...
Into Great Silence: Contemplative Knowing - Catholic (Psalm 46:10)
In the hushed valleys of the French Alps, there exists a place where time seems to stand still—a Carthusian monastery named La Grande Chartreuse. Here, the monks live in a rhythm that echoes the words of Psalm 46:10: “Be still,...
The Passion of the Christ: God's Love Defined at Calvary - Christocentric (1 John 4:7-8)
Imagine for a moment a small town, where the hustle and bustle of everyday life unfolds under the warm glow of the setting sun. In that town lived a woman named Clara, who was known for her deep generosity and...
I Can Only Imagine: Testimony as Answer - Wesleyan (1 Peter 3:15)
Imagine a warm summer evening in a small town, where the sun is slowly dipping below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. The air is filled with the sweet scent of blooming jasmine, and the...
Monsters Inc: Laughter Over Fear (1 John 4:18)
In the whimsical world of Monstropolis, the very fabric of society is woven from the fabric of fear. Imagine walking through the brightly colored streets, where the laughter of children is a distant echo, overshadowed by the chilling sounds of...
Oppenheimer: Knowledge, Responsibility, and the Weight of Creation (Genesis 1:26-28)
In Christopher Nolan's gripping film *Oppenheimer*, we are thrust into the world of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a man burdened with the weight of his intellect and the consequences of his creations. Imagine the scene: the sun setting over the New...