Browse Sermon Illustrations
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Of Gods and Men: Ecclesial Courage Facing Martyrdom - Catholic (Deuteronomy 31:6)
Picture a sun-drenched courtyard in Algeria, where the air is thick with the scent of olive trees and the sound of distant prayer bells. Here, in this sacred space, stood a group of Trappist monks, men of deep faith named...
Chariots of Fire: Ordered Courage Through Formed Faith - Anglican (Deuteronomy 31:6)
Imagine the scene: the year is 1924, the location, the Paris Olympics. The roar of the crowd fills the air, a cacophony of excitement and expectation. Among the athletes, there stands Eric Liddell, a man of remarkable talent and unwavering...
Ostrov (The Island): Hesychast Peace - Orthodox (Philippians 4:6-7)
Picture a remote island off the coast of Russia, where the sun rises slowly over the still waters, casting golden hues across the horizon. This is where Father Anatoly lives, a man whose very presence seems to radiate a profound...
The Letters: Daily Work as Daily Mass - Catholic (Colossians 3:23-24)
In the heart of Calcutta, amid the sweltering heat and the cacophony of bustling streets, Mother Teresa and her dedicated sisters found themselves in the midst of one of life’s most profound realities: the dying. Each day, they gathered in...
Selma: Joy in the Struggle - Progressive (James 1:2-4)
In the heart of Selma, Alabama, on a humid March morning in 1965, a crowd of determined faces gathered at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Among them was a young woman named Amelia, her heart pounding not just with fear, but...
To Kill a Mockingbird: What the Lord Requires - Traditional (Micah 6:8)
In the dusty streets of Maycomb, Alabama, where the sweltering sun casts long shadows and the cicadas sing their relentless song, stands Atticus Finch, a man who embodies the heart of Micah 6:8. Picture this: it’s a hot summer afternoon,...
Hacksaw Ridge: Weaponless Weakness, Kingdom Power - Anabaptist (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
In the chaos of war, where the ground rumbles with the cacophony of gunfire and the air thickens with the acrid scent of smoke, one man stood apart. Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector during World War II, refused to wield...
Les Misérables: Peace Through Practiced Prayer - Wesleyan (Philippians 4:6-7)
Imagine a cold, dreary Parisian night, the kind that seeps into your bones and makes you feel utterly alone. Jean Valjean, a man shadowed by years of injustice and pain, wanders through the narrow streets, an exile from hope. His...
Chariots of Fire: Articulate Faith - Anglican (1 Peter 3:15)
Imagine the roaring crowds in the 1924 Paris Olympics, the air thick with anticipation and the scent of sweat and hope mingling in the stadium. Amidst this electrifying atmosphere stands Eric Liddell, a man whose feet are as swift as...
The Matrix: Waking Up to Reality (Ephesians 5:14)
Imagine a darkened room, the kind where the air hangs thick with the scent of stale coffee and the hum of fluorescent lights buzzes just overhead. A group of friends, tired yet content, gather around a flickering screen, their eyes...
Chariots of Fire: Wonderfully Made for Running - Anglican (Psalm 139:13-16)
Imagine standing in the cool morning air of a Scottish field, dew glistening on the grass as the sun begins to rise. The roar of a crowd echoes in the distance, but in that moment, all is quiet for Eric...
Saving Private Ryan: Grace Alone, Faith Alone - Reformed (Ephesians 2:8-9)
In the gripping film *Saving Private Ryan*, we witness a profound story of sacrifice and grace unfold on the battlefields of World War II. The mission to rescue Private James Ryan is not one he sought; rather, it was thrust...
It's a Wonderful Life: A Life of Hidden Service Revealed - Traditional (Matthew 25:31-46)
Imagine for a moment the bustling streets of Bedford Falls, where we meet George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart—a man whose life seems to be an endless series of small, overlooked moments. Picture George standing in the glare of the...
Arrival: Communication Across Difference - Missional (Acts 2)
In the film *Arrival*, we are drawn into a world where linguist Louise Banks, played by Amy Adams, faces an extraordinary challenge: to communicate with alien beings whose very existence defies human understanding. Picture her standing in a stark, dimly...
Amish Grace: Forgive Us As We Forgive - Anabaptist (Matthew 6:9-13)
In the quiet hills of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, lies the small Amish community of Nickel Mines, a place forever marked by tragedy. In October 2006, a gunman entered their school, shattering the peace of their lives and taking the lives...
Hidden Figures: God's Plans Include the Marginalized - Progressive (Jeremiah 29:11)
In the heart of the 1960s, amidst the vibrant struggles for civil rights, three extraordinary women navigated the corridors of NASA, their brilliance cloaked in the shadows of a society reluctant to acknowledge their worth. Katherine Johnson, with her sharp...
War Room: Spirit Power for the Battle - Pentecostal (Isaiah 40:31)
In the heart of a quiet suburban neighborhood, Miss Clara's little house stands as a testament to resilience and faith. Every Wednesday afternoon, when the sun hangs low in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue over her worn porch,...
Chariots of Fire: Ordered Beatitude Living - Anglican (Matthew 5:3-12)
Imagine a cool, crisp morning at the Edinburgh Olympic trials in 1924. The air vibrates with anticipation, and the bleachers are packed with spectators, eyes glistening with excitement. Among them stands Eric Liddell, a Scottish runner, his heart pounding not...
Big Fish: The Stories We Tell (John 21:25)
In the enchanting film *Big Fish*, we encounter Edward Bloom, a man whose life is woven from extraordinary stories—tales of towering giants, mystical mermaids, and daring escapades that seem to leap from the pages of a fairy tale. Picture Edward,...
The Martian: Discerning God's Will in New Contexts - Missional (Romans 12:1-2)
In the film *The Martian*, we meet Mark Watney, a brilliant astronaut who finds himself stranded on Mars, a desolate landscape filled with red dust and barren rocks, far from the comforting familiarity of Earth. Alone and seemingly abandoned, Watney...
Harriet: Trusting God's Voice Into Freedom - Black Church (Proverbs 3:5-6)
In the hush of a moonlit night, Harriet Tubman stood on the banks of the Choptank River, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and freedom. Behind her walked the weary souls she had guided, each step laden...
Into the Spider-Verse: Anyone Can Wear the Mask (Galatians 3:28)
In the vibrant streets of Brooklyn, a world alive with color and sound, we meet Miles Morales. He’s a teenager who feels the weight of the world on his shoulders, grappling with the overwhelming expectation to become Spider-Man. Yet, doubt...
Andrei Rublev: Iconography as Divine Work - Orthodox (Colossians 3:23-24)
Imagine stepping into a dimly lit workshop in 15th-century Russia, where the air is thick with the scent of linseed oil and the faint sound of a brush gliding softly over a wooden panel. Here in this sacred space, Andrei...
Left Behind: Faithful Work Until He Comes - Dispensational (Colossians 3:23-24)
Imagine a bustling farm at the break of dawn, the gentle light cascading over the fields, revealing a hard day’s work ahead. In the midst of it all stands a farmer named Jake. He’s not just any farmer; he’s known...