Sermon Illustrations on Ministry
105 illustrations found
Putting Into Practice: Courage - Illustration
Imagine a moment in your life when fear gripped your heart. Perhaps it was a health scare, the loss of a job, or a difficult conversation you needed to have. Each of us has faced challenges that call for courage,...
Putting Into Practice: Understanding - Illustration
Imagine a child standing at the edge of a vast playground, eyes wide with wonder yet hesitant to take that first step. It's a scene we’re all familiar with, isn’t it? This child has been told that the playground is...
Putting Into Practice: Understanding - Teaching Material
As we reflect on John 14:6, where Jesus declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” we are reminded of the profound grace that undergirds our spiritual journey. Each of us yearns for guidance, especially when life seems...
Putting Into Practice: Courage - Teaching Material
Imagine a young woman named Sarah, who has always dreamed of sharing her faith through music. Her heart beats with the melody of worship, yet fear holds her back like an anchor. One day, while practicing in her living room,...
Putting Into Practice: Justice - Teaching Material
Proverbs 3:5-6 exhorts us to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." This passage is not just an isolated...
Practical Self-control - Illustration
When Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:7 that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control," he is reminding us of the divine resources available to us as we pursue our calling in...
Living Out Peace - Illustration
Imagine a young mother standing in her kitchen, flour dusting her apron as she prepares dinner for her family. The chaos of daily life surrounds her—her two children bickering over a toy in the living room, the dog barking at...
Putting Into Practice: Grace - Contemporary Example
As we reflect on Joshua 1:9, where God commands us to be strong and courageous, we can draw a profound connection to our daily lives, especially in our pursuit of grace and spiritual growth. Picture a young woman named Sarah,...
Putting Into Practice: Courage - Contemporary Example
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind—these words from 2 Timothy 1:7 remind us that courage isn't merely the absence of fear but the presence of something greater: the Spirit...
Living Out Understanding - Contemporary Example
When Jesus commissioned His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20, He instructed them to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all that He had commanded. This directive is not merely historical; it is a...
Practical Self-control - Contemporary Example
The Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 1:7 that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.” This verse is a beautiful promise that encourages us to embrace the gifts of the...
Practical Redemption - Contemporary Example
Imagine a young woman named Sarah who, after years of feeling lost and burdened by past mistakes, finally decides to step into a local church one Sunday morning. She had heard the whispers of grace but had been hesitant to...
Living Out Salvation - Illustration
Imagine a community garden, a patch of earth lovingly tended by neighbors who come together every week. Each person brings their unique seed—perhaps tomatoes, cucumbers, or herbs—each with a different purpose but all sharing the same soil. As the plants...
Applying Goodness - Contemporary Example
Jeremiah 29:11 reassures us of God's intentions for our lives: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.” This promise speaks directly to our human need for purpose and belonging. It reminds us that we are...
Real-World Self-control - Contemporary Example
Imagine a young mother named Maria, who, like many of us, juggles the demands of work, family, and personal faith. Each day, she feels the weight of expectation—both from her own heart and from the world around her. One morning,...
Applying Goodness - Teaching Material
As we reflect on Jeremiah 29:11, where God assures us, “For I know the plans I have for you,” we recognize that these words are not mere promises; they are invitations to engage in a life of goodness, worship, and...
Living Out Patience - Illustration
Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." When we talk about patience, we’re not just talking about waiting without action; we’re discussing an active trust in God’s promises...
Living Out Self-control - Contemporary Example
Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that we are saved by grace through faith, not by our works, so that no one can boast. This profound truth serves as the foundation for our spiritual growth and living out self-control in practical ways....
Practical Hope - Illustration
As we reflect on Romans 8:28, where we are assured that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him,” we find profound hope amidst life’s challenges. Imagine a potter at work, shaping a lump of...
Living Out Self-control - Teaching Material
As we delve into Ephesians 2:8-9, we are reminded that it is by grace we have been saved, through faith, not by our works, so that no one can boast. This profound truth speaks to our identity in Christ and...
Practical Redemption - Illustration
Jesus’ profound declaration in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” resonates deeply with our innate human longing for direction and purpose. Picture a young woman, Sarah, who recently graduated from college. With dreams in her...
Living Out Goodness - Teaching Material
Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that we are saved by grace through faith, and this gift is not of ourselves; it is the work of God. This foundational truth calls us to respond to God’s goodness with a life marked by...
Practical Goodness - Contemporary Example
When we reflect on Isaiah 40:31, we are reminded that those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not...
Real-World Goodness - Illustration
As we reflect on Matthew 28:19-20, where Jesus charges us to go and make disciples, we find ourselves at the heart of what it means to express goodness through worship and service. This isn’t merely a call to fill pews...