Sermon Illustrations

Recently the Associated Press carried a story of a Saudi American man named Saleh-al-Sayeri, who has been married 58 times. He has not broken any laws in his culture, which allows divorce and allows a man to be married to four women at the same time, but even in his homeland...

Have you seen some of those stories about children's definitions of love? Some favorites include the insight of five-year old Karl who said, "Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." Mary Ann, age four observes, ...

Every British monarch is crowned sitting in the Coronation Chair. It is not very impressive. The paint is peeling, showing the marks of earlier paint. The initials of schoolboys are carved on it. But beneath it is the Stone of Scone over which Scottish kings were crowned . . . and legend says ...

Those who speak up for Jesus are often labeled as annoyances. Some of that may be unavoidable. Herb Caen once said, "The problem with born-again Christians is that they are an even bigger pain the second time around." Caen's comment might well be an overstatement, but all who...

For many years Sam Rayburn was a Congressman from Texas and long time speaker of the House of Representatives. A congressional office building is named for him. He was widely respected for his honesty. He once said, "I don't remember what I say. I don't have to." What a...

Jesus did not liken the kingdom of God to a diamond, but to a pearl. Of all precious stones, the pearl has the humblest origin. It begins with a wound and is created out of God's resources for healing the wound. So the kingdom begins with a wound, the wound in the body of...

Even those who accomplish great things and receive great recognition also have to endure harsh criticism. The Book of Poisonous Quotes by Colin Jarman records the following assessments: Tchaikovsky said of Handel, "Handel is only fourth rate. He is not even interesting." Anthony...

The Painted Lady is a butterfly that breeds on the edge of the Sahara, flies across the Mediterranean Sea, over the Alps and the Pyrenees, stopping only to lay eggs along the way. She then flies across the English Channel to Scotland and then north to the Orkney Islands where she...

When Queen Elizabeth was crowned they brought to her a sceptre. On the top of it was the star of Africa, the largest diamond in the world. Before that they brought to her a staff. On the top of that staff was a dove, a symbol of their prayer that the Holy Spirit would be her guide. But before...

Dear Ann Landers: I'm a 16 year old girl who didn't think your advice to teenagers who were having sex was either "square" or "unrealistic." I thought it was right on. I have a steady who is very good looking, very smart and very...