Grace Archives - Sermon Illustration Ideas

Shame Into Grace

Brokenness, Burdens, Grace, Relationship with God, Shame

The Avett Brothers sing, “Shame, boatloads of shame … Please make it stop.” What is the remedy to this heavy burden? God’s movement toward…

Changes

Bridegroom, Change, Church is the Bride, Grace, Marriage, Process

When a bride and groom get married, the bride’s name (usually) changes immediately. One or both of their addresses change and often so do…

Church Burnout

Burnout, Church, Church Body, Community, Grace, Limits, Stress, Tired

If you’ve ever experienced a broken bone or thrown-out back, or left your glasses at home, then you understand the challenges that come when…

Hiding

Forgiveness, God Knows All, God sees all, Grace, Hiding, Shame, Sin

According to this HuffPost article, kids hide things from their parents for three reasons: they don’t want to share, they think the parents won’t…

All Sins Washed Away

Baptism, Cross, Forgiveness, Grace, Healing, Purity, Salvation, Washed Clean

Marilynne Robinson’s novel Lila follows the story of a young woman—a drifter from birth, without home or family—who finds hope in the church and…

Freedom From Condemnation

Condemnation, Forgiveness, Freedom, Gospel, Grace, Kindness, Second Chances, Sin

An illustration of our freedom from condemnation can be seen in the novel Do We Not Bleed? In that novel, the character Jon Mote…

Opportunity To Give Witness

Defense, Grace, Judgment, Opportunity, Sharing the Gospel, Witness

Many people have been caught in an unwanted spotlight, either because of their own or someone else’s wrongdoing. Based on a true story, the…

The Process of Forgiveness

Forgiven, Forgiveness, Grace, Process, Seeking Forgiveness

The 2015 shooting of nine people at a Bible study at the Charleston Emanuel AME church was horrendously shocking. But what was even more…

Dormant Volcanoes

God's Judgment, Grace, Judgment, Repentance

Volcanoes can lie dormant for years before erupting. However, many times there are warning signs, and local residents can be evacuated safely beforehand. Iceland…

Renewed Faith

Confessing Sin, Confession, Faith, Grace

In an episode of House, the title character treats a disgraced priest. The priest has been accused of molesting a teenage boy and has…

“Every Scrap of Grace”

Grace, Gratitude, Peace In Christ, Presence of God

Chloé Zhao’s film Nomadland (Searchlight, 2020) demonstrates how peace can be found in less than ideal circumstances. The film centers around Fern, a woman…

Extending Mercy

Forgiven, Forgiveness, Forgiving Others, Grace, Mercy

This powerful scene from Invictus (directed by Clint Eastwood [Warner Bros., 2009]) recounts the story of Nelson Mandela insisting that his leaders extend forgiveness…

Task Lists

Disciplines, Faith, Goals, Grace, Works

Many of us are list people. We love to organize our charts. If salvation came through works and not grace, some people would have…

Gracious Forgiveness

Bitterness, Forgiveness, Forgiving Others, God's Love, Grace

A survivor of a concentration camp during the Holocaust, Corrie ten Boom dedicated her life to traveling and preaching about forgiveness. She told the…

By Faith Alone

Faith, Forgiveness, Grace, Salvation, Works

In William Shakespeare’s Henry V, Shakespeare depicts a young King Henry praying to God for favor. While praying, he lists the “good” work that he…

Freedom In Surrender

Freedom, Grace, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Life, Surrender, Weakness

We can learn an important lesson about the spiritual life through the Chinese Finger Trap. It is constructed simply of woven paper, but when…

Better Than A Second Chance

Forgiveness, Good News, Grace, Salavation, Sin, The Gospel

The new life given to Christians by God through Jesus Christ my not be best described as a ‘second chance’. Aaron Wilson illustrates this…

A Gift For All

Gift, Grace, Invitation, Salvation

Public gifts that are seemingly just for some can turn out to be for all. On the season premiere episode of The Oprah Winfrey…

A Picture of Grace

Favor, Forgiveness, Grace, Love

What is God’s grace? It is God’s unmerited favor. It is kindness that is notdeserved or earned. Imagine a parent sets a jar on…

Walk The Line

Excellence, Grace, Serving God, Trust, Trusting God

Pastor Juan Carlos Ortiz illustrates working for God while trusting in grace through the imagery of a trapeze artist who trusts in the nets…