Purpose Archives - Sermon Illustration Ideas

Our Actions Should Match Our Talk

Actions, Christian Living, Living Out Faith, Meaning, Purpose, Speaking Faith, Words

“Do as I say, not as I do” may be a common saying, but most people understand that the greatest leaders are those whose…

God Plans And Purpose

God's Plan, Known, Plans, Purpose, Unknown

The film Signs tells the story of a former pastor, Graham Hess, who has lost his faith due to his wife’s tragic death. Toward…

Purpose And Function

Function, God's Plan, God's Purpose, Growth, Purpose

Like artists choosing the correct material for the job, so landscapers must pay attention to the purpose of the area when designing a plan…

Choosing The Right Type Of Clay

Disciples, Following Jesus, God's Plan, Purpose, Spiritual Life

Artists choose the type of clay for a project based on the end product, cost, kiln type, skill level, and construction methods to be…

Career Changes

Calling, God's Will, Purpose, Sacrifice, Surrender

Find someone in the congregation who has made difficult career changes based on what God has asked them to do. Other than those who…

Answering Jesus’s Call

Calling, Evangelism, God's Plan, God's Will, Purpose

Titus Coan (1835–81), a New England–trained educator and physician, used his knowledge of both fields to work as a missionary on the island of…

“Giving has to Mean Something!”

Charity, Giving, Meaning, Purpose

Giving has to mean something! In the 2002 movie About a Boy (directed by Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz [Universal Studios, 2002]), the cynical…

Searching for Meaning

Life, Material Things, Meaning, Possessions, Purpose

What is the meaning of Christmas? The 2000 film How the Grinch Stole Christmas shows the existential crisis of the character Cindy Lou Who,…

“Can’t Get No Satisfaction”

Happiness, Life, Meaning, Purpose, Satisfaction

The 1965 Rolling Stones song “Satisfaction” relates to Qoheleth’s experience when it says, “I can’t get no satisfaction.” In chapter 2, the Preacher tries…

“A Show About Nothing”

Life, Meaning, Perspective, Purpose

“A show about nothing!” This was the main premise from characters Jerry and George in an episode of the hit sitcom, Seinfeld. The episode…

“Every Day Is Exactly the Same”

Calling, everyday purpose, Life, Meaning, Purpose, Repetition, Routines

In the Nine Inch Nails song “Every Day Is Exactly the Same,” Trent Reznor describes his struggle of life, saying, “I believe I can…

Our Best Work

Inspiration, Purpose, Service, Serving, Serving God, Work

Martin Luther King Jr. gave the illustration of a street sweeper and urgers the worker to be such a great street sweeper that “all…

Minor Characters, Vital Roles

Being Used By God, Making A Difference, Meaning, Purpose, Serving God, Serving Others

What are some minor characters with important roles? We might think of Tiny Tim from Charles Dickens’s classic, A Christmas Carol. He appears a few times…

No Small Roles

Bible Characters, Importance, Meaning, Purpose, Serving God, Serving Others

“There are no small roles, only small actors.” This famous line was spoken by Konstantin Stanislavski, the “father of modern acting,” who “required actors…

Set Apart

Christian Life, Different, Following Jesus, Light, Purpose, Set Apart

In the Harry Potter series, Harry struggles with being the one set apart and considered special. He wishes he were just normal, like everyone…

Embracing God-Given Zeal

Apathy, Loving God, Loving Others, Passion, Purpose, Zeal

The book Nothing to See Here (Kevin Wilson [New York: Ecco, 2019]) is a story about two children who have a tendency to spontaneously burst into…

Hidden Characters

Purpose, Story, The Gospels, Women, Women In The Bible

There’s a scene in The Empire Strikes Back that shows Han and Leia arguing in the tunnel (the clip starts at 6:00): https://io9.gizmodo.com/a-look-inside-empire-strikes-backs-anniversary-antholog-1845487070. You’ll hardly notice it,…