Serving – Sermon Illustration Ideas

Finding Your Gift

Giving, Helping others, nonprofit, Poor, Serving, unhappy

James Barnett knows what it’s like to live with a lot and with a little. Though he grew up attending church and serving on…

Cleaned by the Washing of the Word

Philippians, Sanctification, Serving, Washing

“I listened to Philippians today. It’s a letter from Paul to the church in Philippi. One theme stuck out to me: servanthood. Paul reminds…

Love Is More Than Words

Love, Love One Another, Relationships, Serving

Love is celebrated in Christian hymns and praise songs, as well as an avalanche of popular music. One song includes the refrain, “And they’ll…

No Michelin-Star Pastors

Bread of Life, God's Glory, Humble Ourselves, Jesus, Serving, Share the Gospel

Here’s a good illustration of the importance of working alongside fellow believers—especially pastors—for the glory of God: “In the culinary world, earning a Michelin…

“Almost Like Praying”

Helping others, Pray, Prayer, Serving, Serving Others

After the devastating 2017 Hurricane Maria, Lin-Manuel Miranda wanted to create a song that could bring comfort and raise funds for those who were…

The Offensive Line

Humility, Quiet, Recognition, Serving

Most people can name famous quarterbacks—people like Joe Montana, Brett Favre, and Tom Brady. But fewer people can name the offensive line that snapped…

Practicing Hospitality

Generosity, Hospitality, Kindness, Loving Others, Serving, Serving Others

In an episode of the television show Gilmore Girls, Lorelai Gilmore is having her home remodeled. Consider showing clips from this episode (season 6, episode…

Radically Ordinary Hospitality

Hospitality, Loving Others, Serve, Serving, Serving Others

The point is that hospitality is an opportunity to serve others. It isn’t about getting “repaid” but about serving someone who otherwise might not…

Enhancing Others’ Lives

Community, Kindness, Loving Others, Serving, Serving Others

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus uses two sensory-rich descriptions for the people who are his disciples. He states, “You are the salt…

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…

Messy

Evangelism, Helping others, Loving Others, Serving, Serving Others

Pulling someone from a raging river requires us to get muddy too. If we simply toss a rope, the current pulls the rope downstream…

Gaining Perspective

Helping others, Perspective, Selflessness, Serving, Serving Others

In the Netflix docuseries Down to Earth, Zac Efron and Darin Olien visit locations all around the world. In Puerto Rico, Zac witnesses the…

Being The Hands Of Christ

God's Kingdom, Ministry, Serving, Serving Others

Matthew Eldridge was a body double for actor Jason Bateman. He compares his experience on a movie set—working alongside hundreds of others to make…

Where Credit Is Due

Gifts, Glory, God's Glory, Serving, Spiritual Gifts

Have you ever accomplished something, only to have someone else steal the credit for your hard work? Few things are more annoying! In the…

Using Our Gifts

1 Corinthians 12, Church, Serving, The Body

We have to see that God is diverse in his expectation of how we will use our gifts to serve others. Paul reminds his…

The Way of Humility

Humble, Humbling Ourselves, Loving Others, Philippians, Servanthood, Serving, Serving Others

As believers, we are to live just like Jesus by choosing the same mindset and attitude as Jesus. “Let each of you look not…

Brother Lawrence

Brother Lawrence, Faithfulness, Humility, Service, Serving, Serving God, Serving Others, Work

The story of Brother Lawrence provides an illustration of how to intergrate our faith and work together. He served for nearly fifteen years in…

Heading West

Christians, Greatest Commandments, Love, Loving Others, Neighbors, Serving, Serving Others, Unconditional Love

A teacher tells a story about one her students named Billy: “Billy was the resident cowboy of my kindergarten class, coming to school each…

Contagious Obedience

Example, Inspiration, Leadership, Leading, Servants Heart, Serving

Have you ever considered the greater effect of your everyday decisions? How your individual acts of obedience and faithfulness to Christ can lead to…

Take Your Child To Work Day

1 Peter 4:10, 1 Timothy 4:12, 2 Corinthians 4:1-18, 2 Timothy 2:15, Children, Children of God, Ephesians 2:20, Ephesians 4:11-13, God's Work, Serving, Serving Others

God invites his children to learn his desires and his ways by joining him as he works in this world. This may not be…