illustrations
Enhance your next sermon.
Low Battery Is Not Broken
Updated:Use when addressing burnout or doubt. Emphasize that weariness is not apostasy; it’s low power. Invite people to reconnect to Jesus in prayer, worship, and community rather than discarding their faith during tired seasons.
The Bakery With Empty Shelves
Updated:Use with leaders, volunteers, and parents. Encourage receiving from Jesus before serving others—devotion before distribution. Great for a pre-service huddle or a message on sustainable ministry.
The Vacation That Didn’t Fix Me
Updated:Use to contrast escapism with encounter. Invite the weary to seek real rest in Jesus here and now—during worship, prayer, and community—not merely in the next trip or purchase.
The Last Mile and the Backpack
Updated:Use when inviting people to cast cares on Jesus or to accept pastoral prayer. Emphasize burden transfer—letting Christ carry what is crushing them instead of white-knuckling through it.
Monday Without a Worship Team
Updated:Great for closing a service or launching a discipleship challenge. It calls people to consistency—transforming Sunday inspiration into Monday practices that sustain faith outside the room.
The Arena Welcome: You Made It
Updated:Use this to affirm “show-up faith” at the start of worship or a sermon. It emphasizes perseverance over convenience and helps weary people relax into God’s presence, ready to receive.
The Preacher and the Honest Heckler
Updated:Use to teach humility and authenticity in worship or leadership. Great for setting a tone: leaders serve, people participate, and together we honor God without hype.
The Power of Persistence - Story of Edison's Light Bulb
Published:A story about Thomas Edison's thousand failed attempts before inventing the light bulb, illustrating the importance of persistence in faith and ministry.
Accusations
Published:John was driving home late one night when he picked up a hitchhiker. As they rode along, he began to be suspicious of his passenger. John checked to see if his wallet was safe in the pocket of his coat that was on the seat between them, but it wasn't there!
He slammed on the brakes, ordered the hitchhiker out, and said, "Hand over the wallet immediately!" The frightened hitchhiker handed over a wallet, and John drove off. When he arrived home, he started to tell his wife about the experience, but she interrupted him, saying, "Before I forget, John, do you know that you left your wallet at home this morning?
Agreement
Published:Two employees were chatting. "The boss wants a meeting today at 4:30." "Why does he always have to have them on Friday at 4:30?" "People tend to agree with him!"