Character Sermon Illustrations

Character! So much of the teaching of the Bible centers not around external behaviors, but around the internal character. Jesus emphasized this point over and over again in the Sermon on the Mount, and the apostles and other writers take up that theme in the epistles as well.

Click a link below to read an illustration.

Family Likeness - An illustration on being like Christ
When we think about family resemblances, we ought to ask ourselves, how much do I resemble God?

A Clogged Drain - A Lesson About Human Nature
Human nature could be compared to a clogged drain, as I describe in the story told here.

Moral Values Begin With The Small Things
A story about a pastor, a religious organization, and a political candidate here in Maine

Philippians 4:8 Illustration - Squirrels and Campers
Philippians 4:8 Illustration - whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, and lovely. A sermon illustration involving squirrels and campers

Moral Excellence: superiority and eminence in moral behavior
Moral Excellence - an illustration to help picture moral excellence, as described in II Peter 1:5. Defensive and Offensive excellence

Diligence - constant and earnest effort to accomplish a goal
Diligence - an illustration describing diligence. Diligence is required in a healthy spiritual life, according to 2 Peter 1:5

Ulterior Motives, Servanthood, and the Attitude of Christ
Thoughts about ulterior motives in business (amazon, and my own business) and the nature of a servant, as demonstrated by Christ

Unfair Treatment, the Cross of Jesus Christ, and 1 Peter
Unfair treatment is guaranteed; we all face it. The true test of character is how we respond to unfair treatment. Do we respond like Jesus?

External Appearance vs Internal Character
The cycle of life, the fleeting quality of external beauty and appearance, and the focus on internal character (Ecclesiastes and I Peter)

Micah 6:8 - Justice, Mercy, Humility, the Will of God
Micah 6:8 spells out the Will of God for us: God's will is for us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.