The 6 Best-Worst Sermon Illustrations Ever Used

By Russell Meek

In a preaching or teaching ministry, you’re bound to hear (or offer) some poorly constructed, cringe-worthy illustrations.

Fortunately, we can look back and laugh most of the time. I wanted to hear about some “best worst” illustrations from people on Twitter, so I asked for some feedback:

Not surprisingly, I got plenty of responses from pastors, teachers, and congregation members. Here are a few best-of-the-worst sermon illustrations people shared.

At a late night college service which rarely had families in attendance…I made a passing comment about how there's no such thing as Santa Clause…I broke the heart of a 4-year-old that night, and his mom never brought him back.
— Daniel Carpenter (@D4nielC4rpenter) August 12, 2019

Seemingly, college students often hear the most awkward illustrations.

Mine came during a talk at the college fellowship I was part of. The illustration was about how a dirty jar set under a running faucet will gradually be cleaned by the running water. Not a terrible illustration, but I forgot where I'd heard it: from the speaker the week prior!
— JRR Jokien (@joshcarlosjosh) August 12, 2019

Preaching to a youth conference on "the sins that so easily beset us" the preacher spoke of old sail ships being fouled and needing to have barnacles scraped from the underside of the ship. His punchline was: "Young people let me ask you, have you got barnacles on your bottom?"
— David George (@daviddaigeorge) August 13, 2019

I was illustrating hell by describing what it’s like to ski in a lake. How when you are immersed in the water is what it will be like to be immersed in fire. Then I said, “But you can’t ski your way out of hell!” My wife has never let me live that one down.
— Brad Newbold (@BradNewbold) August 12, 2019

https://twitter.com/JadieOnTheRoad/status/1160700548829589505

Topic was selfishness. I used the example of how when a family sits down with a casserole, everybody starts trying to pick out “the best portion for themselves…even though all the portions are the same.” That second bit is tantamount to blasphemy in the South. Apparently.
— Bryan of Alexandria ✠🕊️ (@DBryanRhodes) August 12, 2019

Which one of these is your favorite? Do you have any of your own stories to share? Tell us in the comments.