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3 Sermon Illustrations on Personal Convictions

3 illustrations

Personal convictions in Christian preaching highlight the inner moral and spiritual judgments that compel individuals toward faith and repentance. These illustrations often depict moments of intimate self-examination or pivotal conversations that awaken a deep sense of truth and responsibility before God (Romans 14:5, 2 Corinthians 13:5). They emphasize the personal nature of conviction as a divine work leading to transformation.

A Man who would not Speak to his Wife

Christ seeks the lost personally, prompting conviction and the possibility of salvation.

I remember while in Philadelphia, a man with his wife came to our meetings. When he went out he wouldn't speak to his wife. She thought it was very queer, but said nothing, and went to bed thinking that in the morning he would be all right. At breakfast, however, he would not speak a word. Well, she thought this strange, but she was sure he would have got all over whatever was wrong with him by dinner. The dinner hour arrived, and it passed away without his saying a word. At supper not a word escaped him, and he would not go with her to the meeting. Every day for a whole week the same thing went on. But at the end of the week he could not stand it any longer, and he said to his wife: "Why did you go and write to Mr. Moody and tell him all about me?" "I never wrote to Mr. Moody in my life," said the wife. "You did," he answered. "You're mistaken; why do you think that?" "Well, then, I wronged you; but when I saw Mr. Moody picking me out among all those people, and telling all about me, I was sure you must have written to him." It was the Son of Man seeking for him, my friends, and I hope there will be a man here to-night--that man in the gallery yonder, that one before me--who will feel that I am talking personally to him. May you feel that you are lost, and that the Lord is seeking for you, and when you feel this there is some chance of your being saved.

Conversation, Profitable

A conversation about heaven led all present to serious self-examination and conversion.

A number of friends were dining together in England. To prevent the introduction of sinful or idle conversation, one of them said, "Let us discuss the question, whether we shall one and all get to heaven." This most unexpected motion induced all that were present to serious thoughts, and to thoroughly examine themselves. One thought, "If one of our number be lost, I shall be the one." So thought another, and a third, and so every one of the company. Even the waiters at the table became serious and thoughtful. It subsequently appeared that this word gave the first start to the conversion of all present on that occasion.

from New Cyclopaedia of Prose Illustrations · Elon Foster conversion

Infidel, Advice of an

An infidel father advises his dying daughter to believe her mother's gospel teaching over his own.

Col. Ethan Allen, leader of the Green-Mountain Boys, was a notorious infidel. His wife was a pious woman, and taught her daughter the gospel. This daughter sickened; and her father was sent for to hear her dying words. "Father," said she, "I am about to die: shall I believe the principles which you have taught me, or shall I believe what my mother has taught me?" After waiting a few moments to calm his extreme agitation, he answered, "Believe what your mother has taught you."

from New Cyclopaedia of Prose Illustrations · Elon Foster

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