Shared by John Bright - Sermon Illustrations

Union With Christ

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 12, 2026

| 33 views

“Scripture uses metaphors that further support the reality of our union with Christ: Jesus is the Vine, and we are the branches (John 15:5). Jesus is the Head, and we are His body (Colossians 1:18). Jesus is the Cornerstone, and we are the living stones built upon Him (1 Peter 2:4–7). He is the ...read more

Scripture: John 15:5, 1 John 2:3-6

Tags: Justification, Sanctification, Glorification, John Piper, Union With Christ (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Christian Perfection

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 12, 2026

| 24 views

We are part of the modern Methodists who are seeking to restore Christian Perfection as part of the journey for Jesus Followers. Here is a brief description from the Global Methodist Church: “Christian Perfection is Loving Like Jesus: John Wesley described the life of holiness as 'Christian ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:3-6

Tags: Entire Sanctification, Christian Perfection

Denomination: Methodist

Am I A Liar?

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 12, 2026

| 26 views

John sets up a stark contrast between the one who knows God and obeys what God has told us to do in verse 3, and the one who claims to know God but refuses to follow God’s Word for us. Here’s the pattern: • You say you have a relationship with the Lord • You do not obey His Word • That makes you ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:3-6

Tags: Scripture, Obedience, Liar, Knowing God

Denomination: Methodist

I Need Accountability!

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 12, 2026

| 26 views

Another Ordinary Means of Grace is being in an accountability group. John Wesley divided folks into classes and bands for accountability. The class meetings were larger and included both women and men. When someone shared a struggle, they were assured of God’s forgiveness, and then the members ...read more

Scripture: James 5:16

Tags: Accountability, John Wesley, Means Of Grace

Denomination: Methodist

Sin With A Big S

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 12, 2026

| 29 views

• “If we say that we have no sin,” John is referring to what today we call Sin with a big ‘S’. This is what we call the sin nature within each person; it is a matter of the heart and desires. Paul put it like this in Romans 7:17: “But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:17, 1 Corinthians 15:3

Tags: Sin, Garden, Weeds, Sin Nature

Denomination: Methodist

Excused Or Forgiven?

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 12, 2026

| 15 views

Here’s an interesting question for you: Do you want to be forgiven or excused? Back in the 1990s, there was a wonderful book – “Yes, Lord, I Have Sinned: But I Have Several Excellent Excuses” by James W. Moore. When we seek to be excused, it’s a way of shifting blame. In the Garden of Eden, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:11-13

Tags: Forgiven, Excused

Denomination: Methodist

The Bible Book

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 12, 2026

| 14 views

We need to be guided by God’s Word: Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path.” I remember learning that verse in VBS as a kid. So, can I just hold my Bible up at night to walk through a dark house? No way. This is just a book. It is ink on pages and cover, just ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:105, 1 John 1:5-7

Tags: Bible, Holy Spirit, John Wesley, Means Of Grace

Denomination: Methodist

Scariest Words

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 12, 2026

| 17 views

I want to share with you what may be the most frightening scripture in the New Testament: Matthew 7:21-23 (NCV) “21 “Not all those who say ‘You are our Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven. The only people who will enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do what my Father in heaven wants. 22 On ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23, 1 John 1:5-7

Tags: Hell, Salvation, Assurance

Denomination: Methodist

The Cruciform Life

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 11, 2026

| 15 views

But we are not the first folks who have tried to be the center of the Vertical and Horizontal dimensions. Jesus Followers from the beginning of the Early Church sought to love God and neighbor in the midst of persecution and martyrdom. Remember, in the church of right now, we who are not ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4

Tags: Acceptance, Security, Significance, Thomas A Kempis, The Imitation Of Christ, Cruciform Life, Vertical Fellowship, Horizontal Fellowship (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

John Wesley's Theology Of Love

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 11, 2026

| 18 views

The goal here is for the human heart to be full of divine love. This was a central teaching in the writings of John Wesley and the hymns of Charles Wesley. In his booklet, “The Most Excellent Way: John Wesley’s Theology of Love,” Joseph Dongell describes looking through all of John Wesley’s ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4, Matthew 22:35-40

Tags: Love, John Wesley

Denomination: Methodist

Two Dimensions Of Fellowship

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 11, 2026

| 17 views

Let me remind you of another benefit of salvation by the blood of Jesus. When you accept the free gift of salvation, you receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit is what makes all dimensions of our fellowship possible. What are those dimensions of ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4, John 15:5, John 15:12

Tags: Fellowship, Holy Spirit

Denomination: Methodist

No Other Way

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 11, 2026

| 20 views

Today, we live in a world that believes something is true if most folks say it or somebody is shouting it the loudest. We see this both inside and outside the church. What I hear shouted most of the time is this: “There is more than one way to heaven” and “all the gods of all the religions are ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6, 1 John 1:1-4

Tags: Salvation, Idolatry, Pluralism

Denomination: Methodist

The Eternal Life Of Fat Cells

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 11, 2026

| 18 views

So, what is eternal life? Is it a get out of jail free card? Is it eternal fire insurance? I saw someone on social media complaining about getting older. She was upset because her brains cells were dying and her hair cells were ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4

Tags: Salvation, Eternal Life, Fat

Denomination: Methodist

Special Brownies

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 8, 2026

| 40 views

A father was approached by his two children, ages 12 & 14. The kids asked if they could go with friends to see a movie. The father asked what the movie's rating was. The oldest answered, “It’s rated PG, but it only has a few bad words and a little nudity. I don’t think it would be too ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17

Tags: Profanity, Love Of The World, Nudity

Denomination: Methodist

The Hope Of Eternal Life

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 24, 2026

| 71 views

We also have hope because we know that our fate is not the flame of destruction. We have been born again to ETERNAL LIFE. That means when this life is over, the next one begins – in an instant. All the preachers here have gazed across a casket covered with beautiful flowers and proclaimed an ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, Romans 6:23, 2 Corinthians 5:8

Tags: Death, Hope, Eternal Life

Denomination: Methodist

God's Timing Is Perfect

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 24, 2026

| 78 views

So Peter wants them to remember something that is very important, something we tend to forget: God’s timing is perfect! Amen? This can be hard for us to comprehend because we are the created and God is the Creator. The created can never fully understand the Creator. I have begun experimenting ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:8-9, Job 33:4, Psalm 139:14

Tags: Creator, God's Timing

Denomination: Methodist

When God Says No

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 24, 2026

| 65 views

Back in 1991, Garth Brooks released a song that went to #1 on the Country Chart. “Thank God for Unanswered Prayers” tells the story of how our prayers may not align with what is best for us. It’s a story about our timing not being God’s timing. Just in case you don’t remember, here’s the story ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:8-9

Tags: Prayer, Garth Brooks

Denomination: Methodist

Don't Just Wait For Jesus

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 24, 2026

| 49 views

We have hope now because God is always at work around us. In “Experiencing God,” Henry Blackaby explains that our task is to see the work of God and join Him in that work. We do not sit around waiting for Jesus to come back. Every time someone predicts the day Christ will return, some ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:11-13

Tags: Experience, Henry Blackaby

Denomination: Methodist

Walking In The Spirit

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 23, 2026

| 69 views

Their problem was this: if it hasn’t already happened, we don’t believe it is coming. Maybe they were all from Missouri – the “Show Me” state. Some folks have to see it to believe it. That’s not how faith in these promises works. Instead, we who believe are promised to see it. In these verses, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:3-4, Jude 1:18-19

Tags: Faith, Holy Spirit, Last Days, Walk In The Spirit

Denomination: Methodist

Dog Returns To His Vomit

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 22, 2026

| 53 views

In the 1730s and 1740s, revivals swept across England and the American colonies during what we call “The First Great Awakening.” John Wesley saw thousands of folks claim salvation, but some of them fell back into their old ways of drinking at the local pub every night or neglecting to read God’s ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 2:22

Tags: Sin, Accountability, John Wesley, Small Group, First Great Awakening (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

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