In Sermon Illustrations: "Psalm 121:17"

Factor In Fallenness

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 1, 2025

A few years ago, our congregation joined with many churches in the area praying for a 6-year-old boy with extremely aggressive form of brain cancer. Of course, we prayed for a full healing so that the boy could have a long life. He died within 6 months. His parents grew in their faith of a God ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:4, 1 Peter 3:17

Tags: Healing, Prayer, Suffering, Fallenness

Denomination: Methodist

[062a]. A Message From A Poem – Does Suffering Cancel Out A God Of Love?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

[062A]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DOES SUFFERING CANCEL OUT A GOD OF LOVE? THE POEM AS IT IS WILL NOT FIT IN THE ILLUSTRATION SPACE AVAILABLE. I HAVE HAD TO SPLIT IT INTO THREE PARTS. THIS IS THE FIRST PART PART 1 INTRODUCTION TO THIS POEM This is my most serious poem because it addresses ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:6-7, John 3:16, Exodus 34:6-7

Tags: Hurt, Pain, Love, Compassion, Comfort, Suffering, Tragedy, God Of Comfort, God Of Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[062b]. A Message From A Poem – Does Suffering Cancel Out A God Of Love?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

[062B]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DOES SUFFERING CANCEL OUT A GOD OF LOVE? THE POEM AS IT IS WILL NOT FIT IN THE ILLUSTRATION SPACE AVAILABLE. I HAVE SPLIT IT INTO THREE PARTS. THIS IS THE SECOND PART THE INTRODUCTION FOR THE POEM IS IN PART 1. PART 2 SECTION B - PART 1 (THE CHRISTIAN ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:6-7, John 3:16, Exodus 34:6-7

Tags: Hurt, Pain, Love, Compassion, Comfort, Suffering, Tragedy, God Of Comfort, God Of Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[062c]. A Message From A Poem – Does Suffering Cancel Out A God Of Love?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

[062C]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DOES SUFFERING CANCEL OUT A GOD OF LOVE? THE POEM AS IT IS WILL NOT FIT IN THE ILLUSTRATION SPACE AVAILABLE. I HAVE HAD TO SPLIT IT INTO THREE PARTS. THIS IS THE THIRD PART. THE INTRODUCTION FOR THE POEM IS IN PART 1. PART 3 SECTION C - PART 1 (GOD ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:6-7, John 3:16, Exodus 34:6-7

Tags: Hurt, Pain, Love, Christ, Compassion, Comfort, Suffering, Tragedy, God Of Comfort, God Of Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Losing Someone Or Something Is Very Heartbreaking

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Oct 17, 2023

In the midst of an unforgiving tempest, a cataclysmic convergence of nature's wrath struck with an unforgiving fury. Banda Aceh, Indonesia, and the remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands found themselves entangled in the merciless grip of a relentless tsunami. At that fateful moment, I stood as the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:1-4, Isaiah 41:10, Galatians 6:2, Matthew 25:35-36, Luke 15:11-32, Psalm 107:28-30, Philippians 4:6-7  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Tsunami Survival Tale, Nicobar, Panicking, Love, Church, Care, Banda Aceh, Andaman, Earthquake, Heartbreaking, Islands, Indonesia  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Vacant Homes, Vacant Lives  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 9, 2011

VACANT HOMES, VACANT LIVES TIFTON, GA — The most interesting thing about Tifton is an abandoned Victorian house filled with thousands of bats. Tift County declared the once-elegant house in the town’s historic district off limits after a bat specialist said that maybe 20,000 bats had moved in, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:11, Psalm 119:11-16, Luke 11:1-13, Galatians 5:22-23, Psalm 84:1-12, John 2:13-23, Luke 7:36-50, John 1:46-56, James 2:14-26, Luke 11:24-26, Matthew 12:43-45, Matthew 12:44-45  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Bible Influence

A Little Girl’s Prayer: A Little Girl Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mccutchen on Jan 26, 2001

A little girl’s Prayer: A little girl was being punished by eating alone in the corner of the dining room. The family paid no attention to her until they heard her pray: “I thank Thee, Lord, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35, Matthew 5:16-18, Matthew 6:3-20, Psalm 145:8-21

Tags: Compassion, Forgiveness General, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Norman Cates Shared The Humorous Story Of A Guy ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Crow on May 21, 2001

Norman Cates shared the humorous story of a guy who prayed this prayer every morning: "Lord, if you want me to witness to someone today, please give me a sign to show me who it is." One day he found himself on a bus when a big, burly man sat next to him. The bus was nearly empty but this guy sat ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 86:11-17, Matthew 6:11-15, Romans 12:5, Luke 18:1-8

Tags: Spiritual Gifts, What Is Evangelism?, Evangelism Fear Of, Endurance

Denomination: Baptist

The Refiner's Fire  PRO

Contributed by Tim Harrison on Apr 9, 2002

THE REFINER'S FIRE The story is told of a group of women that met for Bible study. While studying in the book of Malachi, chapter three, they came across verse three which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled the women and they wondered how this statement ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 66:10, Isaiah 48:10, Zechariah 13:9, Malachi 3:3

Tags: Character, God's Image, Refine, Purify, New Creation, Time  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: *other

Lucky Guess?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2002

LUCKY GUESS? It was a case of rags to riches and back to rags again for a Thai street hawker who briefly became a millionaire when a computer glitch on a popular TV game show fed her the answers intended for the host. Lertrak Panjanawaporn, 44, stunned the producers of the popular "Who Wants to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:3, Joshua 6:12, James 2:14-26, James 2:14-26

Tags: Faith, Leadership General, Truth

The Meaning Of Thirst  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jun 6, 2003

THE MEANING OF THIRST Do you know the importance of water to our physical bodies? When our bodies fail to retain the right amount of water, dehydration sets in. It is the water in our body that determines the vitality, strength, and energy associated with daily living. Think about these facts ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:1-5, John 4:10-15, John 4:10-15, John 4:10-15

Tags: Easter Good Friday, Jesus Christ

Denomination: Pentecostal

Leadership: What God Looks For In His Leaders

Contributed by Raymond Petzholt on Mar 25, 2004

When God was looking for a leader for His people He required “a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will” (Acts 13:22; I Sam. 13:14; Why? - Amos 3:3). “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart” (I Sam. 16:7). As God was searching the hearts of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:11, Amos 3:3, 1 Samuel 16:7

Tags: Leadership, God's Word Essential

Denomination: Baptist

The Fundamental Idea Of Spirit In Hebrew And ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on Apr 6, 2005

“The Fundamental idea of Spirit in Hebrew and Greek is breath, air, wind, storm – the intensity depending on the context. It may be a gentle breath (John 20:22), a gale-force wind (Ex 15:8), a cooling breeze (Gen 3:8). Most essentially Spirit is transcendent and divine, not mere flesh; it is the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:17-18, Psalm 69:1-3, 1 Samuel 17:1

Tags: Holy Spirit Baptism, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit In Believers, Spirit

Denomination: *other

A Monk Joined A Monastery And Took A Vow Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2005

A monk joined a monastery and took a vow of silence. After the first 10 years his superior called him in and asked, “Do you have anything to say?” The monk replied, “Food bad.” After another 10 years the monk again had opportunity to voice his thoughts. He said, “Bed hard.” Another 10 years ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 14:1-45, Job 10:1-22, Psalm 142:1-7, Philippians 2:14-18

Tags: Anger, Complaining, Disciplines, Silence

Joy And Prayer In Suffering  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 26, 2009

JOY AND PRAYER IN SUFFERING The fact that God chooses to love the unworthy should move us to loud praise frequently. Margaret Sangster Phippen wrote that in the mid-1950’s her father, British minister W.E. Sangster, began to notice some uneasiness in his throat and a dragging in his leg. When he ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 19:1-6, Genesis 32:22-31, Psalm 30:1-5, Philippians 3:10

Tags: Joy

We're On The Same Team  PRO

Contributed by Gaylon Clark on Dec 9, 2013

Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin had every reason as teammates to be friends, but they were not. Incognito harassed and bullied Martin. He called him a racial slur in a voicemail played by every media outlet in the country. He threatened to kill him and his family. Incognito claimed all of this ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6, John 17:20-23, Colossians 3:12-17, Psalm 133:1-3

Tags: Teamwork, Christian Unity, Church Unity, Christian Friendship

Denomination: Baptist

God Is Missing!!!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2020

Two young boys in a Christian school had been continually mis-behaving and were sent to the principal’s office on several occasions. The principal knew what they really needed was to have God in their lives, so she brought the first boy in and set him down. “I want to ask you a question. Where is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 46:10, John 3:16, Romans 5:8

Tags: Humor, God's Love, Guilt, Unconfessed Sin, Confusion  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Sunflower Is Probably The Most Amazing ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The Sunflower is probably the most amazing flowers God created. They literally follow the sun. No I don’t know about you, but one the most amazing things I have seen is a field of sunflowers. Watching one follow the sun through is cute. Watching hundreds in absolute unison follow the sun is ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31, Acts 4:32, John 17:11, Psalm 133:1

Tags: Relationships, Faith General

Grief

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 17, 2022

On Death and Loss… He was 50 years old. The cancer was aggressive and relentless. The pain was unmanageable and agonizing. In two months he was gone. I didn't have the opportunity to say good-bye and if I did, what would I say? Could I get the words out? Our last communication, me in Port ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25, Psalm 90:1-12, 2 Corinthians 1:1-7

Tags: Grief, Death, Sickness

Denomination: Pentecostal

[053]. A Message From A Poem – Daniel In The Lion’s Den

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 11, 2025

[053]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DANIEL IN THE LION’S DEN There used to be a chorus when I was young that went this way – Dare to be a Daniel; Dare to stand alone; Dare to have a purpose firm, And dare to make it known. The poem here this time is a very simple one just retelling the story of ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:19-22, Psalm 31:15, Acts 22:4, Acts 16:23

Tags: Daniel, Persecution, Poetry, Poem, Lions, Delivered, Rescued  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational