In Sermon Illustrations: "Second Chance"

Twice Mine

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 22, 2022

A little boy made a sailboat by his own hands and took it out to the lake and sailed it by himself. But, sadly, a strong wind came over the lake and took the little sailboat away from the boy to the other side of the lake. The little boy looked and looked for his boat but could not find it. He ...read more

Tags: Gospel, Born Again, Second Birth, Redemption, Redeemed, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Great Outline On The Hope We Have In Christ's Return

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 4, 2023

The Hope (literally, the "certainty") of Christ's Return and His Glorious Appearance is a… * living hope (1Pe 1:3) * blessed hope (Titus 2:13) * joyful hope (1Th 2:19) * comforting hope (1Th 4:13-18) * hope of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Assurance, Hope, Heaven, Second Coming, Return Of Christ, Rapture  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Whole New Understanding Of Patience

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 22, 2024

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to "run with endurance" the race set before us. George Matheson wrote, "We commonly associate endure or patience with lying down. We think of it as the angel that guards the couch of the invalid. Yet, there is a patience that I believe to be harder -- the ...read more

Tags: Prophets, Patience, Second Coming, Job, Endurance, Waiting On The Lord  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Approaching Storm  PRO

Contributed by Steve Hanchett on Jan 15, 2001

APPROACHING STORM "Isaac’s Storm" is a very interesting book about the hurricane that wiped out Galveston in 1900. One of the main plot lines of the book is about how everyone was convinced that a hurricane could never strike Galveston, even as one approached. The author vividly describes how ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:40-45, John 15:1-3

Tags: Healing, Leper, Miracles, Jesus Teachings, Faith, Rescue, Second Coming  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Cymbala's Easter Story  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 31, 2005

CYMBALA'S EASTER STORY Jim Cymbala preaches at a church in the slums of New York. He tells the following story: It was Easter Sunday and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform, pulled down my tie and sat down and draped my feet over the edge. It was a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 18:15-18, Luke 23:32-34, 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, John 13:34-35, Matthew 25:34-45, Psalm 40:1-3, Ephesians 2:1-10, Colossians 1:1-11, Matthew 18:22-35, Matthew 22:1-14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Second Coming, New Year, Dignity, Body Of Christ, Supper, Work  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Downward Spiral Of Sin

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 19, 2023

DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF SIN Sin will take you farther than you ever thought you’d stray. Sin will leave you so lost, you think you’ll never find your way. Sin will keep you longer than you ever thought you’d ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Judgment, Second Adam, Sin, Sinful Nature, Sinners, Temptation, Adam  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It's Later Than It's Ever Been!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 6, 2023

A young boy was playing in his grandmother’s house near a large grandfather clock. Noontime was approaching, and when both hands of the old timepiece reached 12, the chimes began to ring. As he always liked to do, the boy counted each gong as it sounded. This time, however, something went wrong ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:18

Tags: End Times, Return Of Christ, Second Coming, Time, Prophecy, Rapture  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Soon And Very Soon, We Are Going To Burger King!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 29, 2023

Kids say the darndest things.....even in church! One day as I was cleaning, I began singing one of my favorite gospel songs, "Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King!" I just love that song. Well, my young son, Cory, was in the next room listening to my song. Suddenly, he ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, John 14:1-6

Tags: Humor, Armageddon, Second Coming, Return Of Christ, Rapture, King Of Kings  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jewish Weddings And The Return Of Christ

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 30, 2023

An understanding of the Rapture can be gained from understanding the Jewish Wedding Tradition. IN THE JEWISH WEDDING TRADITION, • As the young man becomes of age to marry, • He builds a room onto his father’s house, • So there will be a place • For him and his bride to live. WHEN THE YOUNG ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, John 14:1-6

Tags: Jewish Weddings, Israel, Armageddon, Second Coming, Revelation, Return Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dirty Windows

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 12, 2023

"A friend of mine, Bud Wood, founded Shepherds Home in Wisconsin for boys and girls with developmental disabilities. The original ministry opened its doors in 1964 to 36 children, providing them a loving residential environment and a school that would focus on their unique needs, helping them ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6, Philippians 3:20, 1 John 3:1-3

Tags: Second Coming, Return Of Christ, Revelation, Rapture, Children, Disabled Children, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[036] A Message From A Poem – Blessed Lamb Of God In Adoration

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 25, 2025

[036] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BLESSED LAMB OF GOD IN ADORATION This was written as a hymn that can be sung. The emphasis is on the Lord Jesus Christ not so much on us. I hate these modern songs where it is all about “me”. Let us get back to glorifying the Lord for who He is and for what He ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 4:11, 1 Corinthians 1:18, Ephesians 4:8-10

Tags: Compassion, Adoration, Lamb, Second Coming, Poetry, The Cross, Lamb Of God, Poem  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Compassion In An Inner-City ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2009

Compassion in an Inner-City Church Feed the dogs. Touch the dumb, and find faith in places where you least expect it. This is what truly brings pleasure to our Lord, much more than any outward show of self-righteousness. There is church in the inner-city of Chicago that for me demonstrates this ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-15

Tags: Compassion

Jail-Time Repentance

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2012

JAIL-TIME REPENTANCE I want to share with you a small auto-biographical story that I believe illustrates the type of repentant heart needed to continue in getting rid of guilt. She had always been a good girl so finding herself in this place was unimaginable to her. How was she going to survive ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:10

Tags: Repentance

Everything Looks Different

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” - Thornton Wilder It was the anniversary of the fall of the Soviet Union when he got the call from Moscow. Some of the Russian oil companies had abandoned their wells, left their rigs with the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:34

Tags: Work, Daily Living, Family Priorities

Denomination: Charismatic

The Budding Of The Fig Tree

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 16, 2023

Luke 21 records the parable of the Budding of the Fig Tree by Jesus. This parable is interpreted by many evangelical writers as a reference to the Regathering of Israel as prophesied by Ezekiel 38. It happened in 1948 as the nation was re-born miraculously as we prepare for the return of ...read more

Tags: End Times, Israel, Rapture, Prophecy, Parables, Second Coming, Regathering, Return Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You Packed And Ready To Go?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 28, 2023

The word "maranatha" is a Syriac expression that means: "our Lord comes." It was used as a greeting in the early church. When believers gathered or parted, they didn't say "hello" or "goodbye" but "Maranatha!" If we had the same upward look ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, John 14:1-6

Tags: Church, Feast Of Trumpets, Rapture, Ready, Readiness, Prepared, Preparation, Maranatha, Second Coming  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Gentlemen, It's Closing Time!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 4, 2023

At the end of the 19th century, two French writers went to visit the well-known French scientist, Peirre Berthelot. Berthelot was a kind of a scientific prophet. He forecast some of the weapons of mass destruction which would appear in the next century. He said to the writers, "We have only ...read more

Tags: Last Days, Rapture, Prophecy, Return Of Christ, Second Coming, End Times, Armageddon  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

End Times Ignorance

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 22, 2025

A friend says to a seminarian, “What subjects are you studying at school?” The young theologian says, “You know, the usual, Biblical Texts, Church History, Ministry and Systematic Theology.” The friend asks if he has studied anything on eschatology in his Systematic class. The seminarian ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:1-22, Matthew 24:1-51

Tags: End Times, Eschatology, Second Coming, Tribulation, Millennium, Bible Prophecy, Last Things  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Would He Say?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

WHAT WOULD HE SAY? If He should come today And find my hands so full Of future plans, however fair, In which my Savior has no share, What would He say? If He should come today And find my love so cold, My faith so very weak and dim I had not even looked for Him. What would He say? If He should ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Return Of Christ, Judgment Seat Of Christ, Rapture Of The Church, Evangelism, Second Coming, Last Days  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Haman Is A Type Of The Antichrist

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 28, 2023

Some Bible students have seen in Haman an illustration of the “man of sin”, or the Antichrist, who will one day appear and ruthlessly rule over humanity (2 Thess. 2; Rev. 13). Haman was given great authority from the king, and Satan will give great power to this wicked world ruler we call the ...read more

Tags: Antichrist, End Times, Esther, Haman, Prophecy, Rapture, Man Of Sin, Tribulation, Second Coming  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational