In Sermon Illustrations: "1 Corinthians 12 3b 13"

Adversity

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.” - Mary Anne Radmacher Sometimes life deals us a situation so adverse, a loss so great, we feel unable to meet the challenge of facing day after day in our pain and loss. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5

Tags: Adversity, Courage, Perserverance, Trials

Denomination: Charismatic

The Carnival Ride

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 9, 2017

Some years ago, while our family was vacationing in the high Sierras, we decided to visit a small county fair near the town of Quincy. There weren't many people there that morning. In fact, we were about the only ones visiting the carnival rides. So when I climbed into the Tilt-O-Wheel with my ...read more

Scripture: James 1:14-15

Tags: Sin, Sin Cycle

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Helping Open A Package

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 9, 2020

Some years back I noticed a male co-worker, trying to open a package of a certain candy product for his significant other. Now, we all understand the need for security in packaging and other things, but this package was sealed above and beyond the call of duty! Most of the time, each package would ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:10

Tags: Help, Kindness, Assisting Others

Denomination: Baptist

Weeping Over Others

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 15, 2020

Do you weep for your family, friends, church, nation and world? 1) Jesus did- Jesus wept over the sins of others, over their bitter consequences in judgment and death, and over Jerusalem which would not receive him. Jesus was a Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53). Why? Because he took our sins upon ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Intercession, Beatitudes, Lost, Weeping, Mourning, Evangelism, Prayer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

At What Age Should A Pastor Retire?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 3, 2020

AT WHAT AGE SHOULD A PASTOR RETIRE? TEN DIAGNOSTIC QUESTIONS There are a lot of Baby Boomer pastors and Christian leaders around. And it’s cliché, but they aren’t getting any younger. It’s a quiet question that many are asking, but they are asking it nonetheless: What age should I ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Retirement, Aging, Pastors, Missionaries, Paul And Timothy, Baby Boomers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Tribute To Fathers In The Bible

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 9, 2020

Introduction: with the exception of Adam, who was created; and Jesus Himself, Who was born of the Virgin Mary, every man in the Bible had a father. That some were good and others were evil is clear, and it would be nearly impossible to list every father and son in the Bible. The Books of Chronicles ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:4, Romans 1:18-32

Tags: Father's Day, Fathers, Raising Children

Denomination: Baptist

Thanksgiving Turkey

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Jun 19, 2020

We are celebrating this week; its Thanksgiving in our Country. I hope Americans truly understand why we have this great country and where the many blessings come from. I hope we are giving to God what is God's. 91% of Americans have turkey for Dinner. And so... I was thinking about Butterball ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:3

Tags: Turkeys, Cooking

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Any Believer Can Be A "Man Of God”

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jul 7, 2020

Any believer can be a “man of God” Text: 2 Tim 3:17 That the man of God (any believer in Jesus!) may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Thoughts: Only a few people were ever called a “man of God” in the Bible. Some were never known; at least four were never named, and one, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Tags: Paul, Man Of God, Timothy

Denomination: Baptist

Unsung Heroes-Those Who Made Copies Of The Scriptures

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Sep 30, 2021

Introduction: sometimes we forget, or take for granted, the easy availability of God’s Word. Retail stores (not just Christian bookstores) sometimes have copies of the whole Bible for a dollar per copy! Secondhand or thrift stores occasionally have donated Bibles and other portions for a very ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 9:1-2

Tags: Jeremiah, Word Of God, Scribes, Baruch, Daniel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas Hope

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 13, 2023

The hope of Christmas. When you think about it, that is what we have. HOPE. Listen to what the Apostle wrote in his letter while he was imprisoned in Rome. Romans 3:24-25 - 24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. 25 But if we look ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:24-25

Tags: Hope, Christmas Hope

Denomination: Baptist

Did Haman Use Wood From Noah's Ark To Build His Gallows?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 28, 2023

We read in the Bible how, at the end of the Great Flood, the Ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat (which some identify as the Armenian Highlands). Since the Torah doesn’t ascribe any intrinsic holiness to Noah’s Ark, it is not at all surprising that once Noah left it, there isn’t any real ...read more

Tags: Miracles, Haman, Purim, Jewish Tradition, Gallows, Archeaology, Israel, Ark, Noah  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bible Reading And "the Power Of 4"

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 22, 2024

Why study the Bible? There was a recent study by the Center for Bible Engagement (2009) where they polled 40000 people from the general population in the US. From eight to eighty. They just wanted to see how we were engaging with scripture. They discovered something that became the profound ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, Psalm 119:9-16, Hebrews 2:1

Tags: Spiritually Stagnant, Scripture Memorization, Discipling Others, Risky Teen Behaviour, Anger, Bitterness, Loneliness, Bible Reading, Sharing Your Faith, Teens, Evangelism, Pornography  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Cuckoo Birds Live In Cuckoo Clocks, Right?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 12, 2024

One day they had a contestant o WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE who made it all the way to the last question. Her name was Debra. Debra has made it to the final plateau. If she answered the next question correctly, she would win $1,000,000. If she answered incorrectly, she would pocket only the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Tags: Clocks, Birds, Pastor's Wives, Sermon Introductions, Pastor Jokes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Like Snow—like Scarlet?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 24, 2024

Introduction: Even a small yet honest mistake can have long-lasting effects! Text: Isaiah 1:18, KJV: 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. I used to wash my ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:18

Tags: Forgiveness, Sin, Clothes

Denomination: Baptist

Becoming Rich Requires Hard Work

Contributed by Saumiman Saud on Feb 20, 2025

BECOMING RICH REQUIRES HARD WORK My Father in Heaven, forgive me, for sometimes I feel that You are unfair. Why is it that despite my efforts, I never seem to have as much wealth as others? I often feel disappointed and even angry, but I am thankful that to this day, I remain in Your care and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:10

Tags: Rich, Hard Work

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[173]. A Message From A Poem – Look Up Look Up

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 22, 2025

[173]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – LOOK UP LOOK UP Two lines I wrote in the poem are:- “Your heart is where your mind is set. Your mind is what your heart has fixed.” This is not a circular argument and is allied with this verse – {{Colossians 3:2 “SET YOUR MIND on the things above, not on the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1, Colossians 3:2

Tags: The Mind, Set Your Mind, Christian Poems, Earthly, Look To Christ, Looking To Jesus, Heavenly Minded, Look Up, The Heart  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[235]. A Message From A Poem - Romans 5 Verses 3 - 5

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 25, 2025

[235]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - ROMANS 5 VERSES 3 - 5 This is a shorter poem based solely on 3 verses from Romans. Here are those verses – {{Romans 5:3-5 “Not only this, but we also exult in our TRIBULATIONS, knowing that tribulation brings about PERSEVERANCE, and perseverance, PROVEN ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:35, Romans 5:3-5

Tags: Tribulation, Christian Poems, No Separation From Christ, Perseverance, Hope, Character  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pleasure Comes From Pain  PRO

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Feb 7, 2002

PLEASURE COMES FROM PAIN The world's best cyclist, Lance Armstrong, says this about pain: I become a happier man each time I suffer. Suffering is as essential to a good life, and as inextricable, as bliss. The old saying that you should live each day as if it’s your last is a nice sentiment, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1

Tags: Endurance, Disciplines General, Human Body

Denomination: Baptist

Don Richardson, In His Book Eternity In Their ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Sep 11, 2005

Don Richardson, in his book Eternity in Their Hearts, tells an amazing story of spiritual harvest. In an area once called Burma, which is now modern Myanmar, lying between China and Thailand, and touching the border of Laos, there lived about a quarter-million tribal people called the Lahu. For ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Methodist

Have You Ever Hurt Anybody?  PRO

Contributed by Ken Ritz on Dec 30, 2005

Brennan Manning tells a story in his book The Ragamuffin Gospel. 25 years ago, he had a drinking problem. He voluntarily entered a 28-day treatment program. Early on in the treatment program they had to sit in a circle with a leader and tell the other people in the group, about the extent of their ...read more

Tags: Richard Celtzer, Mortal Lessons, Addiction, Brennan Manning

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational