In Sermon Illustrations: "2 Corinthians 10:23-33"

The Deceitfulness Of Sin

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 8, 2020

One of the largest freshwater turtles is the alligator snapping turtle. Found primarily in the southeastern United States, these massive turtles have been known to weigh close to 250 pounds. They are carnivorous, and while their diet is primarily fish, they have been known to eat almost anything ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-3, Luke 18:9-14, Romans 3:23

Tags: Sin, Deception, Temptation, Deceit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tests Of True Humility

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 8, 2020

Tests of True Humility - this is "tricky" 1. Do you feel joy when others are honored? 2. Do you honestly and openly admit sin? 3. Do you seek truth from others regarding your weaknesses? 4. Do you accept criticism graciously? 5. Do you turn all worry, anxiety and concern over to the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-3, 1 Peter 5:5-11

Tags: Godliness, Humility, Honesty, Brokenness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Discipleship Is A Call To Suffer

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

John R. Scott gives a modern example of one who suffered for the gospel observing that… "Few men of this century have understood better the inevitability of suffering than Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He seems never to have wavered in his Christian antagonism to the Nazi regime, although it meant for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:12, Philippians 3:1-20, Romans 1:16

Tags: Church, Commitment, Discipleship, Suffering, Will Of God, Bonhoeffer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Have You Lost The "scent"?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 1, 2021

DEMAS LOST THE "SCENT" A man bought a new hunting dog. Eager to see how the dog would perform, the man took him out to track a bear. No sooner had they gotten into the woods than the dog picked up the trail. Suddenly he stopped, sniffed the ground, and headed in a new direction. He had ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:10, 1 John 2:15-16

Tags: Compromise, Worldliness, Backsliding, Values, Loving The World  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Warning Mr. Smith?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 28, 2021

PERILOUS, FULL OF DANGER, HIGH RISK, EXPOSED TO RUIN AND DISASTER, SERIOUS-IMMEDIATE DANGER, SETBACK, THREATENING OUR FINANCIAL, PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL BEING… DANGER Remember the series LOST IN SPACE… there was a ROBOT, SERIES 1A-1998 MODEL B-9 CLASS RODNEY YM-3. HE WAS JUST CALLED ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:18-19, 2 Timothy 3:4

Tags: Warning, Be Ready

Denomination: Assembly Of God

On Living And Dying

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 22, 2021

Martin Luther King Jr. on living, dying and his funeral. If any of you are around what I have to meet my day, I don’t want along funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. Every now and then I wonder what I would want them to say. Tell them not to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, Philippians 1:21, Galatians 2:20

Tags: Loving Others, Death, Love, Giving, Servanthood, Serving, Funerals  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Power Of Holy Spirit In You

Contributed by John Bright on May 24, 2022

There is NO COMPARISON between the power of satan and the power of the HOLY SPRIT IN YOU. The power of satan is like a little firecracker while the power of the Holy ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20, 2 Timothy 1:7, Acts 1:8

Tags: Holy Spirit, Satan, Power

Denomination: Methodist

Ted Turner Turned Away From God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 20, 2022

Cable television mogul Ted Turner criticized conservative Christianity and said, "Jesus probably would be sick at his stomach" over the way his ideas have been "twisted" by today's preachers, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Turner made his remarks at a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: False Professors, Deception, Bitterness, Last Days, Unbelief, Apostasy, Denying The Truth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Can Change

Contributed by Richard Tow on Mar 27, 2023

Colin Smith tells the story of a friend who had a severe heart attack. The man said it felt like an elephant on his chest. He survived, but the doctor told him he would have to change his diet. Colin asked the man what he ate before the heart attack. The man said he loved cheeseburgers, fries, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6, 2 Timothy 2:22, Luke 6:21

Tags: Habits, Hunger, Addiction, Righteousness, Health, Eating  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

[014] A Message From A Poem - Against The Christian

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 18, 2024

[014] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - AGAINST THE CHRISTIAN The origin of this poem goes right back to a time of considerable difficulty when I was going through tough times and some people were very nasty. Christians do face real difficulties and you will have persecution and unfairness just because ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:12, Hebrews 2:17, John 14:16-17

Tags: Persecution, Comfort, Difficulties, Trials, Suffer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Beautiful America

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Jun 29, 2024

BEAUTIFUL AMERICA My, what a lovely country; Americans, we're blessed! The wonders of our homeland Could never be over-stressed. Majestic mountains boast Their glistening, snow-crowned heads; Mysterious blue oceans gleam In sparkling waters spread. Luscious grassy meadows; Refreshing ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Isaiah 18:1-2, Philippians 3:20

Tags: America, Patriotic, Independence Day, Homeland, Poems About America  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

[177]. A Message From A Poem – Lord, Open My Eyes

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 26, 2025

[177]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – LORD, OPEN MY EYES Opened eyes is truly a marvellous thing. The term “eyes opened” comes to mean understanding and awareness of what is reality or of what is happening. Only once in the whole bible are the words “open my eyes” found, and it is this verse – ...read more

Scripture: John 12:21, 2 Kings 6:17, Psalm 119:18

Tags: Open My Eyes, The Word Of God, The Bible, Eyes Opened, Christian Poems, Wonderful Things, Understanding  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I'm Standing For My Marriage  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Mar 7, 2003

I'M STANDING FOR MY MARRIAGE A former Pastor in Seattle, WA wrote a power statement about marriage… I am standing for the healing of my marriage! I won’t give up, give in, give out, or give over till that healing takes place. I made a vow; I said the words; I gave the pledge; I gave a ring; I ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-24, Mark 10:2-12, 1 Corinthians 6:16, Ephesians 5:22-33, 1 Corinthians 11:11, Malachi 2:13-16, Jeremiah 31:31-34  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faithfulness, Conflict, Commitment, Marriage Commitment, Marriage General, Marriage  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[067]. A Message From A Poem – Eden’s Garden And Gardens Of Significence

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 27, 2025

[067]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – EDEN’S GARDEN AND GARDENS OF SIGNIFICENCE This poem is an examination of the Garden of Eden, mainly dealing with Satan’s temptation and man’s fall into sin. There are a lot of teachings that derive from this account in Genesis 3 and in the poem I try to bring ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12, 1 Corinthians 15:45-47, Matthew 19:4-6, Revelation 21:1-2

Tags: Mary Magdalene, Poem, Gardens, Serpent, Gethsemane, Adam And Eve, Garden Of Eden, Poetry, The Fall, Eden, Satan, Temptation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Misdirection In A Football Game Is Fun. ...

Contributed by David Nuhfer on Jul 16, 2008

Misdirection in a football game is fun. Misdirection from Satan is deadly. He has been doing it for thousands of years, from the time in the Garden of Eden when he got Eve to believe that God was holding out on her and Adam, to Exodus when he got the Israelites focused on hating Moses, to the time ...read more

Tags: Deception, Satan

Denomination: Baptist

Animals And Colors In The Bible

Contributed by Pastor Cosmos on Jan 13, 2011

ANIMALS AND COLORS IN THE BIBLE The Bible to teach us to interperet the Bible by using the the Bible to interperet itself Isaiah 28:9-10 "9Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10For precept ...read more

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Charismatic

[204]. A Message From A Poem - Once I Was Lost – Now I Am Saved

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 17, 2025

[204]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - ONCE I WAS LOST – NOW I AM SAVED (Shakespeare) When Macbeth heard that Lady Macbeth was dead these words were spoken – “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:5, Acts 4:12, John 9:25

Tags: Rejection, Natural Man, Christian Poems, Name, Salvation, Cross, Testimony  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Should Women Speak In Church?  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on May 9, 2003

SHOULD WOMEN SPEAK IN CHURCH? Catherine Booth, wife of Salvation Army founder William Booth, once responded to a man who argued, "Paul said to the Corinthians it is a shame for women to speak in the church" "Oh yes, so he did;" said Catherine, "but in the first place this is not a church, and ...read more

Tags: Women

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Where Did That Come From?

Contributed by Rick Palmer on Oct 21, 2018

As a Police Officer we were required to use radar to influence drivers to slow down and obey the laws. One evening I parked at a T-intersection where Main Street intersected a major highway.This intersection was very well lite up because of the businesses located there, a restaurant with a gas ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:23, Matthew 28:14, 2 Peter 2:12-15, 1 John 2:15-16, John 15:19, Galatians 3:23-24, 1 Corinthians 2:14, John 16:8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Reprove The World, Gospel Of Jesus Christ, Evangelism, Gospel, Jesus On The Cross, Preach The Gospel, Go Into All The World  (view more)  (view less)

Have You Seen The Rabbit - The Race

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 31, 2023

Yet as I prepared this Message ... the Holy Spirit made it clear to me ... that to be all that God has called us to be ... and before we should connect with others ... we first must be abiding with ... and be connected to the Jesus ... to the true vine. To continually abide in the Lord ... to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14, Luke 22:42, Matthew 6:6, John 10:27, John 15:5, Matthew 25:40, 1 Corinthians 9:24, 2 Timothy 4:7, Hebrews 12:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Cost, Race, Prize, Connect, Chase, Endurance, Vine  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican