In Sermon Illustrations: "2 Corinthians 11:1-12:10"

Disguised

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Aug 15, 2018

I live in Arkansas. I LOVE when autumn comes and fall leaves drift down on autumn breezes. But in Arkansas, you have to be careful about those leaves on the ground because some of them conceal SERPENTS. There are lots of Copperhead Snakes here. Copperheads are venomous Pit Vipers that strike you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:14, Genesis 4:7, Genesis 3:1, Proverbs 23:27, Proverbs 22:14, Ecclesiastes 7:26  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Deceive, Disguise, Discerning, Affairs, Snares, Sin, Deception, Serpent, Adultery  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Eight Tests Every Christian Will Face

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 20, 2019

Below are brief descriptions of eight types of tests that every Christian will likely face: • Fiery trials: intense encounters or struggles; bursts of anger, grief, or lust • Infirmities: physical limitations and illnesses • Reproaches: ridicule and rejection on account of faith or ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-9

Tags: Faith, Tribulation, Tests, Trials, Temptations  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Wiretap Into Your Home

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 22, 2020

The church is the bride of Christ. If we love the groom (Jesus), we will look for positive things to say about the bride (the church). Bob Russell tells a story about how years ago, when there were multiple party telephone lines, a preacher picked up the telephone to make a call but couldn’t get ...read more

Scripture: John 13:35, 2 Corinthians 11:28-29

Tags: Evangelism, Love For The Church, Speak Positively

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Unsung Heroes-These Men Of Damascus Saved Saul’s Life!

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 22, 2021

Text, Acts 9:23-25, KJV: 23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. Thoughts: ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:23-25, 2 Corinthians 11:32-33

Tags: Persecution, Saul Of Tarsus, Unsung Heroes

Denomination: Baptist

F.e. Marsh Has Spoken Of Some Of God's ...

Contributed by Bruce Landry on Feb 25, 2008

F.E. Marsh has spoken of some of God’s blessings: An acceptance that can never be questioned. (Eph.1:6). An inheritance that can never be lost (I Peter 1:3-5). A deliverance that can never be excelled (2 Cor. l:10). A grace that can never be limited (2 Cor. 12:9). A hope that can never be ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:8-14

Denomination: Baptist

Scheming And Tricky

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 15, 2022

3 Greeks and 3 Turks are travelling by train to a conference. At the station, the 3 Turks each buy tickets and watch as the 3 Greeks buy only a single ticket. "How are 3 people going to travel on only one ticket?" asks one Turk. "Watch and you'll see," answers one Greek. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 2:1-4, Isaiah 4:2-6, Genesis 3:13, Genesis 29:25, Joshua 9:22, 2 Samuel 3:25, 2 Corinthians 11:13, 2 Timothy 3:13, 2 John 1:7  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Trick, Scheme, Lying, Crafty, Scheming, Tricky, Abuse, Dishonesty, Deceive, Cheating, Deceptive, Advantage  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Your Disability

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Oct 8, 2022

I was asked, “What is Tharon’s greatest accomplishment”? That question really made me think hard. Tharon lost his memory at 14 years old. Every day when he woke up, he was like a 2 year old kid. I went with him to School every day and by the time we made it to Swim practice, he was 14. By the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Tags: Action, Disabilities

Denomination: Baptist

Everyone Has A Disability

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Oct 8, 2022

“Everyone has a disability- Mine is just more noticeable than most people’s. God can use any person’s disability for God’s glory ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Tags: Action, Disabilities

Denomination: Baptist

Distorted Christianity

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 7, 2023

Q: What does the Church think of God the Father? A: He is omnipotent and holy. He created the world and imposed on mankind conditions impossible to fulfill; he is very angry if these are not carried out. He sometimes interferes in an arbitrary way with judgments and miracles, distributed with a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-6, 2 Corinthians 11:2-4, 2 Timothy 3:1-6

Tags: Distortion, Misconceptions, Ignorance, Slander, Dorothy Sayers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

[060]. A Message From A Poem – Do Not Trust Ourselves – Trust God

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

[060]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DO NOT TRUST OURSELVES – TRUST GOD When you think you know it all: Then you don't. When you think you’ll do it all; Then you won’t. I find this a delightful poem (for myself) and I am sharing my own experience here in writing it. Often we think we know best ...read more

Scripture: John 6:7-10, 2 Corinthians 12:10

Tags: Trust Ourselves, Weakness, Strong, Weak, Poetry, Poem, Human Strength, Trust, Strength  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[105]. A Message From A Poem – Godliness With Contentment Is Great Gain

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 8, 2025

[105]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN This is a one off for me in this particular style. I had in mind to write a song and got this far. The lyrics are not a problem, just the tunes. This poem would be a song for more than one singer as I see the parts in the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:5-7, 1 Timothy 6:11, Hebrews 13:5, 2 Corinthians 12:10

Tags: Difficulty, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Godliness, Contentment, Gain, Materialism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[142]. A Message From A Poem – In Our Weakness He Gives Strength

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 25, 2025

[142]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – IN OUR WEAKNESS HE GIVES STRENGTH Creatures of dust we are and weak and frail in human strength. Many are the battles we can have and many are the storms that assail us. I do think Christians have a greater measure of these that people in the world because it is ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 12:2, Genesis 2:7, Genesis 3:19, Psalm 34:4, Psalm 27:3, 2 Corinthians 12:10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: A Christian Poem, Weakness, I Am Weak, Dust Of The Ground, Christian Poetry, Dust Made From Dust, We Are Frail, Strength  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[186]. A Message From A Poem – Musings On Being In Heaven

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 5, 2025

[186]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – MUSINGS ON BEING IN HEAVEN This is a lovely poem FOR ME, which is why I wrote it. How much do we think of heaven? I am afraid some are so earth-bound that they give little thought to heaven. Do we know what heaven will be like? Of course we do not. We can only ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, 1 Corinthians 2:9

Tags: The Third Heaven, Jesus, Heaven, Center, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[192]. Message From A Poem – No Contradiction Found Here

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 8, 2025

[192]. MESSAGE FROM A POEM – NO CONTRADICTION FOUND HERE I am not sure if I should explain each of these or let you work them out for yourselves. I was going to explain what seems to be contradictions, then I changed my mind. I will decide on that tomorrow! Well, I have decided to let you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:10, John 3:7, 1 Peter 1:3, Titus 2:13

Tags: Christian Poems, Born Again, The Blessed Hope, Paradoxes, Contradictions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[217]. A Message From A Poem - Placed In Perilous Times

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 3, 2025

[217]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - PLACED IN PERILOUS TIMES Placed in perilous times spells the conditions that often apply to Christians in all ages. The believers in Roman times could very well know that. The Huguenots certainly knew that when hunted down by incited mobs from the French Catholic ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:26-27, 2 Timothy 3:1

Tags: A Sure Foundation, Christian Poems, Scriptures Are God Breathed, Persecution, Christianity, Danger, Peril, Unfeigned, A Crown Of Righteousness, Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[218]. A Message From A Poem - Poem Of Contrasts

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 3, 2025

[218]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - POEM OF CONTRASTS This poem came to me when I was thinking about the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb of God” This is the One, strong, royal, who is the Overcomer. {Revelation 5:5 One of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping. Behold, THE LION THAT IS FROM ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:5, John 1:29, 2 Corinthians 12:10

Tags: Victim, Man Of Sorrows, Subject, Contrasts, Christian Poems, Poem Of Contrasts, Lamb, Advocate, Lion, King, Judge, Victor, Lord, Servant, Shepherd  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Donkey That Won A Battle

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 24, 2025

My name? Well… I don’t have one anymore. I used to be a donkey—strong, steady, built for long walks and heavy loads. But my part in God’s story began after my last bray. One hot afternoon, I was resting in a field when trouble came. The Philistines had captured a man named Samson—big, strong, and ...read more

Scripture: Judges 15:15-17, 1 Corinthians 1:27, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Zechariah 4:6

Tags: Power, Strength, Victory, Purpose, Surrender  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Still Standing

Contributed by David Dunn on Dec 16, 2025

When I was in ninth grade, I was chosen to recite the Declaration of Independence in a high school patriotic play. I had the whole thing memorized. Every word. Every pause. I had practiced it until it lived in my bones. What I didn’t know — and wouldn’t discover until later — was that my zipper ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9, 1 Corinthians 1:27

Tags: Grace, Weakness

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Building Bridges

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 8, 2026

WILL ALLEN DROMGOOLE, 1860 TO 1934. She wrote over 7,500 poems and 5,000 essays. Her works are recorded in 13 books. My Dad, Wade M. Hughes (1931) committed this poem to memory and would often use it when speaking to leaders. I love this poem. ***THE BRIDGE BUILDER AN OLD MAN, GOING DOWN A LONE ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:6-12, Philippians 4:11-13

Tags: Bridge, Build

Denomination: Assembly Of God

[261]. A Message From A Poem – The Devil Snake

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 10, 2026

[261]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE DEVIL SNAKE Most people hate snakes. They run from them and scream out. Snakes are evil creatures but their cunning is well know. I have a love hate relationship with snakes. I think they are beautifully created which does not surprise me because Lucifer ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:8-9, 2 Corinthians 11:3, Revelation 12:9, Genesis 3:14-15, Genesis 3:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Bruise On The Heel, Bruise The Head, Western Brown Snake, Cunning, The Devil, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Cunning Snakes, Satan Is The Serpent, Serpent, Snake  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational