In Sermon Illustrations: "2 Corinthians 4:20-5:20"

God's Mercy

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Nov 2, 2024

Henri Nouwen tells the story of a family from Paraguay. The father spoke out against the military regime and its human rights abuses. The police arrested his teenage son and tortured him to death. Enraged townsfolk wanted to turn the boy's funeral into a huge protest march, but the doctor ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-18, Romans 5:1-11, Ephesians 2:1-5

Tags: Mercy, Sin, Evil, Salvation, Cross  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Gospel

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 9, 2024

Pastor Martin Niemoeller confronted Hitler’s corruption of the German church and spent 8 years in prison. In 1945 he was freed by American forces. Remarkably he lived to the age of 92. A few days before his death he wrote - "when I was young I felt ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Galatians 1:1-5, Romans 1:1-5

Tags: Grace, Gospel, Discipleship, Devotion, Justification  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[032] A Message From A Poem – Before The Lord We Are His

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 21, 2025

[032] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BEFORE THE LORD WE ARE HIS To start with I want to say that all my poems are copyright in the sense that I own them and don’t want them altered without permission. All my poems God gave and therefore can be used in your ministry or for your enjoyment. I wish the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 19:16, Philippians 3:20, 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Tags: Savior, King, Poetry, New Bodies, The Rapture  (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

The Worth Of Someone You Love

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Mar 3, 2025

My niece was going through a bit of a hard time, so I decided to send her a tiny bit of money to help. I included it in a nice card thanking her for solving a big problem for me recently. The money wasn’t as much as I would like to have sent I thought, as I was writing a note to include. I ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:8, John 13:34, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Tags: Love, Debt, Helping Others, Needy

Denomination: Charismatic

[052]. A Message From A Poem – Creation Then - Not Evolution

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 9, 2025

[052]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CREATION THEN - NOT EVOLUTION This poem began one Saturday afternoon when I was waiting outside a church in Atherton, waiting for Committee Members to arrive for a meeting. I had to travel a longer distance and allowed time but actually arrived early. I was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:45-47, Matthew 19:4, Genesis 1:26-27

Tags: Creation, Evolution, Poetry, Poem, Reproduction, Scientific Principles, Symmetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[164]. A Message From A Poem – Just Being In Christ Is Everything

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 15, 2025

[164]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JUST BEING IN CHRIST IS EVERYTHING YES! YES! YES! Christ is everything. How this world is empty without the Lord at the centre. If God did not care for us and took steps to save us, we would be meaningless people on a meaningless ball spinning in space in a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:30, Romans 8:1, Romans 6:11

Tags: Salvation, In Christ, Christian Poems, Turn To Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Goal Of Spiritual Gifts

Contributed by John Bright on Sep 24, 2025

Spiritual Gifts were documented in Class Meetings within the Wesleyan tradition. It was there that members shared their lives – the successes and the struggles. They would search the Scriptures for answers, and they would pray for each other. Those prayers included listening for a Word from the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11, 1 Corinthians 12:28

Tags: Spiritual Gifts, Small Groups, Class Meeting, Love

Denomination: Methodist

[223]. A Message From A Poem - Our Boast Is In The Lord

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 10, 2025

[223]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - OUR BOAST IS IN THE LORD Last Sunday I preached on this verse - {{Galatians 6:14 “MAY IT NEVER BE THAT I SHOULD BOAST, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”}} Then we looked at how ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:31, Luke 18:10-13, Galatians 6:14

Tags: Boast In The Lord, Christian Poems, Darwall Tune, Paul, Glory, Hymn, Cross, Boasting, Boast  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jewish Understanding About Divorce

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

“The school of Shammai say: A man may not divorce his wife unless he finds in her a matter of lewdness, as it says, "If he finds in her an unseemly thing" (Deuteronomy 24:1), but the school of Hillel say: Even if she burnt his food, as it says, "If he finds in her an unseemly ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:31-32, Matthew 19:3-9, Mark 10:1-12, Luke 16:18, 1 Corinthians 7:11-13, Deuteronomy 24:21  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Remarriage, Background, Jewish, Divorce

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Facts About Storms Of Life

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 7, 2022

Here are 5 facts about storms of life that we need to remember: 1. Storms are INEVITABLE (John 16:33). 2. Storms are UNPREDICTABLE. You don’t know what tomorrow will bring. (James 4:14). 3. Storms are IMPARTIAL. It rains on the unjust and not just the "just"! (Matthew 5:45). 4. Storms ...read more

Tags: Faith, Fear, Storms Of Life, Tests, Trials  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Honors Radical, Risk-Taking ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Beaird on Nov 6, 2000

"God honors radical, risk-taking faith. When arks are built, lives are saved. When soldiers march, Jerichos tumble. When staffs are raised, seas still open. When a lunch is shared, thousands are fed. And when a garment is touched -- whether by the hand of an anemic woman in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:8-37, 1 Samuel 1:8-16

Tags: Faith General, Faith

Denomination: Pentecostal

Earlier That Same Year, 1885, Three Christian ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Hereford on Oct 30, 2001

"Earlier that same year, 1885, three Christian boys had shed their blood for Christ in Uganda. The king had ordered the arrest of these page boys in an effort to stamp out Christianity. The eldest was fifteen and the youngest was eleven-year-old Yusufu. They held fast their faith and staked their ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-12, John 14:12, 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

By Life Or By Death  PRO

Contributed by Dana Chau on Apr 22, 2002

BY LIFE OR BY DEATH John Piper, in his book, Future Grace, reprinted a letter by Carl Lundquist, former president of Bethel College and Seminary. In 1988, the doctors told him he had a rare form of cancer called mycosis fungoides, which invaded the skin over his entire body and ended his life ...read more

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

Tags: Worship General, Church Practices

Denomination: *other

Potato, Egg, Or Coffee?  PRO

Contributed by Mike Leiter on Jan 15, 2003

POTATO, EGG, OR COFFEE? Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn’t know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed. Her father, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 15:7, Galatians 6:9, James 1:2-4

Tags: Hardship, Purpose, Touch, Trial, Struggles, Difficulties, Adversity, Endurance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Vineyard

The Story Is Told About President James A. ...  PRO

Contributed by Emil Boniog on Dec 10, 2003

• The story is told about President James A. Garfield’s first Sunday in Washington after his inauguration. A member of the cabinet insisted that a cabinet meeting be called at 10 a.m. the following day, which was Sunday, to handle a matter of grave importance. President Garfield said that he had ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-5, 2 Samuel 1:1-15, Hebrews 10:25

Tags: Worship Definition, Worship Purpose

Denomination: Baptist

It's Not About Us!" 1 Samuel 15:27-35 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 4, 2005

“It’s Not About Us!” 1 Samuel 15:27-35 Key verse(s) 30:“Saul replied, ‘I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God.’” We truly live in the age of self and ego. When you stop to think about it, a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:27-35, 2 Chronicles 20:5-15

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Basics Of Christianity, Humility, Impatience, Obedience, Pride, Unrepentant  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Generations And The Bible  PRO

Contributed by Billy Nale on Oct 19, 2009

GENERATIONS AND THE BIBLE A new research report from the Barna Group examines recent nationwide studies on how different generations of American adults view and use the Bible. For the purposes of this research, the Mosaic generation refers to adults who are currently ages 18 to 25; Busters are ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 1 Timothy 4:12-16

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Baptist

Crowning Day  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Feb 1, 2013

CROWNING DAY When D. L. Moody, the great evangelist, was dying, his last words were, "Earth is receding, heaven is approaching; this is my crowning day." Resurrection of Christ is a reminder that we need have no fear about death. Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:21, Philippians 2:5-11, 2 Timothy 4:8

Tags: Death, Set Free

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Basic Training

Contributed by John Telgren on Feb 11, 2017

I hated shining shoes in Basic Training. There were other things I would rather be doing instead of sitting on the floor with a brush and mounds of cotton balls stained with black Kiwi shoe polish! If our boots and dress shoes were not perfect we paid for it dearly! During one of our trips to the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Diligence, Diligently, Diligent

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ