In Sermon Illustrations: "2 John 2:10-19"

Unfold Your Deck Chair - Funny Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 3, 2026

In a "Peanuts" strip, ... Charlie Brown and Lucy were discussing ... theology. Lucy said, ... "On the great cruise ship of life, ... some people ... take their deck chairs ... to the bow. And some people ... take their deck chairs ... to the stern. Where do you put your deck ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-34, John 14:6

Tags: Deck Chair, Faith, Life, Ship, Chair  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

How Do You Make This Thing Work? War Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 3, 2026

The story is told ... about an Army sergeant ... who was caught near a beach ... by German artillery ... and managed to protect himself ... by moving to the water's edge. While improving his position with a trench shovel, ... he came upon an ornate crucifix ... the kind that prosperous ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-34, John 14:6

Tags: Faith, Lordship, War, Superficial

Denomination: Anglican

Looking For A Loophole. W C Fields Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 3, 2026

It is a difficult thing... to look in the mirror of our soul... and see where we really stand ... in our relationship with God. Some hold back ... from a total commitment to Jesus... and in a way, ... are looking for a loophole ... to make them acceptable ... before God. (Pause) W. C. Fields ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-34, John 14:6

Tags: Spirit, Battle, Commitment, Flesh, Loophole  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Wolfing Down Yourself

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 6, 2026

***WOLFING DOWN THE PAIN By F. Buechner OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS RESENTMENT AND ANGER ARE POSSIBLY THE MOST FUN. TO LICK YOUR WOUNDS, TO SMACK YOUR LIPS OVER GRIEVANCES LONG PAST, TO ROLL OVER YOUR TONGUE THE PROSPECT OF BITTER CONFRONTATION STILL TO COME. TO SAVOR TO THE LAST TOOTHSOME MORSEL THE ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:3-7, John 15:11

Tags: Hurt, Unforgiveness

Denomination: Assembly Of God

[307]. A Poem Message - This Poor, Sinful World – With God In Control

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 11, 2026

[307]. A POEM MESSAGE - THIS POOR, SINFUL WORLD – WITH GOD IN CONTROL God is in control. God always has the control and the whole of the universe one day will come together in the new heavens and the new earth and sin is gone forever. The poem begins with what I see as a fact. If there was ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:4-5, John 1:3

Tags: World, Sin, Judgment, Control, Meaningless, Coming Judgment, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Sinful Word  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Want To Build A Bridge

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 28, 2026

I WANT TO BUILD A BRIDGE! The parents had died and left the farm to their two sons. The farm was divided by a creek. There was deep, hard feelings between the two brothers. They had not spoken to each other in several years. They went to the same church but they would not talk or even look at each ...read more

Scripture: John 15:14, Matthew 1:23

Tags: Bridge, Build

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Muscle Memory Of The Violin

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

From 5th grade through high school graduation, I played the violin. I was serious about it, participating in all-region orchestras, competitions, all of that. My senior recital was performing the Bach Double Concerto with one of my best friends. Here's the thing about playing a string ...read more

Scripture: John 21:3, Romans 7:15

Tags: Spiritual Drift, Sanctification

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

They Called Me Frodo

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 18, 2026

I want to tell you about a title I had in high school. Picture a 5'6" and a half, scrawny, 110 pound kid with long curly hair down to his collar bone. Got it? The nickname was Frodo. Do you know what I did to earn that nickname? Nothing. The last Lord of the Rings movie had come out about ...read more

Scripture: John 1:29, Isaiah 53:7

Tags: Identity, Names

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[057]. A Message From A Poem – Delusion Has Ascended On Mankind

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 13, 2025

[057]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DELUSION HAS ASCENDED ON MANKIND Delusion, often created through “inclusion”, is a serious subject today because there is so much of it around. All this has kicked off through the widespread media. “We don’t know who to believe,” is a common saying in our days. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 5:20-21, Malachi 2:17, Colossians 2:4, James 1:22, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11, 2 Timothy 3:13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Media, Climate Change, Liars, Delude, Deluded, Evil, Deception, Lies, Delusion, Deceive  (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: Christian Poems, The Third Heaven, Jesus, Heaven, Center  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Einstein And Emmy  PRO

Contributed by Joe La Rue on Apr 28, 2008

EINSTEIN AND EMMY When Einstein fled Nazi Germany, he came to America and bought an old two-story house within walking distance of Princeton University. There he entertained some of the most distinguished people of his day and discussed with them issues as far ranging as physics to human rights. ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-4, Philippians 4:6-7, Isaiah 40:1-5, 2 Kings 20:1-5, Matthew 13:1-9, Matthew 25:1-13, Matthew 24:32-44, Romans 8:20-39, Romans 12:1-2, John 12:23-26  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Children, Welcome, Gift, Funeral, Follow, Persistence, Deny, Share, Prayer General  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

[062b]. A Message From A Poem – Does Suffering Cancel Out A God Of Love?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

[062B]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DOES SUFFERING CANCEL OUT A GOD OF LOVE? THE POEM AS IT IS WILL NOT FIT IN THE ILLUSTRATION SPACE AVAILABLE. I HAVE SPLIT IT INTO THREE PARTS. THIS IS THE SECOND PART THE INTRODUCTION FOR THE POEM IS IN PART 1. PART 2 SECTION B - PART 1 (THE CHRISTIAN ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:6-7, John 3:16, Exodus 34:6-7

Tags: Hurt, Pain, Love, Compassion, Comfort, Suffering, Tragedy, God Of Comfort, God Of Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[187]. A Message From A Poem – My Final Destination

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 5, 2025

[187]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – MY FINAL DESTINATION What is your final destination? “Well,” say some, “death is the end of it all. There is nothing after death. Evolution placed us here and will see our end recycled.” Those who deny an eternal spirit in man just ignore the bible’s message – ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-15, John 12:32, Ephesians 4:30, Ephesians 2:8-9, Hebrews 9:27, Psalm 1:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Journey, Destination, Final, Seal, Glory In Heaven, Christian Poems, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

100 Names For Jesus In The Bible

Contributed by Garris Hudson on May 19, 2016

Advocate (1 John 2:1) Almighty (Rev. 1:8; Mt. 28:18) Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8; 22:13) Amen (Rev. 3:14) Apostle of our Profession (Heb. 3:1) Atoning Sacrifice for our Sins (1 John 2:2) Author of Life (Acts 3:15) Author and Perfecter of our Faith (Heb. 12:2) ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Scripture, Jesus, Salvation, Names Of Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jim Cymbala Began At The Brooklyn Tabernacle As ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 27, 2000

Jim Cymbala began at the Brooklyn Tabernacle as an ill-equipped, under-educated, time-strapped preacher who led a second congregation in New Jersey. The Brooklyn church had no money to pay him, a ramshackle building, and barely enough attendance to bother with weekly meetings. Today, the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14, Jeremiah 8:1-6

Tags: Revival, Prayer Persistence, Prayer General, Prayer

Denomination: Baptist

R. Kent Hughes, In His Book, James—faith ...  PRO

Contributed by Tony Miano on Apr 21, 2001

R. Kent Hughes, in his book, James—Faith That Works, shares this story. "It is said that Napoleon, while looking at some papers, let slip the bridle of his horse, which reared so that the Emperor was in danger. A corporal of the grenadiers leaped forward and caught the bridle, bringing the ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26, 2 Kings 25:27-30

Tags: Faith General, Examples Of Faith, Assurance

Denomination: *other

In The Foreward Of His Book, Inside Out, Larry ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeffery Lindsay on Aug 11, 2001

In the foreward of his book, Inside Out, Larry Crabb writes this: “Modern Christianity, in dramatic reversal of its biblical form, promises to relieve the pain of living in a fallen world. The message, whether it’s from fundamentalists requiring us to live by a favored set of rules or from ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-24, 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Tags: Emotions, Blessed, Blessing, Hardship Of Life, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Our Thinking Vs. God's Promises  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 8, 2001

16. Our Thinking vs. God’s Promises. a. We say- It’s impossible. God says- All things are possible with Me. b. We- I can’t do it. God- You can do all things through Christ. c. We- I’m too tired. God- Come to Me, I will give you rest. d. We- I’m always worried and frustrated. God- Cast all your ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 8:1-6, Genesis 35:1-21

Tags: God The Father, Promise, Descriptions Of God

A Man Is Driving With His Wife At His Side And ...  PRO

Contributed by Eric Snyder on Oct 22, 2001

A man is driving with his wife at his side and his mother-in-law in the back seat. The women just won’t leave him alone. His mother-in-law says, "You’re driving too fast!" His wife says, "Stay more to the left." After ten mixed orders, ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 6:15-16, 2 Samuel 23:1-7

Tags: Leadership General, Hope

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ