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

When You Are Born Again, The Holy Spirit Does ...

Contributed by Bruce Willis on Nov 29, 2006

When you are born again, the Holy Spirit does not do a “renovation project” on you, but gives you a brand new life. It’s like the new home some of you visited last week. In Augusta, we renovated an older home with flooring, paint and fixtures. But here, we didn’t want to go through that costly ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3:3-8

Denomination: Baptist

Singer Sheryl Crow Said Recently, In A New York ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Mar 3, 2008

Singer Sheryl Crow said recently, in a New York Post interview: “I believe in God. I believe in Jesus and Buddha and Mohammed and all those that were enlightened. I wouldn’t say necessarily that I’m a strict Christian. I’m not sure I believe in heaven.” Sheryl Crow is where many people are today; ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6, 2 Peter 2:20-21

Tags: Faith, Truth, Relativism, Pluralism

Denomination: Wesleyan

It Really Is Finished  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 15, 2010

IT REALLY IS FINISHED After suffering on the cross for six hours, Jesus shouted, "It is finished!" (John 19:30). Everything that needed to be done to provide salvation had been accomplished. When former President George W. Bush was asked about regrets during his presidency, Bush answered that he ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21, John 19:30

Tags: Cross

"No Daddy, Just One More...please!"  PRO

Contributed by John Mcphail on Oct 12, 2010

"JUST ONE MORE, DADDY! PLEASE!" Children have a simple way of teaching the profound things of God. The moment my twin girls were born I knew two things immediately: 1) My life was going to be a whole lot more busy and 2) God had something very precious to share with me. When ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:2, John 3:16

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, Call To Salvation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Capture And Control  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 7, 2011

CAPTURE AND CONTROL Craig Larson talks about being at a lunch party on a warm, Chicago day in early September with a dozen of his fellow workers. The windows were left open, and soon a bee found its way in. After buzzing around for a while, it landed on some food on the table. Then someone took an ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:26, John 8:1-11

Tags: Satan

Faster And Faster  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2011

FASTER AND FASTER Does anyone here know who "Million Dollar Bill" is? If you guessed Bill Gates, then you would be wrong. Another nickname is "Awesome Bill from Dawsonville." In the year 1987, at Talladega Motor Speedway, Bill Elliot set the fastest recorded speed for a qualifying lap at 212.809 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:3-9, John 20:1-11

Tags: Forgiveness, Patience, Time

Daddy, What Does It Feel Like To Die?  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2014

Years ago I heard the compelling story of a young pastor whose son was very sick and not expected to live long. Night after night the pastor and his wife would put their boy to bed and say a prayer hoping for a miracle. One evening, the boy looked at his father and said, "Daddy, what does it feel ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6, 2 Timothy 3:1-9

Tags: Death, Children, Heaven, Grief

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Jesus Believed About The Scripture

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2020

WHAT DID JESUS BELIEVE ABOUT THE SCRIPTURE? The Scripture is without error (John 17:17). The Scripture is historically reliable (Jonah – Matthew 12:40). The Scripture is God’s authority over Satan (Matt. 4:1-11). The Scripture is accurate according to Creation (Matt. 19:4). The Scripture is ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, John 17:17

Tags: Bible, Scripture, Apologetics, Truth, Inspiration, Inerrancy  (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

The Auctioneer And The Old Violin

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 20, 2020

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer Thought it scarcely worth his while To waste much time on the old violin, But held it up with a smile. ‘What am I bidden, good folks,’ he cried, ‘Who’ll start the bidding for me? A dollar, a dollar,’ then ‘Two; Only two? Two dollars, and who’ll make it ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, John 3:1-7

Tags: New Birth, Jesus, Salvation, Cross, Redemption, Change, Transformation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thank God For The Delusion!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

Someone told a reformed alcoholic that his experience wasn't valid; that his religion was a delusion. He said, "Thank God for the delusion; it has put clothes on my children and shoes on their feet and bread in their mouths. It has made a man of me and it has put joy and peace in my ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3:1-7

Tags: Changed Life, Forgiveness, Salvation, Word Of God, New Life, New Birth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

W.e. Vines Defines True Saving Faith

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 13, 2024

W E Vines defines genuine saving faith as consisting of the following: (1) A firm conviction which produces full acknowledgment of God's revelation of Truth - (2 Thess. 2:11 -"in order that they all may be judged who did not believe [pisteuo] the truth, but took pleasure in ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:11

Tags: Believing, Faith, Salvation, Truth, Assurance, Works  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[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

[136]. A Message From A Poem – I’m Just Changing Residence

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 17, 2025

[136]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – I’M JUST CHANGING RESIDENCE I have lived in my current home for 45 years. Before that we lived in a home for 10 years. I have only ever owned two homes. Some people change homes like they change clothes. When a Christian dies some say, “He has gone home to be ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-3, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Tags: Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Point Of Death, New Address, Heaven, Dying, Homes, Absent From The Body, Dwelling Places, Residence  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

167]. A Message From A Poem – Lazarus Is Dead – But Alive

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 15, 2025

[167]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – LAZARUS IS DEAD – BUT ALIVE Here we have a short poem based on the story in John 11 that happened at Bethany. I don’t think there is anything profound in the poem. It is a factual account of the raising of Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha. {{John 11:43-44 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, John 11:43-44

Tags: Lazarus Come Forth, Resurrection Of The Body, Christian Poems, Jesus Raises The Dead, Death, Resurrection, Lazarus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Right Name Opens Doors  PRO

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Aug 15, 2011

THE RIGHT NAME OPENS DOORS Mark Roberts wrote of a time when he visited the Capitol as a guest of Congressman John Campbell. As long as he was with the congressman, he could walk freely around the Capitol, entering many areas that were reserved "for authorized personnel only," reserved for members ...read more

Scripture: John 15:16, John 16:23-24, John 14:13-14

Tags: Prayer How To

Denomination: Baptist

What Is Doctrine?

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 25, 2025

What is doctrine? “The word translated “doctrine” means “instruction, especially as it applies to lifestyle application.” In other words, doctrine is teaching imparted by an authoritative source. In the Bible, the word always refers to spiritually related fields of study. The Bible says of itself ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Timothy 4:16

Tags: Instruction, Belief, Doctrine

Denomination: Methodist

Notice, It Doesn't Say,

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 1, 2010

Notice, it doesn’t say, “If a man CAN not work.” No. It says, “If a man WILL not work, he shall not eat.” Those who cannot work, for whatever reason, we have an obligation to help. But those who WILL not work should go to work so they can eat. Pastor John Beukema, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:10

Tags: Workplace Unemployment

Have A Heart

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 28, 2023

HEARTBEAT? DO WE EVER SAY: THANK YOU? DO WE EVER GET TIRED AND WEARY? DO WE EVER LISTEN TO HEAR THE HEART BEAT OF GOD? John 13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. On the average your heart beats around 70 times a minute, 100,800 TIMES A DAY. ...read more

Scripture: John 13:23

Tags: Faithful, Heart

Denomination: Assembly Of God

In A Former Church I Served, A Mother Started ...  PRO

Contributed by David Haun on May 27, 2004

In a former church I served, a mother started reading the Bible to her young son. A few weeks later they were reading from the Gospel of John. When she read John 3:16, her son commented, "Oh, I know this. This is an old one..." Being familiar with a Scripture can do that to us. We can "know" ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 2 Timothy 3:12-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ