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

[288]. A Message From A Poem – The Xxxxxx Public Service

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 15, 2026

[288]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE XXXXXX PUBLIC SERVICE Maybe some might think this is a harsh poem but we live now in harsh times and sometimes bluntness is needed to wake up the offenders. I have deliberately omitted the identification from the title, so what is said could apply to just so ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-4, 2 Timothy 3:12-13

Tags: Arrogance, Manipulators, Bureaucrats, The Public Service, Christian Poems, Government Officials, Civil Service  (view more)  (view less)

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

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: Satan, Power, Holy Spirit

Denomination: Methodist

What Happens When You Die?

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 15, 2026

This body is only a temporary dwelling place for our eternal spirits. Peter calls this body a tent, just like Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:4-8: “4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13, 2 Corinthians 5:4-8

Tags: Tent, Hope, Body, Heresy

Denomination: Methodist

Don't Be Like These Guys!

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 5, 2026

Jude used three examples from the Old Testament to show that these false teachers are not to be trusted or followed. In Genesis 4:1-16, we find the first murder in the Bible when Cain kills his brother Abel. If these false teachers are leading folks back to their former state – being unsaved – ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:11, 2 Timothy 4:3, Numbers 16:31-35

Tags: Salvation, Heresy, False Teachers, Cain, Korah, Balaam, Jude  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

You Have Probably Never Heard Of The Island Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Damien Spikereit on Dec 7, 2000

- You have probably never heard of the island of Molokai. Well, it’s located in the state of Hawaii. And it has quite a history. You have to go way back to the late 1800’s to understand its significance. You see, back then, there was no cure for the highly contagious and deadly disease called ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Compassion, Humanity Of Christ, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Most Christians Believe The Virgin Birth Is ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Dec 17, 2000

Most Christians believe the Virgin Birth is true. According to George Barna, 85% of those surveyed believe that Jesus Christ was born to a virgin. He also found that even 75% of the people who do not embrace Jesus as their Savior believe that he was ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

Tags: Mary Jesus Mother, Apologetics Jesus, Christmas

Denomination: Baptist

Obedience Is Seeking God With Your Whole Heart. ...  PRO

Contributed by Rich Young on Jan 17, 2001

Obedience is seeking God with your whole heart. Performance is having a quiet time because you’ll feel guilty if you don’t. Obedience is finding ways to let the Word of God dwell in you richly. Performance is quickly scanning a passage so you can check it off your Bible reading plan. Obedience is ...read more

Scripture: John 14:15-26

Tags: Faith, Doing God's Will, Anxiety, Obedience, Peace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Army Chaplain Had A Sign On His Door That Said, ...  PRO

Contributed by Rich Young on Jan 18, 2001

Army Chaplain had a sign on his door that said, “If you have troubles, come in & tell me all about them. If you don’t have ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33

Tags: Apologetics General, Compassion, Joy

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Bill Hybels, The Pastor Of Willow Creek ...  PRO

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Oct 31, 2000

Bill Hybels, the pastor of Willow Creek Community Church just outside of Chicago makes this statement. “If you create a loving community, ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1

Tags: Christian Love, Church Body Of Christ, Unity

Denomination: Wesleyan

Marquis De Lafayette Was A French General And ...  PRO

Contributed by Damien Spikereit on Nov 3, 2000

- Marquis de Lafayette was a French general and politician who helped George Washington in the American Revolution. After the war was over, he returned to France and resumed his life as a farmer of many estates. In 1783, the harvest was a terrible one, and there were many who suffered as a ...read more

Scripture: John 4:35-42

Tags: Giving General, Christian Love, Compassion

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Heard Of One Pastor Who Spoke Up And Said, ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jan 30, 2001

I heard of one Pastor who spoke up and said, ‘Bro. Brown would you please stand and ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-23

Tags: Unity, Communication General, Christian Love, One

Some Time Ago, A Teenager, Arthur Hinkley, Lifted ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Feb 1, 2001

Some time ago, a teenager, Arthur Hinkley, lifted a 3,000-pound tractor with his bare hands. He wasn’t a weight lifter, but his friend, Lloyd Bachelder, 18, was pinned under a tractor on a farm near Rome, Maine. Hearing Lloyd scream, Arthur somehow lifted the tractor enough for Lloyd to wriggle ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Descriptions Of God, Deliverance, Addiction, Christian Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Wesleyan

This Last Week I Was Thinking About This ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Feb 1, 2001

This last week I was thinking about this priority of love and I saw an incredible example of it on Dateline NBC. It seems that two members of the same church participated in a 40 day prayer and fasting time to seek God’s will for their lives. One of the woman badly needed a kidney transplant, and ...read more

Scripture: John 12:20-50

Tags: Christian Love, Compassion, Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Do You Feel About People? A Pastor Arranged ...  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Feb 2, 2001

How do you feel about people? A pastor arranged for a gathering of the women’s auxiliary. It was to be a garden party on the church lawn, under the old oak. At the last moment, the morning of the party, Mrs. Preacher discovered she left Sister Hissyfit off the invitation list. The parson ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-21

Tags: Forgiveness General, Forgiveness For Others, Prayer Answered, Grace

Denomination: United Methodist

An Ancient Story Is Told About A Slave Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 23, 2001

An ancient story is told about a slave who traveled with his master to Baghdad. As he walked the busy streets he found himself in the market place where he saw Death in human form. Death looked at him with such a piercing look that it frightened the slave, & he interpreted that look to mean that ...read more

Scripture: John 20:21

Tags: Death Nearness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Love The Commercial Where A Daddy Takes His ...  PRO

Contributed by Damien Spikereit on Mar 2, 2001

- I love the commercial where a daddy takes his little girl to a public pool with the purpose of teaching her how to dive off the diving board. Maybe you’ve seen it, I think it is advertising Kodak or something. And so there they are, the day begins with them both having high hopes of a ...read more

Scripture: John 4:4-11

Tags: Doing God's Will, Faith In God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

In Hampton Court Near London, There Is A ...  PRO

Contributed by David Dewitt on Apr 1, 2001

In Hampton Court near London, there is a grapevine under glass; it is about 1,000 years old and has but one root which is at least two feet thick. Some of the branches are 200 feet long. Because of skillful cutting and pruning, the vine produces several tons of grapes each year. Even though some ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Tags: Jesus Teachings, Lordship Of Christ, Character

Denomination: Church Of God

Income Tax  PRO

Contributed by Ted Sutherland on Apr 3, 2001

From Reader’s Digest: It’s time to pay my income tax And, brother, that’s no joke. For after paying IRS I find that I R broke! —Jerry Henderson in Lubbock, Texas, Avalanche-Journal As April 15 draweth nigh, My spirits start to droop. A poor, downtrodden slave am I, In short, an income ...read more

Scripture: John 8:36

Tags: Money, Poverty, Giving General

Denomination: Baptist

H.g. Wells: "Until A Man Has Found God, He ...  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Clark on Apr 12, 2001

H.G. Wells: "Until a man has found God, he begins at no ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-5

Tags: Fulfillment, God Brings Purpose, Apologetics God

Denomination: Baptist