In Sermon Illustrations: "2 Peter 3:1-4:1"

My Name Is Gossip

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 11, 2025

I am more deadly than a shell from the howitzer. I win without killing. I tear down homes, break hearts, and wreck lives. I travel on the wings of the wind. No innocence is strong enough to intimidate me, no purity pure enough to daunt me. I have no regard for truth, no respect for justice, no ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:20

Tags: Gossip, Power Of Words

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Gossip Test

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 11, 2025

Do I get excited when I hear, “Have you heard…?” Does my heart do a little dance when someone starts with, “You won’t believe what I just found out!” If so, you know the answer—it’s gossip. If you find yourself pulling up a chair and grabbing some popcorn, it’s time to rethink your choices. The ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:20

Tags: Prayer, Gossip, Power Of Words, Test

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Makes A Difference For That One

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

Thousands of star fish washed on the beach after a storm. One boy was busily throwing them back. A watching man said, “There’s thousands and thousands washed ashore. How can you make a difference.” Boy says, “You are ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:2

Tags: Discipleship, Personal, Individual, Mentoring, One At A Time, Reforming  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Excellence Of Giving With Joy

Contributed by Saumiman Saud on Feb 19, 2025

THE EXCELLENCE OF GIVING WITH JOY Heavenly Father, You are so good to me, You gave Your Life to redeem my sins. Oh Lord, give me the opportunity to give to others as well. Sometimes I think about giving, but my faith is so weak, I'm still afraid that if I give, I will be in want. Forgive me, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7

Tags: Joy, Excellence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Becoming Rich Requires Hard Work

Contributed by Saumiman Saud on Feb 20, 2025

BECOMING RICH REQUIRES HARD WORK My Father in Heaven, forgive me, for sometimes I feel that You are unfair. Why is it that despite my efforts, I never seem to have as much wealth as others? I often feel disappointed and even angry, but I am thankful that to this day, I remain in Your care and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:10

Tags: Rich, Hard Work

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Little Things Add Up

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 15, 2025

MY SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER TOLD A STORY OF A MAN THAT WORKED IN THE COAL MINES IN EAST TENNESSEE. The man drove a coal truck from the coal temple to the rail road loading dock. It was a short quick trip. Each time the driver drove by the house where he lived. He made a quick stop threw a very large ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:13

Tags: Small, Little

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Unwanted Items-Fresh Meat On The Street?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 2, 2025

Introduction: This illustration is the first in a series about things that either aren’t wanted, left behind, or otherwise abandoned. Here’s hoping some of these illustrations will be useful! Text: 2 Kings 7:7, KJV: 7 Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 7:7

Tags: Caution, Meat, Unwanted, Abandoned Things

Denomination: Baptist

Renewal

Contributed by David Tack on May 31, 2025

WE TRADE OUR CURRENT TODAY AS an outward and perishing status of a sinner condemned to eternal separation from God FOR an inwardly renewed, saved by grace (day by day), redeemed and adopted ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Tags: Eternity, Renewed

Denomination: Baptist

On Obedience  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2011

ON OBEDIENCE "One word stands out from all others as the key to knowing God, to having His peace and assurance in your life--it is obedience." (Eric Liddell) Elisabeth Elliot tells the story of when she and her brother Tom were small children. Their mother would let Tom play with paper bags that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:22, 1 Peter 1:3-12, 1 Peter 3:1-12, Luke 8:16-21, Psalm 81:1-16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Obedience

Attitude Not Aptitude  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2011

ATTITUDE NOT APTITUDE Jesus' message here is that everybody can be great ... because anybody can serve. Dave Stone says that "service is the language of grace." One day a couple of church members were out distributing loaves of bread in a low-income housing complex. They came to an apartment ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11, 1 Corinthians 2:9-11, Mark 12:30-31, 1 Peter 4:10, Mark 12:1-27  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Love, Servanthood

Live In A Way That Glorifies God  PRO

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Jul 19, 2011

Live in a Way That Glorifies God Dan Blocker was my favorite character, Hoss, on the TV series Bonanza. When he died unexpectedly, Hoss died. The producers knew they could not replace him. The story was that woman was caught in a flood. Hoss held her above the water with one hand and held a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:31, Matthew 5:16, 1 Peter 2:12

Tags: Glory

Denomination: Baptist

When The Now-Famous Poet Elizabeth Barrett Became ...  PRO

Contributed by Frank Gallagher on Oct 18, 2000

When the now-famous poet Elizabeth Barrett became the wife of Robert Browning, her parents disowned her because they disapproved of the marriage. Their daughter Elizabeth, however, wrote almost every week, telling them that she loved them and longed for a reconciliation. After 10 years, she ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:10, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, Mark 2:2-12

Tags: God's Forgiveness, Sin Separates From God

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Three Military Recruiters Showed Up To Address ...  PRO

Contributed by Joey Nelson on Aug 6, 2001

Three military recruiters showed up to address high school seniors. Each recruiter - representing the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps - was to have fifteen minutes. The Army and Navy recruiters got carried away, so when it came time for the Marine to speak, he had just two minutes. He walked up and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:3-9, James 5:13, 2 Timothy 4:5

Tags: Commitment To Christ, Commit, Discipleship, Endurance

A Legend From India Tells About A Mouse That Was ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Jan 28, 2002

A legend from India tells about a mouse that was terrified of cats until a magician agreed to transform him into a cat. That resolved his fear…until he met a dog, so the magician changed him into a dog. The mouse-turned-cat-turned-dog was content until he met a tiger-so, once again; the magician ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 1:1, Genesis 1:1, 2 Samuel 1:1

Tags: Endurance, God Brings Hope

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Daniel The Actor In The Lion's Den  PRO

Contributed by George Rennau on Nov 5, 2004

There once was an out of work actor named Daniel He was so down and out that he’s ready to accept any acting part that came along. One day he saw an advertisement in the PAPER, ACTOR NEEDED TO PLAY A GORILLA. I could do that," Daniel arranged an interview. The employer turned out to be the local ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:1-28, 2 Samuel 6:1-23, 2 Samuel 6:1-23

Tags: Daniel

Denomination: Assembly Of God

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

Blue Marbles Reveal The Condition Of The Heart

Contributed by Raymond Petzholt on Mar 12, 2024

There was a young boy named John and his favorite past time was playing marbles. John was out in the playground one day when he saw Susie carrying a box of chocolates. Now John also loved to eat chocolates. So he thought for a while before saying to Susie: “Susie, if you give me your box of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:12, 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, 2 Corinthians 8:9

Tags: Greed, Giving, Doubting God

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus—not Hate But Hope  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 31, 2003

JESUS- NOT HATE BUT HOPE "Jesus. It’s a little name. A small word. Say this little name in public, however, in a way other than an obscenity, and stand back and watch the fireworks. This little name is like a tiny detonator that triggers a nuclear warhead. You can say "God," and you won’t get a ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 14:23-29

Tags: Apologetics Jesus, Universalism, Lordship Of Christ

He Leaks!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 23, 2011

"HE LEAKS!" A country church was having their annual revival meeting. On the first night the preacher preached a message about repentance and the need to return to the Lord. At the altar call, a man came down the aisle saying "Fill me Lord, fill me". The next night the preacher challenged the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:10, Luke 15:11-32, 1 Peter 1:13-16

Tags: Revival, Selfish

Where's Your Security  PRO

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Aug 11, 2011

WHERE'S YOUR SECURITY (NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Investors lost $1 trillion in the in the stock market Monday as the debt crisis in Europe, lackluster economic news and a downgrade to the U.S. credit rating spark fears of a double-dip recession. Investors placed their wealth in the hands of a man ...read more

Scripture: John 10:28-29, Jude 1:24-25, 1 Peter 1:18-19

Tags: Holy Spirit, Salvation, Security, Promises Of God, Secure  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist