In Sermon Illustrations: "2 Samuel 1:1-40:1"

[094]. A Message From A Poem – Forgetting The Past, Look Ahead

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 1, 2025

[094]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FORGETTING THE PAST, LOOK AHEAD Someone posted to a Christian forum I was on, a four line stanza once, that in effect said that you can not go back and fix the past, i.e. to go back and alter the beginning but you can start from here and make a brand new end. I ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16, Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Regret, Hope, Past, End, Failure, Start, Look Ahead  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Putting Up Faith Or Fight When It’s Most Important

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on May 14, 2025

Over the decades of my life, I have learned there are some things in life worth fighting for and some not. We have to choose our battles and then fight with all our might those battles that really matter. Years ago, I attended the wedding of my niece, a beautiful blonde cowgirl. She married her ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-12, 2 Corinthians 10:4

Tags: Standing In Faith, Battles Worth Winning

Denomination: Charismatic

Methodism A Dead Sect

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 5, 2025

The founder of Methodism, John Wesley, wrote this in “Thoughts Upon Methodism,” – “I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist in either Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:5, Acts 2:1-13

Tags: John Wesley, Methodism, Power

Denomination: Methodist

Finish The Race

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 11, 2025

“John Stephen Akhwari is an Olympic legend. Representing his country, Tanzania, he was a favorite to win the marathon at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Well-rested. Ready. His expectations were high. The Olympic marathon began in the afternoon of October 20, 1968. John Stephen Akhwari ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:1-3, 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Tags: Integrity, Finish Well, Cloud Of Witnesses, Run The Race

Denomination: Methodist

[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

[149]. A Message From A Poem – It’s The Gospel Truth

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 31, 2025

[149]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – IT’S THE GOSPEL TRUTH In this poem I use the word “gospel” in a wider sense than the four Gospels. It examines a number of truths from the bible. I am talking about the good news of the gospel. Each of the 8 stanzas has some truth in it from the bible, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:3-5, Romans 1:16

Tags: Christian Poems, Truth, The Gospel, Gospel Truth, Not Ashamed Of The Gospel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[163]. A Message From A Poem – Joy For Sorrow - Care In Hurt

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 14, 2025

[163]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JOY FOR SORROW - CARE IN HURT The title of this poem has two contrasts – sorrow turning to joy, and hurt adopting care. This poem was written 27 years ago and since that time much has changed in the world for the followers of the Lord. Persecution has increased ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5-6, 2 Corinthians 6:4-5

Tags: Hurting One, South Africa, The Holy Spirit, Martyred, Suffering Christians, World Press, Comforr, Joy, Africa, Sorrow, Iran, Sudan, Nigeria, Lord, Persecution, Evil, Comfort  (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

Failure/ Success

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Sep 13, 2025

DO YOU WANT TO HEAR ABOUT A FAILURE, A BASKET CASE? Let us look at a man experience in failure. 1. At 14 dropped out of school. 2. He got a job working on a farm. The work was hard labor. He hated the farm work. 3. He lied about his age and at 16 he joined the ARMY. He could stand the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:26, 2 Chronicles 16:9

Tags: Faith, Effort

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Scarecrow?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Sep 17, 2025

I had a dream. In the dream I saw some huge power lines. There were thousands of birds sitting on the power lines. Some of the birds were falling off the power lines. The birds were weak. Actually I could see some fell to their death due to starvation. The picture opened wider and I could ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7, Genesis 3:8

Tags: Fear, Worry

Denomination: Assembly Of God

[211]. A Message From A Poem – Panoramic View From The Pinnacle (Part 1)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 24, 2025

[211]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – PANORAMIC VIEW FROM THE PINNACLE (PART 1) NOTE: When I went to post this it could not be sent because it said the whole thing was too long. Therefore I had to split it into two Parts.. This is Part 1 and Part 2 will follow after this. This is a longer poem. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 16:9, Hebrews 4:13

Tags: Reprobates, Christian Poems, Pinnacle Of A Rock, Tech Companies, Faith Way, World System, Wickedness, Delusion, Reprobate, Humanism, Allegory, Images  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Receive The Lord's Righteousness - A Terrific Trade

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 29, 2025

This is David's message to us in Psalm 37:5-6, where he tells us to trust in the Lord. David said, "Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday." *How is the Lord ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:1-11, 2 Corinthians 5:21

Tags: Horrible Times, Shelter, God's Peace, Rest, Hardships, Cares, Cast Your Cares, Evil, Trust, Suffering, Trusting God, Righteousness, Rejoice, Pain, Peace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Spirit Of Gradualism

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 10, 2025

I lived in Lee County, Virginia and we would travel 68 from our house through Cumberland Gap, Tennessee to Middlesboro, Ky. We traveled through the national park. Linda and I would see a ground hog. The ground hog would stand on his hind legs to watch the traffic go by. We developed a love watching ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:3, Revelation 3:14-19

Tags: Gradual, Slow

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Maybe It’s The Food

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 2, 2025

There’s a story about a little girl who went to work with her father, the president of a large pet-food company. Sales were dropping. Executives filled the boardroom arguing about packaging—new fonts, brighter colors, bolder slogans. In the middle of their debate, the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:2-3, Matthew 6:16-18

Tags: Authenticity, Fruitfulness

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Selective Memory

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 6, 2025

Three old friends are talking about memory loss. The first says, “Sometimes I go to the fridge and forget why I opened it.” The second says, “I forget what I’m doing in the middle of a task!” The third says, “Thank God I don’t have those ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5, 2 Peter 1:12

Tags: Humility, Remembrance

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Newton's Story

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 21, 2025

The story of John Newton and the hymn Amazing Grace. Newton’s hymn has grown so familiar to us that we sometimes forget the depth of the testimony behind it. Those lines were not crafted by a saint who lived an unblemished life. They were written by a man who walked through the same spiritual ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 33:12, Ephesians 2:8

Tags: Grace, Redemption

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

"David Had Eight Wives, Including Maacah, The...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 12, 2008

"David had eight wives, including Maacah, the daughter of a king who ruled over the tiny nation of Geshur (2 Samuel 3:3). In the Psalms, we read about David’s struggles with God as his son was pursuing him, trying to kill him to steal his throne. But how did Maacah feel about this? Was she ...read more

Tags: Mother's Day

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God Is My Strength And Power, And He Makes My Way ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Dec 5, 2004

God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect. --2 Samuel 22:33 The picture in the newspaper caught my attention. Above the caption "Strong Man" was a photo of a workman displaying what seemed to be superhuman strength. He appeared to be lifting a piano up to a second story apartment ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

While Secretary Of State During The Regan ...  PRO

Contributed by Thomas Cash on May 19, 2004

While Secretary of State during the Regan presidency, George Shultz kept a large globe in his office. When newly appointed ambassadors had an interview with him and when ambassadors returning from their posts for their first visit with him were leaving his office, Shultz would test them. He would ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:1-7, 2 Corinthians 5:17-20, Daniel 1:8, 2 Corinthians 5:17-20

Tags: Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ