In Sermon Illustrations: "2 Thessalonians 6:1-10"

[214]. A Message From A Poem - Paul’s Prison

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 28, 2025

[214]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - PAUL’S PRISON This is my oldest surviving poem. I had parts of others but they are gone. The poem came about when thinking of Paul in prison in Rome. Everything seemed against him there, but he was never forsaken by God of course. When Paul was in prison he ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:15, 2 Timothy 4:11, 2 Timothy 4:10, Philippians 1:23

Tags: Luke, Paul In Prison, Christian Poems, Devotion, Asia, Defection, Departure, Desertion, Demas  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Paradigm For Giving.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 24, 2024

A PARADIGM FOR GIVING. 2 Corinthians 8:9. This is the key verse in my sermon on 'The Grace of Giving' (2 Corinthians 8:7-15). The Apostle reminds the Corinthians of what they already know: “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” How that He was “rich” but made Himself “poor” that we ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:9

Tags: Grace, Giving

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ignoring The Warnings  PRO

Contributed by David Parks on Feb 24, 2005

Ignoring the Warnings. Several years ago, a close frind gave me a old hand bill. It was one of thousands that were supposed be dropped over Japan before the first Atomic bombs were droped. One side was a picture of bombers dropping thier deadly cargo. The other side was in Japanese and the third ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:9-14

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Larry Olsen Describes A Man Lost In The Desert: ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 12, 2005

Larry Olsen describes a man lost in the desert: “He has been out of food and water for days. His lips are swollen, his tongue is swollen, he’s all beat up and bloody. Some of his bones are almost peeking through. He has been scraped and beat up by the cactus, sand and sun. He’s blistered. As he’s ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Baptist

In 1858, Francis Ridley Havegal Visited Germany ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 12, 2005

In 1858, Francis Ridley Havegal visited Germany with her father, who was being treated for an eye problem. While in a pastor’s home, she saw a painting of the crucifixion with words under it that said:"I did this for thee. What has thou done for me?" Quickly she took a piece of paper and wrote a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Tags: Faith General, Repentance

Denomination: Baptist

We Have All Heard The "Good New!"..."Bad News!" ...

Contributed by Byron Maynard on Apr 9, 2005

We have all heard the "Good New!"..."Bad News!" aphorisms. Here’s one with a little different twist. I have some "Bad News!...Good News!...Best News!" for you... The bad news, you are dying! It’s no joke, biologist tell us that every day, to some extent, each of us are dying...The cells and atoms ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

John Wesley And A Preacher-Friend Of Plain Habits ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on May 25, 2005

John Wesley and a preacher-friend of plain habits were once invited to dinner where the host’s daughter, noted for her beauty, had been profoundly impressed by Wesley’s preaching. During a pause in the meal, Wesley’s friend took the young woman’s hand and called attention to the sparkling rings she ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:8-16

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Baptist

A Man Had A Heart Attack And Was Rushed To The ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on May 25, 2005

A man had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. He could receive little company and was to avoid excitement. While in the hospital a rich uncle died and left him a million dollars. His family wondered how to break the news to him with the least amount of excitement. It was decided to ask ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:16-24

Tags: Gifts Giving

Denomination: Baptist

A Custom Of The Natives In New Guinea Is Told. At ...

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on May 25, 2005

A custom of the natives in New Guinea is told. At certain times they have rituals, songs, and dances. They work themselves up into a frenzy and the ritual culminates in what are called “the murder songs,” in which they shout before God the names of the people they wish to kill. When the natives ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:1-6

Tags: Commitment To Christ, Repentance

Denomination: Baptist

H. L. Gee Somewhere Tells Of A Tramp Who Came ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on May 25, 2005

H. L. Gee somewhere tells of a tramp who came begging to a good woman’s door. She went to get something to give him and found that she had no change in the house. She went to him and said, “I have not a penny of small change. I need a loaf of bread. Here is a pound note. Go and buy the loaf and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:11-18

Tags: Faith, Giving General

Denomination: Baptist

In The Church There Is A Bond Of Family, Yet Room ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on May 25, 2005

In the church there is a bond of family, yet room for variety. The devil tries to disrupt unity. To chickens tied at the legs and thrown over a clothesline may be united, but they do not have unity. (Leslie ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Tags: Unity

Denomination: Baptist

Motivational Speaker, Jim Mccormick, Is A Former ...  PRO

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on May 29, 2005

Motivational speaker, Jim McCormick, is a former corporate Chief Operating Officer, MBA, and holder of three skydiving World Records and member of a successful skydiving expedition to the North Pole. He observes: “Salespeople and managers who consistently perform at a higher level have certain ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7

Tags: Endurance, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Salvation Army

Without The Grace Of God  PRO

Contributed by Robbie Bankens on Aug 9, 2005

There is a need and a place for programs. If I told you that the programs did not help me, then I would be lying to you, because they did. But Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous could not keep me clean and sober alone! Without the Grace (the unmerited favor) of God, those programs ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Tags: Addiction

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Paul Stanley Tells This Story From His Military ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Aug 28, 2005

Paul Stanley tells this story from his military experience: “As an infantry company commander in Vietnam in 1967, I saw Viet Cong soldiers surrender many times. As they were placed in custody, marched away, and briefly interrogated, their body language and facial expressions always caught my ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:9

Tags: Fear, Faith, Confidence, Control, Patience, God, Salvation, Repentance, Surrender, Wait  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

The Bible Tells The Story Of Absalom. He Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Aug 28, 2005

The Bible tells the story of Absalom. He was the son of King David — Israel’s greatest king. Through a series of circumstances, Absalom began to despise his father and made plans to become king in his father’s place. He surreptitiously sowed seeds of division and rebellion in his father’s ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 18:1-33

Tags: Salvation, Repentance

Denomination: Methodist

Perhaps You Have Heard Of The Upcoming Movie The ...  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Sep 14, 2005

Perhaps you have heard of the upcoming movie The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. It’s a wonderful story written by CS Lewis, one of the sharpest Christian thinkers of the 20th century. The wardrobe mentioned in the title is a large walk-in closet in an old house owned by an old and quirky ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:18

Denomination: Baptist

Game's Only Half Over! (10.04.05--Beginning ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 3, 2005

Game’s Only Half Over! (10.04.05--Beginning Again!--2 Samuel 12:20-24) Is there anyone who hasn’t felt the sting of regret and discovered just how bitter it is to live with the thought that if only we hadn’t done this or said that we’d be a whole lot happier at the moment? Beginning again is one ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:20-24

Tags: God's Provision, Regret, Remorse, God's Forgiveness, Face Your Fears, Embarrassment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Do We Sometimes Plough On With A Project ...  PRO

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Oct 12, 2005

Do we sometimes plough on with a project regardless, without any thought or concern for those people that the Lord has already given to us? It’s the Achilles heel of the evangelist, but Paul knows he cannot ignore the needs of his brothers and sisters who are already in Christ. Neither must we ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:12-13

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Anglican

Two Years Before I Met My Wife, My Eventual Best ...

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Nov 12, 2005

Two years before I met my wife, my eventual best man Kevin set me up on a blind date. His girlfriend had a friend who was unattached and we all went off to the cinema together. I have to confess that I cannot remember the girl’s name but I can remember that when I got home that evening I was ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:14-15

Tags: Marriage Struggle

Denomination: Anglican

There Is No Exchange! (11.15.05--Heart And ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 14, 2005

There Is No Exchange! (11.15.05--Heart and Soul!--2 Chronicles15:14-15) Life is full of the tentative. It would seem that the ability to be decisive is fast becoming a relic; replaced instead with a sleek, stream-lined, today’s-age, model that places indecisiveness as the norm and decisiveness as ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 15:14-15

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Discipleship

Denomination: Lutheran