In Sermon Illustrations: "2 Timothy 4:1-6"

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: Discipleship, Commitment To Christ, Commit, Endurance

Take The Story Of Young William Wilberforce. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 26, 2006

Take the story of young William Wilberforce. He was discouraged one night in the early 1790s after another defeat in his ten year battle against the slave trade in England. Tired and frustrated, he opened his Bible and began to leaf through it. A small piece of paper fell out and fluttered to the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:5

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Lutheran

On The Fourth Of July In 1951, Florence Chadwick, ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 30, 2006

On the Fourth of July in 1951, Florence Chadwick, the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions, attempted to swim from Catalina Island to the California coast. The challenge was not so much the distance, but the bone-chilling waters of the Pacific. To complicate matters, a dense ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Lutheran

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

They Did Not Deny That Faith Was An Essential ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

They did not deny that faith was an essential part of salvation, but they added to it (works, circumcision, & other rituals). Many do the same thing today they believe salvation is by grace + … Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr., was ill with a staff infection of the throat. A new medicine called ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35, 2 Timothy 4:1-6, Galatians 5:1-12

Tags: Doubt

Life Begins When Shaken

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

LIFE BEGINS WHEN SHAKEN Father Alfred Delp was a prisoner of the Nazis during World War II. He was charged with treason for true Christian preaching. From his jail cell he wrote about the meaning of Advent, the coming of Christ: "Advent is a time for rousing. Human beings are shaken to the very ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Suit Over Bible "Hate" Language  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 14, 2009

SUIT OVER BIBLE "HATE" LANGUAGE A Michigan man is suing Zondervan and Thomas Nelson, claiming biblical references to homosexuality as a sin violate his constitutional rights and have caused him emotional pain and mental instability. Bradley Fowler, 39, is seeking $60 million from Zondervan and $10 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Tags: Homosexuality, Seek

You Can Make Him Drink

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2011

YOU CAN MAKE HIM DRINK Howard Hendricks, one of my professors at Dallas Theological Seminary, sometimes talked about his days when he was a student at the same seminary. In one of those stories, he tells about the time he was invited to preach in west Texas. "You've all heard of Nowhere? Well," ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Tags: Evangelism How To

An Authentic Voice

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Mar 24, 2012

AN AUTHENTIC VOICE The world is waiting to hear an authentic voice, a voice from God--not an echo of what others are doing and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Tags: Preaching

Denomination: Baptist

A Boy Waits For The Bus  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 5, 2012

A BOY WAITS FOR THE BUS There's an old story of the boy who stood on a sidewalk, waiting on a bus. A man walking by spotted the boy, and gave him some gentle instruction. "Son," he said, "if you're waiting on the bus, you need to move to the street corner. That's where the bus stops for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-16, Hebrews 10:10, 2 Timothy 4:6, Matthew 27:11-54, Matthew 8:1-17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Easter Palm Sunday

Texas Longhorn Sermon!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 6, 2014

TEXAS LONGHORN SERMON! Being raised in Dallas, Texas.......I am very familiar with Texas and Longhorns. But, have you ever heard of the definition of a TEXAS LONGHORN sermon? If you have any pastor friends from Texas.....this one is for you! A TEXAS LONGHORN sermon is............a sermon ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Preaching, Preacher, Texas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In A Recent Book, Presidential Praise: Our Pr...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jul 30, 2015

In a recent book, Presidential Praise: Our Presidents and Their Hymns authors C. Edward Spann and Michael E. Williams Sr. note that the title of President George W. Bush’s autobiography, A Charge to Keep, was drawn from Charles Wesley’s hymn. 
The choice of this title is but one indication of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-2

Tags: Charge, Charged Up To Preach

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It May Get Worse After You Leave!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 12, 2024

A pastor was leaving his area and was saying farewell to his congregation at the Church doors for the last time. He shook the hand of an elderly lady as she walked out. She said, "Your successor won't be as good as you." "Nonsense", said the pastor, in a flattered tone. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-4

Tags: Church, Preaching, Word Of God, Pastors, Church Members, Boring, Sermons, Preachers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Pastor's Life Poem

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Sep 26, 2025

The Pastor’s Life Lived by an Amazing Man He serves in a lofty position— not something he chased in life; He heard the Gospel story, then stepped into the pastor’s life. He stayed in the Word—he loved it; it was his heart’s delight; And he shared it every chance he got— so needed in the pastor’s ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 3:15, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-5, Proverbs 27:23, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Timothy 4:4-16, 2 Timothy 4:1-8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Honor, Preaching, Pastor, Pulpit, Appreciation, Pastors, The Ministry, Pastor's Appreciation Day  (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

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

Preaching, Power And Persecution

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 20, 2022

John Hus: 1369-1415 John Hus of Prague was burned at the stake at age 46. His crime was an uncompromising preaching of the gospel and calling for church reform in pre-reformation Europe. His Sunday pulpit was the Bethlehem Chapel adjacent to the University of Prague. Czech nobles had built the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, 2 Timothy 4:1-4, Romans 1:16-17, Galatians 1:1-10

Tags: Persecution, Gospel, Power, Preaching, Renewal, Culture  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Legacy Of Haddon Robinson

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Oct 7, 2022

Haddon Robinson wrote the classic book on preaching called, “Biblical Preaching.” It has sold more copies than any other preaching textbook. He taught and practised expository preaching to thousands. I had the privilege of being one of his students from 1996-1999 in the Doctor of Ministry program ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:12, 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Tags: Death, Family, Remember, Legacy

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rationalizing (Justifying)

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 1, 2022

Morris Siegel, the owner of a small Kosher New York deli, was being questioned by an IRS agent about his tax return. He had reported a net profit of $60,000 for the year. Why dont you people leave me alone? the deli owner said. I work like a dog, everyone in my family helps out, the place is ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-8

Tags: Honesty, Shrewd, Deceit, Cover Up, Rationalizing, Quick On Feet  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Caught In Lies

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 1, 2022

Two friends run into each other while walking their dogs. One suggests lunch. The other says, They wont let us in a restaurant with pets. Undeterred, the first guy and his German shepherd head into the restaurant. The maître d stops them, saying, Sir, you cant bring your dog in here. But ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-8

Tags: Lies, Shrewd, Deceit, Quick Thinking

Denomination: Independent/Bible