In Sermon Illustrations: "A Christian Death"

Be A Christian But Don't Act Like One!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 28, 2022

I love the story of the stressed-out woman who was tailgating a man as they drove on a busy boulevard. When he slowed to a stop at a yellow light, the woman hit the horn, cussing and screaming in frustration and gesturing angrily. As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-35

Tags: Satan, Discipleship, Kingdom Of God, Hypocrites

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Seek Spiritual Advice From Spiritually Mature Christians

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Aug 7, 2023

Seek Spiritual Advice from Spiritually mature Christians. Albert Einstein ... had difficulty speaking until he was four years old ... and did not read ... until he was seven. Beethovens music teacher said: .... As a composer, ... he is hopeless. When Thomas Edison was a young boy, ... his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52

Tags: Advice, Spiritual

Denomination: Anglican

[045] A Message From A Poem – Christianity In True Action

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 6, 2025

[045] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHRISTIANITY IN TRUE ACTION The title of this is “CHRISTIANITY IN TRUE ACTION” for it demonstrates the Christian ethic or precept, something lacking today in practical Christianity. This poem tells a story. God bless all those who minister to the poor and are ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:9, Galatians 2:10, Matthew 28:18-19

Tags: Poetry, Poem, True Christianity, Caring, Help The Poor, Outcasts  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[047]. A Message From A Poem – Christians Who Are And Who Are Not

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 6, 2025

[047]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHRISTIANS WHO ARE AND CHRISTIANS WHO ARE NOT The main idea in this poem is the contrast between Christians in places of persecution who are committed and real, and the many Christians of the West who are lax and non-committed, who are asleep. It is a shame this ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:11-12, Romans 15:26-28

Tags: Persecution, Support, Sleep, Awake, Voice Of The Martyrs, True Christians  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[091]. Poem Message – For The Christian - Light Through The Tunnel

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 28, 2025

[091]. A POEM MESSAGE – FOR THE CHRISTIAN THERE IS LIGHT THROUGH THE TUNNEL There was a lovely little song written in that western style around the middle of last century called, “It’s always darkest before the dawn.” Sometimes in our lives, it is like being in a dark tunnel where we can not ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 5:20-21, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, 1 Corinthians 13:12

Tags: The Path Ahead, Light, Darkness, Maze, Walk By Faith, Tunnel, We See Dimly  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[086]. A Message From A Poem – For All Christians - The Three Rs

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 22, 2025

[086]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR ALL CHRISTIANS - THE THREE Rs There are 9 poems in this Trilogy series. This poem is part of a Trilogy - three sets of three. The first set is addressed to MEN, the second to ALL CHRISTIANS and the third is SPECIFIC. This is the second one in the second set ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:17-18, Romans 5:10-11, Luke 1:68, Ephesians 1:7

Tags: Righteousness, Poetry, Relationship, Poems, Reconciliation, Redemption  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[088]. A Poem Message – Specific – For Young Christians - The Three Ls

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 25, 2025

[088]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – SPECIFIC – FOR YOUNG CHRISTIANS - THE THREE Ls There are 9 poems in this Trilogy series. This poem is part of a Trilogy - three sets of three. The first set is addressed to MEN, the second to ALL CHRISTIANS and the third is SPECIFIC. This is the first one in ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:14, 1 John 4:19, 1 John 5:2, Matthew 11:28-29, Proverbs 1:33  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Love, Listen, Learn

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Funeral Illustration

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

I love that scene in The Pilgrim's Progress where Christian and Hopeful come to the final river of death. They are fearful that the water will be over their heads. But Hopeful goes first and calls back to Christian, “Be of good cheer, my brother; I feel the bottom, and it is good.” For every ...read more

Tags: Death, Heaven, Promises Of God, Valley Of The Shadow Of Death

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When I Was A Struggling New Student Pastor, One ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 19, 2005

When I was a struggling new student pastor, one night I was too stressed to sleep. I got up and went to watch dairy farmer Hall Phillips milk his dairy herd. There in the barn at 4:30 AM, that brand new Christian gave me help getting through the various crises causing stress in my life. Hall ...read more

Scripture: John 14:27

Tags: God In The Hardships, Death

If Individuals Live Only Seventy Years, Then A ...  PRO

Contributed by Curtis Kittrell on Jun 6, 2002

“If individuals live only seventy years, then a state, or a nation, or a civilization, which may last for a thousand years, is more important than an individual. But if Christianity is true, then the individual is not only more important but incomparably more important, for he is ...read more

Tags: Death, Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Pentecostal

We Should Be Like Little Johnny. After Church, ...  PRO

Contributed by Rich Young on Jan 17, 2001

We should be like little Johnny. After church, Johnny tells his parents he has to go and talk to the minister right away. They agree and the pastor greets the family. "Pastor," Johnny says, "I heard you say today that our bodies came from the dust & when we die our bodies go back to dust.” "Yes, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:7, Genesis 3:19

Tags: Death, Death Nearness, Creation, Adam, Dust  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

It Won't Happen To Us

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 21, 2011

IT WON'T HAPPEN TO US We began the week with the story of the Chicago nightclub fire in which 21 people were killed as they rushed to the exit. The club had already been cited for overcrowding and other safety violations--like not enough doors and windows. What happened was that a bouncer used ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:1-12

Tags: Death, Life, Priorities, Choice, Death Nearness  (view more)  (view less)

When Revelation Was Given To John All The ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 30, 2007

When Revelation was given to John all the apostles had been murdered because a shift occurred in Rome’s dealing with the Christians: Christian History Issue 27 notes: “The persecutors and their motives changed in A.D. 64. On July 19 that year a great fire engulfed much of Rome; only four of the ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dostoevsky And The Firing Squad  PRO

Contributed by David Simmons on Feb 22, 2002

DOSTOEVSKY AND THE FIRING SQUAD The famous Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky told the story of the time he was arrested by the czar and sentenced to die. The czar, though, liked to play cruel psychological tricks on the people who rebelled against him by blindfolding them and standing them in ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Tags: Death Nearness, Fulfillment

Denomination: Baptist

In His Book Mere Christianity, C.s. Lewis Wrote, ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on May 17, 2001

In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, "Do not waste your time bothering whether you ’love’ your neighbor act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you injure someone ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Compassion, Emotions

Denomination: Baptist

Steve Brown Noted, "For Every Non-Christian Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Dana Chau on Apr 22, 2002

Steve Brown noted, "For every non-Christian who has cancer, a Christian will have cancer, so the world will see the difference. And for every non-Christian who has a business failure, a Christian ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Human Body

Denomination: *other

C.s. Lewis, In Mere Christianity Says "The Real ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Hamilton on Sep 29, 2002

C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity says “The real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment, God's Provision, Knowing God's Will

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Christian Author Max Lucado Says, "We Aren't ...  PRO

Contributed by Aaron Burgess on Oct 7, 2002

Christian author Max Lucado says, “We aren’t good enough to judge. Can the hungry accuse the beggar? Can the sick mock the ill? Can the blind judge the deaf?” In the same way, can the sinner condemn the sinner? Absolutely not! He goes on to say, “Be careful! The Peter who denies Jesus at ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43

Tags: God's Judgment, Friendship New Friends, Christian Love

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Let Me Tell You A Story About A Christian Just ...  PRO

Contributed by Thomas Black on Feb 2, 2005

Let me tell you a story about a Christian just like you and I. Let’s call him George for no good reason. George woke up Monday morning after a remarkable Weekend. Family time was well spent and The church services were excellent. He’d had testimonies of answered prayer in his own life and the ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In His Book Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis Helps ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Apr 24, 2005

In his book Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis helps us gain balance when he says, “If anyone thinks that Christians regard unchastity (sexual sin) as the supreme vice, he is quite wrong. The sins of the flesh are bad, but they are the least bad of all sins. All the worst pleasures are purely ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Methodist