In Sermon Illustrations: "Acceptance In Christ"

Who Says So?

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jun 29, 2010

WHO SAYS SO? A previous church I served had a lot of acreage and had turned part of it into 3 softball diamonds. Monday - Thursday nights, all summer long, various church leagues played their slow-pitch games there. Three of the leagues ran everything for their evening but one league was run ...read more

Tags: Authority

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Monogamy Syndrome  PRO

Contributed by Tim White on Feb 14, 2013

MONOGAMY SYNDROME Where at one time, having sexual relations outside marriage was considered liberating, current studies show that it damages one's ability to trust, affecting future relationship, one's respect for self, affecting every decision and diminishing the value of right decisions, and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Corinthians 6:16, 1 Corinthians 12:6

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Baptist

Mired In The Mud

Contributed by Larry Turner on Dec 14, 2015

When I was 17 I went for my first road test to get my driver’s license. In order to receive this privilege to drive, an officer accompanied me to observe my skills. As part of the test I was required to make a 3 point road turn on a narrow road. I pulled forward, turned my wheel, and proceeded to ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:1

Tags: Child Of God, Freedom From Bondage

Denomination: Foursquare

Grief

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 17, 2022

On Death and Loss… He was 50 years old. The cancer was aggressive and relentless. The pain was unmanageable and agonizing. In two months he was gone. I didn't have the opportunity to say good-bye and if I did, what would I say? Could I get the words out? Our last communication, me in Port ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25, Psalm 90:1-12, 2 Corinthians 1:1-7

Tags: Death, Grief, Sickness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When I Graduated High School, I Was Like Most ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

When I graduated high school, I was like most boys. I knew everything. I was going to get a job and get rich by the end of the year. I was going to be my own man and live life the way I wanted to. My father was retired from the Air Force. When I got ready to join the Navy, he sat me down and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11, Matthew 8:1-13, Luke 7:1-10

Tags: Patriarchs Joseph

A Well-Known Speaker Started Off His Seminar By ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of over 200 people, he asked the question, “Who would like this $20 bill? Hands started going up. He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this.” He proceeded to crumple the $20 dollar ...read more

Tags: Parable Prodigal Son

Final Week

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Final week The mother of a nine-year-old boy named Mark received a phone call in the middle of the afternoon. It was the teacher from her son’s school. "Mrs. Smith, something unusual happened today in your son’s third grade class. Your son did something that surprised me so much that I thought you ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

God Restores Banged-Up ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2009

GOD RESTORES BANGED-UP PEOPLE Gary Inrig’s story in his book, Quality Friendships: Years ago, one family had a son who was in the Korean War. They had not heard from him for 10 months and were very concerned. Time went on and the war ended. Finally their son called home. The mother was excited. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Tags: Restoration

Divine Jealousy

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on May 25, 2026

“It is true that Ezekiel’s performances arise out of perceived divine jealousy. Indeed the word quin’a, though appearing only ten times in the book, expresses the underlying motif of his ministry, and one’s interpretation of the word determines one’s perception of the God whom it describes. To ...read more

Tags: Love, Covenant, Jealousy

Denomination: Pentecostal

History Of Calvinism

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

HISTORY OF CALVINISM In 1610, just one year after the death of James Arminius (a Dutch Seminary professor) five articles of faith based on his teachings were drawn up by his followers. The Arminians, as his followers came to be called, presented these five doctrines to the State of Holland in the ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:24-25, Ephesians 1:3-5

Tags: Warning, Calvinism

Saved People Have Two Birthdays!

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jul 4, 2019

Born Again - John 1:12-13 (Also see John 3:1-16) 12. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the (power or authority or) right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: 13. who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12-13, John 3:1-16

Tags: Born Again, Family Of God

Denomination: Baptist

The Weak Will Shame The Wise

Contributed by Paul Dietz on Jun 19, 2008

THE WEAK WILL SHAME THE WISE We have to come to the realization that life is much more than brokenness. According to God’s word, we are vessels of honor which contain the power and glory of the Christ. I, too, have had a problem with such thinking throughout the years. How can I, a vessel of honor ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:21

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: *other

[188]. A Message From A Poem – My Jesus Is My Mighty Rock

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 6, 2025

[188]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – MY JESUS IS MY MIGHTY ROCK In the Old Testament the “ROCK” featured a lot. The first incident was when Moses struck the Rock at the Lord’s command {{Exodus 17:5-6 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:8, Psalm 31:2-3, Psalm 18:1-2, Exodus 17:5-6, 1 Corinthians 10:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Moses Struck The Rock, Rock, Security, Rock Of Offense, Mighty Fortress, Mighty Rock, Christian Poems, Jesus, Moses, Safety, Salvation, Temptation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[347]. Poem Message - Wisdom Of This World Is Foolishness With God

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 12, 2026

[347]. POEM MESSAGE - WISDOM OF THIS WORLD IS FOOLISHNESS WITH GOD There is a huge line of division between God and man; between God’s wisdom and man’s wisdom. Man is dominated by a sinful, fallen nature and his associated human wisdom is absolutely flawed. It is flawed so much that it ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:21-22, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Tags: Wisdom, Foolishness, Humanism, Wisdom Of God, Fools, Wisdom Of The World, Christian Poems, The Wisdom Of Men  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In Other Words, We Begin Our Christian Life In ...  PRO

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Jul 11, 2001

In other words, we begin our Christian life in God’s grace, and then quickly abandon grace, and try to live our life, and almost to continue to earn our salvation, - by what we do, by our works. Author Jerry Bridges puts it like this: "We tend to give an unbeliever just enough of the gospel to get ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Character, Faith Vs. Works, Sowing, Tares, Weeds, Judgment, Grace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Those Of You Who Are Sports Fans Probably ...  PRO

Contributed by Edward Frey on Aug 8, 2001

Those of you who are sports fans probably remember the opening monologue to the TV sports broadcast, “Wide, Wide, World of Sports.” The opening shots depicted athletes from all kinds of sports. As the footage rolled on, so came those immortal words: “The thrill of victory and the agony of ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Lutheran

Arthur Pink Wrote About How Some People Do Not ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Henes on Jun 5, 2002

Arthur Pink wrote about how some people do not worship: They bring their bodies to the house of prayer but not their souls. They worship with their mouths but not in spirit and in truth. They are sticklers for early morning communion with God but they take no thought about keeping their hearts ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:10-20

Tags: Church Practices, Worship Definition, Worship General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Do We "Eat Humble Pie?"  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 15, 2002

WHY DO WE "EAT HUMBLE PIE?" In the Middle Ages, eating humble pie was something people did literally. "Umbles pie" was a meal consisting of the stringy or fatty remains of an animal (from the Latin lubulus, or loin), usually a deer. People who ate it were poor and, thus, humble. By the 16th ...read more

Tags: Humility, Temptation Pride

When I Attended Urbana In 1976 Margaret Clarkson ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jul 19, 2002

When I attended Urbana in 1976 Margaret Clarkson wrote our theme song from this song, Where we sang with 18,000 in the Illinois University gym, Declare His glory, Among the nations, Throughout creation, His triumph sing. Till all earth’s people bow in adoration and Jesus Christ be everlasting ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Too Smart For Hell  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 6, 2002

TOO SMART FOR HELL According to U.S. News & World Report, 78% believed in Heaven and believed they were going there. Only 60% believed in Hell, but only 4% believed they were going there. In the same article, the Rev. Mary Kraus observed "My congregation would be stunned to hear a sermon on ...read more

Tags: Second Coming, Hell, Apologetics General