In Sermon Illustrations: "Acts 2 14a 22 32"

[177]. A Message From A Poem – Lord, Open My Eyes

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 26, 2025

[177]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – LORD, OPEN MY EYES Opened eyes is truly a marvellous thing. The term “eyes opened” comes to mean understanding and awareness of what is reality or of what is happening. Only once in the whole bible are the words “open my eyes” found, and it is this verse – ...read more

Scripture: John 12:21, 2 Kings 6:17, Psalm 119:18

Tags: The Word Of God, The Bible, Eyes Opened, Christian Poems, Wonderful Things, Understanding, Open My Eyes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Leadership: What God Looks For In His Leaders

Contributed by Raymond Petzholt on Mar 25, 2004

When God was looking for a leader for His people He required “a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will” (Acts 13:22; I Sam. 13:14; Why? - Amos 3:3). “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart” (I Sam. 16:7). As God was searching the hearts of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:11, Amos 3:3, 1 Samuel 16:7

Tags: Leadership, God's Word Essential

Denomination: Baptist

Cirrhosis Of The Giver

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Jan 23, 2013

CIRRHOSIS OF THE GIVER The disease cirrhosis of the giver was discovered in A.D. 34 by the husband-wife team of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1–11). It is an acute condition that renders the patient’s hands immobile when he is called on to move them in the direction of his wallet or her purse, and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7, Romans 12:1, Luke 9:23, Philippians 4:19

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Baptist

Americans Are Drowning In Debt. Consumers Have ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

Americans are drowning in debt. Consumers have racked up more than $2.2 trillion in purchases and cash advances on major credit cards in just the last year. And it's become a habit for them to spend more than they have. The overall credit card debt grew by 315% from '89 to '06. To compound the ...read more

Tags: Materialism

It Was Pentecost Sunday. As The Congregation ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Mar 23, 2004

IT WAS PENTECOST SUNDAY. As the congregation filed into church, the ushers handed each person a bright red carnation to symbolize the festive spirit of the day. The people listened attentively to the reading of the Pentecost story from the Book of Acts about how the disciples had heard “what ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7, Philippians 4:19, Luke 9:23, Romans 12:1

Tags: Gifts Giving, Giving General, Stewardship, Tithes, Tithing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Wesleyan

Israel (Jewish) Contribution To Blessing The World

Contributed by Raymond Petzholt on Mar 13, 2024

Israel’s (Jewish) contribution to blessing the World Genesis 12:3 “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (also Gen. 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14; Acts 3:25) “For if the casting away of them be the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:3, Romans 11:15

Tags: Israel, Jews Bless The World

Denomination: Baptist

In The Congo, Poor People Who Have Nothing To ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Gibson on May 18, 2001

In the Congo, poor people who have nothing to give when the Church offering is taken will dip their hand in the offering plate to symbolize the giving of themselves. There’s also a story of a little crippled girl with a crutch who came to church and saw everyone place their offerings in the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1, 1 Corinthians 8:1-5, 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

Tags: Poverty, Money, Giving General

Denomination: *other

The Touch Of The Master's Hand  PRO

Contributed by Elliot Ross on Jun 5, 2001

The Touch of the Masters Hand. It was battered and scarred, and the auctioneer Thought it scarcely worth his while, To waste much time on the old violin, But held it up with a smile. "What am I did for this old violin? You will start the bidding for me? A dollar, a dollar, who’ll make it ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Kings 13:16, 1 Peter 5:7-8

Tags: Forgiveness General, God's Forgiveness, God's Omnipotence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Lady Of Society Was Gazing Upon An Image She ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Milton on Sep 25, 2001

A lady of society was gazing upon an image she had never seen before in the city’s art museum. "My dear fellow," she said condescendingly to the Curator, "I have never seen this painting before. I find the image shallow and rather crude in appearance. What do you call this?" The curator answered ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:12, 2 Peter 1:19-21, 2 Peter 1:3-11

Tags: Bible Influence, Disciplines Scripture

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

There Is An Old Story About A Man In China Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 9, 2001

There is an old story about a man in China who was walking on a rain slick road. He lost his footing & fell into a ditch filled with mud. He kept sinking deeper & deeper in the mud. The more he struggled to get out of the ditch, the deeper he sank. As he was sinking in the mud Buddha came ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, 2 Corinthians 12:7-11, Psalm 103:4, Psalm 40:1-3

Tags: Humanity Of Christ, World Religions

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Unused Spiritual Resources  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Sep 12, 2003

Unused Spiritual Resources During Superbowl XXXVII, FedEx ran a commercial that spoofed the movie Castaway, in which Tom Hanks played a FedEx worker whose company plane went down, stranding him on a desert island for years. Looking like the bedraggled Hanks in the movie, the FedEx employee in the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:1, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, Colossians 3:1-4

Tags: Bible Influence, Bible Study

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

They Refused To Be Rescued  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2011

THEY REFUSED TO BE RESCUED On August 30, 2005 Coast Guard Lieutenant Iain McConnell was ordered to fly his H46 helicopter to New Orleans and to keep that machine flying around the clock for what would turn out to be a heroic rescue effort. None of his crew were prepared for what they were about to ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:3-4, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, Matthew 8:28-34, 2 Peter 3:7-10

Tags: Rejection, Heroism

Great Blessings From A Generous Gift

Contributed by Rick Crandall on May 16, 2016

*God wants us to be givers, because HE is a giver. He wants us to generously give our time, our talents, our tithes and our offerings. In short, God wants us to give our lives and our love to other people, every way we can. They will be blessed, and so will we. *Sometimes even a small gift can ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:17-19, 2 Corinthians 8:1-24, 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Tags: Generosity, Trust God, Christian Giving, Love Of God Or Money

Denomination: Baptist

[004]. Message From A Poem - A Memorial To Kent Harrison

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 19, 2024

[004]. MESSAGE FROM A POEM - A MEMORIAL TO KENT HARRISON This was written after Kent’s death in Townsville maybe in April 2005. We had known him since early Mt Isa days, then later when he moved to Charters Towers and then to Townsville. Kent suffered a few massive strokes but battled on after ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1, 2 Samuel 1:17, 2 Samuel 1:26

Tags: Death, Compassion, Friend, Memorial, Tribute, Prayer Warrior, A Christian Death  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[093]. A Message From A Poem – Foraging In The Depths Of Scripture

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 30, 2025

[093]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FORAGING IN THE DEPTHS OF SCRIPTURE This poem deals with getting into the heart of scripture. There are images and techniques and encouragement in these stanzas. I actually make the comparison between a mudskipper that flits across the shallows on the water, and ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:27, 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Buried Treasure, Inspired, Dig Deep, Eel, Mudskipper, Scripture, Word Of God, Workman  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[240]. A Message From A Poem – Smothering Of Delusional Creep

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Dec 20, 2025

[240]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – SMOTHERING OF DELUSIONAL CREEP This is a very serious poem. It is about delusion that is now a feature of this world in many ways. What does the title mean? Well first of all we have delusion that creeps along like a snail, but creeps steadily. As it goes it ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:9, 2 Timothy 3:13, 2 Thessalonians 2:8-9, Colossians 2:4

Tags: Homosexuality, Delusion, Climate Change, Marxism, Evolution, Deception, Islam  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[355]. A Message From A Poem – You Heal, O Lord, What Others Have Hurt

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 27, 2026

[355]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – YOU HEAL, O LORD, WHAT OTHERS HAVE HURT As creatures of emotions we feel it when what is bad and not welcome comes our way. This may be sorrow and injury, persecution, injustice, and the hurt done by others. I have known the last one of that short list along with ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-10, 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, 1 Thessalonians 4:18

Tags: Healing, Comfort, Healer, Jesus Heals, Hurting, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[057]. A Message From A Poem – Delusion Has Ascended On Mankind

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 13, 2025

[057]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DELUSION HAS ASCENDED ON MANKIND Delusion, often created through “inclusion”, is a serious subject today because there is so much of it around. All this has kicked off through the widespread media. “We don’t know who to believe,” is a common saying in our days. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 5:20-21, Malachi 2:17, Colossians 2:4, James 1:22, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11, 2 Timothy 3:13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Media, Climate Change, Liars, Delude, Deluded, Evil, Deception, Lies, Delusion, Deceive  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[108]. A Message From A Poem – Grace Is The Key To Holiness

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 18, 2025

[108]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GRACE IS THE KEY TO HOLINESS This is a poem that has to be read carefully for understanding because of the construct of the poem. The subject is certainly GRACE, but grace can never be in isolation. There is a strong but harmonising relationship with LOVE, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:9, Revelation 22:21, Ezra 9:8, Ephesians 2:8

Tags: Peace, Holiness, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Grace, Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Few Years Ago, A Major Multinational Company ...  PRO

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Dec 14, 2001

A few years ago, a major Multinational company was looking for a new Marketing Director. After much advertising and many application, three candidates entered the final selection process. A mathematician, a statistician and a solicitor. The first to be invited in for the final interview was ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:10

Tags: Truth, Workplace Integrity

Denomination: Anglican