In Sermon Illustrations: "Appear"

I Know Your ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

“I Know Your Face” Quite recently a very dear friend suffered the heartbreaking miscarriage of a child. She was devastated by this loss of life and it got me thinking about my own miscarriage some 23 years ago of our first child and how distraught I was. My husband, Terry, and I were not ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:16

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thy Great ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Thy Great Salvation “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…” (Romans 1: 16) Christians, like the apostle Paul, are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. God has chosen to offer a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Is Pro - ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

God Is Pro - Choice! He really is! Every day of your life, until you draw your final breath, you will stand at the CrossRoads and be asked to make a choice. Which way will you choose? God has set before you two gates, one wide and one narrow. He has set before you two roads, one broad and one ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-21

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Get Kicked Out Of Church On Christmas Eve  PRO

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Dec 15, 2008

HOW TO GET KICKED OUT OF CHURCH ON CHRISTMAS EVE Christmas Eve 1990. I came this close to being physically thrown out of church. We were new to town and we heard that a certain church in town had a fantastic Christmas Eve service. So, we went with some friends, about ten of us total, to this ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Advent, Christmas Eve, Hymn, Hymnal, Hard To Believe, Way, Choir, New Jersey, Shut Up, Kicked Out, Go Away, Eject, Sing, Quiet, Song, Silent Night, Usher, Funny  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Story Of This Song, Oh Holy Night, Began In ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 23, 2008

The story of this song, Oh Holy Night, began in the 1840’s in France when a Priest asked a poet named Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure to write a poem for Christmas Mass. Cappeau composed this poem while he was in a carriage on the road to France … and that he titled Cantique de Noel. Cappeau was ...read more

Tags: Music

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Too Soon To Quit

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 3, 2009

TOO SOON TO QUIT Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. I heard a story of a weak, sickly man. The weak man decided to withdraw from society and die. The man owned a cabin far from any other people. There was a boulder by the edge of the porch, a huge boulder. He ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Assembly Of God

3. Lets Remember His ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 6, 2009

3. Lets remember His sacrifice: a. The world drew the first blood. They cried “Crucify Him!”, “Crucify Him!”. They craved, desired, and sought to make him bleed. Why, because he healed them? Why, because he gave them hope and a future? Why, because he gave them the words of life and not death? Why, ...read more

Tags: Jesus' Ministry

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Curse Turned Blessing

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Dec 7, 2022

Sometimes missing a flight turns into a blessing. My older son was flying from Little Rock to Kansas City through Dallas but missed his connection because the flight was late leaving Little Rock. He called from the airport bemoaning his fate but said that there was another flight he could book ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28

Tags: Blessing, Joseph, Providence, Opportunity, Blessings  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Christmas Flower

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 14, 2022

THE CHRISTMAS FLOWER “The Legend of Pepita’s Poinsettia” Thank you much, my pretty friend, For the beauty you display; Those colors of green and red Enhances our Christmas day. Great is your reputation- You’re like the Christmas Star, For you are highly regarded, No matter where you are. You ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:21, Luke 2:1-20, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6-7, Micah 5:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Nativity, Christ's Birth, Poinsettia, Christmas Poems, Christmas Poetry, Poems About Christmas, Christmas Decorations  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

An Illustration – The Coffee Cup

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 18, 2024

AN ILLUSTRATION – THE COFFEE CUP I don’t prefer strong coffee for it has a couple of effects on me. My wife bought these coffee bags that had “intense” on the packets. I know I might horrify some people but I found I could use these coffee bags 4 times. They only need to be in hot water for a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1, 1 John 2:16-17, 1 John 1:8-10

Tags: Adulterated, Sin Is Subtle, Sin, Deceived, Coffee, Coffee Mug  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[049]. A Message From A Poem – Christmas With The Shepherds

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 7, 2025

[049]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHRISTMAS WITH THE SHEPHERDS This is a very simple poem. I was asked to write a poem for Christmas by a friend who was doing religious instruction at a school and it is aimed at younger children. Although I do not agree with the trappings of Christmas as ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Tags: Poetry, Poem, Shepherds, Christmas

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

[246]. A Message From A Poem – Soon The Lord Will Come For Me

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 2, 2026

[246]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – SOON THE LORD WILL COME FOR ME Lines here can be reversed to make 9-7-9-7. (Change “Soon” Line 3 to “When”) The chosen metre for this poem in a more unusual one 7-9-7-9 as it does not follow the usual convention of having the first line longer than the second line. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2, Titus 2:13, Revelation 4:1, 1 Corinthians 15:52-53

Tags: The Coming Of The Lord, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Rapture, Blessed Hope  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[265]. A Message From A Poem – The Glory Of The Son [version 1]

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 17, 2026

[265]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE GLORY OF THE SON [Version 1] I get very uneasy about songs sung in churches that seem to glorify the person of man rather than the Person of Christ. Singing today is too egocentric and that takes away the glory from Christ. All praise and glory belong to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:17-20

Tags: Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Glory, Praise, Resurrection, Glory To God, Mount Of Transfiguration  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[266]. A Message From A Poem – The Glory Of The Son [version 2]

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 17, 2026

[266]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE GLORY OF THE SON [Version 2] I get very uneasy about songs sung in churches that seem to glorify the person of man rather than the Person of Christ. Singing today is too egocentric and that takes away the glory from Christ. All praise and glory belong to Him; ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:17-20

Tags: Christian Poems, Glory, Praise, Resurrection, Glory To God, Mount Of Transfiguration, Christian Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Numbers Of The Bible  PRO

Contributed by Stephen Schwartz on Dec 17, 2001

Numbers of the Bible” One The number one is for God. We must begin with number one or we cannot have number two or any other number. Mathematically speaking we cannot get anywhere without the number one. We must begin with God. Two The number two is for man. Man as an individual. God made ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:21, Matthew 17:1-9

Tags: Future, God's Omniscience, Kingdom, Tomorrow

Denomination: Methodist

Many Years Ago, I Failed The Lord In A Stupid ...  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 27, 2002

Many years ago, I failed the Lord in a stupid teenager deed. I can painfully remember January the 1st, 1968. I was raised in the parsonage, I was 16 years old, I knew right from wrong. But I failed the Lord! 1/1/68 was always a painful memory of my stupid failure. Before the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:12, Psalm 103:12

Tags: Forgiveness General, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Assembly Of God

A Letter To Santa  PRO

Contributed by Darren Ethier on May 21, 2002

A LETTER TO SANTA: Dear Santa Claus: You’ll probably be surprised to receive this letter from an adult. You may be even more surprised as you read it to find that the writer is neither a maiden aunt nor a disgruntled bachelor. I’m a young mother. It isn’t my intention, Santa, to hurt your ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Denomination: Pentecostal

To Touch A Scorpion!" Matthew 5: 43-48 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 9, 2004

“To Touch a Scorpion!” Matthew 5: 43-48 Key verse(s): 44 “‘But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’” Is it in our nature to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute us? Getting even or, in the very least, shunning confrontation with those who would ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Unconditional Love

Denomination: Lutheran

A Path We Feared To See!" Philippians 2:5-11 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 10, 2005

“A Path We Feared to See!” Philippians 2:5-11 Key verse(s): 8:“‘And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even the death of the cross.” We love so many things in this life! Yet, there is one thing so worth loving that is seldom afforded even the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Tags: Jesus' Ministry

Denomination: Lutheran