In Sermon Illustrations: "Ashamed"

The Window  PRO

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on Jun 2, 2008

THE WINDOW Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked ...read more

Scripture: James 3:14-18

Tags: Wall, Encouragement, Barriers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fear And The Deceits Of The Heart  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 3, 2010

FEAR AND THE DECEITS OF THE HEART I think Edward Welch chose brilliantly the title for his book on overcoming the fear of man: When People are Big and God is Small. Maybe you can relate to his personal awakening to this problem when he was a high-school senior: "I had always been shy and ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 51:11-13, Isaiah 51:12-16

Tags: Ransom, Fear And Worry

Don't Magnify Yourself Against Those That Are Fallen

Contributed by James Dina on Oct 9, 2020

DON'T MAGNIFY YOURSELF AGAINST THOSE THAT ARE FALLEN "If indeed you will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach" (Job 19:5) 1. Many people forget their own frailty, how easy is it for them to fall. We should be taught by the mistakes of others to avoid being ...read more

Scripture: Job 19:5, Psalm 35:26

Tags: Love, Exaltation, Correction

Denomination: Pentecostal

Keep Away From Sin!

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Oct 24, 2022

Genesis 4 Devotional Part 2 The first children from Adam and Eve grew up having 2 different interests: Abel took care of animals while Cain took care of plants. When it was time to worship God (how did they learn and why did they worship God?), Cain offered firstfruits from the field and Abel ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:6-15

Tags: Love, Sin, Heart, Cain, Relationship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

[207]. A Message From A Poem – Our Behaviour Is Not Of The World

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 20, 2025

[207]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – OUR BEHAVIOUR IS NOT OF THE WORLD If I am a fool I will act like a fool. If I care for no one, you will probably find me at parties drinking and smoking pot. You see our behaviour flows from what we are inside. James had something to say about this – {{James ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:10, Romans 12:2, Acts 4:13, James 3:11-12

Tags: Christian Poems, Grandstanding, Ambition, Definitions, Worldly Standards, Good Soldiers, The World System, Conformed To The World, Behavior, Jesus, Truth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Listen, Son: I Am Saying This As You Lie Asleep, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

Listen, son: I am saying this as you lie asleep, one little paw crumpled under your cheek and blond curls stickily wet on your damp forehead. I have stolen into your room alone. Just a few minutes ago, as I sat reading my paper in the library, a stifling wave of remorse swept over me. Guiltily I ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Children

A Preacher Once Wrote About An Incident In His ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 19, 2002

A preacher once wrote about an incident in his life: “I’d received a notice from my 13 year old son’s school announcing a meeting to preview the new course in sexuality. Parents could examine the curriculum and take part in an actual lesson presented exactly as it would be given to the students. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:3

Tags: Marriage Faithfulness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Day, I Woke Early In The Morning To Watch The ...

Contributed by Paul Green on Jul 14, 2009

One day, I woke early in the morning to watch the sunrise. Oh the beauty of God’s creation is beyond description. As I watched, I praised God for His beautiful work. As I sat there, I felt the Lord’s presence with me. He asked me, "Do you love me?" I answered, "Of course, God! You are my Lord and ...read more

Tags: Prayer, Prayer General

Denomination: Baptist

[008] Message From A Poem - A Tale Of The Fish’s Tails

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 1, 2024

[008] MESSAGE FROM A POEM - A TALE OF THE FISH’S TAILS “Take the line of least resistance; go with the flow; jellyfish that drift; leave me out of it; I see both sides; don’t involve me; I don’t want to know!” The world is full of compromise and it gets worse. We can expect no less from this ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 16:13, Galatians 5:1, Ephesians 6:11, Ephesians 6:13-14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Stand Firm, Fish Tails, Opposing, Compromise, Resist, Fish  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[101]. A Message From A Poem – God Of Small Things

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 8, 2025

[101]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GOD OF SMALL THINGS Some people like to think big. There is this fallacy that big is better, especially in the American culture. God does not work with big. He uses availability, particularly in His children. I once preached on this topic showing that God uses ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:3, 1 Samuel 15:17, Matthew 14:17-20

Tags: Message, Goliath, Small Things, Small, Pebbles, Five Loaves And Two Fish, Ebedmelech, Poems, Christian Poetry, Molecules, Atoms  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No Jacket Required  PRO

Contributed by Johanna Radelfinger on May 26, 2003

NO JACKET REQUIRED I shook my head in disbelief. This couldn’t be the right place. After all, I couldn’t possibly be welcome here. I had been given an invitation several times, by several different people, and had finally decided to see what this place was all about. But, this just couldn’t be the ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, Salvation, Repentance

Denomination: Adventist

The Diverse Disciples

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Apr 25, 2010

THE DIVERSE DISCIPLES I have always been a bit of a loner. I was not the sort of person you wanted in your team. I didn't fit. If Jesus hadn't come into my life, I am sure I would have ended up as a starving artist or at least a hermit - a recluse with a long beard, black jeans, T-shirt and ...read more

Tags: Disciples

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

John Mccain's Personal Account At The Republican ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 6, 2010

John McCain’s Personal Account at the Republican National Convention of Being a POW in Viet Nam I suggest we can learn something from John McCain’s personal testimony segment of his speech. The Republican nominee said: Long ago, something unusual happened to me that taught me the most valuable ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 15:33

Tags: Patriotism

[304]. A Message From A Poem - They Have Gone To Be With Jesus

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 4, 2026

[304]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THEY HAVE GONE TO BE WITH JESUS Right at the outset I want to say I LOVE THIS POEM. IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME. I love it because the Lord gave it freely to me and the truth of it now for 27 years has been part of the way I address the loss of a Christian loved one. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:27, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Tags: Present With The Lord, Absent From The Body, Christian Poems, Christian, Jesus, Heaven, Home, Gone, In Christ, Death  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[311]. A Message From A Poem - Thoughts – Precious Ones From Hebrews

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 18, 2026

[311]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THOUGHTS – PRECIOUS ONES FROM HEBREWS This poem contains many references to verses in Hebrews. The book of Hebrews was written to Jews and that is why it has so many images of the Levitical priesthood and sacrifices. It was written by Paul and would be in line ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-22, Hebrews 12:1-2

Tags: Endurance, Run, Patience, Great High Priest, New Way, Author Of Salvation, Living Way, Christian Poems, The Book Of Hebrews  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In God's Eyes," By Candace Carteen Of Portland, ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian Atwood on May 5, 2008

"In God's Eyes," by Candace Carteen of Portland, Oregon. By the time I was ten, I was totally ashamed of my father. All my friends called him names: Quasi-Moto, hunchback, monster, little Frankenstein, the crooked little man with the crooked little cane. At first it hurt when they called him ...read more

Tags: Faults

Denomination: Baptist

Last Week, Bernie Came To The Church Door. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Oct 9, 2002

Last week, Bernie came to the church door. He showed up about five minutes before I was getting ready to leave for an appointment, and my first response to his arrival was, oh, no, not now. Bernie had been drinking – I could smell it on his breath. He was sweating profusely and was a little bit ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:13-20

Tags: Fellowship

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Let Me Close With This Story, At First You May ...  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 31, 2002

Let me close with this story, at first you may not catch my point, but hang in there, when I land you will see a wonderful point. I had been teaching in Virginia, and I resigned my position and accepted a pastorate of a mission work in eastern Kentucky. The area was very poor, and the little church ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

Tags: Funerals Christian, Death

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Making The Best Of The ‘best'!" 1 Thessalonians ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 11, 2005

“Making The Best of The ‘Best’!” 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 Key verse(s) 15:“According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.” “I did my best, really!” With tear-streaked face ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

Tags: Peace, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Lutheran

Cymbala's Easter Story  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 31, 2005

CYMBALA'S EASTER STORY Jim Cymbala preaches at a church in the slums of New York. He tells the following story: It was Easter Sunday and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform, pulled down my tie and sat down and draped my feet over the edge. It was a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 18:15-18, Luke 23:32-34, 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, John 13:34-35, Matthew 25:34-45, Psalm 40:1-3, Ephesians 2:1-10, Colossians 1:1-11, Matthew 18:22-35, Matthew 22:1-14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Second Coming, New Year, Dignity, Body Of Christ, Supper, Work  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ