In Sermon Illustrations: "BAD FRUIT"

Pearl Tree Parable

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 24, 2023

The kingdom of God is like a seed which a woman planted in her garden, and when the time came for the harvest, the tree branches were groaning under the weight of hundreds of large and beautiful pearls which rained down upon everyone who had taken shelter there, and they all became rich beyond ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-52

Tags: Kingdom Of God, Reward, Hidden Future, Fruit

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What A Young Boy Saw In The Face Of A Missionary

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 2, 2023

Many years ago when the great missionary Adoniram Judson was home on furlough, he passed through the city of Stonington, Connecticut. A young boy playing about the wharves at the time of Judson’s arrival was struck by the man’s appearance. Never before had he seen such a light on any ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-23, Acts 1:8

Tags: Witnessing, Testimony, Missions, Fruit Of The Spirit, Evangelism, Children  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Does It Mean To Have Joy?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 2, 2023

Joy is God’s gift to believers. Paul speaks of more than just a mood. This is a deep confidence that was rooted in God’s sovereign control of the universe, His on unchanging divine promises and eternal spiritual realities including the assurance of ultimate victory for those in ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-22, Philippians 4:4

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit, Happiness, Joy, Spirit Filled Life

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Laborers For The Master

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Sep 2, 2023

Laborers for the Master We are laborers for the Master, Bringing sheaves in from His field, Rejoicing in His blessed Spirit For the golden bounty yield. Waste ye not one single moment, For the night will soon appear. Make the most of the daylight, For the end is surely near. Would you labor for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:58

Tags: Fruitful, Faithful, Labor Day, Well Done, Work  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Glory Of Springtime

Contributed by Todd Catteau on May 30, 2023

Don’t you just love spring? It’s simply glorious. Trees blooming. Plants blossoming. It’s all so beautiful. Unless of course you were looking at my front yard earlier this year. Last summer we bought three bushes that looked so promising. The leaves were supposed to turn all kinds of spectacular ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:23, Romans 5:2

Tags: Maturity, Life, Perseverance, Spring, Trees, Galatians 5, Forgiveness, Fruit, Fruit Of The Spirit, Hope, Grace, Bible, Church  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Little Boy Visiting His Grandparents Was Given ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit his target. As he came back to Grandma’s back yard, he spied her pet duck. On an impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck fell . The boy panicked. Desperately ...read more

Tags: Overachievment, Guilt, Manipulation, Easter Resurrection, Forgiveness, Reach, Storm, Stormy, Bad Day  (view more)  (view less)

Shepherd Or Butcher?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 23, 2022

Two people were watching a man drive a herd of sheep through the main street of a small town. “I thought shepherds led sheep. I didn’t know they drove them with a whip.” “They do,” the other fellow remarked. “That’s not a ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-17, John 10:27-31

Tags: Sheep, Shepherd, Leadership, Pastor, Pastoral, Bad Shepherd, Care, Compassion, Good Shepherd  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Love Is The Key. Joy Is Love Singing. Peace Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Mcnair on Nov 4, 2004

Love is the key. Joy is love singing. Peace is love resting. Long-suffering is love enduring. Kindness is love’s touch. Goodness is love’s character. Faithfulness is love’s habit. Gentleness is love’s ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:14, Luke 2:15-20, 1 Thessalonians 16:14, Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 3:12-14, 1 John 4:16, Luke 2:15, Luke 2:15-20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Conflict, Fruit, Marriage, Love, Love For God, Unconditional Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Knowledge Of Good And Evil  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Jan 8, 2014

THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL Viktor Frankl in his book, "Man's Search for Meaning," describes the reactions of two brothers with the same heredity, the same environment, in the same concentration camp under the Nazis. One became a saint and the other a swine. Frankl tells us the reason why. He ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:19

Tags: Good And Evil, Life And Death, Forbidden Fruit, Knowledge Of Good

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Momma, Kiss Me!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 2, 2023

William Gladstone, in announcing the death of Princess Alice to the House of Commons, told a touching story. The little daughter of the Princess was seriously ill with diphtheria. The doctors told the princess not to kiss her little daughter and endanger her life by breathing the child's ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Sacrifice, Love, Mothers, Children, Agape, Death, Fruit Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thank You, God, For Rattlesnakes!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 26, 2023

There was a farmer who had three sons: Ron, Don and Little John. All had their names on the church roll, but none ever attended church or had time for God. Then one day Don was bitten by a rattlesnake. The doctor was called and did all he could to help Don, but the outlook for his recovery was very ...read more

Tags: Judgment, Revival, Repentance, Spiritual Fruit, Unfaithfulness, Brokenness, Backsliding  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Evolution Is The Problem - And The Solution?

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 19, 2023

Gov Pritzker (Illinois) gave the 2023 Commencement Address at North Eastern University "… Whenever we see someone who doesn't look like us, or sound like us, or act like us or love like us, or live like us - the first thought that crosses almost everyone's brain is rooted in either ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 3:23, Galatians 5:22-23, Psalm 139:14, Romans 7:21-25, Genesis 1:27, Genesis 3:17-19  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Kindness, Salvation, Humanity, Fruit Of The Spirit, Evolution, Compassion, Education  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Pilot Who Shot Himself Down!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2024

Chuck Yeager, the pilot who first broke the time barrier, revealed some interesting tidbits from aviation history in his autobiography. One of the most unusual happened at Edwards Air Force Base in the late 50s. A test pilot diving in a Mach-2 fighter actually outraced the shells from his ...read more

Tags: Patience, Pace, Slow Down, Endurance, Fruit Of The Spirit, Gentleness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[092]. A Message From A Poem – For We Are Flesh And Blood

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 30, 2025

[092]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR WE ARE FLESH AND BLOOD We are emotional people and emotions often influence our feelings and life and behaviour. Emotions do need controlling e.g. a person might be “in a bad mood” but must not let that become bad attitudes to others. Sometimes we can be down ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:15, Romans 8:26, Revelation 21:4-5

Tags: Bad Mood, Weakness, Depressed, Human Nature, Flesh And Blood, Feeling Down, Mood Swings, Emotions, Joy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Am In A Hurry, But God Isn't!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 6, 2023

The purposes of God often develop slowly because His grand designs are never hurried. The great New England preacher Phillips Brooks was noted for his poise and quiet manner. At times, however, even he suffered moments of frustration and irritability. One day a friend saw him feverishly pacing the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Waiting On God, Holy Spirit, Forbearance, Fruit Of The Spirit, Endurance, Patience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Called To Be Faithful

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 12, 2023

Mark Hatfield tells of touring Calcutta with Mother Teresa and visiting the so-called "House of Dying," where sick children are cared for in their last days, and the dispensary, where the poor line up by the hundreds to receive medical attention. Watching Mother Teresa minister to these ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Spirit Filled Life, Success, Faithfulness, Fruit Of The Spirit, Holy Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

7 Ways To Build Self-Control

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

To be self-controlled is to restrain ourselves by not giving in to our depraved desires. We can say “no” when everything in us is saying “yes” for all the wrong reasons. We deny worldly lusts when we withhold our consent from them and when we refuse the delight they suggest. God will give us the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Self Control, Spirit Filled Life, Temptation, Fruit Of The Spirit, Discipline, Character, Works Of The Flesh  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Perfect Portrait Of Peace

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 2, 2023

Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-23, John 14:27, Philippians 4:7

Tags: Peace, Problems, Presence Of God, Spirit Filled Life, Trials, Fruit Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is Your Ministry Making Any Difference?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 12, 2023

Sometimes we think that God is not using us if we are not preaching to thousands every weekend. If you think that, remember this story about the value of one soul! I recently read about an old man, walking the beach at dawn, who noticed a young man ahead of him picking up starfish and flinging ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Holy Spirit, Fruit Of The Spirit, Faithfulness, Success, Spirit Filled Life, Ministry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Idolatry Of Cell Phones

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 26, 2023

t’s no surprise that 45% of Americans say that their phone is the most valuable possession. What is surprising is how far our obsessions with cell phones go: Over one-third of Americans (36%) say they’d give up their pets to keep their cell phone. 53% say that in a house fire or other disaster, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, Galatians 6:1-2

Tags: Cell Phones, Idolatry, Faithfulness, Fruit Of The Spirit, Time, Self Control, Lust  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational