In Sermon Illustrations: "Barriers To Growth"

Family Resemblance

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 23, 2025

Family Resemblance *There will always be resemblance in families, and I'm not just talking about our physical appearance. I'm talking about the way we talk, our mannerisms, our quirks, our habits, and our attitudes. Well, what's true about our earthly families is also true about ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 144:1-15

Tags: Traitors, Deceivers, The Lord Of Hosts, Floods, High Tower, Righteous War, God's Help, Deliverer, King David, Brevity, Praise The Lord, Mortality, Shield, Salvation, Joy, Rock, Fortress  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

[234]. A Message From A Poem - Rigid Trees Are Our Example

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 24, 2025

[234]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - RIGID TREES ARE OUR EXAMPLE Trees are a wonderful aspect of God’s creation and they are the mightiest organic structures on earth, discounting the great coral reefs. This poem is not about trees in general, but specific trees. Those are the ones that are often ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5, Psalm 1:3

Tags: Christian Poems, Melaleuca Trees, Paperbarks, Rigid Trees, Gales, Strong Tree Trunks, Character, Wind, Stand Strong, Trees, Deep Roots  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer

Contributed by Tim Smith on Sep 25, 2016

Chris Jeffries tells the story of Roy who was feeling frustrated that he was not able to do what he felt he was born to do. So he prayed for Our Father to change something. Then there was a knock at the door and they met two strangers, a married couple. They invited them in and sat them down at ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:5-8

Tags: Prayer, God's Will, Confidence In Prayer

Denomination: Methodist

Saint Arnold Janssen And His Mission Relevance Today

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Feb 1, 2024

Saint Arnold Janssen and His Mission Relevance Today (The Feast Day is on 15th January) Scripture: Mark 1:14-20 The 19th century saw the birth of a visionary priest Saint Arnold Janssen, who devoted his life to evangelization and the promotion of the Christian faith. The following words will ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:14-20

Tags: Saint Arnold Janssen, The Society Of The Divine Word

Denomination: Other

Unsung Heroes: An Egyptian Slave Who Helped David

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 20, 2024

Introduction: He had been taken as a slave and now was far from his homeland. He was so sick he almost died but David and his men found him. When this slave had recovered, he gave David some very vital information which helped David a great deal! Text: 1 Samuel 30:13-19, KJV: 11 And they found an ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:13-19

Tags: David, Amalekites, Ziklag

Denomination: Baptist

Steve Bouman Tells The Story We Began To Find ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 28, 2004

Steve Bouman tells the story We began to find our power as a congregation in New Jersey as a matter of being a place where you can go when there’s no where else to go. When you invite the poor and the homeless, they do come such as Edgar. He is by anybody’s standards a strange character. He lives ...read more

Tags: Giving, Palm Sunday, Patience, Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dr. James Engel Gives Some Prophetic Advice On ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 22, 2009

Dr. James Engel gives some prophetic advice on building bridges from one generation to the next - the following insights are from the website (www.ChristianLeadershipAlliance.org): i. Don’t oppose this new generation! Don’t oppose each other’s generation. 1. They are not the enemy they are God’s ...read more

Tags: Stewardship, Future Generations

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Parable Of The Fig Tree  PRO

Contributed by Ty Tamasaka on Jul 26, 2011

THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE 6 "Then Jesus told this story: 'A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. 7 Finally, he said to his gardener, 'I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:6-9

Tags: Suffering Joy In

Denomination: Other

Last Week My Wife Christina And I Were In Florida ...

Contributed by Chris Surber on May 29, 2008

Last week my wife Christina and I were in Florida visiting her father who has been ill. Besides the pollen wreaking havoc on our sinuses, and the Florida humidity reminding us of yet another reason we are so happy not to live there any longer, there was something that I saw which I must say, I am ...read more

Tags: Truth

Denomination: Christian Church

Pleasure Comes From Pain  PRO

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Feb 7, 2002

PLEASURE COMES FROM PAIN The world's best cyclist, Lance Armstrong, says this about pain: I become a happier man each time I suffer. Suffering is as essential to a good life, and as inextricable, as bliss. The old saying that you should live each day as if it’s your last is a nice sentiment, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1

Tags: Disciplines General, Endurance, Human Body

Denomination: Baptist

The Discipline Of Delay!" 1 John 5:13-14 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 13, 2005

“The Discipline of Delay!” 1 John 5:13-14 Key verse(s): 14:“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will he hear us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.” I don’t have time for this now! There is not a day in my life when ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:13-14, Job 15:1-5

Tags: Peace

Denomination: Lutheran

The Manor - A Story About The Master Coming Back

Contributed by John Gullick on Jul 31, 2017

Here is a story- Driving up to the mansion seemed quite grand. The turrets bathed in the bright sunlight - windows glistened sending wild cascades of light over the pastures. The driveway was, well, elegent to say the least. But immediately Bernard sensed something was wrong. The hedges and shrubs ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-43

Tags: Obedience, Disciple Of Jesus

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

[309]. A Message From A Poem - This World Is In Deception’s Hand

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 13, 2026

[309]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THIS WORLD IS IN DECEPTION’S HAND I believed deception is so common that people live with it and do not realise they are deceived. We come to accept circumstances as normal but they are not normal in Christian teaching. They are normal for the deluded ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:18-19, 2 Timothy 3:13, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4

Tags: Deception, Christians, Delusion, Hatred, Deceived, Satanic Deception, Delusions, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Before This Month Began To Prepare Our ...  PRO

Contributed by Kerry Kinchen on Nov 10, 2003

". . . before this month began to prepare our ground against seed-time. In the midst of April we began to set, the weather being then seasonable, which much encouraged us, giving us good hopes of after plenty: the setting season is good till the latter end of May. But it pleased God for our further ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday, Favor

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Was Fortunate To Grow Up In A Home Where My ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 22, 2004

I was fortunate to grow up in a home where my father was both a loving and disciplining presence. I guess I would have to say that if there is anything I really remember about my dad is this, he possessed a presence unlike any other person in my life. To me he was always larger than life. He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 16:1-12

Tags: Father's Day, Parenting

Denomination: Lutheran

Healed But Not Cured!" Hebrews 12: 5-12: Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 26, 2004

“Healed But Not Cured!” Hebrews 12: 5-12: Key verse(s): 6 “...because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” Sickness! There isn’t a life that hasn’t been touched by it. And, when we count our blessings at the end of the day, we aren’t likely to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:5-12

Tags: Poverty, Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Lutheran

If You Can't Beat ‘em?" Philippians 1: 12-14 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 5, 2005

“If You Can’t Beat ‘Em?” Philippians 1: 12-14 Key verse(s): 14:“Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em! We’ve all said it at times when it just seemed hopeless and there ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-14, Philippians 1:12-14

Tags: Faith, Endurance

Denomination: Lutheran

No Rusty Promises In Heaven!" Leviticus 26: ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 20, 2005

“No Rusty Promises in Heaven!” Leviticus 26: 40-45 Key verse(s): 45:“But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the Lord.” If you are interested in learning about hope, take a walk sometime ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 26:40-45

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Lutheran

Just How Bad Is It Out There? And What Really ...  PRO

Contributed by Darren Mccormick on Feb 26, 2008

Just how bad is it out there? And what really are we up against? Well, let me share with you some of the information I gleaned from 17 pages of fairly up to date statistics. [SLIDE 4] I learned first of all that sex is the #1 topic searched on the internet. Now I wasn’t really surprised to ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[292]. A Message From A Poem – Arise, You Sleepy Unproductive Servant

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 18, 2026

[292]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – ARISE, YOU SLEEPY UNPRODUCTIVE SERVANT It is time to be serious about the faith we profess. The western world is awash with wishy-washy Christian profession. Too many are asleep instead of being active for Jesus, the Lord of our faith. This poem is a challenge ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:11-14, 2 Peter 1:5

Tags: Service, Servant, Faithful, Devotion, Arise, Priorities, Laziness, Asleep, Ashamed, Unprofitable, Serve The Lord, Servants, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational