In Sermon Illustrations: "Believers"

A Confident Faith  PRO

Contributed by David Parks on Apr 2, 2013

A CONFIDENT FAITH Jesus indicted the Pharisees saying: "All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:2-3

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sin Causes God Pain

Contributed by Troy Borst on Apr 25, 2013

SIN CAUSES GOD PAIN There is a book I read a few years ago, "Theology of the Pain of God" by Kazoh Kitamori, which added to my view about how I see my relationship with God. It is a deep theological book which looks at our relationship with God from the perspective of pain... and not our pain, ...read more

Tags: Sin, God The Father

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Testimony Of Astronaut Charles Duke

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 21, 2013

TESTIMONY OF ASTRONAUT CHARLES DUKE Through the years, I’ve heard people say, "I wasn’t looking for God when He found me." Let me give you a modern example of this process. Astronaut Charles Duke is one of only twelve men who have left footprints on the moon. He was the lunar module pilot for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-6

Tags: Becoming A Christian

God Gave Her A Flying Cat!  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 1, 2014

GOD GAVE HER A FLYING CAT! Have you heard the story about the pastor who had a kitten that climbed up a tree in his backyard and then was afraid to come down. The pastor coaxed, offered warm milk, etc., but the kitty would not come down. The tree was not sturdy enough to climb, so the pastor ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3

Tags: Prayer, Miracles, Prayer Answered

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On The Pharisees

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

Who are the Pharisees? In 332 BC, Alexander the Great conquered the Middle East, bringing Greek culture and philosophy to Israel. By 200 BC, Greek philosophy and its worldview called Helenism were significantly impacting Jewish young men. More and more of them were abandoning the Hebrew faith and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-2

Tags: Pharisees

Denomination: Methodist

Biblical Contradictions Found In The Catholic Church

Contributed by Michael Grant on Sep 4, 2016

Catholics are instructed to call the priest “Father” “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for one is your Father, He who is in heaven” – Mathew 23:9 Priest claims to have the power to forgive sin “…who can forgive sins but God alone?” - Mark 2:7 Catholics are encouraged to bow and pray to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:9

Tags: Bible, Roman Catholic, Pope, Roman Catholicism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Gehenna: The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 17, 2017

The Hinnom Valley was the place Jesus had in mind when He talked about Hell. The Hebrew word for this valley is, "Gehinnom", and the Greek word is, "Gehenna." The Hinnom Valley was located on the south and west side of the city of Jerusalem. It was a very dark place and many believe it is the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Tags: Faith, Hell, Gehenna

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Connotations For Us As Disciples Of Christ

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Feb 11, 2018

Jesus also tells us in Matthew 28, (the most familiar version of the Great Commission), that, “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 9:2-9

Tags: Transfiguration, Great Commission

Denomination: Episcopal

God Builds The Spiritual House Through Jesus Christ

Contributed by Matthew Redder on May 21, 2018

Have you ever shopped at Home Depot? Lowes? Or some other home repair-improvement type store? If you have you've inevitably seen the piles of lumber tossed aside that are broken, cracked, warped, crooked, or just plain look bad. These piles of lumber go ignored as faithful builders go for the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4-5

Tags: Chosen In Christ, Building, Chosen By God, Chosen People, Living Stones, Spiritual House  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Broken

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 6, 2019

Broken Windows … (Little improvements can make a big difference) Social psychologists and police officers tend to agree that if a window in a building is broken and is left unrepaired, all the rest of the windows will soon be broken. This is as true in nice neighborhoods as in rundown ones. One ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13

Tags: Community, Hope

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Igdaliah, A Man Of God

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 21, 2020

Text: Jeremiah. 35:4, KJV: And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which (was) by the chamber of the princes, which (was) above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door: Thoughts: Igdaliah ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 35:4

Tags: Man Of God, Men Of God, Igdaliah

Denomination: Baptist

Danger: Listen

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Aug 21, 2021

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE YOUNG GIRL CUTTING THROUGH THE WOODS TO TAKE HER GRANDMOTHER SOME FOOD? The weather had turned very cold. The snow was coming down. The cold north wind was blowing so hard. The young girl was walking through the field returning home. She heard someone calling to her. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 107:8-9, John 10:10, Judges 20:18

Tags: Listen, Danger, Ready

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Cost Of Redemption - Hosea Buys Back Gomer

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 27, 2022

One man started the bidding: “12 pieces of silver!” “13!” Said Hosea. “14 pieces of silver!” Hosea’s bid was “15!” The low bidders were beginning to drop out, but one man continued bidding: “15 pieces of silver and five bushels of barley!” Hosea said, “15 pieces of silver, 5 bushels of barley and a ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 3:1-5, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Romans 8:38

Tags: Hosea, Redemption, Covenant Love

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Deams And Visions

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on May 30, 2023

God is speaking to millions of Muslims through Deams and Visions. Throughout the Muslim world, there is a tremendous underground move to Christianity. Hassan was a part of that underground church in Cairo, one of Islam's spiritual capitals. And so, Hassan, a former Muslim wakes up in the middle ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Muslim, Dreams, Visions

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Son Of Sam Serial Killer Is Now A Servant Of God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 25, 2024

The story of David Berkowitz, infamously known as the “Son of Sam,” is a remarkable tale of redemption and transformation. 1. Background: In the late 1970s, David Berkowitz terrorized New York City as a serial killer. He shot and killed six young people and wounded seven others during a spree ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Colossians 3:1-4

Tags: Saul Of Tarsus, Miracle, Forgiveness, Salvation, Conversion, Redemption, Transformation, Prison Ministry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Bottle That Didn’t Take The Heat!

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jul 5, 2024

Text: 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, KJV: 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

Tags: Rewards, Tests, Plastic Bottles

Denomination: Baptist

A Sovereign God Has Fixed The Time For My Death

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 10, 2024

There is a scene in the Civil War motion picture, "Gods and Generals", that is telling. The movie follows the rise and fall of Civil War hero General Thomas Jackson, and does not try to hide his Christianity. Throughout the picture, Jackson's dependence on God is shown, but never ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:1

Tags: Death, Chosen, Election, Free Will, Calling, Sovereignty Of God, Man's Choice  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[119]. A Message From A Poem – He Gave His All For Me

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 2, 2025

[119]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HE GAVE HIS ALL FOR ME I wrote this short poem at a time when I heard a News report on the radio. I include that report underneath - [[A Saudi-Arabian woman loved her husband so much that she donated one of her eyes so that he could see. The operation was a ...read more

Scripture: John 20:27, 1 Timothy 2:5-6

Tags: Saudi Arabia, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Scars, Hands And Feet, He Gave Himself, Wounds Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Manna From Heaven--A Thanksgiving Story" ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 26, 2003

“Manna from Heaven--A Thanksgiving Story” Numbers 11: 4-9 Key verse(s): 9 “... When the dew settled upon the camp at night, the manna also came down.” “Goodbye! Thanks for coming. Thanks for everything!” As the caravan of cars and trucks pulled out of the driveway waves were exchanged and a ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

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