In Sermon Illustrations: "Bible Characters"

8 Types Of Suffering In The Bible

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 25, 2024

Walter Kaiser’s article on “where Job’s friends went wrong about suffering” is very interesting. In the article, Kaiser identifies eight types of suffering mentioned in the Bible. 1. retributive suffering (caused by sin and disobedience to God) 2. educational or disciplinary suffering (as in ...read more

Tags: Glory Of God, Trials, Faith, Doubt, Prayer, Suffering, Testimony, Tribulation, Hurt, Pain  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Darkness Is Mentioned In The Bible

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 6, 2024

In the Bible, darkness is a powerful metaphor that carries both physical and spiritual significance. Let’s explore its various meanings: Physical Darkness: Genesis 1:4: God separated light from darkness during the creation of the world. Darkness represents the absence of light, ...read more

Tags: Evil, Satan, End Times, Prophecy, Judgment, Last Days, Darnkness, Rapture, Signs, Return Of Christ, Spiritual Darkness, Kingdom Of Darkness, Solar Eclipse  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Key Bible Verses On Healing

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 9, 2024

The Bible contains numerous passages that address healing. Let’s explore some of these verses: 1. Jeremiah 17:14 (ESV): "Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise." 2. 1 Peter 2:24 (ESV): "He himself bore our sins in his body on ...read more

Tags: Healing, Prayer, Miracles, Supernatural, Health, Blood Of Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Actions Of The Common Day! (08.08.05--Character ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 4, 2005

Actions of the Common Day! (08.08.05--Character Counts!--Gen. 27: 11-13) “It’s the little things that count!” Growing up, this phrase had special meaning in my life. No, not because I enjoyed hearing it or, for that matter, even putting it to good use in my life. Rather, it was one of what I ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:1-10, Genesis 27:11-13

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Lutheran

Reader's Digest Carried This Story In 1996: A ...  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jul 3, 2003

Reader’s Digest carried this story in 1996: A friend often told me about the problems he had getting his son to clean his room. The son would always agree to tidy up, but then wouldn’t follow through. After high school the young man joined the Marine Corps. When he came home for leave after basic ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Baptist

Let Me Tell You A Story About Honest Labor. There ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 15, 2006

Let me tell you a story about honest labor. There was a boy named Harry who worked for a Scottish shoemaker named Dan. It was his chief responsibility to pound out and dry leather for shoe soles. It seemed an endless operation to him, and he wearied of it many times. "What made my task worse was ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:17

Tags: Character

Denomination: Lutheran

Mixed Attitudes & Values: Americans Feel ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2006

Mixed Attitudes & Values: Americans feel emotionally comfortable with their choices but struggle with the consequences of their moral behavior. 74% say they are concerned about the moral condition of the nation. That point of view is only slightly more pronounced among Christians. When asked the ...read more

Tags: Character

Those Little Maybe's! (08.12.05--Character ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 11, 2005

Those Little Maybe’s! (08.12.05--Character Counts!--Romans 5: 3-4) A drought tests the metal of a man. It tests his fortitude and his faithfulness. It also tests his resourcefulness and his ingenuity. I come from a long line of “resourceful” folks who seemed to see in every bleak and forlorn ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-4

Tags: Perseverance, Character, Diligence, Faith

Denomination: Lutheran

Halfway Through The Second Grade, Mrs. Sergeant, ...

Contributed by Ric Feeney on Jun 7, 2004

Halfway through the second grade, Mrs. Sergeant, who lived up to her name, sent a note home to the young boy’s parents. It was added onto his report card and therefore entered into his permanent record. It said, “Your son day dreams too much. He is always looking out the window and his mind ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Brethren

Which Way, O Lord?  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Which Way, O Lord? "This is what the Lord says; 'Stand at the crossroads and look... ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.'" Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV) The way many people attempt to determine the will of God would make a great new television ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 6:16

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Is A Christian? In The Letter To Diognetus, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 15, 2005

What is a Christian? In the LETTER TO DIOGNETUS, which dates back to the second century A.D., an anonymous writer describes a strange people who are in the world but not of the world. “Christians are not differentiated from other people by country, language, or customs; you see, they do not live ...read more

Tags: Character

I Heard This Story Told Wednesday Night At The ...  PRO

Contributed by Scott Bradford on May 13, 2004

I heard this story told Wednesday night at the Men’s Bible Study and I received permission to tell it here. It involves a TX Dot employee, who I said would remain nameless, but I was told that in TX Dot fashion I was permitted to use his initials "Randy". Randy was apparently asked to change his ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: United Methodist

Blessed Are The Merciful

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Blessed Are The Merciful In the Sermon on the Mount, we notice that Jesus' subject was not on how people are to be saved, but on the fruit of those who allow the Holy Spirit to work in their lives. One of the signs or evidences that a person has been converted is that he is now merciful. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

D. L. Moody Said, "Character Is What You Are In ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Mooney on Nov 1, 2000

D. L. Moody said, "Character is what you ...read more

Tags: Wash, Discipleship, Holiness, Leadership General

Denomination: Pentecostal

April 21, 2005 "Give Me A Shrub With Character!" ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 19, 2005

April 21, 2005 “Give Me A Shrub With Character!” Proverbs 12:3 Key verse(s) 3:“A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.” There are some plants that you can’t kill! I have long been fascinated by the differences exhibited in hardiness among the many ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:3, Proverbs 6:18

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Lutheran

God Is More Concerned About Our Character Than ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 13, 2005

God is more concerned about our character than our comfort. His goal is not to pamper us physically but to ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Only What We Have Wrought Into Our Character ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2006

Only what we have wrought into our character during life can we ...read more

Tags: Character

Character Needs No Epitaph. You Can Bury A Man, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Character needs no epitaph. You can bury a man, but character will bear the ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

What A Man's Mind Can Create, Man's Character ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"What a man's mind can create, man's ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

The Test Of Your Character Is What You Would Do ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

The test of your character is what you would do if you knew ...read more

Tags: Christian Values