In Sermon Illustrations: "Blessings"

What I'll Be Doing For Memorial Day  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 19, 2002

WHAT I'LL BE DOING FOR MEMORIAL DAY Memorial Day is a rough day for me. It’s a day of remembering. Remembering can be curse when you’ve spent years trying to forget. It’s even worse when you get mad at yourself for not being able to remember. It’s strange that you forget so many things you want ...read more

Tags: Holidays Civic, Christian Disciplines

A Wonderful, Imaginative Short Story By Nathaniel ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 24, 2002

A wonderful, imaginative short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates the necessity of having the right focus. It is entitled “The Great Stone Face.” The tale centers around a man named Ernest who grew up in a village renowned for a natural wonder that rested just outside its boundaries. ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 11:16-23

Tags: Humor, Mother's Day, Story, Devotional

The Resurrection Of The Dead  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 26, 2003

The Resurrection of the Dead Avijah Powers felt moderately sure nobody would recognize him when he registered under an assumed name at the little inn. It was more than twenty years since he had left the town--a hard, reckless boy, running away from a good father and a devoted mother because he ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, James 1:9-11

Tags: Confession Of Sin, Repentance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

O God, Don't Let That Be All There Is?" John 1: ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Dec 22, 2004

“O God, Don’t Let That Be All There Is?” John 1: 14-18 Key verse(s): 14-18: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” The recent news story of the pregnant Missouri woman who was ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 16:1-14, John 1:14-18

Tags: Christmas Eve

Denomination: Lutheran

Seventeen Years Ago I Was Keenly Interested In A ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Mar 27, 2007

Seventeen years ago I was keenly interested in a widow in our church. Renfro laughed at me for saying she and I had a conversation in which we negotiated whether we could date or not. Listen, if there are things on which you do not agree, either negotiate a lasting change or else keep on ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Prayer Of God's ...

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Apr 21, 2009

A PRAYER OF GOD’S SERVANTS We are God’s servants. We put God’s love for all people first. No race is superior to another. No government is more loved than another. No nation is dearer than another. We do not put our nation’s economy before God’s economy. He tells us to seek first His Kingdom, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:45

Tags: Servanthood, Servants Of God, Servant Attitude

Denomination: Independent/Bible

In The Book

Contributed by Ken Pell on Oct 19, 2009

In the book “101 Romantic Ideas” Laura Jeanne Allen tells the following story. My Grandfather and Grandmother were married for over half a century, and played their own special game from the time they had met each other. The goal of their game was to write the word "SHMILY" in a surprise place ...read more

Tags: Marriage, Marriage General

Denomination: Nazarene

The Hunger And The Hunt

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Nov 13, 2010

THE HUNGER AND THE HUNT "She was not beautiful but her eyes were magnificient. They were piercing and caught the light as jade shards and occasionally as she passed into shadows you could catch glimses of the hunger betrayed in the depths of their opalescent gaze. As the inquisitive marvelled at ...read more

Tags: Desire

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Be A Saint

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 16, 2011

HOW TO BE A SAINT One of the most basic requirements for a candidate to Catholic sainthood is to be dead. You can't be a Catholic Saint if you're not dead (usually 5 years). In the same way, you can't be a saint for God without dying. Romans 6:3-7 tells us as much: "...don't you know that all of ...read more

Tags: Sanctification

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Revealing The Spectrum Of God’s Love

Contributed by Fred Parker on Oct 23, 2014

Written by Pastor Fred Parker Sat, 4th June, 2011 Matthew 5:16 “…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” NIV Early one morning not long ago, I was reminded that the aura of God is revealed in the beauty of His light. The clouds were ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16

Tags: Love, Light Of Truth, Spectrum, Jesus Loves

Denomination: Pentecostal

Christmas Tree

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Dec 9, 2014

Around 10 years ago I began to tell my Grandson Ryan, who then was 5 years old about how when I was his age we always had a cedar for a Christmas tree and how to this day the smell of a cedar tree reminded me of Christmas growing up as a child at home. So, we decided to go Christmas tree hunting ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6

Tags: Christmas Tree, Saviour Born

Denomination: Baptist

The Best Thanksgiving Ever

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” – Epictetus They lived a comfortable life in the upscale part of town, the children were teen and pre-teen then and had most anything their hearts desired. They had begun to recite their ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Gratitude, Serving Others, Giving Spirit

Denomination: Charismatic

Tavian's Story From Insanity Of God

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 22, 2019

Story from Insanity of God Tavian, pages 183-185: Up four flights of creaking stairs, in a tiny apartment, we met a white-haired, stooped-over, shell of a man. It was clear that, earlier in his life, he had cast a longer shadow. He invited us into his apartment. The aged furnishings made the room ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:15

Tags: Joy, Tribulation, Power Of Praise

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Mary Almost Turned Back

Contributed by John Allen on Dec 8, 2020

Mary, the mother of Jesus, has been rightly regarded as one of the godliest people in history. But she was also human, subject to the same doubts we have. Why, after the biggest announcement in history, does she "hurry away" from her family? Why did she go by herself? Why did she stay ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-56, Matthew 1:18-25

Tags: Mary, Christmas

[063]. A Message From A Poem – Drumming And Humming Become Obese

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 18, 2025

[063]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DRUMMING AND HUMMING BECOME OBESE This poem is not my usual style and I need to explain. Imagine the beginnings of something that multiplies itself and grows louder and louder as it advances; then will take over because nothing can stop it . . . . except ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:2, Revelation 6:3-4, 2 Timothy 3:1-2

Tags: Humming, Drumming, Leaven, Wickedness, Delusion, Poetry, Poem, Advance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[087]. A Message From A Poem – For All Christians - The Three Os

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 24, 2025

[087]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR ALL CHRISTIANS - THE THREE Os There are 9 poems in this Trilogy series. This poem is part of a Trilogy - three sets of three. The first set is addressed to MEN, the second to ALL CHRISTIANS and the third is SPECIFIC. This is the third one in the second set ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:45, James 4:6, 1 Samuel 15:22, Hebrews 5:8-9

Tags: For All Christians, Obey, Opposition, Poetry, Open, Poem, Oppose, Obedience, Wrong  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[108]. A Message From A Poem – Grace Is The Key To Holiness

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 18, 2025

[108]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GRACE IS THE KEY TO HOLINESS This is a poem that has to be read carefully for understanding because of the construct of the poem. The subject is certainly GRACE, but grace can never be in isolation. There is a strong but harmonising relationship with LOVE, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:9, Revelation 22:21, Ezra 9:8, Ephesians 2:8

Tags: Peace, Holiness, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Grace, Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[126]. A Message From A Poem – Heaven Opens To Us

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 11, 2025

[126]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HEAVEN OPENS TO US From a quick recollection heaven will open at least three times in the future (written by one who is still living). One of those will be the Rapture. One will be the Second Coming. The other one is when a saint passes from this life and into ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Tags: Heaven, Open, Absent From The Body, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[146]. A Message From A Poem – In Union With Christ

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 29, 2025

[146]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – IN UNION WITH CHRIST It is a great joy and a mark of praise that we are in Christ. Do Christians use that phrase “in Christ” and not think into the depth of it? In union with Christ examines that subject, and it is too great to write well on it in a poem with ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:4-6, Ephesians 4:1-3, Philippians 2:2, Romans 6:5

Tags: Forever, Love One Another, Risen Lord, Union With Chris, Grace, Savior, Unity, Bond  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[163]. A Message From A Poem – Joy For Sorrow - Care In Hurt

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 14, 2025

[163]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JOY FOR SORROW - CARE IN HURT The title of this poem has two contrasts – sorrow turning to joy, and hurt adopting care. This poem was written 27 years ago and since that time much has changed in the world for the followers of the Lord. Persecution has increased ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5-6, 2 Corinthians 6:4-5

Tags: Hurting One, South Africa, The Holy Spirit, Martyred, Suffering Christians, World Press, Comforr, Joy, Africa, Sorrow, Iran, Sudan, Nigeria, Lord, Persecution, Evil, Comfort  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational