In Sermon Illustrations: "Called Out"

[018] A Message From A Poem - America, America, How You Blaspheme!

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 21, 2024

[018] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - AMERICA, AMERICA, HOW YOU BLASPHEME! I find it so offensive to hear cursing and the Lord’s name taken in vain by someone trying to be assertive or big note himself. In fact so much of the relatively modern cinema is full of blasphemy. I hear speeches and listen to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:13-14, Colossians 4:6, Leviticus 18:21, Exodus 20:7

Tags: America, Speech, Blasphemy, Cursing, The Name Of The Lord In Vain  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

My Past, Present And Future

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jul 21, 2024

Harry A Ironside the great Bible teacher was riding on a train in Southern California one Saturday when a gypsy got on and sat beside him. "How do you do, gentleman," she said. "You like to have your fortune told? Cross my palm with a silver quarter, and I will give you your past, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:9-11, Ephesians 2:1-10

Tags: Present, Future, Past, Fortunes

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

[049]. A Message From A Poem – Christmas With The Shepherds

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 7, 2025

[049]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHRISTMAS WITH THE SHEPHERDS This is a very simple poem. I was asked to write a poem for Christmas by a friend who was doing religious instruction at a school and it is aimed at younger children. Although I do not agree with the trappings of Christmas as ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Tags: Poetry, Poem, Shepherds, Christmas

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

[093]. A Message From A Poem – Foraging In The Depths Of Scripture

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 30, 2025

[093]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FORAGING IN THE DEPTHS OF SCRIPTURE This poem deals with getting into the heart of scripture. There are images and techniques and encouragement in these stanzas. I actually make the comparison between a mudskipper that flits across the shallows on the water, and ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:27, 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Buried Treasure, Inspired, Dig Deep, Eel, Mudskipper, Scripture, Word Of God, Workman  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[095]. A Message From A Poem – From Chains To Release

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 2, 2025

[095]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FROM CHAINS TO RELEASE This poem covers a lot of ground. It starts with, and develops the chains of sin; the work of Christ on the cross; our redeemed state in a persecuting world; God is looking for faithfulness and commitment; we praise the Lord because He ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:2, Romans 6:23, John 10:10

Tags: Captives, Bound By Chains, Chained By Satan, The Chains Of Sin, Poetry, Poem, Chains, Released  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[186]. A Message From A Poem – Musings On Being In Heaven

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 5, 2025

[186]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – MUSINGS ON BEING IN HEAVEN This is a lovely poem FOR ME, which is why I wrote it. How much do we think of heaven? I am afraid some are so earth-bound that they give little thought to heaven. Do we know what heaven will be like? Of course we do not. We can only ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, 1 Corinthians 2:9

Tags: The Third Heaven, Jesus, Heaven, Center, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[222]. A Message From A Poem - Praise Ye The Lord

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 10, 2025

[222]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - PRAISE YE THE LORD This is a praise hymn though no current tune fits the rhythm flow of the lines, and it requires tweaking of the lines for the exact rhythm. I am not doing that right now. There are six stanzas, each one with a new theme set in the first ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:2, 1 Kings 19:3-4

Tags: Praise The Lord, Struggle, Works, Despondent, Christian Poems, Praise, Power, Strength, Redemption, Goodness, Majesty, Elijah  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[265]. A Message From A Poem – The Glory Of The Son [version 1]

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 17, 2026

[265]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE GLORY OF THE SON [Version 1] I get very uneasy about songs sung in churches that seem to glorify the person of man rather than the Person of Christ. Singing today is too egocentric and that takes away the glory from Christ. All praise and glory belong to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:17-20

Tags: Glory, Praise, Resurrection, Glory To God, Mount Of Transfiguration, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[266]. A Message From A Poem – The Glory Of The Son [version 2]

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 17, 2026

[266]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE GLORY OF THE SON [Version 2] I get very uneasy about songs sung in churches that seem to glorify the person of man rather than the Person of Christ. Singing today is too egocentric and that takes away the glory from Christ. All praise and glory belong to Him; ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:17-20

Tags: Glory, Praise, Resurrection, Glory To God, Mount Of Transfiguration, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[277]. A Message From A Poem – The Leading Road

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 25, 2026

[277]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE LEADING ROAD I hope everyone has been on higher ground where you have a really great panorama and the land and hills or ranges sweep away before you. I have seen many of these in tropical rainforested country, and below you, you may see a road leading away ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 104:24-25, Job 12:7-9, Romans 1:20, Revelation 20:12

Tags: Creation, Beauty, Scenery, Nature, No Excuse, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, A Leading Road  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Parable Of Water  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Sep 21, 2012

The Parable of Water There are a lot of things I could compare when it comes to living in the world, sexual sin, the lust we have for objects that are shiny; but, I’ve decided that I’m not going to. I’ve decided to discuss two different liquids. One of them is water and the other is Coca Cola. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 106:1-12, James 1:16-19

Tags: God's Goodness, Kingdom Of God, Temptation General

Denomination: Salvation Army

Our Greatest Need

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Dec 20, 2012

If we were to go out on the streets and ask people at random, “What is your greatest need?” we would probably get a number of different responses. We wouldn’t be surprised in this economy if we got several answers of people needing a job so they could provide for their home and family. If people ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

Euodia And Syntyche - Conflict At Philippi

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Dec 24, 2016

EUODIA AND SYNTYCHE We can’t help wondering what caused disharmony between two women in the church at Philippi, but we will not find the answer--only that Paul urged these women to live in harmony. That’s all we know. Yet until the Lord shall return, Bible-readers everywhere will know there was ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:2-3

Tags: Disagreement, Agree, Argument, Conflict

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A New Perspective On Ugly Sweaters

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Nov 5, 2019

I am not stylish. I will never be named “best dressed” minister. I do not enjoy clothes shopping. Yet, even though shopping is a task, there are occasions when I do need to pick up an item or two and even though I don’t have an eye for what’s fashionable I can sense when something is absolutely ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:10

Tags: Goodness, Humanity, Dignity, Image Of God, Love Neighbor  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Trapped , Sabotage

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 3, 2020

WHEN MY OWN THINKING AND MY OWN WORDS SABOTAGE MY LIFE AND MY FAMILY. There was this woman that went to the Old Wise Man in the community to seek advice about her future. She approached the wise man to seek answers about her life... She asked him: SIR, WHAT WILL MY FUTURE HOLD? The wise man ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:12

Tags: Words, Sabotage, Attitudes

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The House With The Unused Room

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 11, 2020

How many times have you seen a house that looked so promising, you couldn’t help but want to buy it? That very thing happened to me some time ago. I was interested in buying a home, and sure enough, there was one caught my eye! It wasn’t too far from where I was working, the price seemed ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 19:5

Tags: Israel, Houses, Wasted Space, Real Estate

Denomination: Baptist

A Collector’s Item?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 23, 2020

Hard to believe, but I may have a collector’s item! In my own house! Now, before you start sending me “Can I see it?” types of emails, maybe I should explain just what this “collector’s item” really is. Really, it wasn’t that much of a collectible, even from a couple of years ago. It’s only ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-20, Colossians 3:2

Tags: Stewardship, Collector's Items

Denomination: Baptist

They Took It Away!

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 3, 2020

My parents used to operate a true “Mom and Pop” grocery store before I started school. I still remember some of the good times—and some of the bad times, too, unfortunately—from those days gone by. Some of the items they had for sale were plastic models. These were mostly Revell, Lindberg, or ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:22, 1 John 5:18

Tags: The Will Of God, Take It Or Leave It

Denomination: Baptist

An Observation About Immanence

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 12, 2020

One of my favorite pastimes is playing some computer games, especially the ones where you make money—okay, run a business, simulation, or that kind of thing. In one of these you, as manager of a transportation company, have the opportunity to choose how best to serve the industries and communities ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Immanence, Return Of Christ, Rewards For Believers

Denomination: Baptist