In Sermon Illustrations: "Cast Your Cares"

A Woman Sees A Father Shopping With A Fussy ...  PRO

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Jun 3, 2013

A woman sees a father shopping with a fussy two-year-old in his grocery cart. “Be patient, Billy,” he whispers. “You can handle this, Billy. It’s okay, Billy.” The woman said to him, “I don’t mean to interrupt your shopping, but I just had to tell you how wonderfully loving and patient you are ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-33, Genesis 15:1-6

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Baptist

Visiting Preacher  PRO

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 13, 2014

A pastor went out visiting his church members on a Saturday afternoon. At one house, it was obvious that someone was home, but nobody came to the door even though the preacher knocked several times. Finally, the minister took out his church business card and wrote out "Revelation 3:20" on the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-10

Tags: Temptation, Adam And Eve, Sin

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Light For My Path

Contributed by Casey Sabella on Jan 28, 2016

Psalm 118:105: Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. (NLT) While in India on a brief missions trip, I was summoned to a the home of an official who was sick. He wanted me to agree with him in prayer. On the way, we traveled along a river in the dead of night. We carried ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:105

Tags: Bible, Path, Snake, Flashlight

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Learning/Growth

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 9, 2019

LEARNING MORE? AM I GROWING? COME AND GO WITH ME: TO COCONUT GROVE, THE YEAR IS 1942, SATURDAY NIGHT THANKSGIVING WEEKEND… Doctor VINCENT SENNA was enjoying a meal at the MELODY LOUNGE. The basement lounge was so crowded with people celebrating the holidays. DOCTOR VINCENT SENNA received and urgent ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:45

Tags: Plan, Growth, Purpose

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Four Levels Of Spiritual Maturity

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 15, 2019

There are 4 levels of spiritual maturity for believers in Christ. I have created the names of each phase to add to this great quote from John Maxwell: #1 - REBELLION: I'm going to do what I want regardless of what God says. #2 - CONDITIONAL LOVE: If God gives me what I want, I will give Him ...read more

Tags: Spiritual Maturity, Growing In Grace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Billy Graham's Great Regret

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 2, 2020

Billy Graham was once asked, "If you had to live your life over again, what would you do differently?" He answered: “One of my great regrets is that I have not studied enough, I wish I had studied more and preached less. People have pressured me into speaking to groups when I should ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Bible, Scripture, Bible Study, Word Of God, Pastors, Sermon Preparation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Anxiety And Relationships

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 27, 2020

Anxiety can be the ruin or the salvation of our relationships. It is an alarm mechanism. It alerts us to potential danger. But sometimes it goes off too often or quickly. Sometimes we do not seem able to regulate it. Shocked, we lash out, hold our ground, or retreat. However, anxiety can be our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Tags: Anxiety, Relationships

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Maturity

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 27, 2020

Automatic behaviour is the hallmark of immature people bent on survival, they accept few challenges and experience little growth. Immature people react with a small part of themselves to a small part of the world. They limit themselves by paying attention only to what is close-up, by focusing on ...read more

Scripture: John 12:24

Tags: Maturity, Immaturity

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

1800 Languages Have Never Heard The Gospel

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 19, 2022

n 1917, was William Cameron Townsend was passing out Spanish Bibles and speaking about God in a Guatemalan village. A Cakchiquel Indian (they had their own dialect) came up to Townsend and said, “If your God is so smart, why doesn’t he speak Cakchiquel?” It is said that was a life-defining moment ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Tongues, Languages, Interpreting The Word, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Gospel, Missions, Preaching, Witnessing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cs Lewis On Repentance - The Hole We Find Ourselves In

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Sep 19, 2022

Now what was the sort of hole man had got himself into? He had tried to set up on his own, to behave as if he belonged to himself. In other words, fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms. Laying down your arms, saying you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Romans 2:4, Mark 1:15, 2 Corinthians 7:9-10, Romans 6:23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Sin, Salvation, Gospel, Repentance, The Cross  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Have A Heart

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 28, 2023

HEARTBEAT? DO WE EVER SAY: THANK YOU? DO WE EVER GET TIRED AND WEARY? DO WE EVER LISTEN TO HEAR THE HEART BEAT OF GOD? John 13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. On the average your heart beats around 70 times a minute, 100,800 TIMES A DAY. ...read more

Scripture: John 13:23

Tags: Heart, Faithful

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Do You Believe Things About Christ Or Do You Believe On Christ?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 22, 2024

Herschel Ford once wrote, “There is a difference between believing something ABOUT Jesus and believing ON Him. We can believe that He is the Virgin-born Son of God, that He lived a sinless life, that He died on the cross, that He rose from the grave, that He is coming again—we can believe all ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25-34

Tags: Trust, Salvation, Assurance, Works, Faith, Grace, Believe  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Should Pastors Preach Against Corrupt Politicians? Bonhoeffer Did.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 6, 2024

At the height of WWII, Protestant theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was imprisoned for taking a stand against Hitler. Yet, he continued to urge fellow believers to resist Nazi tyranny. A group of Christians, believing that Hitler was the Antichrist, asked Bonhoeffer, "Why do you expose yourself ...read more

Tags: Rapture, Pastors, Hitler, Signs, Return Of Christ, Bonhoeffer, Evil, Prophecy, Politics, Darkness, Second Coming, Last Days  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pearls From God—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Jan 27, 2003

PEARLS FROM GOD-- COMMUNION MEDITATION The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. With her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please!" Quickly the mother checked ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment, God's Provision

Denomination: Wesleyan

Aunt Bessie's Pickled Beets!" 2 Corinthians ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 19, 2005

“Aunt Bessie’s Pickled Beets!” 2 Corinthians 7:2-13 Key verse(s): 10:“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” The worst part of doing wrong is being found out. We’ve all been caught doing wrong in life; especially when we ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:2-13, Luke 17:5-10

Tags: Crucifixion

Denomination: Lutheran

Have You Ever Hurt Anybody?  PRO

Contributed by Ken Ritz on Dec 30, 2005

Brennan Manning tells a story in his book The Ragamuffin Gospel. 25 years ago, he had a drinking problem. He voluntarily entered a 28-day treatment program. Early on in the treatment program they had to sit in a circle with a leader and tell the other people in the group, about the extent of their ...read more

Tags: Richard Celtzer, Mortal Lessons, Addiction, Brennan Manning

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Charlie's Thanksgiving List

Contributed by Perry Hancock on Nov 22, 2022

Charlie’s Thanksgiving List The pastor at the downtown men’s shelter was ready to begin the Thanksgiving service. Everyone was ready for him to begin and finish since the service was before the meal. After a few hymns were sung, it was time for the pastor’s Thanksgiving sermon. This year he had ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:2

Tags: Thanksgiving, God's Blessings

Denomination: Baptist

[088]. A Poem Message – Specific – For Young Christians - The Three Ls

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 25, 2025

[088]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – SPECIFIC – FOR YOUNG CHRISTIANS - THE THREE Ls 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 first one in ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:14, 1 John 4:19, 1 John 5:2, Matthew 11:28-29, Proverbs 1:33  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Love, Listen, Learn

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Reason For Evangelism

Contributed by John Bright on May 15, 2025

The Reason for Evangelism The “WHY” might be the most important missing part for choosing to not share a personal testimony and the Good News with other folks. I recently read the book, “Five Little Words to Change a Life,” by Nick and Rozanne Savoca (2022). Nick shares an experience that uses a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 15:11-32

Tags: Evangelism, Prodigal Son

Denomination: Methodist

[348]. A Message From A Poem - Without Christ The Life Is Wasted

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 12, 2026

[348]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WITHOUT CHRIST THE LIFE IS WASTED This poem covers the two states of mankind. One of those is lost and one is found. One is salvation and one is destruction. This is an examination of life and the two destinies. Both are considered. We live in a sinful world ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14, Psalm 1:5-6

Tags: Wasted Life, Two Ways, The Broad Way, The Righteous, The Wicked, The Narrow Way, Wasted, Two Destinies, Christian Poems, Two Eternal States  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational