In Sermon Illustrations: "Cheerful Giving"

Fear Of Aging

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what happened.” - Jennifer Yane As you grow older, what’s inside you doesn’t change but your body changes, and it’s confusing to look in the mirror. If you live your life as though you are a perpetual image contestant, your age is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:3-4

Tags: Aging, Serving, Inner Beauty

Denomination: Charismatic

The Story Of Just As I Am

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 17, 2019

On September 22, in 1871, an elderly British lady, 82 years young, was ushered into her heavenly reward. Earlier in her life, in 1835, her frustration at being an invalid left her feeling useless and questioning her very salvation. What she did next would echo through history. As a young woman, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Excuses, Surrender, Rewards, Just As I Am, Hymns  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Happens When We Learn About A Really Bad ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

What happens when we learn about a really bad guy repenting? It happens all the time in prison ministry, yet many of us think those people aren’t worth saving. They had more chances than most of us are willing to give them, yet God hasn’t given up on them. Jeffrey Dahmer was a convicted murderer ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Illustration] Some Of You Are Aware That Robin ...

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Jan 3, 2008

-[Illustration] Some of you are aware that Robin and I are in the middle of a house hunt. We would like to buy a house, and live there for quite awhile, if the Lord is willing. We have wanted to buy a home all along, but I just always assumed that we did not really have the buying power to purchase ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

You Have The Time?

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Jan 22, 2008

YOU HAVE THE TIME? Years ago, I was in the library at Seminary doing some research and this quite old and distinguished gentleman, obviously someone of great stature, he approaches me and asks, “Peter, can you tell me what time it is?” I was quite taken back. I had been at Seminary for less than a ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What A Friend We Have In Jesus  PRO

Contributed by Jonathan Campbell on Jun 24, 2008

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS Only the Lord and the man in question really know what burdens of sorrow and affliction were heaped upon the writer of this great hymn. One thing we do know, however, is that this beautiful and blessed hymn would never have been penned if the author had not known ...read more

Scripture: John 15:15

Tags: Music

How Can Salvation Be Free While Following Christ Demands Everything?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 31, 2022

I am often asked, "How can salvation be free, but, yet, Jesus said that we cannot by His disciple unless we forsake everything for Him?" (Luke 14). Let me explain the answer to this question in a story. Once there was a man who collected and traded in pearls. He had a fine collection ...read more

Tags: Grace, Commitment, Salvation, Discipleship, Obedience, Count The Cost  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Run Your Race Tjbts

Contributed by Blake Henson on Jun 6, 2023

Run Your Race shows how silly it would be for someone to stop short of home in a game, but it is the same in our Christian life when we are not Christians all the time. We must realize the need to be active serving Christians 24/7 in our lives. URL: https://youtu.be/Ai6qZPECLiw SUMMARY In this ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:7

Tags: Run Your Race, Never Stop Living For Jesus

Misapplied Scriptures: Ezekiel 16:6

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Sep 26, 2023

Introduction: Some folks, perhaps well-meaning, will take a verse completely out of its context in order to use the words for something much different than what was intended. This verse is one that to my knowledge has never been used as the person (L, to protect the identity) said to me many years ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 16:6

Tags: Misapplied Scriptures, Blood, Israel

Denomination: Baptist

Misapplied Scriptures, John 9:31: Does God Hear Sinners, Or Not?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 13, 2023

Introduction: This is another verse of Scripture which has been used and misused by many people for a long time. Some folks teach that it’s basically useless for any sinner to pray because “well, right there, it says, ‘God heareth not sinners!’” But is that what the verse really teaches? Here’s ...read more

Scripture: John 9:31, Psalm 66:18

Tags: Blind Men, Misapplied Scripture, Unusual Healings, Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

Trouble? Joe Was Trouble...

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 25, 2023

TROUBLE? JOE WAS TROUBLE! SOMEONE IS HURTING! I had taught school in Virginia several years. I was assistant principal. I often observed the kids in the younger classes and thought someday I will teach that child. There was a young boy named Joe. Joe was in the office pretty often in some kind ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:8, Mark 12:29

Tags: Help, Trouble, Ministry

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Salvation Is Free, But It Will Cost Your Life

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2024

I am often asked, "How can salvation be free, but, yet, Jesus said that we cannot by His disciple unless we forsake everything for Him?" (Luke 14). Let me explain the answer to this question in a story. Once there was a man who collected and traded in pearls. He had a fine collection of ...read more

Tags: Sacrifice, Salvation, Discipleship, Free, Eternal Life, Grace, Mercy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unsung Heroes: Elijah’s First Servant

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Sep 26, 2024

Introduction: One of the least-known unsung heroes was Elijah’s first servant. He’s only mentioned in a couple of Scripture passages, but he was faithful to Elijah. We need more such men with that spirit even today. First, this servant is not named, and besides that, we don’t know anything about ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:41-46

Tags: Elijah, Servants, Unsung Heroes

Denomination: Baptist

[028] A Message From A Poem – Be Not Conformed To The World

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 15, 2025

[028] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BE NOT CONFORMED TO THE WORLD “If you don’t agree with us, you are not included.” “We will finance your new building but only if you add a night club.” This world is absolutely full of compromise. It happens in relationships (sexual pressure on a woman), in ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10, 1 Peter 1:14, Romans 12:1-2, Romans 10:17

Tags: Compromise, Poetry, Conform, Conformity, Conformed To His Death, Conformed To The World  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[030] A Message From A Poem – Beauty From Ashes

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 18, 2025

[030] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BEAUTY FROM ASHES One of the deepest emotions we have is shame. Shame happens when sin has caused havoc in a person’s life, and the realisation of it bursts like a cloud over the person. Shame brings guilt and guilt can affect a person greatly, even causing ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:10, Psalm 51:1-2, Psalm 51:12, 1 John 1:7-9

Tags: Ashes, Sinning, Repentance, Guilt, Shame, Bathsheba, Conviction, Poetry, David, Forgiveness, Beauty, Holy Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[031] A Message From A Poem – Before Him Lay The Cross

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 19, 2025

[031] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BEFORE HIM LAY THE CROSS We have a retrospective view of the cross in a very limited understanding, but the Lord’s view in the Garden of gethsemane was a forward one. The anticipation of that ordeal was a dreadful one. That comes out in the description and this ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2, John 3:16-17, Psalm 69:1-3, Psalm 22:13-16, Matthew 26:38-39  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Love, The Cross, Anticipation, Endurance, Cross, Suffering, Gethsemane, Endure, Calvary  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[034] A Message From A Poem – Beneath His Wings – My Prayer

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 23, 2025

[034] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BENEATH HIS WINGS – MY PRAYER In this poem there is a little word interplay in each stanza. It is simple to see. The reason for this poem is to express a prayer for personal concerns. I tried to cover a number of points I thought were important. These are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:29-31, Luke 18:10-11, Nehemiah 2:4, Luke 18:13-14, Romans 12:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Devoted To Prayer, Silent Prayer, Prayer, Sincerity, Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[080]. A Message From A Poem – Faithfully He Is Watching

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 12, 2025

[080]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FAITHFULLY HE IS WATCHING The poem here you will read is one of my top favourites. It resonates so much with me. It just flowed and when it does that it is joyous. I truly hope you can relate to it. This poem was written on the day I received notification that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:6, Job 1:21

Tags: Watching, God Hears, Forsake, Poem, Orphans, Cares, Abandoned, Faithful, Friendship, Deliverance, Merciful, Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[086]. A Message From A Poem – For All Christians - The Three Rs

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 22, 2025

[086]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR ALL CHRISTIANS - THE THREE Rs 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 second one in the second set ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:17-18, Romans 5:10-11, Luke 1:68, Ephesians 1:7

Tags: Righteousness, Poetry, Relationship, Poems, Reconciliation, Redemption  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[089]. A Message From A Poem – Specific – For The Unsaved - The Three Ts

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 26, 2025

[089]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – SPECIFIC – FOR THE UNSAVED - THE THREE Ts Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. That was the purpose of the First Advent called Christmas. There is no way to be saved except through repentance and placing your life in the hands of God. There are many ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:30, Psalm 37:5, Romans 3:12, Acts 26:20

Tags: Turn, Poem, Take, Must Be Born Again, Be Saved Now, Hell, Trust, Salvation, Repentance, Poetry, Unsaved  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational