In Sermon Illustrations: "Children Of God"

God Prepares Us For Heaven

Contributed by Guy Glass on May 5, 2023

Dr. Billy Graham tells of a friend of his who went through the Depression in the 1920s, losing a job, a fortune, a wife, and a home. But he was a believer in Jesus Christ, and he tenaciously held to his faith even though he was naturally depressed and cast down by circumstances. One day in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Tags: Persecution, Heaven, Depression

Denomination: Baptist

Thank God For Blessed Subtractions!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 10, 2023

Three local pastors were discussing their Easter Sunday results with one another on the Monday after Easter. The Methodist minister said, "Easter services worked out great for us! We gained four new additions at First Methodist!" Praise God! The Baptist preacher grinned ...read more

Tags: Arrogance, Bragging, Preachers, Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, Easter, Revival, Church Growth, Pride, Pastors  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The God Who Is Three In One

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 17, 2023

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are mentioned by Jesus in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). The Trinity is seen clearly at the Baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3. The Father speaks from Heaven. The Son is baptized by John. The Spirit descends upon Jesus to anoint His ministry. The Father is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Tags: Holy Spirit, Son, Trinity, Godhead, Triune, Father  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In God's Time

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Sep 20, 2023

The little boy walked home from Sunday School and the family were sitting around the old pot-bellied stove talking. The boy told his dad and Pa about the lesson. The boy was so excited. He told them he had gone to the altar and accepted Jesus as his personal Savior. The boy said he was going to ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Tags: Time, Serve

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Church That Voted God Out!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2024

The story is told about a poor woman who lived across the tracks and wanted to join a very fashionable church. She talked to the pastor about it, but he sought to discourage her. He suggested she go home and think about it carefully for a week. At the end of the week she came back. He said, “Go ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-12

Tags: Church, Revival, Favoritism, Pastors, Membership, Partiality  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You All Ears For God?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2024

A missionary translator was endeavoring to find a word for “obedience” in the native language. This was a virtue seldom practiced among the people into whose language he wanted to translate the New Testament. As he returned home from the village one day, he whistled for his dog and it came ...read more

Tags: Obedience, Voice Of God, Hearing God, Listening, Hearers Of The Word  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

So God Made A Farmer

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 6, 2024

In James chapter 5, we see a comparison between the patient farmer in the field waiting for his crops and the waiting believer in Christ preparing to meet the Lord at His return. Paul Harvey did a masterful job of describing the life of the farmer years ago. And on the 8th day, God looked down ...read more

Scripture: James 5:7-12, 1 Thessalonians 5:13-18

Tags: Patience, Return Of Christ, Prophets, Farmers, Waiting, Job, End Times, Prophecy, Second Coming, Last Days, Rapture  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Mercy

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Nov 2, 2024

Henri Nouwen tells the story of a family from Paraguay. The father spoke out against the military regime and its human rights abuses. The police arrested his teenage son and tortured him to death. Enraged townsfolk wanted to turn the boy's funeral into a huge protest march, but the doctor ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-18, Romans 5:1-11, Ephesians 2:1-5

Tags: Mercy, Sin, Evil, Salvation, Cross  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Great Quotes On The Sovereignty Of God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 10, 2024

Great Quotes on the Sovereignty of God R.C. SPROUL: “If there is one single molecule in this universe running around loose, totally free of God’s sovereignty, then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever be fulfilled.” MATT CHANDLER: “Trying to figure out God is like trying ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:1

Tags: Chosen, Election, Knowledge Of God, Calling, Sovereignty Of God, Attributes Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Judgement

Contributed by John Bright on Sep 23, 2025

I don’t believe that God’s Judgement should be our main focus, but I also believe it’s wrong to never mention the Judgement of God. Remember, God must judge humanity because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Our God is a Holy God who also wants us to be holy. (1 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:5, Romans 3:23, 1 Peter 1:16

Tags: Grace, Holy Spirit, Judgment, Holiness

Denomination: Methodist

Loneliness Affects Belief In God

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2008

LONELINESS AFFECTS BELIEF IN GOD People who feel lonely or isolated are more likely to believe in God and the supernatural, according to University of Chicago researcher Nicholas Epley. Lonely people try to create social connections by reaching out to old friends, making new ones, or believing in ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Man's Anger Toward God

Contributed by Clarence Clough on Aug 7, 2008

MAN'S ANGER TOWARD GOD ...is more disastrous than the following: As a passenger boarded the Los Angeles-to-New York plane, he told the flight attendant to wake him and make sure he got off in Dallas. The passenger awoke just as the plane was landing in New York. Furious, he called the flight ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 2:1-12

Tags: Anger

Denomination: Church Of God

A Light Thing In The Sight Of God

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

A LIGHT THING IN THE SIGHT OF GOD When they were building the Brooklyn Bridge, they encountered a problem. The place where one of the buttresses needed to be placed was occupied by a sunken ship. They couldn’t move it. They tried several things, but couldn’t get it to budge. Finally, an engineer ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 3:11-18, 2 Kings 3:9-11

Tags: God In The Hardships

Are You Prepared To Meet God?

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Sep 19, 2008

Are You Prepared To Meet God? What Christ Has Done A preacher was called to the bedside of a man who was seriously ill. After a few words of greeting, the minister asked, "My friend, are you prepared to meet God if you don't recover from this sickness?" "I think so," was the reply. "I've always ...read more

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

There Are Some Real Benefits To God's ...

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Sep 21, 2008

There are some real benefits to God’s commands. His commands are there for our protection. I have rules in my house. Things like – “Clean your room before doing going anywhere.” “Get your homework done.” “Don’t tell what’s going to happen in the movie.” (That one risks the death ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Denomination: Wesleyan

But In God's Scheme Of Things, A Person's A ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Dec 3, 2008

But in God's scheme of things, a person's a person no matter how small. In fact in God's scheme, the least are the most important. The poor and marginalized and abuse and downtrodden are given God's favor over the important, or wealthy, or famous. Chris Tomlin wrote a worship song that I love ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence

Denomination: Church Of God

God Is Looking For People With Conviciton

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 11, 2008

GOD IS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WITH CONVICITON DEF: an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence In the events of the bridge collaple here in Minneapolis this past week, you have probably heard of countless examples of people acting with conviction. * Ed Nelson M.P.D. - when you ...read more

Tags: Becoming A Christian

In Experiencing God, Knowing And Doing The Will ...

Contributed by Steve Gallimore on Dec 14, 2008

In Experiencing God, Knowing and Doing the Will of God, Henry Blackaby makes this powerful statement: "The Bible is the record of God accomplishing His purposes through His people. It is not the record of His people's walk with Him. It's a difference of focus. The focus of the Bible is God. The ...read more

Tags: Experience

Denomination: Baptist

God Ain't Dead.

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

"GOD AIN'T DEAD." James DeLoach tells of a painting of an old burned-out mountain shack. All that remained was the chimney...the charred debris of what had been that family's sole possession. In front of this destroyed home stood an old grandfather-looking man dressed only in his underclothes with ...read more

Tags: Christmas

How Great Is Our God

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jan 12, 2009

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD If this doesn't inspire you worship God with every millimeter of your being, if thinking about this ginormous God does not compel you to shout for joy and sing His praises with all of your being, then I don't know what will. Probably nothing. Chris Tomlin wrote these words ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Church Of God