In Sermon Illustrations: "Choose Life"

He Lay In A Bed Seat, Slightly Twisted And ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Aug 12, 2010

He lay in a bed seat, slightly twisted and looking at me with one eye half open. I was finishing a small Bible study devotional with a group of aged people on a passage from the book of Job in the Bible, telling them that God loves them and still has a purpose for their lives, to look UPWARD NOT ...read more

Tags: Lies

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christ In One

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 12, 2010

CHRIST IN ONE What is a Christian? In the LETTER TO DIOGNETUS, which dates back to the second century A.D., an anonymous writer describes a strange people who are in the world but not of the world. "Christians are not differentiated from other people by country, language, or customs; you see, ...read more

Tags: Disciples

Denomination: *other

Christian: Christ In One

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Apr 13, 2011

CHRISTIAN: CHRIST IN ONE What is a Christian? In the LETTER TO DIOGNETUS, which dates back to the second century A.D., an anonymous writer describes a strange people who are in the world but not of the world. "Christians are not differentiated from other people by country, language, or customs; ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: *other

1 Peter 4:12 "Dear Friends, Do Not Be Surprised ...

Contributed by Brad Henry on Nov 11, 2011

1 Peter 4:12 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.” I have a doctor’s appointment this morning to see what is going on. I am tried all the time, can hardly move with pain and a host of other ailments. OK so I ...read more

Tags: Suffering Joy In

The Evangelistic Meaning Of Your Birthday Celebration

Contributed by Joel Israel Shashikumar on Jan 26, 2015

I went to bed with a heavy heart one day. All those news and reports of death for the past few weeks. Only to wake up with a thought of birthday cake and celebration. Now why do we celebrate birthdays, blowing candles and cutting cake. I admit, I do not know the meaning that has been tagged with ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:28-29

Tags: Grace, Birthday

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Who Needs Twitter!

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Aug 20, 2019

We all want our lives to matter, and we believe they only matter if they are noticed by someone. I wonder if this desire for a witness isn't what fuels a lot of blogs, Facebook, and especially Twitter. We want someone, anyone, to take notice … to care about us … to watch us and by their ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-12

Tags: Communication, Self Esteem, Relationship

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Traveling To Heaven

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Mar 29, 2024

Throughout my life I had always wanted to go to Germany. It wasn’t until my son moved over there and got married that we finally were able to do so. The trip wasn’t always easy, as we were stranded in New Jersey for a night after a flight was canceled. We were tired from the journey. But once ...read more

Scripture: Job 19:26

Tags: Resurrection, Heaven

Denomination: Lutheran

A Word Of Encouragement For Discouraged Pastors

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 12, 2024

A great evangelist, Dr. Chapman, has often told an amazing story about himself. He had been in business and became minister of a great church in Philadelphia. One Monday he was more than usually dispirited. (Mondays are hard on pastors!). The Sunday had been a poor one, and he felt, as ministers ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 40:31

Tags: Faith, Ministry, Hope, Encouragement, Anointing, Discouragement, Pastors, Calling, Quitting, Resigning  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Metamorphosis

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Mar 1, 2025

I thought of a book I read years ago in German class. We were assigned the task of reading the Famous Novel by Franz Kafka entitled “The Metamorphosis”. It was about a young man who woke up one day and realized he had been transformed into, of all things, a large Roach. The story line of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9

Tags: Transfiguration, God's Presence

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Praying Mother

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on May 12, 2025

Has your life been impacted by a sacrificial mother who would never give up? Never underestimate the power of a praying mother. Born in 1669, Susanna Wesley raised up two of Christianity’s most gifted leaders, John and Charles Wesley. Daily, as a mother, Susanna prayed, “Dear God, guide me. Make ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28, 1 Samuel 1:10-16

Tags: Prayer, Mother, Susanna Wesley

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Letting Go

Contributed by Bruce Lee on Jan 27, 2023

Letting Go “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair.” 2 Corinthians 4:8 ESV She was only five years old. It was her first day of school. Her mommy will never forget crying all the way back as she walked to the house after letting her go and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8

Tags: Survival, Letting Go, Funeral, Grief

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Pompous-Looking Deacon Was Trying To Impress ...  PRO

Contributed by John Beehler on Oct 29, 2002

A pompous-looking deacon was trying to impress upon a class of boys the importance of living the Christian life. "Why do people call me a Christian?" the man asked. After a moment’s ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Apologetics General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Chaplain Was Speaking To A Soldier On A Cot In ...

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

A chaplain was speaking to a soldier on a cot in a hospital. "You have lost an arm in the great cause," he said. "No," said the soldier with a smile. "I didn’t lose it--I gave it." In that ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

New Convert Testified That He Had Been Saved By ...

Contributed by Bruce Howell on May 26, 2005

NEW CONVERT TESTIFIED THAT HE HAD BEEN SAVED BY READING A COPY OF THE FIFTH GOSPEL. No, it wasn’t Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. It was the Gospel according to Mike the butcher. Mike was an earnest Christian ...read more

Tags: Faith, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Young Mom Was Driving Her 3-Year-Old Child ...  PRO

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Jun 16, 2005

The young mom was driving her 3-year-old child to church early on Easter morning. As she drove she told the Easter story. “This is the day we celebrate Jesus coming back to ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

For The Sake Of Each Of Us He Laid Down His ...

Contributed by Herman Abrahams on Jun 29, 2005

For the sake of each of us he laid down his life—worth no less than the universe. He demands of us in return our lives for the sake of each other. - St. Clement of Alexandria. [Galaxie ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Charismatic

Do You Know That You Already Have The Gift Of A ...

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Sep 30, 2005

Do you know that you already have the gift of a consuming passion for hungering and thirsting? You activate it when you surrender your life to the Spirit’s working. Billy Graham was asked, “What is the most important ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 84:1

Tags: Prayer General, Basics Of Christianity

Denomination: Pentecostal

Poem: Living Fully In The Shadow Of Death

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 29, 2006

Poem: Light and dark. Sweet or sour Big and small Each alone But only understood together Life and death- When one begins Each begins. The baby’s first cry Echoes tears of the ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Attending A Wedding For The First Time, A Little ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 24, 2006

Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, "Why is the bride dressed in white?" ? "Because white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life." The child thought about this for ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-24

Tags: Marriage, Marriage General, Relationships, Men And Women

Denomination: Independent/Bible

C.h. Spurgeon Claimed That 98% Of The People He ...

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on Aug 6, 2006

C.H. Spurgeon claimed that 98% of the people he met-including criminals he visited in prison-told him that they believed the Bible to be true. But the vast majority had never made a personal, life changing commitment ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Baptist