In Sermon Illustrations: "Christian Bears"

[252]. A Message From A Poem – The 21st Of December 2020

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 7, 2026

[252]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE 21ST OF DECEMBER 2020 This poem bounces around a bit as we look at the long day, and the daylight, and THE LIGHT. The unending day of salvation also is considered. The anchor is “the longest day” that starts with being saved, and is an everlasting day which ...read more

Scripture: John 3:36, Matthew 5:14, John 9:4-5

Tags: Day, The Light Of The World, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Longest Day Of The Year, Night, Light, Salvation, Darkness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[253]. A Message From A Poem – The Artist And The Gypsy Girl

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 7, 2026

[253]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE ARTIST AND THE GYPSY GIRL Created faithfully from a tract of the same name. It was around 1998 that I came to have a gospel tract called “The Artist and the Gypsy Girl” and I was quite impressed by it. I wanted to convert the tract to a poem but maintaining ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:19, Acts 4:12

Tags: Pepita, A Gospel Tract, Witnessing, The Gospel Message, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Stenburg, Crucifixion Painting, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[267]. A Message From A Poem – The God Of Circumstances

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 17, 2026

[267]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE GOD OF CIRCUMSTANCES Among my favourite sayings, there are two that are special to me. One is, “What God desires from us is Faithfulness and Commitment.” The other one is, “Our God is a God of Circumstances.” It is this second one that the poem is built ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 121:7-8, Romans 8:28, Philippians 4:11-13

Tags: Savior, Fortunate, Led By God, Circumstances, Leading, Lucky, Chances, All The Way, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[304]. A Message From A Poem - They Have Gone To Be With Jesus

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 4, 2026

[304]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THEY HAVE GONE TO BE WITH JESUS Right at the outset I want to say I LOVE THIS POEM. IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME. I love it because the Lord gave it freely to me and the truth of it now for 27 years has been part of the way I address the loss of a Christian loved one. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:27, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Tags: Death, Christian, Jesus, Heaven, Home, Gone, In Christ, Present With The Lord, Absent From The Body, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In A Survey Conducted By Newsweek The Following ...  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Oct 20, 2000

In a survey conducted by Newsweek the following statistics came to light about suicide and age: Number of suicides, per 100,000 people ages 15 to 19: --- ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope, Funerals Non-Christian, Faith

Denomination: United Methodist

St. John Of The Cross (1542-1591) Said, "A ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 25, 2001

St. John of the Cross (1542-1591) said, "A Christian should always remember that the value of his good works is not based on their number and excellence, but on ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will, Faith Vs. Works, Christian Love

Denomination: Independent/Bible

It Was Sunday Morning And Harry Was Off. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jan 29, 2001

It was Sunday morning and Harry was off. He pulled out of his driveway in his 2-seater convertible, with the roof closed because of typical Melbourne driving rain, and headed for church. But as he turned into the main road he saw ahead of him three bedraggled figures huddled under a single umbrella ...read more

Scripture: Esther 4:14-17, Esther 4:8-14

Tags: Memorial Day, Christian Love, Doing God's Will, Faith

Denomination: Anglican

How Do You Have A Loving Church? A Survey Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 1, 2001

How do you have a loving church? A survey of 8,600 people from congregations in 39 different denominations measured their `love quotient’. The conclusion - growing churches are more loving to each other and to visitors than declining churches. Loving ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Tags: Unity, Love Of The Disciples, Christian Love, Community, Characteristics  (view more)  (view less)

When We Vote We Demonstrate Our Beliefs By The ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Feb 1, 2001

When we vote we demonstrate our beliefs by the way we vote. Some people demonstrate by joining political organizations, others by writing letters to government leaders or editorial pages for the local newspaper. Some people demonstrate by picketing, whether it’s an abortion clinic or a casino. Some ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Jesus Teachings, Christian Love, Betrayal

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Author And Teacher, Dr. Howard Hendricks Tells ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 4, 2001

Author and teacher, Dr. Howard Hendricks tells the story of a young man who strayed from the Lord but was finally brought back by the help of a friend who really loved him. When there was full repentance and restoration, Dr. Hendricks asked this Christian how it felt away from the Lord. The young ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35, Matthew 18:15-17

Tags: Friendship General, Church Small Groups, Christian Love

Excerpts From Saturday Evening Post Magazine ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 19, 2001

Excerpts From Saturday Evening Post Magazine article on Jack La Lanne: Fit for Life. At 86, Jack La Lanne has dipped, chinned, pushed, pulled, and lifted more often than anyone in recorded history. His present training regimen is tailor-made for only superheroes. While many of his contemporaries ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Christian Disciplines, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Rabbi's Conversion  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Mar 28, 2001

Illus.: “A Rabbi’s Conversion” Rabbi Slostowski, a professor at a seminary in Tel Aviv, hated the Lord Jesus Christ. So great was his resentment that he sharply criticized a young student who was reading a Hebrew New Testament. The young man replied by giving him the copy. That night, the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:7-13

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, Apologetics The Bible, Becoming A Christian

Denomination: Wesleyan

Julia Had Been Singing "Softly And Tenderly" By ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeeva Sam on Apr 5, 2001

Julia had been singing "softly and Tenderly" by her father’s bedside. As the last word hummed in her throat, her father reached toward her. "I want that one," he said. His eyes rose to Julia in an urgent glare. "At the funeral?" she asked. He blinked slowly. "I’ll tell Reverend Walton," she said. ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Forgiveness For Others, Parable Prodigal Son

Denomination: Methodist

A Ww2 Story Tells Of How Some Soldiers Brought ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on May 25, 2001

A WW2 story tells of how some soldiers brought the body of a dead friend to a French Cemetary. The priest asked if the dead man had been a catholic, but they did not know. The priest said that the man could not be buried in the graveyard. They men took their friend and buried him outside the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 55:1-8

Tags: Funerals Non-Christian, Friendship General, Compassion, Faith

Some Months Ago I Heard A Touching Story About A ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Jun 5, 2001

Some months ago I heard a touching story about a humble, consecrated pastor whose young son had become very ill. After the boy had undergone an exhaustive series of tests, the father was told the shocking news that his son had a terminal illness. The youngster had accepted Christ as his Savior, so ...read more

Tags: Funerals Non-Christian, Father's Day, Death Nearness

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Train And The Boy  PRO

Contributed by Brent Williams on Jun 7, 2001

The Train and the Boy I would like to tell you a story about a man named John Griffith. John was the father of an 8-year-old boy during the 20’s and 30’s. John was very fortunate during those times, because he had job. John loved his son very much. He was the apple of his eye. John’s son was a ...read more

Tags: Sacrifice, Atonement, Christian Disciplines, Forgiveness In Jesus, Workplace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

An Official Of A Mission Board, Who Knew That It ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jun 25, 2001

An official of a Mission Board, who knew that it takes more than desire to make a missionary, was appointed to examine a candidate. He told the young man to come to his house at 6 in the morning. The young man went at 6 in the morning to be examined, and the examiner kept him sitting in the room ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4

Tags: Question, Love Of The Disciples, Patience, Christian Values, Character  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

There Is A Story Of A Young Hippie Who Gave His ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Oct 16, 2001

There is a story of a young hippie who gave his life to Christ during the Jesus Movement of the late sixties and early seventies. One Sunday he went to a church, not knowing it was one of the more “upper class” churches in the area. He was late to the service, and the pastor was about to begin ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-4

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Christian Love, Jesus' Ministry

Denomination: Wesleyan

When It Comes To Community Ministry, We Finally ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Nov 3, 2001

When it comes to community ministry, we finally put our program where our mouth is. Instead of expecting the community to come to church, we ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Christian Disciplines, Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Church Of God

The Following Ad Once Appeared In A London ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Nov 12, 2001

The following ad once appeared in a London newspaper: "Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful." The ad was signed by Sir Ernest Shackleton, Antarctic explorer. Amazingly, the ad drew thousands of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:57-62, Luke 9:23-24

Tags: Look Back, Fulfillment, Christian Disciplines, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational