In Sermon Illustrations: "Christian Disciplines"

The Boston Marathon

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 19, 2015

Around here in Boston, Patriots Day is famously known for “The Boston Marathon” in which runners from all over the world participate. I watched with keen interest as the gun shot went off for the 116th Boston Marathon. Upmost in every ones mind was the question “Who will get the grand prize worth ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Tags: Self-Control, Run To Win, Running The Race, Self-Discipline

[108]. A Message From A Poem – Grace Is The Key To Holiness

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 18, 2025

[108]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GRACE IS THE KEY TO HOLINESS This is a poem that has to be read carefully for understanding because of the construct of the poem. The subject is certainly GRACE, but grace can never be in isolation. There is a strong but harmonising relationship with LOVE, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:9, Revelation 22:21, Ezra 9:8, Ephesians 2:8

Tags: Peace, Holiness, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Grace, Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[194]. A Message From A Poem– No Other Is So Worthy

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 9, 2025

[194]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM– NO OTHER IS SO WORTHY This is a worship and praise poem. When we ascribe majesty to Jesus we are worshipping Him. I have tried to do that because He is INDEED worthy of our feeble praise. When we are in heaven one day as part of the whole redeemed Church, our ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 99:9, Psalm 95:6, Psalm 29:1-2, Revelation 5:9

Tags: Jesus Is Worthy, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Worship, Praise  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[237 A]. A Message From A Poem - Scenes From The Gospels - Part 1

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 31, 2025

[237 A]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - SCENES FROM THE GOSPELS - PART 1 They are here to enjoy! Scenes from the Gospels are very special to me. I love them. They have taken a lot of effort, and many, many months revision to get them as correct as possible with the difficult word limitations. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:26-39, Luke 15:11-32, John 2:1-11, Luke 10:38-42, Matthew 14:22-31, Luke 1:1-4, Matthew 13:10-13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Stories, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Poetry Reading, Parables  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[263]. A Message From A Poem – The Elephant And The Lily

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 14, 2026

[263]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE ELEPHANT AND THE LILY I am repeating the whole scripture passage that was the inspiration for this poem. It speaks about God’s providential care for all His creation. This world is not a haphazard chaos of flukiness, but is ordered in universal laws, all ...read more

Scripture: James 1:5-6, 1 Timothy 6:6-7, Matthew 6:25-34

Tags: Anxiety, Dependence, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Lilies Of The Field  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dr. William Sangster Wrote: "When A Thing ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Haines on Jul 9, 2001

Dr. William Sangster wrote: “When a thing is plainly right, it is, perhaps, academic whether I thought of it myself or whether God told me. But one thing is certain, I thought of far, far fewer sweet things to do, and hard things before I learned to listen to God than I ...read more

Tags: Disciplines Meditation, Knowing God's Will, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Wesleyan

Bible, Effect Of Reading  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jul 15, 2001

Bible, Effect of Reading, autoillustrator.com Some seem to expect the Word of God to hit them like a jolt of adrenaline each time they read or study it. Although the "jolt" may hit us periodically, the benefits of the Word of God act more like vitamins. People who regularly take vitamins do so ...read more

Tags: Disciplines Scripture, Bible Study, Bible Influence, Strength

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

On Tuesday Morning September 11, 2001 Dawn ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Sep 17, 2001

: On Tuesday morning September 11, 2001 Dawn Robinson followed her usual morning routine while getting ready for work. Which consist of her morning quiet time where she prays for God’s leadership throughout the day. Shortly after arriving at work in New York City she made her way to her office in ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience, Holy Spirit In Believers, Disciplines Meditation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hearing God  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 25, 2002

HEARING GOD The New York Times reports that during the attacks of September 11, the communication between rescue workers and their commanding officers was not good. Instead of reaching the workers by radio to warn of the imminent collapse of the Trade Center Towers, a messenger had to be sent ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 94:9

Tags: Prayer Hardship, God's Omniscience, Debt, Disciplines General

I Would Distinguish Between Academic Study And ...

Contributed by Curtis Kittrell on May 21, 2002

“I would distinguish between academic study and more general study of the Bible. At one level—and perhaps this is the most important level—I approach the Bible with a readiness and an expectation to hear the voice of God there. But there is no conflict between that more devotional use of the Bible ...read more

Tags: Disciplines Scripture, Bible Study, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Pentecostal

In The Recent Summer Games (2012), Kim Rhode Won ...  PRO

Contributed by Kelly Mitchell on Aug 11, 2012

In the recent Summer Games (2012), Kim Rhode won the gold medal in skeet shooting making her the first American to win 5 olympic medals in 5 consecutive olympic games. That’s a span of 20 years and not her only distinction. In the 2012 games, she hit 99 out of 100 skeet setting a new Olympic ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 9:24-27

Tags: Preparation, Commitment To Christ, Disciplines General, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Baptist

Good Intentions

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 29, 2021

In our younger days, my husband and I sign up for a “boot camp” fitness class. This class costs $300 per person for ten classes. At the start of the first class, our instructor. Tara, does a quick roll-call. She frowns and comments: “Hmm, Susie isn’t here. That’s a shame; attending the first ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:14-33

Tags: Unrealized Intentions, Excuses, Discipline, Follow Through, Explanations  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

My Brother Served His First Parish In Massillion, ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Dec 12, 2000

My brother served his first parish in Massillion, Ohio, as an associate pastor, with the late Pastor Maurice "Mo" White. Pastor White was a very large, strong and vibrant man. During one Lenten season, one of the older, but faithful members of the church came with her husband to an evening Lenten ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-9

Tags: Death, Funerals Christian, Service

Denomination: Lutheran

A Man Was Walking On The Beach One Afternoon ...  PRO

Contributed by Ivan Robinson on Dec 21, 2000

A man was walking on the beach one afternoon kicking up the sand, discussed with certain things. There on the beach was a bottle and as he walked he kicked the bottle into the surf. POP Out of the bottle came a mysterious being... a Jeannie. “Because you have freed me you are granted three ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Marriage General

Denomination: Adventist

Peter V. Deison, In His Book The Priority Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Lewis Petrie on Jan 3, 2001

Peter V. Deison, in his book The Priority of Knowing God, tells about Ramad, a man of India who was a member of a gang of robbers. On one occasion, while burglarizing a house, Ramad noticed a small black book containing very thin pages just right for making cigarettes. So he took it. Each ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, Becoming A Christian

Denomination: Baptist

Eighty Percent Truth  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 23, 2001

Martin Scorcese, the famous Hollywood director once said, "You can tell a ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Faith, Truth

Denomination: Independent/Bible

During The Conflict In Sarajevo A Reporter Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 29, 2001

During the conflict in Sarajevo a reporter who was covering the conflict in the middle of Sarajevo saw a little girl shot by a sniper. The reporter threw down his pad and pencil, and stopped being a reporter for a few minutes. He rushed to the man who was holding the child, and helped them both ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Children, Christian Love

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Bob Keeshan, You And I Know Him As "Captain ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Oct 18, 2000

Bob Keeshan, you and I know him as "Captain Kangaroo" once said: "Attention is ...read more

Tags: Children, Christian Love, Parenting

Denomination: Baptist

Commentator William Barclay Notes: "You ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 1, 2001

Commentator William Barclay notes: “You can tell what a man’s relationship with God is by looking at his relationship with other people. If a man is at variance with his fellow man, and if he’s a quarrelsome, competitive, argumentative, trouble-making creature; he may be a diligent ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:23-29

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Christian Love

A Guy Came To His Pastor And Said, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 1, 2001

A guy came to his pastor and said, “Reverend, I only have one talent.” The pastor asked, “What’s your talent? The man said, "I have the gift of criticism." The pastor was wise and replied, "The Bible says that the guy who had only ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Parable Talents, Christian Love