In Sermon Illustrations: "Christmas Hope"

[277]. A Message From A Poem – The Leading Road

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 25, 2026

[277]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE LEADING ROAD I hope everyone has been on higher ground where you have a really great panorama and the land and hills or ranges sweep away before you. I have seen many of these in tropical rainforested country, and below you, you may see a road leading away ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 104:24-25, Job 12:7-9, Romans 1:20, Revelation 20:12

Tags: A Leading Road, Beauty, Scenery, Nature, No Excuse, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Creation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[279]. A Message From A Poem – The Lord Has Made Me Perfect In His Love

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 27, 2026

[279]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE LORD HAS MADE ME PERFECT IN HIS LOVE The poem begins with the positive testimony of the Lord’s perfection and chorus. Perfection here is according to these two verses – {{Philippians 1:6 “I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Philippians 3:15, Philippians 1:6

Tags: A New Creation, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Salvation, Perfect, Perfection, New Creation, In Christ  (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

In 1899 Four Newspaper Reporters From Denver, ...  PRO

Contributed by Ted Sutherland on Feb 11, 2001

In 1899 four newspaper reporters from Denver, CO, set out to tear down the Great Wall of China. They almost succeeded. Literally. The four met by chance one Saturday night, in a Denver railway depot. Al Stevens, Jack Tournay, John Lewis, Hal Wilshire. They represented the four Denver papers: the ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-18

Tags: Faith, Truth

Denomination: Baptist

The Hitchhiker  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Aug 28, 2001

Illus.:The Hitchhiker Roger Simms, hitchhiking his way home, would never forget the date—May 7. His heavy suitcase made Roger tired. He was anxious to take off his army uniform once and for all. Flashing the hitchhiking sigh to the oncoming car, he lost hope when he saw it was a black, sleek, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 26:13, Psalm 139:1-24, Jonah 3:1-15, 2 Peter 3:9

Tags: God's Provision, One God, Prayer Answered, Faith

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Story Is Told About 3 Brothers Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Oct 11, 2001

ILL. The story is told about 3 brothers who started working at the same time for a fur company owned by an old friend of their father. After working there for more than a year, one son was still receiving the same salary as when he started, & seemed to be unhappy with his job. The second son ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Leadership General, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Giant Steps  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Mar 10, 2002

Giant steps Marathon the latest goal in a life of challenges. Katie Lynch, 26, practicing for Monday’s Boston Marathon with a special Walker. (Globe Staff Photo / JohnTlumacki) By John Vellante, Globe Staff, 4/14/01 WAYLAND Her life -- all 26-plus years of it -- has been one challenge after ...read more

Tags: Human Body, Endurance

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

My Penance  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 17, 2002

MY PENANCE The story of George C. Wallace sounds like something from Paul Harvey’s “the Rest of the Story.” It comes in two parts: the sad, earlier life and the hard but hopeful remainder. Even more dramatic is a tragic event in the middle that brought life-changing consequences for the man ...read more

Let's Imagine A Situation Where A Homeless Man ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Mar 16, 2003

Let’s imagine a situation where a homeless man is begging on the streets of New York. A well dressed man in a long limousine pulls up next to him and offers him a job as vice-president of his company. You might say that is ridiculous; nothing like that would ever happen. But that is exactly ...read more

Tags: Discipleship, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Methodist

Regardless Of What The Odds Are. Story Of The ...  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Selfridge on Mar 26, 2004

Regardless of what the odds are. Story of the Teacup There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-6, Jeremiah 18:1-12

Tags: Discipleship, Creation

Denomination: Wesleyan

Tony Campolo Tells About The Time He Was Asked ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jul 25, 2004

Tony Campolo tells about the time he was asked to speak at a Pentecostal college. Before the service, eight men had him kneel so they could place their hands on his head and pray. Tony was glad to have the prayer, but each of them prayed a long time, and the longer they prayed the more they ...read more

Tags: Prayer In The Spirit, Hand Of God

Denomination: Methodist

A Sword And A Tear!" 2 Timothy 2: 22-26: Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 24, 2004

“A Sword and a Tear!” 2 Timothy 2: 22-26: Key verse(s): 24-25a “And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:22-26

Tags: Christian Love, Compassion

Denomination: Lutheran

During The 1st Part Of The 20th Century, J. C. ...  PRO

Contributed by Ted Mulder on Dec 11, 2004

During the 1st part of the 20th century, J. C. Penney presided over a very powerful empire of over 1,700 stores. At the time he had the country’s largest chain of department stores, each one bearing his name. Although his enterprise made him incredibly wealthy, J.C. Penney’s life was not devoid ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pushing The Rock  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 25, 2005

PUSHING THE ROCK I have been pondering a story of a weak sickly man. The man was so sick and he could not afford going to town to the doctor. The man lived in the deep back woods in an old log cabin, his condition seemed to grow worse. Out in front of his cabin was a hugh boulder. The rock was ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13-17

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Earth In The Bargain!" Revelations 22: 20-21 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 26, 2005

“Earth in the Bargain!” Revelations 22: 20-21 Key verse(s): 21:“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.” The surest way to become hopeless is to simply open your eyes in the morning and look around you. Everything seems to be falling apart. Huge deficits, world terrorism, train, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 22:20-21, Revelation 22:20-21

Tags: Second Coming, Knowing Christ

Denomination: Lutheran

Because I Said So!" Romans 11:33-36 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 21, 2005

“Because I Said So!” Romans 11:33-36 Key verse(s) 11:“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” Because I said so! If you are a parent the odds are that it is likely at some time in the course of that career you uttered these words with feeling. “Because I said so!” There ...read more

Scripture: Romans 11:33-36

Tags: Knowing God's Will, Doing God's Will

Denomination: Lutheran

A Winning Streak Of One!" 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 1, 2005

“A Winning Streak of One!” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 Key verse(s) 16“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” It’s important to make sure that every day of our lives we practice gladness and condition ourselves to finding ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Tags: Doubt

Denomination: Lutheran

Game's Only Half Over! (10.04.05--Beginning ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 3, 2005

Game’s Only Half Over! (10.04.05--Beginning Again!--2 Samuel 12:20-24) Is there anyone who hasn’t felt the sting of regret and discovered just how bitter it is to live with the thought that if only we hadn’t done this or said that we’d be a whole lot happier at the moment? Beginning again is one ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:20-24

Tags: God's Provision, Regret, Remorse, God's Forgiveness, Face Your Fears, Embarrassment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Have You Seen The Movie Antwone Fisher? It's The ...

Contributed by Bruce Emmert on Oct 9, 2006

Have you seen the movie Antwone Fisher? It’s the true story of a young man abandoned at birth by his mother and then raised in abusive orphanages, foster homes, and reform schools. Denzel Washington adapted the story into a movie that was released a few years ago. After his 18th birthday, Antwone ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: United Methodist

It's An Ongoing Battle At The Twitchell ...

Contributed by Jonathan Twitchell on Dec 7, 2006

It’s an ongoing battle at the Twitchell household. We have a great number of beautiful songbirds that come to our birdfeeders in the front yard: goldfinches, house finches, red-winged blackbirds, orioles, and cardinals are accompanied by chickadees, mourning doves, blue jays. We tolerate the ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene