In Sermon Illustrations: "Coming Judgment"

Forgiveness For Everyone?

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 11, 2015

Lloyd Prator writes, “Take Adolph Hitler or better Joseph Stalin because he killed more people. What if, at the last minute, as Stalin lay dying, he turned his heart to Jesus and confessed his sins? Suppose he repented at the last minute, repented of the 14 million Russians Stalin killed… Would he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-43

Tags: Forgiveness, Repentance

Denomination: Methodist

Several Years Ago I Read A Story Written By A...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 11, 2015

Several years ago I read a story written by a preacher in the Philippine Islands. One day he was passing a large church on Good Friday when he spotted many selling incense, candles, veils and rosaries. He also saw several small boys who were running about selling crosses. He heard them calling, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Take Up Your Cross, Carrying Your Cross, Message Of The Cross, Cheap Grace

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Life's Challenges

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Apr 18, 2017

Whenever I think about how difficult life is, I'm always reminded and encouraged by these two verses, especially this week. Imagine this: Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and God's only Son, who is about to be arrested and crucified for me ... prays for me. What if we treated one another like this ...read more

Scripture: John 17:11-12

Tags: Life Challenge, Servanthood, Faith In Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fear Torments

Contributed by Shine Thomas on Aug 28, 2017

A man has been visiting a therapist because he has had a fear of monsters living under his bed. The man has been seeing this doctor for months. Every time he would come in the doctor would ask “have you made any progress?”. Every time the man would say “no”. The man decided to go and see another ...read more

Tags: Fear, Fear Torments

Denomination: Assembly Of God

We Saw Your Smoke Signal!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 15, 2019

I read a story about a shipwreck. When the sole survivor reached a small, uninhabited island, he prayed for God to rescue him, but help didn't come. Eventually he built a hut out of driftwood for protection from the elements. One day he returned from scavenging for food and found his hut in ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Will Of God, God's Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Came For Others.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 21, 2020

Just as the Old Testament priest would take an innocent lamb and slaughter it on the alter for the sins of the nation of Israel, so Jesus came to offer Himself for the sins of the world. His entire reason for coming from Heaven to others was for "OTHERS" and not Himself. o He was born ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21, Luke 19:10

Tags: Unselfishness, Evangelism, Christmas, Sacrifice, Jesus, Birth Of Christ, Others  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The "repenters"

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

It is interesting that before the "Iron Curtain" went down, the believers in the anti-Christian Communist countries were often known as "Repenters." Why? Because they were not just "professors", but "possessors", and showed the Spirit of Christ was in them ...read more

Tags: Russia, Acts 2, Pentecost, Salvation, Repentance, Simon Peter  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Parable From A Peanuts Cartoon

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

We need another revival like Pentecost! It will come when walking and working together! As Vance Havner said, “Snowflakes are fragile things, but when they stick together... they can stop traffic!” In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist ...read more

Tags: Unity, Jokes, Cartoons, Church, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Revival, Humor  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Church Attendance In The Usa At An All-Time Low

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 5, 2022

During the First Great Awakening, 20 percent of the colonial population came to Christ and joined churches. Today, less than 20 percent regularly attend church. Discussed at length in his book The American Church in Crisis, David Olson conducted research showing that only 17.5 percent of the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: America, Revival, Church Attendance, Evangelism, Church, Worship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Stop Talking About Evangelism And Just Do It!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 20, 2022

While D. L. Moody was attending a convention in Indianapolis on mass evangelism, he asked his song leader, Ira Sankey, to meet him at six o'clock one evening at a certain street corner. When Sankey arrived, Mr. Moody asked him to stand on a box and sing. Once a crowd had gathered, Moody spoke ...read more

Tags: Hypocrisy, Good Samaritan, Evangelism, Gospel

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Grudges And Pride Keep Us From Reconciling With ...  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on May 21, 2007

Grudges and pride keep us from reconciling with each other. They destroy the thought of forgiveness. The pastor and his wife were going to give a mid-morning garden party. They invited everyone with engraved invitations. The delightful back yard of the parsonage was manicured, tables decorated ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

According To George Pyne (A Nascar Executive In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

According to George Pyne (a NASCAR executive in 2004) NASCAR fans come from all regions, income levels, and demographics. One-third of all adult Americans are NASCAR fans. 40% are women. And NASCAR is the fastest-growing sport among racial minorities who now make up 20% of its fan-base. In ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

I Always Liked The Story Told About The Great ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

I always liked the story told about the great preacher Charles Spurgeon. Charles was raised on a farm. When he was a young teen, he was behind the family barn on day sneaking a cigarette. His dad surprised him, by coming up upon him Charles attempted to diffuse the situation by using an approach ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Language Is A Great Gift From God That Sets Us ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Language is a great gift from God that sets us apart from every other creature. But sometimes our words are misunderstood or mistranslated; for example, I found some commercial slogans that had been translation into other languages of course they didn’t translate the same: Kentucky Fried Chicken, ...read more

Tags: Ot Characters

Some Time Ago I Spoke At Horn Creek Lodge In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Some time ago I spoke at Horn Creek Lodge in Horn Creek, Colorado not too far from Colorado Springs. If you have never been there you need to go. It is a great place to spend a week. The mountains are at your front door and the deer walk up to your back door. The food is delicious and the ...read more

Tags: World Religions

A Girl Named Angie Smith Wrote: While Working In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A girl named Angie Smith wrote: WHILE WORKING in a new pizzeria, I was surprised to find that many people had never eaten pizza. One customer admitted this when she came in for a takeout order. I explained our menu and took great care in helping her make her decision. After baking her pie to a nice ...read more

Tags: Divinity Of Christ

A Woman And Her Young Daughter Were Attending ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A woman and her young daughter were attending the wedding of a relative. This was the first time the little girl had ever seen a wedding ceremony. She was in awe by the pomp and beauty of everything; the music, the formal atmosphere, the decorations, the bride and groom and their attendants in fine ...read more

Tags: Weddings

A Pilot Was Flying His Small Plane One Day, When ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A pilot was flying his small plane one day, when he heard a noise which he recognized as the gnawing of a rat. Wondering what its sharp teeth were cutting through, he suddenly realized with horror that it might be an electric wire. Then he remembered that rodents can’t survive at high altitudes. ...read more

Tags: Faith

Prayer Of A Half-Hearted Christian

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Prayer of a Half-hearted Christian I love thy church, O God; Her walls before me stand; But please excuse my absence, Lord; This bed is simply grand A charge to keep I have; A God to glorify; But Lord, don’t ask for cash from me; The glory comes too high. Am I a soldier of the cross, A follower ...read more

Tags: Faith

Calvin Coolidge Was Vice President Of The United ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Calvin Coolidge was vice president of the United States during the years of 1921-1923, under President Warren Harding. He was not a very active vice president, but he took great pleasure in presiding over the Senate. One day, as he was presiding, one senator angrily told another to go “straight to ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To