In Sermon Illustrations: "Conformed To His Death"

Down's Syndrome Boy Teaches His Class About Easter

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 25, 2024

Little Philip, born with Down's syndrome, attended a third-grade Sunday School class with several eight-year-old boys and girls. Typical of that age, the children did not readily accept Philip with his differences, according to an article in Leadership Magazine. But because of a creative ...read more

Tags: Jesus, Church, Children, Easter, Resurrection, Empty Tomb, Special Needs Children  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Just Ask Him!" Judges 16: 28-30 Key Verse(S): ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 2, 2004

“Just Ask Him!” Judges 16: 28-30 Key verse(s): 28: “Then Samson prayed to the Lord, ‘O Sovereign Lord, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.’” Has there ever been a time in your life when things have gotten ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:28-30, Judges 16:1-31

Tags: Demons, Death, Sickness, Prayer Supplication, Storm  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

The Sacrifice These Men Made For Freedom

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2021

Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence. Their conviction resulted in untold sufferings for themselves and their families. Of the 56 men, five were captured by the British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Tags: Sacrifice, Freedom, America, Declaration Of Independence, Death  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Can't Wait Until Morning  PRO

Contributed by Steve Gallimore on Aug 28, 2008

Can't Wait Until Morning Dr. W. A Criswell, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas Texas, said on one occasion on an airplane flight he found himself seated beside a well-known theologian. He desperately wanted to start a conversation and they did get to talk. The man told Dr. Criswell about ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:1

Tags: Death, Glory, Heaven, Salvation, Hope, Funeral  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Saving Private Ryan Tells Us About Our Need For Grace

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 24, 2022

Saving Private Ryan is one of my favorite World War II movies. Three out of four brothers are killed in action, and then a search is launched to find the fourth, Private James Ryan, so that he is not killed, leaving his mother childless. Eight men are sent out to find Private Ryan, who is missing ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Death, Grace, Fear, Salvation, Legalism, Works  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If ...

Contributed by Joe Bertone on Aug 1, 2012

IF ONLY There was a great Scotch writer and historian in the nineteenth century named Thomas Carlyle. He married a woman, who’d worked as his secretary named Jane Welsh. But Carlyle was dedicated to his writing so he didn’t spend much time with her. He just mostly wrote. At one point she became ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17

Tags: Death, Remorse, Parable Ten Virgins, Regret

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Heard About A Rich Man Who Was Determined To ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Mar 18, 2002

I heard about a rich man who was determined to take his wealth with him. He told his wife to get all his money together, put it in a sack, and then hang the sack from the rafters in the attic. He said, "When my spirit is caught up to heaven, I’ll grab the sack on my way." Well he eventually died, ...read more

Tags: Heaven, Death, Jesus Teachings, Money, Wealth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Where Will You Be?

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 23, 2019

Where Will You Be? When the clouds burst open where will you be? Will there be joy in your heart when Jesus you see? Will you be running to hide from His face Or standing there with your head hanging in disgrace/ It surely is coming and the time is near at hand When Jesus comes to take his ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20:12

Tags: Death, Rapture, Great White Throne, Bema

Denomination: Baptist

Easter Is So Much More Than Learning How To Face ...  PRO

Contributed by Keith Wessel on Apr 14, 2001

Easter is so much more than learning how to face death without fear, with courage and dignity. After all, even philosophers, poets, and scientists can do that. I remember the astronomer Carl Sagan mention in an interview that he was looking forward to death as “the last great adventure.” Walt ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection, Death, Funerals Christian, Redeemer

Denomination: Lutheran

Coach Bear Bryant Had A Purpose In Life.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 13, 2022

The famous and very successful football coach Bear Bryant often told reporters, "I’d croak in a month if I quit coaching." After twenty-five years as the head coach at his alma mater, Bryant announced he would be stepping down at the end of the season. On December 29, 1982, he coached his ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:27, Philippians 1:21

Tags: Careers, Death, Sports, Men, Retirement, Purpose  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Did You Find When You Opened My Heart?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 16, 2023

Here’s a story about a little boy that was to have heart surgery. The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed and his parents sat across from him. The surgeon said to the little boy, "Tomorrow morning, I'll open up your heart." The little boy interrupted the surgeon and said; ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-12, Romans 10:13

Tags: Heaven, Unbelievers, Evangelism, Death, Jesus, Children  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Which Way You Went  PRO

Contributed by David Whitten on Nov 29, 2001

WHICH WAY YOU WENT Years ago a man was searching his family roots and visited several cemeteries and read many inscriptions on the tombstones. There was one tombstone on which was engraved "Pause now stranger as you pass by; as you are now, so once was I. as I am now , so soon you will be. Prepare ...read more

Tags: Death Nearness, Funerals Non-Christian, Heaven

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Is The Fire In Hell Literal Or A Figure Of Speech?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 6, 2022

Brian Bell has an interesting note on as to whether or not it is real flames in Hell or just a figiure of speech: "it seems it is a real torment, thus a real thirst, which desires real water, from a real finger, to touch ...read more

Tags: Hell, Death, Eternity, Scripture, Judgment, Inerrancy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[029] A Message From A Poem – Be Still And Know That I Am God

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 15, 2025

[029] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD This is a very special poem because in a time of great difficulty, the Lord woke me from irregular sleep to give me this poem at 3 o’clock in the morning. Of course the poem flowed along because it came from God. It was a message I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 4:4, Luke 10:39-40, Psalm 46:10

Tags: Mary, Rest In The Lord, Be Still, Wait On The Lord, I Am God, Cease Striving, Seated At His Feet  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In Sir Edwin Arnold’s Light Of Asia, He ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Dec 11, 2000

In Sir Edwin Arnold’s Light of Asia, he tells a parable from the Buddha about a mother who had lost her child. Carrying its dead body in her bosom, she come to the buddha and said:"Lord and Master, do you know any medicine that while be good for my child?" "Yes," he said, "bring me a mustard seed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-32

Tags: Funerals Non-Christian, Death, World Religions

Denomination: Lutheran

An 11 Year Old Boy Called 9-1-1 Because His Mom ...

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Sep 16, 2008

An 11 year old boy called 9-1-1 because his mom tried to force him to breathe into the interlock device on her car after she had been drinking. The police caught her and the boy was put in a foster home. Standing up for truth and ...read more

Tags: Truth

Denomination: Pentecostal

I've Never Met A Man, I Don't Care What His ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"I've never met a man, I don't care what his condition, in whom I could not see possibilities. I don't care how much a man may consider himself a failure, I believe in him, for he can change the thing that is wrong in his life anytime he is prepared and ready to do it. Whenever he develops the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13

Tags: Possibilities

[207]. A Message From A Poem – Our Behaviour Is Not Of The World

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 20, 2025

[207]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – OUR BEHAVIOUR IS NOT OF THE WORLD If I am a fool I will act like a fool. If I care for no one, you will probably find me at parties drinking and smoking pot. You see our behaviour flows from what we are inside. James had something to say about this – {{James ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:10, Romans 12:2, Acts 4:13, James 3:11-12

Tags: Christian Poems, Grandstanding, Ambition, Definitions, Worldly Standards, Good Soldiers, The World System, Conformed To The World, Behavior, Jesus, Truth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sailing Into A New Harbor (Funeral)

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 1, 2023

BIBLE For I am already being poured out ... like a drink offering, ... and the time has come for my departure. ..... I have fought the good fight, .... I have finished the race, .... I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, .... which the Lord, .... the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Tags: Death, Ship, Funeral, Departure, Harbor, Horizon  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Pete And Tony Were Great Baseball Fans. They Were ...  PRO

Contributed by Rich Young on Jan 18, 2001

Pete and Tony were great baseball fans. They were talking about baseball one day & Pete says, “I wonder if there is baseball in heaven.” Tony replies, “I don’t know.” Soon after, Tony dies. One day he calls Pete from heaven and they’re talking and Pete says, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 39:4-7, Psalm 39:1-12

Tags: Funerals Non-Christian, Heaven, Death Nearness

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed