In Sermon Illustrations: "Deconstructing Faith"

Ronald Reagan Forgave

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 27, 2014

RONALD REAGAN FORGAVE President Ronald Reagan has always been one of my heroes in life. His forgiveness of his enemies was one of the many things that made him great. Ronald Reagan's attitude after the 1982 assassination attempt on his life made an impression on his daughter, Patti Davis. As she ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:15-20

Tags: Enemy, Leadership, Forgiving Others, Ronald Reagan

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Religion And Sexual Satisfaction  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 18, 2014

RELIGION AND SEXUAL SATISFACTION Several years ago, Redbook magazine did a computer survey on sexual attitudes and practices (not surprising). What was surprising in the survey was they sprinkled questions about religion in with the study. The survey of about 19,000 women showed that "strongly ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:3

Tags: Sexuality, Pleasurable, Biblical Sexuality, Religious People

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Grace The Free Gift

Contributed by Pastor Norman Bailey, Overseer on Aug 11, 2018

If you went to work everyday and did the job that was required of you, you could demand a paycheck. You can go to your supervisor, and payroll to find out what is going on because you earned the pay that you worked so hard for. We can never work so hard to demand that God save us from sin. It was ...read more

Tags: Grace Gift, Love Life

Denomination: Pentecostal

Jesus Is The Answer To Our Dilemma

Contributed by Bokang Abednego Nkhahle on Oct 7, 2019

The Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon while he was busy threshing wheat to hide it from the midianites. And said to Gideon, the Lord is with you mighty man of Valour. The one who reside in you is bigger that your dilemma. Gideon did not realise his potential until the angel appeared to him and ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:12

Tags: Power, Authority, Be Courageous

The Candle

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 2, 2021

*THEY WILL ONLY SEE THE LIGHT OF HOPE. (AUTHOR UNKNOWN) HIS LIGHT AM I TO SHINE WHERE HE SHALL SAY; AND LAMPS ARE NOT FOR SUNNY ROOMS NOR FOR THE LIGHT OF DAY. BUT FOR THE DARK PLACES OF THE EARTH, WHERE SHAME AND WRONG AND CRIMES GIVE BIRTH. OR FOR THE MILKY TWILIGHT GRAY, WHERE WANDERING SHEEP ...read more

Scripture: John 8:12, Psalm 119:105

Tags: The Candle, The Light

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Playing Favorites In The Church - James 2

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2024

1. Verse 1: Partiality contradicts faith in Jesus Christ as the Lord of glory. 2. Verses 2-4: Partiality reveals a judging heart and behind it evil thinking. 3. Verse 5: Partiality to the rich contradicts God's heart, because he has chosen many of the poor for himself. 4. Verse 6a: ...read more

Tags: Church, Favoritism, Prejudice, Pastors, Partiality  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Will Change Your Name (Lyrics Of Song)

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Jan 20, 2026

There is a song that is often used at baptisms ...that seems so appropriate ... to help portray this new birth ... in Christ. I will change your name You shall no longer be called Wounded, outcast, lonely or afraid I will change your name Your new name shall be Confidence, joyfulness, overcoming ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7, John 1:42, Acts 5:29, Matthew 26:33, Philippians 4:13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Baptism, Creation, New, Name, Face, Change, New Creation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Is The Church On The Endangered List?  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 18, 2006

** IS THE CHURCH ON THE ENDANGERED LIST? Many Americans are on a spiritual quest. This should be good news for the church. But, according to researchers, many of them are choosing noninstitutional forms of religion. A recent poll by Gallup shows that weekly church attendance is holding steady at ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 71:18

Tags: Church General, Sanctuary

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[028] A Message From A Poem – Be Not Conformed To The World

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 15, 2025

[028] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BE NOT CONFORMED TO THE WORLD “If you don’t agree with us, you are not included.” “We will finance your new building but only if you add a night club.” This world is absolutely full of compromise. It happens in relationships (sexual pressure on a woman), in ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10, 1 Peter 1:14, Romans 12:1-2, Romans 10:17

Tags: Compromise, Poetry, Conform, Conformity, Conformed To His Death, Conformed To The World  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[215]. A Message From A Poem - His Precious Redeemed Ones

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 28, 2025

[215]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - HIS PRECIOUS REDEEMED ONES In my messages and sermons, sometimes I raise the plight of suffering Christians enduring persecution such as we observe in many nations in Africa. It makes me think of these suffering ones and how the Lord views them. They are ...read more

Scripture: John 12:24, Revelation 2:10-11, 1 John 5:4, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 2 Peter 1:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Love, Christ, Jesus, Persecution, Victors, Grain Of Wheat, Christian Poems, Africa, Precious, Put To Death, Redeemed, Believers, Saints  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No Fire Without Heat And Smoke! (06.14.05--The ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 12, 2005

No Fire Without Heat and Smoke! (06.14.05--The Tie That Binds--1 John 4:19) It’s been hot here lately at Beech Springs. It has been unusually hot and humid. The beech woods understory that blankets our little valley are getting crisper under foot daily. The trilliums came and went and are withered ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:19

Tags: Promises Of God

Denomination: Lutheran

Got My Life, Got My Jesus! (09.07.05--The ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 5, 2005

Got My Life, Got My Jesus! (09.07.05--The Temporal Things!--Matthew 5:3) In order to have all things, you must forsake all things. Tell that to those struggling with forsakeness in flood-ravaged New Orleans or storm-crushed Gulfport this morning! My guess is that few if any would understand the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3

Tags: Basics Of Christianity

Denomination: Lutheran

Judging Books! (10.20.05--That Person!--Esther ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 19, 2005

Judging Books! (10.20.05--That Person!--Esther 3:5-6) The other day, a jehovah’s witness came to my door. I’ve seen them many times in the past as they slowly travel down my driveway and descend upon my doorbell. I know what differentiates my faith from theirs and have learned stock answers to ...read more

Scripture: Esther 5:5-6

Tags: Racism

Denomination: Lutheran

It's The Fruit And Not The Tree! ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 20, 2005

It’s The Fruit and Not The Tree! (10.24.05--Making It!--Psalm 1:3) Each year as the seasons change, so does the selection of fruit that is available at my local Piggly Wiggly. In early summer there are the tangy apricots and sweet plums along with nutty peaches and nectarines. As summer passes, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:3

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

Recently, I Was Listening To A Teacher By The ...  PRO

Contributed by Jess Bousa on Feb 14, 2006

Recently, I was listening to a teacher by the name of Rob Bell and he spoke on the selecting process that Rabbis would use to choose their disciples. At the Age of 6, children would begin to learn the Torah, this training was called Bat cipher, from 8 to 10 they would have the torah by heart, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 13:51-52, Matthew 28:16-20

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Pentecostal

Evidences Of ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Evidences of Salvation Obedience There are marks of true Christianity. The characteristics of a born again Christian are seen by all. Three evidences of a man’s acceptance of God’s great Salvation are repentance, faith, and obedience. Children who truly love their parents will strive to obey ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:5

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

40 Men Die For Christ

Contributed by Benjamin Karner on Sep 18, 2009

40 MEN DIE FOR CHRIST One such story took place in 328 B.C. in a city high in the icy mountains of Armenia. It was a bitterly cold winter and in the middle of that winter an order came from the Roman emperor that every man, woman, and child under the rule of his empire must bow down to ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Baptist

Wesley's Conversion  PRO

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jan 10, 2009

WESLEY’S CONVERSION John Wesley become a priest in the Church of England before he had become a Christian. His conversion story is very interesting: Not long after the first Moravian missionaries came from Germany, Wesley had left for the West Indies, Wesley found himself on board a ship with a ...read more

Tags: Becoming A Christian

Denomination: Anglican

Thom Rainer And The Unchurched Next Door

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 14, 2011

THOM RAINER AND THE UNCHURCHED NEXT DOOR Thom S. Rainer has written a book entitled "The Unchurched Next Door". He wants people to understand the unchurched in order to better reach them. The premise is that we do not invite our neighbors for all the wrong reasons. He encourages Christians to make ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:1-24, Luke 14:1-14

Tags: Evangelism How To

[134]. A Message From A Poem – I Am With You Always

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 17, 2025

[134]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS This poem was written in a time of great trial that had been a lengthy one. It is so precious to know the Lord is with us always and never will He sleep or miss something. He knows our end from our beginning. I want to honour God in this ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:4-5, Matthew 28:20

Tags: Emmanuel, Jesus, Presence Of Jesus, Delight Yourself In The Lord, Close At Hand, I Am With You Always, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Commit Your Way To The Lord  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational