In Sermon Illustrations: "Distinctiveness"

Heaven, A Personal Place

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Heaven, A Personal Place Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Falsities Of Mormon Author Betty Eadie

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2010

THE FALSITIES OF MORMON AUTHOR BETTY EADIE The idea of hell and judgment are nowhere to be found in Betty Eadie’s bestseller, Embraced By The Light, on the N.Y. Times bestseller list for more than 40 weeks, including 5 weeks as #1. In November 1973 Eadie allegedly died after undergoing a ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:1-3

Tags: False Teaching

The First Mongolian ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 28, 2009

THE FIRST MONGOLIAN CHURCH The Christian authors, Bill and Amy Stearns, in their book entitled "20/20 Vision: Amazing Stories of What God Is Doing Around the World," describe how the Gospel of Jesus, the Christ, came to Mongolia. "In the 1870’s Swedish missionaries arrived in Mongolia - what was ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Missions

[185]. Poem Message – Mouths That Sham Rejoicing

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 5, 2025

[185]. POEM MESSAGE – MOUTHS THAT SHAM REJOICING When I was young we generally could trust what people said to us. There was a great deal of honesty back then (1950s) but that has evaporated. People tell us barefaced lies and that is now the way of the world. That makes the Christian life ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:8-9, Jeremiah 7:9-10

Tags: Rejoice, Lies, Dishonesty, Pretend, Pretence, No Commitment, Worship, Praise, False, Sing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Even A Snake Has A Heart!  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 2, 2004

“Even A Snake Has a Heart!” 1 John 1: 1-10 Key verse(s): 9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” We recently endured the effects of a fairly major windstorm here at Beech Springs. It happened as we were out of town ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9-10

Tags: Sin General, Faith

Denomination: Lutheran

Peanut Butter Theology

Contributed by Todd Catteau on May 27, 2015

I don’t like peanut butter. Some people get very upset when I tell them that. It’s nothing personal. It’s not a character flaw. I just don’t like it. I don’t even like the smell of it. My mother told me I ate a lot of peanut butter when I was young, so maybe I just reached my limit. My two ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:12

Tags: Generosity, Golden Rule, Thoughtfulness, Sympathize

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[023] A Message From A Poem - At His Feet Encompassing

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 3, 2024

[023] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - AT HIS FEET ENCOMPASSING I hope this poem credits the Lord with all the devotion that is His. You will see the poem is in three sections. Also it has a distinctive rhyming scheme with internal rhymes. Additionally, you have many words rhyming with “feet” through ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:9, 1 Corinthians 12:14-15, Revelation 1:17

Tags: Feet, Bow At His Feet, The Feet Of Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He Was Graduated From The Finest Four-Star ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

He was graduated from the finest four-star Christian college. The product of a distinguished evangelical church, he had a good personal grasp of the Scriptures. From a strong Christian family, he was a personable and handsome green shoot -- the whole nine yards! Like many in his league, however, ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

If My ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

IF MY PEOPLE... Our nation is in trouble: Abortion i. Nearly half of pregnancies among American women are unintended, and four in 10 of these are terminated by abortion. Twenty-two percent of all pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion. ii. In 2005, 1.21 million abortions were ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Killer Alcohol

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2008

Killer Alcohol Dr. Adolph Lorenz, a famous surgeon, refused a drink at a banquet. He was asked "Are you a tee-totaler?" He responded, "Yes, my success depends upon my brains being clear, my muscles firm, and my nerves steady. No one can take alcoholic liquor without blunting these physical powers, ...read more

Tags: Alcohol

Vital Statistics From Operation World (6th ...

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jul 17, 2002

Vital Statistics From Operation World (6th Edition, 2001, Patrick Johnstone, and Jason Mandryk) Paternoster, Waynesboro, GA 1. 15-25% of the population of the world is yet to hear a clear presentation of the gospel so that they can personally place saving faith in Christ for salvation. 2. Only ...read more

Tags: Great Commission, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Was Fortunate To Grow Up In A Home Where My ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 22, 2004

I was fortunate to grow up in a home where my father was both a loving and disciplining presence. I guess I would have to say that if there is anything I really remember about my dad is this, he possessed a presence unlike any other person in my life. To me he was always larger than life. He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 16:1-12

Tags: Father's Day, Parenting

Denomination: Lutheran

Work With It!" Romans 12: 1-8: Key Verse(S): 6 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 10, 2004

“Work With It!” Romans 12: 1-8: Key verse(s): 6 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” “All things being equal!” Where that may be the rallying cry of today’s philosophical democratically-driven culture, it wasn’t the impetus for justice in the Brunner household as I was ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-8, Mark 1:21-28

Tags: Family, Parenting

Denomination: Lutheran

[169]. A Message From A Poem – Lessons We Learn From Spiders

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 18, 2025

[169]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – LESSONS WE LEARN FROM SPIDERS The word “spider” is mentioned in the Old Testament in the following verses, all of which have a common theme – {{Job 8:13 “So are the paths of all who forget God, and the hope of the godless will perish, whose confidence is fragile, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 59:5-6, Job 27:18, Job 8:13

Tags: Nature, Spiders, Christian Poems, Spider Webs, Clever Teachers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It's Not About Us!" 1 Samuel 15:27-35 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 4, 2005

“It’s Not About Us!” 1 Samuel 15:27-35 Key verse(s) 30:“Saul replied, ‘I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God.’” We truly live in the age of self and ego. When you stop to think about it, a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:27-35, 2 Chronicles 20:5-15

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Basics Of Christianity, Humility, Obedience, Impatience, Unrepentant, Pride  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Don't Judge A Person By Their Cover-Up

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 31, 2021

Have you ever had one of those Déjà vu moments? The other week I was in the shopping mall to pick up some items for the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. She shops so much that I have to help her on occasion. On this occasion, I was walking down the mall and stopped dead in my tracks. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:3

Tags: Judgement, Humor, Encouragement, Judging

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

[162]. A Message From A Poem – Jewels Of God’s Reflected Beauty

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 12, 2025

[162]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JEWELS OF GOD’S REFLECTED BEAUTY This was a difficult poem to write trying to get it right the way I wanted. It is probably an unusual subject anyway. By jewels, I mean literal jewels. I love gemstones though I have none. Can’t afford them, but my God has so ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:9, Revelation 21:18-21, Revelation 21:16-17, Revelation 21:10-11, Revelation 21:1-3  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: The New Jerusalem, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Gemstones, Home Of The Bride, Precious Gems, Gold, Pearl, Gems, Colors, Pearls, The Holy City, Color  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Parable Of The Good Muslims  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 14, 2002

THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD MUSLIMS It is difficult to imagine more bleak circumstances; the young mother and her small children, truck packed full of all of their belongings, were in process of moving from rural North Carolina to the mother’s childhood home in Connecticut. Life had taken a tragic ...read more

Tags: Parable Good Samaritan, Christian Love, Compassion

As I Was Growing Up With A Younger Brother And ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Goble on Oct 30, 2007

As I was growing up with a younger brother and sister, one of our favorite games to play was baseball. We had a plastic bat and ball, and we would team up with some of the neighborhood kids and play ball in the back yard. On one particular occasion my mom took our bat away from us because we were ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:16-21

Tags: Forgiveness, Blood, Satan, Giving, Selfless, Care, Regeneration, Sacrificial, Young Men, Fear Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

An Atheist Defends Evangelism In Africa

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Dec 31, 2008

AN ATHEIST DEFENDS EVANGELISM IN AFRICA I would like to conclude by reading you an article – that Andrew sent to me - from the Sunday Times dated 27th December 2008 written by Matthew Parris: December 27, 2008 (full article) As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God Missionaries, not aid ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

Denomination: Anglican