In Sermon Illustrations: "Divine Promises"

[292]. A Message From A Poem – Arise, You Sleepy Unproductive Servant

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 18, 2026

[292]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – ARISE, YOU SLEEPY UNPRODUCTIVE SERVANT It is time to be serious about the faith we profess. The western world is awash with wishy-washy Christian profession. Too many are asleep instead of being active for Jesus, the Lord of our faith. This poem is a challenge ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:11-14, 2 Peter 1:5

Tags: Ashamed, Unprofitable, Serve The Lord, Servants, Christian Poems, Faithful, Devotion, Arise, Priorities, Laziness, Asleep, Service, Servant  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Islam  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2002

ISLAM What’s the main idea? On his many caravan rides along the trading route between Syria and Arabia, a merchant named Muhammad observed people of all kinds of faiths. He became increasingly concerned that people were straying from ethical and moral responsibility. In A.D. 610, ...read more

Tags: World Religions

The Christian Just Keeps Right On Moving And ...  PRO

Contributed by Mel Shepherd on Feb 28, 2003

The Christian just keeps right on moving and triumphing over life and glorying within tribulation, enduring longsuffering within and attitude of joyfulness. Perhaps this has never been portrayed more graphically than in the movie “The Hiding Place.” The true story of Corrie Ten Boom while within a ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Commercial Appeal," Memphis, Tn Tues., Sept. ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Mar 21, 2007

“The Commercial Appeal,” Memphis, TN Tues., Sept. 12, 2006. Study asks: In what God do we trust? Baylor University in Waco, Texas researchers found we may be "one nation, under God," but Americans actually worship at least four versions of the Lord (according to the Baylor Religion Survey released ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

I Was Reading This Week In The Little Devotional ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

I was reading this week in the little devotional book “This Day with the Master” by Dennis Kinlaw and I read the devotional for April 27th. I would like to share this with you this morning. In Ephesians 5:1-2 we are told to “be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love.” “One day as I ...read more

Tags: Trinity

If You Are Going To Be Jesus' Apprentice Only ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

If you are going to be Jesus’ apprentice only one essential condition must be met: you must spend time with the person you are mentoring. You can’t do discipleship at arms length or through distance learning. Most Christians don’t think in terms of this lifestyle of apprenticeship. They spend ...read more

Tags: Salvation, Doing God's Will

The Following Is A True Easter Story By Roger ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The following is a true Easter story by Roger Hawthorne One of the first Easters of my ministerial career began with a blizzard. I was still a student pastor, and we had arranged to have an ordained pastor come to serve communion. There was a question if he would be able to make it through the ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will

The Joy Of John 3:16  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Dec 19, 2008

The Joy of John 3:16 Max Lucado's thoughts: A twenty-six word parade of hope: beginning with God, ending with life, and urging us to do the same. Brief enough to write on a napkin or memorize in a moment, yet solid enough to weather two thousand years of storms and questions. If you know nothing ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I've Been Reading A Very Powerful Book, Tortured ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jun 2, 2009

I’ve been reading a very powerful book, Tortured for Christ, which is a testimony from a follower of Jesus who suffered immensely in Romania after the communist takeover. Originally published 30 years ago, it is still very powerful. Richard Wurmbrand was a faithful servant of Christ in the ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Church Of God

Shoes Pave The Way To The Kingdom

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 21, 2010

SHOES PAVE THE WAY TO THE KINGDOM Because Vance is an African American living in a predominately Hispanic neighborhood, he stands out. But what really sets Vance apart is that he is a servant-hearted father who cares not only for his own kids, but also for the many other kids who play in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Evangelism How To

Holiness And Red Buttons  PRO

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Aug 6, 2011

HOLINESS AND RED BUTTONS In studying holiness as a prayer key, I got bogged down with trying to understand it. I had an even harder time trying to explain it. I felt like the Red Buttons character in the movie, "Hatari." In that movie, John Wayne led a team of hunters in Africa capturing wild ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:8, Matthew 22:15-22

Tags: Holy, Prayer, Holiness

Denomination: Baptist

Sharing Sermon Notes, Stories And Outlines To Further The Gospel Of Jesus

Contributed by John T Brantley on Dec 22, 2015

When all through the town, Folks were snuggled comfy and sound. All my night guests had checked in, And I was exhausted and tucked in my kin, When out at the door the I heard a swift rap, of the door knocker knocking interrupting my nap. I sprang up from my cot to see what was the issue, Couldn’t ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Tags: Christmas, Christmas Eve, Inn Keeper, No Room In The Inn

Denomination: United Methodist

A Bag With Holes

Contributed by James Dina on Dec 1, 2020

A BAG WITH HOLES “You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” (Haggai 1:6) There are many rich people in the ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 1:6

Tags: Defense, Holes

Denomination: Pentecostal

This Puppy Will Need Someone Who Understands

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 9, 2024

A little boy appeared under the store owner’s sign, "Puppies for sale." "How much are you going to sell the puppies for?" he asked. The store owner replied, "Anywhere from $30 to $50." "I have $2.37," the little boy said, "Can I please look at ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:15-16, 2 Corinthians 5:21

Tags: Children, Sin, Bethelehem, Temptation, Understanding, Incarnation, Deity Of Christ, Humanity Of Christ, Trials  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[177]. A Message From A Poem – Lord, Open My Eyes

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 26, 2025

[177]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – LORD, OPEN MY EYES Opened eyes is truly a marvellous thing. The term “eyes opened” comes to mean understanding and awareness of what is reality or of what is happening. Only once in the whole bible are the words “open my eyes” found, and it is this verse – ...read more

Scripture: John 12:21, 2 Kings 6:17, Psalm 119:18

Tags: The Word Of God, The Bible, Eyes Opened, Christian Poems, Wonderful Things, Understanding, Open My Eyes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[350]. A Message From A Poem - Worthy Worthy Is The Lamb

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 16, 2026

[350]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WORTHY WORTHY IS THE LAMB The setting for this poem is Revelation chapters 4 and 5. The scene is in heaven where the Bride of Christ is gathered, a mighty number of people purchased by the blood of the Lamb. As should be the case, Jesus is in the midst. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 4:2-3, Revelation 4:10-11, Revelation 5:9-10, Revelation 5:6

Tags: Honor, Glory, Worship, Praise, Power, Worthy, Worthy Is The Lamb, Jesus On The Throne, Christian Poems, The Church In Heaven, The 24 Elders  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Wonderful, Imaginative Short Story By Nathaniel ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 24, 2002

A wonderful, imaginative short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates the necessity of having the right focus. It is entitled “The Great Stone Face.” The tale centers around a man named Ernest who grew up in a village renowned for a natural wonder that rested just outside its boundaries. ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 11:16-23

Tags: Mother's Day, Story, Devotional, Humor

Two Men Are Seated In A Plane. The First Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Two men are seated in a plane. The first is given a parachute and told to put is on as it would improve his flight. He’s a little skeptical at first because he can’t see how wearing a parachute in a plane could possibly improve the flight. After a time he decides to experiment and see if the claim ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:1-23, Psalm 66:10

Tags: Temptation, Tempt, God's Provision

How To Be A Saint

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 16, 2011

HOW TO BE A SAINT One of the most basic requirements for a candidate to Catholic sainthood is to be dead. You can't be a Catholic Saint if you're not dead (usually 5 years). In the same way, you can't be a saint for God without dying. Romans 6:3-7 tells us as much: "...don't you know that all of ...read more

Tags: Sanctification

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Thessalonian Error  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 22, 2012

THE THESSALONIAN ERROR The Thessalonian error was misunderstanding the purpose of end-time prophecy. The purpose is not to identify the anti-Christ or to inform us of events. Others have misunderstood the purpose of second-coming prophecy. Many people have been identified as the anti-Christ. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Tags: Second Coming