In Sermon Illustrations: "Drinking"

[198]. A Message From A Poem – O Forest, How You Weep In Pain

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 13, 2025

[198]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – O FOREST, HOW YOU WEEP IN PAIN This is a serious poem and I like it very much. Like most of my poems it comes out of some personal experience. If this was a musical composition it would be in a minor key. The summary is, “O forest, how you weep in pain, but ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:22-23, Amos 4:7-8

Tags: Signs Of The Times, Christian Poems, Rainforest, Tropical Rainforest, Forest, Barren, Dryness, Drought, Weeping, Barrenness, Pain, World, Sin, Persecution  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dennis E. Mannering Was Teaching A Class For ...  PRO

Contributed by Sheila Crowe on Sep 27, 2002

Dennis E. Mannering was teaching a class for adults, when he did the "unpardonable." He gave the class homework! The assignment was to "go to someone you love within the next week and tell them you love them. It had to be someone you have never said those words to before or at least haven’t shared ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Tags: God

Denomination: United Methodist

I Received The Following Story As One Of Those ...  PRO

Contributed by David Brockhouse on Apr 3, 2008

I received the following story as one of those “dreaded” forwarded emails. I think it’s a fitting way to end a Wednesday Lenten message on Obedience ----from the eyes of a child. Story of God lives under the Bed. I envy Kevin. He thinks God lives under his bed. One night he was praying out loud ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 85:7-8

Tags: Fear, Doubt, Outreach, Man, Support, Obedience, Wish, Bottle, Genie, Love Others, Shepherd, Help, Trusting God, Goodness, Restoration, Finish  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

God Is With The Righteous

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Feb 19, 2012

GOD IS WITH THE RIGHTEOUS Listen to a partially embellished STORY of the SERVANT who escaped to Abraham... The sun was just rising in the east. Abram's entourage had grown significantly since Lot departed. They had settled in the land of Mamre the Amorite, finding water and shade in the forest, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 14:1-16

Tags: Sin Bondage To

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jail-Time Repentance

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2012

JAIL-TIME REPENTANCE I want to share with you a small auto-biographical story that I believe illustrates the type of repentant heart needed to continue in getting rid of guilt. She had always been a good girl so finding herself in this place was unimaginable to her. How was she going to survive ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:10

Tags: Repentance

Parallels Between The Passover Lamb And Christ

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 1, 2023

Passover begins this year on April 8th, at sundown. What many do not know is that Passover illustrates the sacrifice of The Passover Lamb–the crucifixion of Jesus. The first Passover lamb was slain during the dark times in Egypt marked. This event marked the beginning of The Exodus, which ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8, Romans 10:9-13

Tags: Sacrifice, Cross, Lamb, Passover, Calvary, Forgiveness, Easter, Blood, Israel, Egypt, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[190]. A Message From A Poem – My Prayer (Parts From Psalm 119)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 6, 2025

[190]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – MY PRAYER (PARTS FROM PSALM 119) Christians regard the bible as the inspired word of God and as the sole rule for faith and doctrine. That makes the bible the most important resource available to us. It is a most treasured possession. There are many references ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:103, Psalm 119:89, Psalm 119:9, Psalm 119:18, 2 Peter 1:21, 2 Timothy 3:16-17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Word, The Word Of God, The Bible, Statutes, Ordinances, Your Word, Law, Prayer, Treasure, Precepts, Testimonies  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Passing Through The Shadows!" 1 Corinthians ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 21, 2005

“Passing Through The Shadows!” 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 Key verse(s): 26:“‘For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes’.” “Smile and the world smiles with you! Cry and you cry alone.” Walking through life with a smile on our faces is something to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-34

Tags: Easter Maundy Thursday

Denomination: Lutheran

Secret Of The Fifth Man!" Mark 2:1-5 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 12, 2005

“Secret of the Fifth Man!” Mark 2:1-5 Key verse(s) 3:“Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them.” Five people passed the beggar but only one stopped to help. The will it seems to get somewhere on time, a preoccupation with self, easily thwarted a fragile affection that ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-5, Mark 2:1-12

Tags: Compassion, Romantic Love

Denomination: Lutheran

Manna From Heaven--A Thanksgiving Story" ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 26, 2003

“Manna from Heaven--A Thanksgiving Story” Numbers 11: 4-9 Key verse(s): 9 “... When the dew settled upon the camp at night, the manna also came down.” “Goodbye! Thanks for coming. Thanks for everything!” As the caravan of cars and trucks pulled out of the driveway waves were exchanged and a ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Lutheran

Artesian Forgiveness!" Matthew 5: 43-48 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 30, 2004

“Artesian Forgiveness!” Matthew 5: 43-48 Key verse(s): 46 “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” Here at Beech Springs one of the things that sets these few acres apart is the artesian well that highlights our front yard. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Kindness

Denomination: Lutheran

It Was An Unusually Cold Day For The Month Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Nov 1, 2004

It was an unusually cold day for the month of May. Spring had arrived and everything was alive with color. But a cold front from the north had brought winter’s chill back to Indiana. I sat with two friends in the picture window of a quaint restaurant just off the corner of the town squire. The food ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 107:5-7

Tags: Faith, Christian Disciplines, Choice, Consequences

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Insignificant Is Significant

Contributed by Peter Loughman on May 15, 2008

THE INSIGNIFICANT IS SIGNIFICANT To anyone who knows her, Joanne is not a significant person. Honestly, chances are, Joanne will never accomplish anything significant. In the town that she lives in, Joanne is never going to be someone who people in town will see as an important person. Joanne is ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unsung Heroes—barzillai The Gileadite, Part 2

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 3, 2020

Introduction: the revolt was over, Absalom was dead, and David was ready to go back to Jerusalem. It seems David had come to regard Barzillai the Gileadite with much respect, maybe even admiration. David wanted him to go to Jerusalem but in a classic speech, Barzillai graciously said, “thanks but ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 19:31-40

Tags: David, Barzillai The Gileadite

Denomination: Baptist

Green Thumb Versus Black And Blue Thumb

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 16, 2021

If you came to our parsonage, you would discover all over our property, plants and flowers. Just don’t ask me to identify what they are. I can tell a plant from a flower, but that’s as far as it goes with me. That is not true with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. She gets all the credit for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tags: Unity, Differences

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

See Cookie Will Sneak

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 29, 2022

For more years than I care to remember, I have been on a diligent pursuit, and I won’t stop until I reach my goal. My quest is to find a cookie I don’t like. Throughout the years, I have eaten every cookie I could find and loved them all. My biggest obstacle in this pursuit is The Gracious ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:38

Tags: Temptation, Humor

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Don’t Believe In Superstition…but

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 4, 2023

I don’t believe in any of the superstitious nonsense that seems to be going around these days. Some people have a fear of numbers like 13 and 666. What in the world does a number have to do with anything? When I am around people who are superstitious like that, I’m afraid I lean toward the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:9

Tags: Secrets, Superstitious

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Another Week On My Own

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 22, 2025

Several weeks ago, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage informed me she would be in St. Augustine with our daughter and granddaughter for spring break. As always, I really didn’t properly process this information. I get so busy with other things that there are some things I can’t process. It ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Sin, Temptation, Cheating

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

It Was A Snarly Kind Of Day

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 26, 2025

Last week The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage had another one of her girl days with our daughter and granddaughter. Don’t let this get around, but it is one of my favorite days of the year, including my birthday. It’s a day on which I can do what I want to do. That doesn’t come often; when it ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:29

Tags: Wrath, Patience, Reward

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

What It Was, Was A Cookie

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 11, 2025

At least once a month The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and her daughter will spend a day visiting thrift stores in our community. I’m not sure, so don’t quote me, but I think there’s a 100-mile radius where they do their shopping. This past week was one of those days. As she was backing out ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:2

Tags: Desire, Cookie

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance