In Sermon Illustrations: "Eternal Change"

It's In Your Hands

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 18, 2017

A young student in China decided to play a trick on his elderly teacher one day. He caught a small bird and cupped it in his hands behind his back. He then approached the sage with this plan in mind. He would ask the old man what he had in his hand. If he answered correctly, he would then ask ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:15

Tags: Eternity, Decision, Commitment, Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Hint Of Heaven

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 22, 2025

“At present we are on the outside of the world, the wrong side of the door. We discern the freshness and purity of morning, but they do not make us fresh and pure. We cannot mingle with the splendours we see. But all the leaves of the New Testament are rustling with the rumour that it ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:42-54, John 14:1-4

Tags: Faith, Heaven, Eternal Life

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Mansion Builder

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 7, 2025

A story is told of a believer who arrived in heaven and was greeted by an angel who offered to show him his new home. They walked down golden streets lined with breathtaking mansions. Each home seemed larger and brighter than the one before—until they reached a small, simple cottage at the end of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21, Revelation 22:12, 1 Timothy 6:18-19, Luke 12:33-34

Tags: Eternity, Stewardship, Faithfulness, Generosity

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Two Faces Of Change!" 2 Kings 12: 1-8 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 9, 2005

“The Two Faces of Change!” 2 Kings 12: 1-8 Key verse(s): 2-3:“Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.” On June 4, 1783 at the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 12:1-8

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Lutheran

Dont Change Your Game Plan Unless You Have To. ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Dont change your game plan unless you have to. Certainly, youve got to have a plan thats flexible, but ...read more

Tags: Church Practices

Jesus Changed All That. And I Love The Way He Did ...

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Mar 1, 2008

Jesus changed all that. And I love the way he did it. Talk about detail! John tells us that Jesus “spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.” Whenever I read these words, I think about another occasion when God did something remarkable with mud. In Genesis 2:7 ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

[112]. A Message From A Poem – Has Warmth Of Nearness Changed To Coolness?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 18, 2025

[112]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HAS WARMTH OF NEARNESS CHANGED TO COOLNESS? INTRODUCING THE POEM: Our walk with the Lord is not always one on a smooth, sinless road. There is joy; there are times of peace, times of praise, times of contentment, but there are also times of hardship, times of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:1-4, Psalm 42:5-8, Psalm 42:9-11

Tags: Cast Down, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Waning, Faith, Failure, Forgotten, Despair, Cold, Backsliding  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[136]. A Message From A Poem – I’m Just Changing Residence

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 17, 2025

[136]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – I’M JUST CHANGING RESIDENCE I have lived in my current home for 45 years. Before that we lived in a home for 10 years. I have only ever owned two homes. Some people change homes like they change clothes. When a Christian dies some say, “He has gone home to be ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-3, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Tags: Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Point Of Death, New Address, Heaven, Dying, Homes, Absent From The Body, Dwelling Places, Residence  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Day A Man Was Talking To His Grandson ...

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jul 2, 2002

ILL. One day a man was talking to his grandson right after he had graduated from high school. And he asked, "My boy, what are your plans? What are you going to do with your life?" The grandson said, "I plan to go to college & then graduate from college. His grandfather ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:26, Luke 9:25

Tags: Eternity, Graduation, Future, Life, Planning  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Wealthy Man Before Leaving On An Extended ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kilson on May 6, 2006

A wealthy man before leaving on an extended vacation said to a contractor, "While I am away, I want you to build me a fine new home according to these plans. Be sure you work with extreme care, and use the best of everything. Tell me the cost as soon as you have it and I’ll send you a check." ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Tags: Heaven, Foundation, Eternity, Building, Dishonesty  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Funny Epitaph On Tombstone

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 20, 2019

I am told that an Indiana cemetery has a tombstone that is over 100 years old which bears the following epitaph: "Pause, stranger, when you pass me by. As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you will be. So prepare for death and follow me." An unknown passerby read those ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-7

Tags: Hell, Death, Eternity, Decision, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Room At The Cross For You

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 1, 2020

On the deck of a sinking ship stood an African slave- the last man on board. He was to be the last person to get on the last lifeboat. The life boat was loaded to the water line. The slave had something in his arms and the sailors refused to take him until he let that go. He pressed to his ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:12, John 3:16, John 15:13

Tags: Salvation, Cross, Eternal Life, Perish

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Super Bowl Mvp

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 14, 2022

When receiver Cooper Krupp was named MVP of the 2021 NFL Super Bowl fans may think an athlete would soak up the attention, inflate their ego and define their identity according to their on field accomplishments. But Kupp actually minimized the place of football and elevated the kingdom of God. He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:25, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Tags: Gospel, Discipleship, Reward, Witness, Eternity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Buried With A Fire Extinguisher!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 6, 2022

An interesting newspaper clipping from 1999 told of a British man who was quite a character. Two or three days AFTER his funeral his friends started getting signed postcards from him. The cards said "wish you were here" and were addressed from ...read more

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

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Two Minutes

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 12, 2022

Two Minutes to Eternity Marshall Shelley tells the story of his son's short life - just two minutes.The baby boy was born with a "chromosomal abnormality" called Trisomy 13. After the delivery, the doctor passed the baby to his mom. He was a healthy pink; Then he began to turn ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:27, Psalm 90:10-12, John 14:1-3

Tags: Death, Birth, Eternity, Grief, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Bone To The Dog Is Not Charity. Charity Is The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 15, 2005

A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Conversion, Change

Einstein Said The Reason He Could Construct The ...  PRO

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Apr 18, 2006

Einstein said the reason he could construct the theory of relativity was because there is one thing in the world that is unchangeable. That one thing is the speed of light. Light travels at a rate of 100 and 86 thousand miles per second --- seven times around the world at the tick of a clock. ...read more

Tags: Light, God The Father, Change

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

There Is No Such Thing As Chance Or Accident; ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

There is no such thing as chance or accident; the words merely signify our ignorance of ...read more

Tags: Change, Ignorance, Mother Theresa

There Is A Story About A Little Girl Who Proudly ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

There is a story about a little girl who proudly wore a shiny cross on a chain around her neck. One day she was approached by a man who said to her, "Little girl, don't you know that the cross Jesus died on wasn't beautiful like the one you're wearing? It was an ugly, wooden thing." To which the ...read more

Tags: Jesus, Children, Change, Sanctification

The Big Black Door  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Marquardt on Oct 18, 2000

THE BIG BLACK DOOR An Arab chief tells a story of a spy who was captured and then sentenced to death by a general in the Persian army. This general had the strange custom of giving condemned criminals a choice between the firing squad and the big, black door. As the moment for execution drew near, ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:15

Tags: Freedom, Salvation, Change, Choice

Denomination: Assembly Of God