In Sermon Illustrations: "Falling Out"

The "Broken" Sheepdog And The Shepherd  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 22, 2011

THE "BROKEN" SHEEPDOG AND THE SHEPHERD Philip Keller tells a story in his book, Lessons from a Sheep Dog, about how a bedraggled collie named Lassie came into his possession. One day he happened to notice an ad in the paper that simply said: "Border collie to good owner. Currently uncontrollable ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-18

Tags: Parable Lost Sheep

The Parable Of The Fig Tree  PRO

Contributed by Ty Tamasaka on Jul 26, 2011

THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE 6 "Then Jesus told this story: 'A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. 7 Finally, he said to his gardener, 'I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:6-9

Tags: Suffering Joy In

Denomination: Other

The Meanest Man In Texas

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 5, 2012

THE MEANEST MAN IN TEXAS Let's finish with the true and amazing story of Clyde Thompson. Clyde's father was a Bible salesman, but when he was old enough to stay home alone, he began refusing to go to church with the rest of the family. Most Sundays, while his family was in church, Clyde was ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Tags: Bible Influence

Who's Going To Wake Jesus Up?  PRO

Contributed by Christopher Roberts (Barrister) on Nov 12, 2012

Who’s Going To Wake Jesus Up? The bible offers us a variety of types of prayer, which we can offer up to God, depending on what our circumstances are. We can pray for provisions, or lost souls, or that God might bring relief to the suffering. But what kind of prayer should we offer up to God when ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:23-27, Matthew 8:8

Tags: Peace, Trust, Worry, Assurance

Denomination: Christian Church

The Conflict Of Character

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

THE CONFLICT OF CHARACTER “You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.” - James D. Miles As she poured hot coffee into his mug early that morning, she noticed the guard’s countenance was more contemplative than usual. He was a man with ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:9

Tags: Truth, Integrity, Honesty, Christlike Character

Denomination: Charismatic

The Invitation

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Bob Goff tells the story of he and his friend Brandon going to Washington DC on business and being close to Capital Hill at midnight. They saw a bunch of cars awkwardly parked around the Library of Congress and barricades and so they decided to investigate. They discovered that it was a set for the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:21

Tags: Invitation, Gospel, Chosen

Denomination: Methodist

Unsung Heroes-Claudius Lysias

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 22, 2023

Introduction: He was a high-ranking officer in the Roman army, mentioned only a couple of times in Scripture. We don’t know if he ever became a Christian, but we do know that he saved the life of Paul the apostle at least twice! Text: Acts 24:22-23, KJV: 22 And when Felix heard these things, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 24:22-23

Tags: Paul, Persecution, Claudius Lysias

Denomination: Baptist

[007]. A Message From A Poem - A Shepherd Left His Comfort Zone

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 1, 2024

[007]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - A SHEPHERD LEFT HIS COMFORT ZONE Shepherds and sheep feature quite often in the biblical record and Jesus used parables and illustrations involving sheep. This poem was developed from a comment a Convention speaker made when teaching on the Lost Sheep. The ...read more

Scripture: John 10:9, John 10:10-11, John 10:14-15, Luke 15:4-6

Tags: Jesus Died For The Sheep, 100 Sheep, Night, Sheep, Lost Sheep, Crucified, The Good Shepherd, Jesus Our Shepherd, Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[077]. A Message From A Poem – Eyes And Ears - Blind And Deaf

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 11, 2025

[077]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – EYES AND EARS - BLIND AND DEAF Stubbornness is so bound up in most people that it will not release them, particularly when the things of God are presented. Stubbornness refuses to see reason and to see the light, and to hear and obey. The prophets were frustrated ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 42:20, Isaiah 6:10, Isaiah 43:8, Isaiah 35:5

Tags: Blind Eyes, Poetry, Stubbornness, Poem, Deaf Ears  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[133]. A Message From A Poem – I Am The Son Who Is Blessed

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 17, 2025

[133]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – I AM THE SON WHO IS BLESSED This poem has as its basis the parable of the Lost Son sometimes called The Prodigal Son. The first two stanzas are set when the lost son returns home. He was lost because he was lost to sin and the degradation of that lifestyle. Luke ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:20-24, 1 Corinthians 2:9

Tags: Heaven, Blessing, Christian Poems, Ring On The Finger, Fattened, Robe, Entering Heaven, The Prodigal Son, The Lost Son, Sandals, Christian Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[155]. A Message From A Poem – Jesus Elevated In The Midst

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 6, 2025

[155]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JESUS ELEVATED IN THE MIDST Not I, but Christ. That is how it ought to be. That is the emphasis we need to have in our living and ministry. I am nothing without my Lord. If I think I am something I am deluded. If I think the ability is mine I am a disgrace. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:15, Matthew 21:9, Galatians 6:3

Tags: Worthy Is The Lamb, Jesus In The Midst, Lifted Up, Christian Poems, Jesus Elevated, Ride On A Donkey, Hosanna, Palm Sunday  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[208]. A Message From A Poem – Our God Is Our Strength

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 20, 2025

[208]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – OUR GOD IS OUR STRENGTH {{Psalm 81:6-10 “I relieved his SHOULDER of the burden. His hands were freed from the basket. Psa. 81:7 YOU CALLED IN TROUBLE, AND I RESCUED YOU. I answered you in THE HIDING PLACE of thunder. I proved you at the waters of Meribah. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6, Psalm 81:16, Psalm 81:6-10

Tags: Finest Wheat, Rescue, Honey, Shoulder, Trouble, Honey From The Rock, Christian Poems, Water, Call  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Marshall  PRO

Contributed by Bishop Raymond Allan Johnson on Feb 9, 2005

Marshall I’m 54 years old and I’ve forgotten a whole lot of things that have happened to me in the course of my life – but there is one incident that has stuck with me for right at 50 years; and will probably be with me for the rest of my life. When I was four years old my mother moved us into a ...read more

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: *other

India

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Feb 28, 2005

India So I wrote in my journal, describing the aftermath of the October 1999 cyclone whose 200 mph winds and 30-foot tidal surge devastated the coastal areas of Orissa , India . Originating in the Bay of Bengal , the storm killed an estimated 100,000 people and domestic livestock, mostly by ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Wesleyan

There Is A Wonderful Park Located In North ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Lundy on Mar 19, 2005

There is a wonderful park located in North Carolina called the Fields of the Wood. It is just the other side of the Great Smokey Moutains from Gatlinburg, TN. It is owned and maintained by the Church’s of God. Inside the park is the largest Ten Commandments in the world. They are laid out on a ...read more

Scripture: James 4:14

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Such Knowledge Is To Wonderful For Me; It Is ...

Contributed by Greg Buchner on Apr 26, 2005

“Such knowledge is to wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.” – Psalm 139:6 When my I first read Psalm 139:6, my mind drifted back to the movie entitled, “A Few Good Men” with Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson. Tom’s role as Lt. Kaffee, a hot-shot attorney who comes to the defense of two ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Methodist

I Was Burdened To Pray One Day. So When I Got ...

Contributed by Harold Wanton on Apr 30, 2005

I was burdened to pray one day. So when I got home from work my wife who usually would be home, was not home. So I to my room to pray and God led me to pray for a baby in our family. As I prayed ferverently in the spirit, I did not know why, but I prayed for about an hour. When I finished praying ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Romans 8:26-27

Tags: Prayer In The Spirit, Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Apostolic

God, Can You Help Me Mother?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 2, 2005

GOD, CAN YOU HELP ME MOTHER? Elisa Morgan, President of the Christian mother’s organization called MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International, writes: “I’m probably the least likely person to head a mothering organization. I grew up in a broken home. My parents were divorced when I was 5. My ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:1-31

Tags: Parenting, Mother's Day, God In The Hardships

There Is A Moving Scene In The Movie Dr. Zhivago ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jun 12, 2005

There is a moving scene in the movie Dr. Zhivago where the Comrade General is talking with Tanya about a traumatic experience in her childhood. He asks her, “How did you come to be lost?” She replies, “Well, I was just lost.” But he persists and asks again, “No, how did you come to be lost?” ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Methodist

A. W. Tozer In His Priceless Book The Root Of The ...  PRO

Contributed by Lynn Malone on Jun 13, 2005

A. W. Tozer in his priceless book The Root of the Righteous shares the story of Rutherford who could shout in the midst of serious and painful trials, “Praise God for the hammer, the file, and the furnace.” The hammer is a useful tool, but the nail, if it had feeling and intelligence, could ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Joy

Denomination: Methodist