In Sermon Illustrations: "False Assurance"

Anne Graham Lotz On The Solar Eclipse

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 6, 2024

"The warning is triggered by the total solar eclipse of Aug. 21, nicknamed America's Eclipse. For the first time in almost 100 years, a total solar eclipse will be seen from coast to coast in our nation. People are preparing to mark this significant event with viewing parties at exclusive ...read more

Tags: Rapture, False Teachers, False Prophets, Return Of Christ, Solar Eclipse, America, End Times, Prophecy, Judgment, Second Coming, Last Days  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

: "When Blind Eyes Were ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on May 9, 2001

Illus.: “When Blind Eyes Were Opened” D.L. Moody, the famed evangelist, told this story at one of his meetings: One evening just before Christmas, a man was walking through the streets of an Eastern city. The store windows were all beautifully decorated, and he observed three little girls ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52, Job 42:1-6, 1 Corinthians 1:9-16, Isaiah 9:2-7

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation, Apologetics General, Blind, Evangelism, Holy Spirit Attributes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Courage Of Civil War Leader Stonewall Jackson ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 8, 2005

The courage of Civil War leader Stonewall Jackson in the midst of conflict can be a lesson for the believer. Historian Mark Brimsley wrote, “A battlefield is a deadly place, even for generals; and it would be naive to suppose Jackson never felt the animal fear of all beings exposed to wounds and ...read more

Tags: Spiritual Warfare, Warfare, Peace, Examples Of Faith, Confidence, Assurance, Battle  (view more)  (view less)

Square Fillers

Contributed by Doug Fannon on Oct 19, 2018

In the military we had a term that we called “square fillers.” We would have a check-list of requirements and before each requirement or inspection item, there would be printed a little square . When each requirement was completed, you would check off the appropriate square. The term came to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:13-36

Tags: False Religion, Unrighteousness, Outward Appearances, Minimum Requirements, Heart For God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Pharisees Don't Care

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 8, 2020

The corrupt heart of the zealous devotion of the Pharisees is illustrated by a group of modern day Orthodox Jews (early, 1992), who let three apartments in an Orthodox neighborhood in Israel burn to the ground while they asked a rabbi whether a telephone call to the fire department on the Sabbath ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-3

Tags: Pride, Selfishness, Last Days, Pharisees, False Religion, Lovers Of Themselves  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Can't Believe A Single Word He Says!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 4, 2023

A guy sees a sign in front of a house: "Talking Dog for Sale." He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard. The guy goes into the backyard and sees an old black mutt just sitting there. "You talk?" he asks. "Yep," the mutt replies. "So, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:15

Tags: False Teachers, Lies, Liars, Discernment, Truth, Preaching, Last Days  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Al Mohler's Theological "triaging"

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 11, 2024

Many readers will be familiar with Al Mohler’s helpful analogy of “theological triage” in which he speaks of first-order, second-order, and third-order doctrines. (Note - this is a theological statement about the Bible, not a clear biblical statement from Scripture. It is one author trying to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Church, Discernment, Unity, Doctrine, Heresy, Pastors, False Teaching, Elders  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Going No Where Fast  PRO

Contributed by Philip Cairns on Feb 1, 2002

GOING NO WHERE FAST In his book "Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life", the author Charles Swindoll tells a story about the 19th Century agnostic Thomas Huxley (some of you might know that it was Huxley who promoted Darwinism and Humanism in his attacks on Christianity). Huxley was in Dublin and ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 1:1-22, Exodus 2:11-23

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers, Hurry, Knowing God's Will, Gospel, Assurance Of Salvation, Busy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Holiness

A Father Who Will Never Leave Us

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 31, 2021

A FATHER WHO WILL NEVER LEAVE US Devotional written by Dr. Larry Petton When I was pastoring in Texas, a sweet little girl came up to me once and said, "Pastor Larry, will Jesus ever leave me if I trust in Him?" I knelt down beside the little girl and said, "Why do you ask me ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:1-5

Tags: Holy Spirit, Assurance, God's Faithfulness, Our Father In Heaven, The Son Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If Jesus Is Like My Daddy, I Don't Want Him In My Life.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 1, 2023

When I was pastoring in Texas, I was asked by one of our AWANA leaders to come to her group and talk to a little girl who really wanted to meet her pastor. She had a question for me. So, I paused what I was doing and found my way to where her group met in our church. The little girl was so ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Tags: Evangelism, Fear, Children, Parents, Trust, Divorce, Assurance, Promises Of God, Fathers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Eight Lies About Hell

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 6, 2022

HERE ARE 8 LIES OF THE DEVIL CONCERNING HELL. Unfortunately, many of these lies are found in pulpits, churches, seminaries or college campuses. 1.Hell is not a place, it is a state of mind (16:22 – “he died”). 2. Hell is annhiliation. When you die, you no longer exist! 3. Hell is ...read more

Tags: Hell, False Teachers, Death, Eternity, Deception, Satan, Lake Of Fire, Judgment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ted Turner Turned Away From God

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 20, 2022

Cable television mogul Ted Turner criticized conservative Christianity and said, "Jesus probably would be sick at his stomach" over the way his ideas have been "twisted" by today's preachers, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Turner made his remarks at a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: False Professors, Deception, Bitterness, Last Days, Unbelief, Apostasy, Denying The Truth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[021] A Message From A Poem - Artificial People Living Artificial Lives

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 26, 2024

[021] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - ARTIFICIAL PEOPLE LIVING ARTIFICIAL LIVES They say you can’t trust funeral directors, real estate agents (relators) and used car salesmen. That may be a generalisation but I think it does contain an element of truth. Anyway, moving to the core of the subject here ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:3

Tags: Artificial Lives, Hypoctites, Rolex, Play Actor, False, Fake, Artificial, Pretence  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

V. Mcgee Estimates That 75% Of The Members Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jan 31, 2001

.V. McGee estimates that 75% of the members of the average church might not be genuinely saved.(religious club) Billy Graham states that 80% of those who make salvation ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 7:1-8

Tags: Great Commission, Legalism, Jesus Teachings, Eleven Disciple, Becoming A Christian, Assurance Of Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

The Story Of The Chair

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 22, 2024

Those of you who have heard of Evangelism Explosion by D. James Kennedy know the illustration of the chair. You know, a person can say ‘Yes, I see that chair. That’s a chair. I acknowledge that’s a chair. I believe that’s a chair. And I think that chair could hold me up if I sat in it.’ But ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:10-13, Ephesians 4:30-32

Tags: Cross, Assurance, Blood Of Jesus, Faith In Christ, Works, Grace, Mercy, Trust, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[151]. A Message From A Poem – Jeremiah’s Description – Prophets Of Wind

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 1, 2025

[151]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JEREMIAH’S DESCRIPTION – PROPHETS OF WIND The catalyst for this poem was one verse in Jeremiah. It is Jeremiah 5:13. The prophet always had awful opposition from false prophets, and the people preferred the false ones. Josiah’s sons did of course. Jeremiah did ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 4:9, Jeremiah 2:26, Jeremiah 5:12-13

Tags: Christian Poems, Prophets Of Wind, Jeremiah, Persecution, Judgment, Wind, False Prophets, Liars  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Years Ago, My Youngest Daughter, Marilyn, And I ...  PRO

Contributed by Don Hutto on Jan 27, 2001

Years ago, my youngest daughter, Marilyn, and I went shopping for Connie. It’s hard. You wives, it’s hard for a man to shop for his wife because we don’t know what you want, and we don’t want to get that for you, anyway. But Marilyn and I thought we had found the perfect gift: a nightgown. You can ...read more

Tags: Thirst For God, Know God, Hunger For God, Lordship Of Christ, God's Provision, Assurance Of Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Next Time You’re In An Airport Notice The ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Feb 1, 2001

Next time you’re in an airport notice the difference between passengers who have confirmed tickets and those on standby (Hybels, Too Busy Not to Pray 113). Those who have confirmed tickets are relaxed, their confident and expectant. Those on standby hang around the ticket counter, they pace and ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-16, Genesis 4:1, 1 John 5:11-13

Tags: Faith, Confusion, Assurance Of Salvation, Born Again, God Brings Hope, Forgiveness In Jesus, Uncertainty  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I'm Part Of The Fellowship Of The Unashamed. The ...  PRO

Contributed by John Gullick on Oct 21, 2003

I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done ...read more

Tags: Dedication, Commitment, Commitment To Christ, Born Again, Assurance Of Salvation, New Life, Promise, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed