In Sermon Illustrations: "False Believer"

[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

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

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

[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

The Big Fat Lie Of Temptation

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 8, 2024

John Piper says that sin (lust for example) "gets its power by persuading me to believe that I will be much happier if I will follow it. The power of all temptation is the prospect that it will make me happier." And all of God's children ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Lies, False Teaching, Tests, Lusts, Deception, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Happiness, Truth, Temptation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Just Before The Outbreak Of The First World War, ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Emmert on May 22, 2001

Just before the outbreak of the First World War, a small ship named the Endurance set sail from Briton with a crew intent on being the first to cross the South Pole. The ship reached Antarctica, but became ice bound in the Weddle Sea. Soon they had to abandon their ship and the 28-man crew took ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4

Tags: Giving, Holy Spirit In Believers, Guidance, Bible Influence, Bible Study  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

In The Center Of Controversy  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Jan 11, 2002

IN THE CENTER OF CONTROVERSY In many Christian circles the Holy Spirit is either neglected, forgotten, or misunderstood. The One given to unite the body of Christ is the center of controversy… So often Christian work is so rigidly programmed that it seems we need no longer depend on Him--yet ...read more

Tags: Trinity, Holy Spirit General, Holy Spirit In Believers, Holy Spirit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Is A Story About A Vaccum Salesman Down In ...  PRO

Contributed by Darrell Boone on Jul 17, 2002

There is a story about a vaccum salesman down in Tennesee. He was out in rural Tennesee. He had a his vacum cleaner and all of this tools and everything, and he went out there and he told a lady, "I’ve got the most exciting vacum cleaner you have ever seen. It will clean your house from top to ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit In Believers, Holy Spirit General, Anointing

Denomination: United Methodist

The Fundamental Idea Of Spirit In Hebrew And ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on Apr 6, 2005

“The Fundamental idea of Spirit in Hebrew and Greek is breath, air, wind, storm – the intensity depending on the context. It may be a gentle breath (John 20:22), a gale-force wind (Ex 15:8), a cooling breeze (Gen 3:8). Most essentially Spirit is transcendent and divine, not mere flesh; it is the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:17-18, Psalm 69:1-3, 1 Samuel 17:1

Tags: Holy Spirit Baptism, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit In Believers, Spirit

Denomination: *other

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

If A Man Is Filled With Anger, Than Anger ...  PRO

Contributed by Emile Wolfaardt on Jul 13, 2001

If a man is filled with anger, than anger controls his life. If a man is filled with greed, then greed dominates his life. If a man is filled with lust, then lust governs his life. If a man is filled with love, then love influences all he does. And if a man is filled with ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18, Romans 8:14-17, Ephesians 1:13-14, 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Greed, Holy Spirit In Believers, Dominate, Emotions, Anger, Control  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: *other

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

Living Without Power  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

LIVING WITHOUT POWER The story is told of an elderly woman named Norena, who lived in southern Florida. When a hurricane hit that area, her home was one of many that was severely damaged. Norena received an insurance settlement, and the repair work began. However, when the money ran out, so did ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Holy Spirit, Gift, Power, Truth, Living Without, Holy Spirit In Believers  (view more)  (view less)

John Harper's Last Convert

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 22, 2024

A man stood up in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada four years after the sinking of the Titanic in a testimony meeting and this is what he said. He said, “I am a survivor of the Titanic. When I was drifting alone on that awful night, the tide brought a man toward me in the sea and his name was John ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25-34

Tags: Testimony, Witnessing, Lost, Saved, Evangelism, Faith, Death, Believe, Trust, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don't Be A Casanova.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 2, 2022

CASANOVA was renown for his self-indulgence, lust and hundreds of affairs. He ended his life in deception. On his death bed at the age of 73, he never repented, but simply said "I have lived as a philosopher and die as a Christian!" He has become so famous for his affairs with women ...read more

Tags: Obedience, Lost, Unsaved, False Assurance, Hearers, Doers, Hell, Eternity, Deception, 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

A Professor One Day Demonstrated To His Class ...  PRO

Contributed by Johnny Bley on Jul 11, 2001

A professor one day demonstrated to his class the power of an electro-magnet. He placed 2 lbs. of nails on a table with the wires of an electo-magnet under the table. When he flipped the switch, the nails came togehter and he was able to form the nails into various shapes as long as the current ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience, Gifts Discernment, Holy Spirit In Believers, Oneness, Power Of Unity, Unity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

[152]. A Message From A Poem – Jesus Christ Is All In All In All Matters

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 1, 2025

[152]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JESUS CHRIST IS ALL IN ALL IN ALL MATTERS This is the only poem I have written this way. It is quite unusual as you see with scattered words that rhyme, and play on words. I think of it as one long thread with all these points hanging from it. I don’t expect ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:23, 1 Corinthians 15:28

Tags: All In All, Believe, Gift, Cost, Friend, Christian Poetry, Christian Poem, Pain  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational