In Sermon Illustrations: "Fathers Love"

God Was Building Someone I Didn't Have In Mind

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 18, 2026

I've got an idea of the kind of person that I want to be. Anyone else? In fact, that's probably one of the reasons that I'm so hard on myself sometimes. One of the reasons that I may not like me, at times, maybe as much as I should, is because I want to be the kind of person that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 16:11, Proverbs 16:9

Tags: God's Plan, Calling

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Evangelism Quotes And Illustrations  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Apr 19, 2004

Evangelism Quotes and Illustrations 1. Paul Harvey said, "Too many Christians are no longer fishers of men but keepers of the aquarium." 2. Paul Little in his book "How to Give Away Your Faith" defines witnessing: "Witnessing is that deep-seated conviction that the greatest favor I can do for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Tags: Men, What Is Evangelism?, Wise

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Making The Best Of The ‘best'!" 1 Thessalonians ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 11, 2005

“Making The Best of The ‘Best’!” 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 Key verse(s) 15:“According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.” “I did my best, really!” With tear-streaked face ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

Tags: Peace, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Lutheran

No Use But Useful  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 10, 2007

ILLUSTRATION: “No Use but Useful” Elderly Sister Ann in China was born into quite an educated family. She had four brothers who all became doctors. She, however, was not even taught how to read and write. She began to train as a nurse, but her father fell ill and she was required to nurse him. ...read more

Denomination: Other

Pioneer

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 27, 2020

Time Magazine's obituary - Dr. Wilfred Thomason Grenfell's October 21, 1940. Oct. 21, 1940 - Wilfred Grenfell spent his boyhood on the Sands of Dee near Cheshire, England. He used to filch biscuits and wine from his school larder to give to fishermen as they left at dawn to catch the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, Romans 12:1-8

Tags: Service, Sacrifice, Commitment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No Jacket Required  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 27, 2004

NO JACKET REQUIRED I shook my head in disbelief. This couldn’t be the right place. After all, I couldn’t possibly be welcome here. I had been given an invitation several times, by several different people, and had finally decided to see what this place was all about. But, this just couldn’t be ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

As I Was Growing Up With A Younger Brother And ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Goble on Oct 30, 2007

As I was growing up with a younger brother and sister, one of our favorite games to play was baseball. We had a plastic bat and ball, and we would team up with some of the neighborhood kids and play ball in the back yard. On one particular occasion my mom took our bat away from us because we were ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:16-21

Tags: Forgiveness, Blood, Satan, Giving, Selfless, Care, Regeneration, Sacrificial, Young Men, Fear Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Finishing Well

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

John Baker was too short and too slight to be a runner for his high school track team but he loved to run. His best friend was tall and lanky and had the perfect build to be a runner but wanted nothing to do with the sport. So John went to the track coach to convince him to let John on the team ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24

Tags: Finish, Running The Race, Overcoming, Ending Well

Denomination: Methodist

I’m So Poor I Can’t Pay Attention

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 25, 2023

Occasionally I go to my computer and search for the wealthiest preachers in America. I am curious to know who came up with this idea, but I check it out occasionally to see who they are. As often as I have checked this information, I have never found my name on that list. I so much wanted to see ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:9-10

Tags: Poor, Wealth, Rich

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

From Roast Turkey To Reindeer

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 9, 2023

Nothing is more confusing than being in the middle of two holidays. I have just finished Thanksgiving, and now Christmas is before me. Each year, it gets more difficult to adjust to the next holiday. It’s hard for me to keep up. For months, the focus was on that roast turkey for Thanksgiving. And ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Turkey, Reindeer, Christmas, Thanksgiving

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

[072]. A Poem Message – Excerpts Certain Psalms Part 3 – Psalms 40, 31

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 1, 2025

[072]. A POEM MESSAGE – EXCERPTS CERTAIN PSALMS PART 3 – PSALMS 40, 31 {{Psalm 33:1-3 “SING FOR JOY in the LORD, O you righteous ones. Praise is becoming to the upright. Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre. SING PRAISES TO HIM with a harp of ten strings. SING TO HIM A NEW SONG. Play ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:1-3, Psalm 31:15, Psalm 40:3, Psalm 40:6-8, Psalm 31:14, Psalm 31:7  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Sacrifice, Psalms, Trust, Deliver, New Song, Secret Place  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[179]. A Message From A Poem – Lost Three Things - Lost One Coin

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 27, 2025

[179]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – LOST THREE THINGS - LOST ONE COIN In this trilogy of poems we are looking at three objects lost – a sheep, a coin and a son. All three were loved and precious and the owners knew stress at the lost. When each was found it resulted in great rejoicing. These three ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 11:8, Genesis 6:6, Luke 15:8-10

Tags: Lost And Found, Rejoicing, Heart Of God, The Heart Of God, Grieved, Christian Poems, Parable, Lost, Lost Coin  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[195]. Message From A Poem – Not In Degrees Or Pedigrees But On Your Knees

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 10, 2025

[195]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – NOT IN DEGREES OR PEDIGREES BUT ON YOUR KNEES One thing that used to frustrate me in teaching was to see really good teachers who did not get recognition because they did not have a string of degrees. The Education Department thinks the more qualifications, the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:4-8, Acts 4:13, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Apostle Peter, Poison, Equipped, Qualifications, Academic Degrees, Pedigrees, Holy Spirit, Pride, Appointment, Ability  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Keep Your Fork  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Jones on Feb 15, 2005

KEEP YOUR FORK There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things "in order," she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs ...read more

Tags: Death Nearness, Death, Knowledge, Funerals Christian

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Eternal Kiss! (06.08.05--Family--Gen. ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 6, 2005

The Eternal Kiss! (06.08.05--Family--Gen. 27:33-37) The most powerful institution on earth! No, it’s not the United State Congress or the Supreme Court for that matter. And it isn’t the Presidency, the World Court or the United Nations. Although such institutions are singularly powerful and no one ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 27:33-37

Tags: Parenting, Children

Denomination: Lutheran

No Dragons--Just God! (07.14.05--Tomorrow--2 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 12, 2005

No Dragons--Just God! (07.14.05--Tomorrow--2 Timothy 2:11-13) There’s an old adage that a little knowledge can be a very dangerous thing. Often what we think we know, based only on a scattering of a tidbit of knowledge here and there, can prove to be our undoing when we base our actions largely on ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:11-13

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Lutheran

Cut To Fit!  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 25, 2005

Cut To Fit! (08.29.05--Sickness!--Hebrews 12:6) Arthritis is a real drag. As active as you would like to be this day or any, if you are weighted down with joints that are sometimes swollen and often stiff, the day always seems sometime a bit longer, somehow harder to bear. I’ve been an arthritis ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:6

Tags: God In The Hardships, Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Lutheran

Penguins And Eagles! (09.02.05--Sickness!--Psalm ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 31, 2005

Penguins and Eagles! (09.02.05--Sickness!--Psalm 4:3) Soaring like eagles may sound good, but flopping around like a penguin can be a whole lot easier. Keeping our feet firmly planted on the ground may not always be the most glamorous of occupations, but it sure is safer and more accommodating ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 4:3

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: Lutheran

Not Mixed Veggies! (09.23.05--Grace ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 21, 2005

Not Mixed Veggies! (09.23.05--Grace Walks!--Isaiah 4:2-4) As we recently joined a local CSA, a farmer’s cooperative whereby we receive our vegetables on a regular basis from a local farm, our refrigerator has been pretty consistently stuffed with vegetables of all sorts. From squashes to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 4:2-4

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Lutheran

On Top Of Our Game! (09.27.05--Teach Me To ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 25, 2005

On Top of Our Game! (09.27.05--Teach Me to Pray!--Psalm 122:6-7) How many things are you passionate about in life? I remember many years ago during the Lombardi days and the good fortune of the Green Bay Packers. I was passionate about them. Between 1961 and 1969 I can honestly say that I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 122:6-7

Tags: Prayer Persistence, Prayer Supplication

Denomination: Lutheran