In Sermon Illustrations: "Fervent Love"

Is Your Church An Encyclopedia?

Contributed by Perry Greene on Feb 13, 2013

IS YOUR CHURCH AN ENCYCLOPEDIA? There is a story about a man who was walking down the street. He passed a used-book store, and in the window he saw a book with the title, "How to Hug." He was taken by the title and, being of a somewhat romantic nature, went in to buy the book. To his chagrin, he ...read more

Tags: Church, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Faith

Contributed by John Hardwick on Aug 1, 2015

Faith, as a mustard seed, is when it’s raining enough to need the windshield wipers once a minute, but not enough to set it on auto. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Faith, Amazing Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Free For The Taking: Grace

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 18, 2017

Joseph Cooke was a missionary to Thailand a generation ago. He illustrated grace this way. Picture a happily married couple in which both husband and wife are all that either could ever wish the other to be. The husband always respects his wife’s feelings, always treasures her individuality, is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:8-9, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5:8

Tags: Grace, Love Of God

Denomination: Charismatic

The Houston Hero

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Aug 30, 2017

Abe Minor, a man nicknamed “The Houston Hero,” has been rescuing people all week. He started by being sent by his wife to rescue her friend’s family, which included four kids, one of which was an infant. As he was going there, others called out for his help as they saw him with his boat. He said ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-13

Tags: Service, Love, Serve

Denomination: Lutheran

A Story Of Adoption From India

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 24, 2019

In Bihar, India there is a man named Augustine Jubakumar. He leads a missions called Gospel Echoing Missionary Society. (Gems). In 2015 I had the privilege to visit India and teach in several bible schools and preach in several churches. GEMS includes schools, orphanages, bible schools, a hospital ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:4-7

Tags: Love, Salvation, Adoption

Denomination: Pentecostal

Saved From The Guttermost To The Uttermost

Contributed by Dr. David Hallum on Sep 11, 2019

Introduction: Larry Johnson was an oil field hand. Big, loud, cursing, drinking, woman chasing and completely anti-God. He worked on one of the dirtiest jobs in the old field – he ran a workover crew. Those guys NEVER came home clean. They were covered in grime, sludge and oil from head to toe ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-13

Tags: Love, Salvation, Joy

Denomination: Baptist

Hey! Get Your Own!

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 19, 2019

A few years ago, my wife and I were on vacation, traveling through a Midwestern state. Supper time was getting near, so we thought we’d get a drive-through meal. She wanted an ice cream cone so, I ordered one for her. The young lady working at the drive through window gave me the cone, and I handed ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:19

Tags: Love, Fellowship, Blessings

Denomination: Baptist

Reprove An Erring Brother, Do Not Reproach Him

Contributed by James Dina on Oct 7, 2020

REPROVE AN ERRING BROTHER, DO NOT REPROACH HIM Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, reprove a wise man and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning." (Proverbs 9:8-9) We should have respect ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:8

Tags: Reprove, Correct In Love

Denomination: Pentecostal

Reprender A Un Hermano Descarriado, No Le Reproches

Contributed by James Dina on Oct 7, 2020

REPRENDER A UN HERMANO DESCARRIADO, NO LE REPROCHES No reprendas a los burlones,o acabarán por odiarte; mejor reprende a los sabios, y acabarán por amarte. Educa al sabio, y aumentará su sabiduría; enséñale algo al justo,y aumentará su saber.." (Proverbios ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:8

Tags: Reprove, Correct In Love

Denomination: Pentecostal

Reprove An Erring Brother, Do Not Reproach Him

Contributed by James Dina on Oct 7, 2020

REPROVE AN ERRING BROTHER, DO NOT REPROACH HIM Huwag mong pagsabihan ang isang scoffer, o kapopootan niya kayo, pagsabihan ang isang matalinong tao at mahal niya kayo. Magbigay ng tagubilin sa isang matalinong tao at magiging mas matalino pa rin siya, turuan ang isang mabuting tao at pag-iibayuhin ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:8

Tags: Reprove, Correct In Love

Denomination: Pentecostal

Don't Magnify Yourself Against Those That Are Fallen

Contributed by James Dina on Oct 9, 2020

DON'T MAGNIFY YOURSELF AGAINST THOSE THAT ARE FALLEN "If indeed you will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach" (Job 19:5) 1. Many people forget their own frailty, how easy is it for them to fall. We should be taught by the mistakes of others to avoid being ...read more

Scripture: Job 19:5, Psalm 35:26

Tags: Love, Exaltation, Correction

Denomination: Pentecostal

No Te Magnificarse A SÍ Mismo Contra Los DemÁs

Contributed by James Dina on Oct 9, 2020

NO TE MAGNIFICARSE A SÍ MISMO CONTRA LOS DEMÁS "Si en verdad os engrandecéis contra mí, y alegáis contra mí mi oprobio" (Job 19:5) 1. Mucha gente olvida su propia debilidad, lo fácil que es para ellos caer. Deberíamos ser enseñados por los ...read more

Scripture: Job 19:5, Psalm 35:26

Tags: Love, Exaltation, Correction

Denomination: Pentecostal

Unworthy

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Dec 17, 2020

I am not worthy to be called a child of God/man of God or even to call His name. His grace, love and shed blood makes me those things ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:15

Tags: Grace, Love, Blood

Denomination: Baptist

No Matter How Much The Church Wants To Reach ...

Contributed by Tony Abram on Mar 30, 2009

No matter how much the church wants to reach out, growth will not happen if the building and ...read more

Tags: Discipleship, Love Of The Disciples

I Met A Young Girl Who Was Brought Up In The ...

Contributed by Ramon Canals on Jun 5, 2009

I met a young girl who was brought up in the church, had all the advantages of christian home, loving father and mother. But she wanted to experiment the world. She wanted to have more freedom than what her parents were giving her and so she came to NY and as she tried to board the subway somebody ...read more

Tags: Sin, Love For God

Denomination: Adventist

What Would Most People Say If They Were Asked, ...

Contributed by Bradley Kellum on Aug 25, 2009

"What would most people say if they were asked, "What pops into your mind when you hear the word Christian?" What do you think most people would say? Legalistic? Judgemental? Intolerant? I am convinced that way too few of them would say, "The word that pops into my mind is love." Yet love is ...read more

Tags: Disciples, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Baptist

It's Like A Poison. It Can Take You Over. ...

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Oct 6, 2009

It’s like a poison. It can take you over. Before you know it, it can turn us into ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 28:28

Tags: Power, Love For God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

King Midas Got What His Heart Longed For. How He ...

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Oct 25, 2009

King Midas got what his heart longed for. How he loved gold! Now everything he touched turned to gold. An oak twig. A rock. He had what his heart treasured, until his little ...read more

Tags: Money, Love Of Money

Denomination: Lutheran

When Things Get Smelly!

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Aug 22, 2021

When I was around eight, we were visiting some cousins out on the farm and as all kids back then we played tag. I went zipping around the barn and stepped in a slick patty. I fell, slid and rolled through a copious amount of bovine excrement. When I was able to stand up I went to the porch and ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 16:4-12

Tags: Love, Forgiveness, Stink

Denomination: Baptist

Marriage Insight

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Nov 15, 2021

Destructive to marriage is the self fulfillment ethic that assumes marriage and the family are primarily institutions of personal fulfillment, necessary for us to become whole or happy. The assumption is that there is someone just right for us to marry and that if we look closely enough we will ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-33

Tags: Relationships, Love, Marriage

Denomination: Pentecostal