In Sermon Illustrations: "Fire Of God"

Is The Bible Relevant?

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 19, 2013

IS THE BIBLE RELEVANT? "As far as reliability is concerned, it's only fair to note that the Bible contains the best documented text of any volume in human history. Perhaps the most amazing support comes from the Dead Sea scrolls which were discovered in 1947 after lying in the Qumran caves for ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Grace And Matthew

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 12, 2013

GRACE AND MATTHEW These days people don't know Matthew as a failure and embarrassment who sold his soul to the Romans for a job. We know Matthew as a follower of Jesus who wrote the first book of the New Testament. It's important to understand that the grace of God doesn't simply invite us to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:27-31

Tags: Grace, Jesus Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Meaning Of Life. The Wasted Years Of Life. ...  PRO

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 23, 2013

The meaning of life. The wasted years of life. The poor choices of life. God answers the mess of life with one word: grace. We talk as though we understand the term. The bank gives us a grace period. The seedy politician falls from grace. Musicians speak of a grace note. We describe an ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:32

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Staying On The Path  PRO

Contributed by Scott Bradford on Jun 20, 2013

TWO MILES OF DITCH I was headed home late from a wedding reception and had about a two hour drive when a friend said to me, "Remember that for every mile you drive there are two miles of ditch". I was in the car before that really sunk in, and then it hit me, for every path we walk, there are ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-14, John 21:15-17

Tags: Disciples, Journey, Backslide, Faith Journey

Denomination: United Methodist

Forgiveness For Everyone?

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 11, 2015

Lloyd Prator writes, “Take Adolph Hitler or better Joseph Stalin because he killed more people. What if, at the last minute, as Stalin lay dying, he turned his heart to Jesus and confessed his sins? Suppose he repented at the last minute, repented of the 14 million Russians Stalin killed… Would he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-43

Tags: Forgiveness, Repentance

Denomination: Methodist

Life's Challenges

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Apr 18, 2017

Whenever I think about how difficult life is, I'm always reminded and encouraged by these two verses, especially this week. Imagine this: Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and God's only Son, who is about to be arrested and crucified for me ... prays for me. What if we treated one another like this ...read more

Scripture: John 17:11-12

Tags: Life Challenge, Servanthood, Faith In Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Must We Do To Get Married?

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Jan 12, 2019

A couple once asked me: "What must we do to get married?" I answered: "All you have to do is say, I do." But, I ask you, was this all? What about the ring, the marriage license, the blood test and the wedding ceremony? Are these also parts of getting married? In marriage, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:30-31, Hebrews 11:1

Tags: I Do, Faith In 3d, Commitment, Salvation, Obedience, Confession, Purpose, Foundation, Faith, Love, Marriage  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Identifying With Christ

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 15, 2019

During the Civil War a man by the name of George Wyatt was drawn by lot to go to the front. He had a wife and six children. A young man named Richard Pratt offered to go in his stead. He was accepted and joined the ranks, bearing the name and number of George Wyatt. Before long Pratt was killed in ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-13

Tags: Christ Our Substitute, Identifying With Christ, The Exchanged Life, Crucifixion To Self

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christmas Eve Communion Confession

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Nov 23, 2019

Confession O Lord, we remember you, O Lamb of God Born this day to take away the sin of the world; O Word become flesh, Who came down to share our humanity; You alone are worthy. Help us remember You not only with our lips, But with our hearts as well; Help our lives proclaim Your truth. As we ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Tags: Christmas, Communion, Christmas Eve, Confession

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Lesson On Purity From Ermine

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 9, 2020

In the forests of Northern Europe lives the ermine, a small animal best known for his snow-white fur, which is his protection and security. Instinctively, he protects his glossy coat with great care lest it become soiled. Hunters often capitalize on this trait. Instead of setting a mechanical trap ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Purity, Righteousness, Beatitudes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Boy Eating Apple

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 17, 2021

A four-year-old boy was eating an apple in the back seat of the car, when he asked, "Daddy, why is my apple turning brown?" "Because," his dad explained, "after you ate the skin off, the meat of the apple came into contact with the air, which caused it to oxidize, thus ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:28

Tags: Bible, Understanding

Denomination: Methodist

Epitaphs

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 17, 2021

The Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, has an exhibit of unique epitaphs. Give a few. Near Uniontown, Pennsylvania there’s a gravestone that reads, “Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake. He stepped on the gas instead of the brake.” Boot Hill Cemetery in Tombstone, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Tags: Death, Headstones, Epitaphs

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Motherhood And Compassion

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 19, 2022

Motherhood and Compassion. A few days ago, I made a marvelous discovery. In the Hebrew language of the Old Testament the word for “compassion” comes from the root word, “womb.” The picture is of a birthing. It is also the picture of a faithful mother giving all she's got to bring a little ...read more

Tags: Children, Compassion, Women, Mothers, Mother's Day, New Birth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Love Them Like Jesus

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Mar 25, 2009

LOVE THEM LIKE JESUS Dr Tom Hermiz in his book on Holiness tells of being in a motel room in Columbus Ohio before preaching three times on Sunday at a missionary conference. The people in the next room had a loud party, and at 1 am he called the front desk, and they called the room. But it was ...read more

Tags: Sermon On The Mount

Denomination: Wesleyan

Bbc America Hosts Nutritionist Gillian Mckeith ...

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Apr 10, 2009

BBC America hosts nutritionist Gillian McKeith who works with unhealthy eaters to break lifetimes of bad habits. BBC introduces their webpage with this introduction: Is your fridge stocked full of fresh fruits, vegetables and lean meats OR is it full of fat-filled, overly salted processed ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Denomination: Salvation Army

A Few Days Ago I Was Driving My Kids To School ...

Contributed by David Rumley on Apr 16, 2009

A few days ago i was driving my kids to school and as a treat we went through the drive through donut shop and got donut holes for them. Healthy i know... i figured a sugar rush for the teachers would be fun... i gave the kids their bag of holes, each having 12 very important sugary holes in ...read more

Tags: Stewardship

Denomination: Pentecostal

Gentle Dogmatism  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jun 18, 2009

GENTLE DOGMATISM We have gotten accustomed to the blurred puffs of gray fog that pass for doctrine in churches and expect nothing better. From some previously unimpeachable sources are now coming vague statements consisting of a milky admixture of Scripture, science, and human sentiment that is ...read more

Tags: Apostasy

Denomination: Baptist

A Gentle Dogmatism

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Aug 11, 2009

A GENTLE DOGMATISM A. W. Tozer said, "We have gotten accustomed to the blurred puffs of gray fog that pass for doctrine in churches and expect nothing better. From some previously unimpeachable sources are now coming vague statements consisting of a milky admixture of Scripture, science, and ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Have You Ever Watched A Cat Hunt? I Saw A ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 10, 2009

Have you ever watched a cat hunt? I saw a neighborhood cat creep up on a rabbit. When the cat was about 20’ away, the rabbit saw the cat. They both froze not moving a muscle. The rabbit’s heart was probably beating 200mph waiting to see if this thing was a threat. They actually sat there for a good ...read more

Tags: Ministry, Stewardship

Denomination: Church Of God

Those Strong Urges

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 14, 2009

THOSE STRONG URGES Gary Dougherty, a co-worker at RBC Ministries, was walking home from church one evening when he saw a young man coming from the opposite direction. A strong urge came over Gary to talk with him about becoming a Christian. He hesitated at first, but then he said to this total ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Independent/Bible