In Sermon Illustrations: "First Love"

Relationships Inside And Out

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 5, 2013

RELATIONSHIPS INSIDE AND OUT If I saw our relationship (with his wife) as a bunch of rules I had to keep, I would quickly become bitter and miserable. I would likely rebel and break the rules when she wasn’t paying attention. But I am passionately in love with my wife and that translates into a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:13-36

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Quotations On Truth  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Mar 6, 2013

QUOTATIONS ON TRUTH Where I found truth, there found I my God, who is the truth itself (Augustine). Genuine spiritual knowledge lies not in wonderful and mysterious thoughts but in actual spiritual experience through union of the believer's life with truth. When a truth is unfolded by God it most ...read more

Scripture: John 16:13, John 16:33-38, Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 6:33, Philippians 4:4-5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Truth

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Few Who Bear His Cross  PRO

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jul 18, 2013

FEW WHO BEAR HIS CROSS In Thomas á Kempis' book, The Imitation of Christ he says, Jesus has many who love his kingdom in heaven, but few who bear his cross. He has many who desire comfort, but few who desire suffering. He finds many to share his feast, but few his fasting. All desire to rejoice ...read more

Scripture: John 12:24-26, Galatians 2:20, Luke 12:32-40, Mark 11:1

Tags: Lordship, Following Jesus

Denomination: Nazarene

Intercessory Prayer

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 19, 2018

Richard Foster in his book "Prayer: Finding the Hearts True Home", says that intercession is a way of loving others. Intercessory prayer is selfless prayer, even self-giving prayer. "Intercessory prayer is priestly ministry, and one of the most challenging teachings in the New Testament is the ...read more

Tags: Prayer, Pray For One Another, Prayer And Obedience

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Special Occasion  PRO

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on May 8, 2008

A SPECIAL OCCASION If you are waiting for a special house guest or a special occasion to use something you cherish in your house, consider the following following article by Ann Wells that appeared several years ago in the Los Angeles Times: My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

Tags: Happiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Queen's Christmas Tree

Contributed by John Moyer on Dec 16, 2008

THE QUEEN'S CHRISTMAS TREE Among the cards we've received over the years, some were those Guidepost Christmas cards with stories in them. This is one of those stories. It was the first Saturday of the Advent season in Europe. The Queen’s royal woodsmen were searching the royal forest for the ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Holiness

Root Beer Thirst --- ...

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Apr 3, 2010

Root Beer Thirst --- --- As a kid in High School, I loved to go to amusement parks, and so did my friends. We only had a couple of amusement parks in the SF Bay Area and my high school buddies and I were able to convince our parents to drop us off at one of these amusement parks that was like a six ...read more

Tags: Stress

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Power Of Presence

Contributed by Eduardo Quintana on Jun 12, 2017

Long before I became a Dad, I had strong opinions about fathering. Perhaps it’s because I came along quite late in my father’s life. He was 47 years old. To say I was a surprise would be an understatement! But, my Dad rose to the challenge! Like my sister and brother before me, I became his pride ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:3

Tags: Parenting, Legacy, Fatherhood

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[202]. A Message From A Poem – Pictures From A Counting Song - (Part 1)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 16, 2025

[202]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – PICTURES FROM A COUNTING SONG - (PART 1) THIS IS PART 1 OF THE POEM WITH PART 2 TO FOLLOW IN THE NEXT POSTING. “ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE” OR “1, 2, BUCKLE MY SHOE” is a counting song dating back to late 18th century in the USA. It was heard for the first time ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:2-5

Tags: Nursery Rhyme, Christian Poems, Wrentham Massachusetts, Christian Application, Counting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[202]. A Message From A Poem – Pictures From A Counting Song – (Part 2)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 16, 2025

[202]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – PICTURES FROM A COUNTING SONG – (PART 2) THIS SECOND PART OF THE POEM IS PART 2. IT CONTINUES FROM THE PREVIOUS POST. “ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE” OR “1, 2, BUCKLE MY SHOE” is a counting song dating back to late 18th century in the USA. It was heard for the first ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Counting Song, Song For Children, Wrentham Massachusetts, Songs For The Nursery, Christian Application, Nursery Rhyme, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[055]. A Message From A Poem – Death For The Christian

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 12, 2025

[055]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DEATH FOR THE CHRISTIAN We deal with a subject today we often like to forget about. When we are young we give it little thought but when we are old, it tends to preoccupy our minds a lot more. This poem is not so much about the subject of death itself, as it is ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:18, 2 Corinthians 5:8, Hebrews 9:27

Tags: Egypt, Poetry, Poem, Christian Death, Absent From The Body, Keys Of Death And Hades, Death, Fear  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Helpful Background On The Book Of Jonah

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Oct 7, 2025

BACKGROUND: *Today we will study the story of the Prophet Jonah. And it may surprise you but Jonah's story has some crucial lessons for Christians today. Almost everybody who has been to church knows the story of Jonah. It's one of the first Bible stories we learn as kids. They even made a ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-17, Jonah 4:1-11

Tags: Evangelism, Jonah, Nineveh, Storms, Gentiles, Old Testament Prophets, Baal Worship, Assyrian Empire, Sharks, Whales, Mediterranean Sea, Swallowed  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Pleasure Comes From Pain  PRO

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Feb 7, 2002

PLEASURE COMES FROM PAIN The world's best cyclist, Lance Armstrong, says this about pain: I become a happier man each time I suffer. Suffering is as essential to a good life, and as inextricable, as bliss. The old saying that you should live each day as if it’s your last is a nice sentiment, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1

Tags: Endurance, Disciplines General, Human Body

Denomination: Baptist

Last Week, Bernie Came To The Church Door. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Oct 9, 2002

Last week, Bernie came to the church door. He showed up about five minutes before I was getting ready to leave for an appointment, and my first response to his arrival was, oh, no, not now. Bernie had been drinking – I could smell it on his breath. He was sweating profusely and was a little bit ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:13-20

Tags: Fellowship

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Testimony Of Iris Blue

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 8, 2013

TESTIMONY OF IRIS BUE God is still welcoming prostitutes and publicans into His kingdom. Iris Blue grew up in Houston, Texas. She lived a rebellious life and got involved in drugs, alcohol and prostitution when she was a teenager. When she was seventeen she was arrested and spent seven years in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:28-32

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

[200]. A Message From A Poem – On The Emmaus Road – Easter Poem

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 13, 2025

[200]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – ON THE EMMAUS ROAD – EASTER POEM The greatest bible study in history happened on the road leading to Emmaus. The reason why the disciples, who were still in shock, did not understand the events that were unfolding rapidly before them, was that they did not ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:35, Luke 24:30-31, Luke 24:32, 2 Timothy 3:16, Luke 24:13-35, Luke 24:27  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Scripture, Easter, Bible Study, Cleopas, The Emmaus Road, Breaking Of Bread, Burning Hearts, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christianstein  PRO

Contributed by Ray Navarro on Dec 7, 2001

It was a dark and stormy night. You could hear the thunder in the distance. Bats flapped their wings in the darkness of the night. There the castle stood. The wolves were howling; the trees were swaying in the wind as it whistled. And inside the castle, a faint light shown…from a ...read more

Scripture: James 5:7-9, James 5:7-9, Luke 9:28-62, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Tags: Family, Misconceptions, Patience, Restore, Inclusive, Jesus Teachings, Joy, Tithe, Welcome  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Adventist

Tale Of Two Kings  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2002

TALE OF TWO KINGS Two of the greatest love stories ever told. The one, at Camelot; the other, at Calvary. Two of the noblest kings ever to live. The one, King Arthur; the other, King of the Jews. The one is adorned with a jeweled crown; the other, with a crown of thorns. The comparisons ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:33-35, John 10:15-18

Tags: Cross, Crucifixion, Forgiveness In Jesus

Caterpillar And Butterfly

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 8, 2019

Robert J. Morgan in PREACHER’S SOURCEBOOK OF CREATIVE SERMON ILLUSTRATIONS tells of the story… Seems there was an enemy that had a beautiful princess trapped in his palace tower. The strong, handsome knight loved his princess so much and he wanted to do a surprise attack and free his princess ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:23-24

Tags: Better Vs Bitter, Attitudes

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Not Afraid To Offend God

Contributed by Jw Worcester on Feb 8, 2021

The true “Lord’s Prayer” is John 17, also sometimes called the High Priestly Prayer. In verses 1 – 20 Jesus had already prayed for Himself and His mission. He also prayed for His disciples. Jesus prayed this prayer before Jesus and the disciples left for the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: John 17:22, John 17:24

Tags: Grieve, Knowing Jesus