In Sermon Illustrations: "Forgive Them"

Encounters With Christ

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Oct 13, 2023

The great preacher Charles Spurgeon interprets part of Micah’s prophecy to refer to pre-New-Testament sightings of Jesus. He gives the examples of Abraham, Jacob, Joshua, and the three heroes of Babylonian Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Observe for a moment here, that each of these four great ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:24, Revelation 22:9, Daniel 3:25, Joshua 5:14, Genesis 18:22, Micah 2:13, Micah 5:2-4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Duty, Crisis, Courage

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Eclipses Mentioned In The Bible

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 6, 2024

The Bible contains several references to eclipses, both solar and lunar. Let’s explore some of these passages: Isaiah 13:10: “For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not flash forth their light; the sun will be dark when it rises, and the moon will not shed its light.” This ...read more

Tags: Last Days, Rapture, Tribulation, Signs, Return Of Christ, Solar Eclipse, End Times, Prophecy, Second Coming  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do Americans Believe In Supernatural Healing?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 9, 2024

Americans hold diverse spiritual beliefs when it comes to healing and the supernatural. Let’s explore some of these perspectives: 1. Belief in God or a Higher Power: Over 90% of U.S. adults believe in God or another higher power. Among them: 54% believe in “God as described in the Bible.” 34% ...read more

Tags: Heaven, America, Prayer, Miracles, Atheists, Faith, Hell, Healing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Are Here To Live, Not To Just Make A Living.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 10, 2024

In 1923 a very important meeting was held at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. Attending this meeting were nine of the world's most successful financiers: Charles Schwab, steel magnate: Samuel Insull, president of the largest utility company: Howard Hopson , president of the largest gas ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10

Tags: Greed, Life, Riches, Suicide, Fame, Death, Money, Wealth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Power To Be The Light

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Jun 3, 2024

Smartphones are amazing pieces of technology. Everything my generation went to RadioShack to purchase is now all together in the palm of our hand, including our flashlights. My grandfather loved flashlights. It was okay to get him a new one each year for Christmas or his birthday. He would take a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8, John 15:5

Tags: Light, Holy Spirit, Power

Denomination: Pentecostal

Contact With Another World

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 12, 2024

A group of scientists are directing their thoughts and needs into the heavens, but not to the God of the Bible. They have calculated that as many as fifty million civilizations may exist somewhere in space, and they believe that some of them may have found methods to improve our lives and control ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3, Mark 11:24

Tags: Faith, Prayer, Intercession, Believing, Asking, Scientists  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is He Welcome

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Feb 21, 2025

John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. Sadly, there are many buildings with church on the sign that Jesus is knocking on the door to get in. Some He has never been in and others He had been in but they turned Him by denying the Scriptures. Many people in those buildings ...read more

Scripture: John 1:11

Tags: Service, Wash, Salvation, Confession, Presence, Apostasy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

She Did Not Know Who She Was Talking To

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Mar 2, 2025

One day I called at the counter of the tiny post office in rural Arkansas to pick up a package they were holding for JPH (my company). When the lady bringing my package looked at the PO Box address on it, she said Oh good, you work for JPH. And I said Yes maam I do. She had been watching for ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 13:3, Ephesians 4:29

Tags: Words, Speech, Tongue

Denomination: Charismatic

Return Good For Evil - Martin Luther King

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on May 11, 2025

Jesus doesn’t just ask us to avoid revenge—he calls us to actively do good in return. Not because the other person deserves it, but because he deserves our obedience. And we’ve seen it lived out—not just in Bible times, but in our own history. Perhaps one of the clearest modern examples is Dr. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42

Tags: Evil, Martin Luther, Doing Good

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How Can We Know That We Are Truly Saved

Contributed by Hylton Davidson on Aug 13, 2025

Having assurance that one is saved is linked to the process called regeneration. Regeneration is not something a person initiates; it is a sovereign act of God. A person is born again when the Holy Spirit imparts spiritual life, enabling them to repent and believe in the gospel. This transformation ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Assurance, Saved

Denomination: Christian Church

How To Get Rid Of Your Preacher

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Sep 26, 2025

How to Get Rid of Your Preacher I heard the tale of a preacher Who was boring and out of touch. Most of his sermons were dry or dead, And he spoke softly way too much. He had heard an awful rumor, From church gossip it had been told, “The church was going to fire him, Hire a young one, handsome ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 3:15

Tags: Preaching, Pastor, Appreciation, Preachers, Pastor's Appreciation Day, Honor  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

God's Word Is A Sword

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 28, 2026

BIBLE ".... My word will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." END (Isaiah 55:11) So, unlike any other book, ... the Scriptures are (1 Finger) Living ...... (2 Fingers) and active and: (3 Fingers) Thirdly, ... It is a ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:11, Mark 14:47, Hebrews 4:12-16

Tags: Word, Piercing, Joints, Spirit, Soul, Alive, Living, Sword  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Dangers Of Consumerism

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 22, 2026

Listen to part of an article about the dangers of consumerism: “Among those who grow up in an affluent society, consumerism is the default attitude of most. While buying and selling have no moral or spiritual implications in themselves, the attitudes behind those activities can. Motives such as ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:15, Psalm 62:10

Tags: Greed, Consumerism, Affluence

Denomination: Methodist

The Following Quotes From People At Various ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Warren on Apr 19, 2001

The following quotes from people at various stages of their lives shows the maturity that should take place in our perspective toward God and the world around us. PROGRESSION OF WISDOM WITH AGE You can’t hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk. Age 7 I like my teacher ...read more

Tags: Parable General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

If I Were The Devil  PRO

Contributed by Jonathan Lucas on Jun 13, 2001

If I Were the Devil If I were the prince of darkness, I’d want to engulf the world in darkness, and I’d have a third of its real estate, and I’d have four-fifths of its population, but I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree. THEE. So I’d set about however necessary to ...read more

Tags: Devil, Sin, Satan, Sin Exposed, Sin Fall Of Man  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Pete O'brien Played First Base For The Texas ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 6, 2001

Pete O’Brien played first base for the Texas Rangers for several years & did so well that he was given a contract with the Seattle Mariners for multi-million dollars. He now plays first base in Seattle, but still lives in the Arlington area. Dennis Slaughter, minister of the Valley View Christian ...read more

Tags: Humility, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

An Old Lady Spent Much Of Her Summer Setting And ...  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 27, 2002

An old lady spent much of her summer setting and swinging in the old swing hanging on her front porch. Her husband had been dead several years and she had withdrawn from all but the closest family. Her lonely time grew and grew?? One spring day, the old lady went out in the garage and dug the old ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1, John 11:1-44

Tags: Disappointment

Denomination: Assembly Of God

For Years I Have Seen And Heard About The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 12, 2002

For years I have seen and heard about the division in churches over "correct" and "incorrect" forms of worship. I have seen it all from "you shouldn’t smile in church because you should fear the Lord" to the Ringling Brothers Circus service. Each group seems to think the other has missed the mark ...read more

Tags: Church Practices, Worship Definition

The Old Man And The Gulls  PRO

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Oct 25, 2002

THE OLD MAN AND THE GULLS It is gratitude that prompted an old man to visit an old broken pier on the eastern seacoast of Florida. Every Friday night, until his death in 1973, he would return, walking slowly and slightly stooped with a large bucket of shrimp. The sea gulls would flock to this old ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 16:11-18

Tags: Giving General, Thanksgiving Holiday, Joy

Denomination: Mennonite

About 25 Years Ago, Cruz And Debbe Santiago Met ...  PRO

Contributed by Clyde Grimes on Dec 28, 2002

About 25 years ago, Cruz and Debbe Santiago met at Coney Island beach in New York City. They were homeless. They were addicted to drugs. They were experimenting with witchcraft. They were involved in gangs. They lived in the meager shelter underneath the Coney Island boardwalk. That was their ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To, Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance