In Sermon Illustrations: "forgive"

A Story In The Denver Post Came Out In 1958 That ...  PRO

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Mar 22, 2002

A story in the Denver Post came out in 1958 that illustrates self-less love. June 7, 1958 the Air National Guard’s jet precision team was performing outside of Dayton, Ohio. Five precision flyers made up the Minute Men team. Colonel Walt Williams was the leader of the Denver-based F-86 Sabre-jet ...read more

Tags: Love, Compassion, Christian Disciplines, Healing, Forgiveness In Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Free Methodist

Is There A Difference?  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Jul 26, 2002

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE? In their recent book "Unveiling Islam," Emir and Ergun Caner, former Sunni Muslims cite the major differences between Islam and Christianity as the "personalness" of God, and "grace as opposed to works." "Jesus Christ ... is ultimately personal and wants to have a ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6

Tags: World Religions, God's Forgiveness, Faith Vs. Works

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In September Of 1982, My Mother Passed Away Very ...

Contributed by Stephen Ring on Apr 9, 2004

In September of 1982, my Mother passed away very unexpectedly. Through a series of events, I was actually spending the weekend at my parent’s home sick with a stomach flu, in order that my wife would be able to work and get a good night’s sleep. Early on the Sunday morning, my mother had a stroke ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, God's Love, Love, Repent, Whosoever  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Annie Howard  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Oct 28, 2004

Annie Howard In 1991 she was awarded one of President Bush’s “Thousand Points of Light” awards for her Prison Fellowship volunteer work in the Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women. Holds choir practice in the prison chapel, has an evening Bible study, hosts a dinner for 6 volunteers ...read more

Tags: Sharing Your Faith, Christian Disciplines, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Night Before

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Aug 1, 2011

THE NIGHT BEFORE Jesus saw what was coming by way of the cross...Jesus saw the beating of the Roman whip with the metal attached to the ends that would rip the skin from the victims back. Beaten beyond recognition and could barely see to carry an old wooden cross to die on. That night before: He ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-26, Luke 22:44

Tags: Jesus, Blood, Prayer, Gethsemane, Forgive, Blood Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

From Shackles To Statue

Contributed by Lee Strawhun on Sep 17, 2014

It was 1985 when Tim Cole was picked out of a lineup for a rape he never committed but would be convicted of and sentenced to serve 25 years. He was near the Texas Tech campus when the rape occurred and as a result was sent to prison because the victim picked the wrong man and the courts sentenced ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:5-9

Tags: Hope Of Justice, Victim, Forgiveness For Others, Continue In Faith

Denomination: United Methodist

Propitiation

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 30, 2019

The New Testament Greek word "hilasterion" (translated “propitiation” or “sacrifice of atonement”) suggests three related but nuanced concepts: (1) expiation – the legal removal of sin by means of the sacrifice; (2) propitiation – the removal of God's wrath toward the sinner (wrath ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-31

Tags: Atonement, Propitiation, Expiation, Forgiveness Of Sin, Penal Atonement  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Bible – For Mature Audiences Only

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Nov 5, 2019

Recently I have been preaching sermons on topics submitted by the members of the church. I thought that was a good idea until someone requested I preach from Genesis 38. It’s not your typical children’s bedtime Bible story. It’s more on the lines of a scandalous storyline for a daytime soap ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:5-10

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness, Sin, Rahab, Samson, Judah, Tamar  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Remember The Duck! (Stop Living In Bondage To Satan)

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2022

A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot made by his grandfather. He practiced trying to hit a tin can, but he could never hit it. As he walked across the yard, he saw Grandma’s pet duck. On an impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck fell dead. The ...read more

Tags: Spiritual Warfare, Confession, Covering Sin, Delieverance, Forgiveness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How A Pastor Loved His Enemy

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 2, 2023

In The Grace of Giving, Stephen Olford tells of a Baptist pastor during the American Revolution, Peter Miller, who lived in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, and enjoyed the friendship of George Washington. In Ephrata also lived Michael Wittman, an evil-minded sort who did all he could to oppose and ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-23

Tags: Forgiveness, Hate, Churches, Enemies, Division, Love, Pastors  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Understanding Mercy

Contributed by Richard Tow on Apr 4, 2023

There was a young soldier in Napoleon’s army who committed an offense worthy of death. The day before he was scheduled for the firing squad, the young man’s mother went to Napoleon and asked him to show mercy for her son. Napoleon harshly replied, “Woman, your son does not deserve mercy.” “I know,” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7, Micah 6:8, Matthew 9:13, Luke 10:25-37, Ephesians 4:32, Matthew 18:23-35  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Compassion, Forgiveness, Mercy, Merciful, Kindness, Leadership, Relationships  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Taking Out A Loan To Pay God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 13, 2023

There was an older man in my church in Texas who came to me with tears in his eyes after a sermon I preached on tithing. He said, "Pastor, thank you for telling our people the truth about how God can bless you when you are obedient to His Word." He wiped a tear and said, "Pastor, I ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:10-11, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, Proverbs 3:9-10, 1 Timothy 6:10

Tags: Repentance, Stewardship, Tithing, Loans, Brokenness, Forgivness, Giving  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Our (Lawyer) Advocate

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Jun 10, 2024

I would like for you to picture a scene. There is a court room. The judge is seated behind the bench. The jury is in place. There are people watching the proceedings. There is someone on trial sitting before the judge. And that person is you! The charge against you is that you are a ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:1-2

Tags: Forgiveness, Advocate, Judgment Seat, Lawyer, Court Room  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

From East To West

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2024

How far is the east from the west? Where does the east end and the west begin? A certain state once had this slogan: "Where the west begins and the tall corn grows." The last part of the slogan is true; the first is not. No one knows where the west begins or where it ends. It's all a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:12, Matthew 6:9-15

Tags: Forgiveness, Satan, Devil, Spiritual Warfare, Guilt, Condemnation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Augustine The Fiery Defender Of The Faith ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 23, 2001

Augustine the fiery defender of the faith accepted Christ in the most unusual way. After resisting God for a long time Augustine heard a child playing nearby, saying, TOLLE LEGE, TOLLE LEGE, which means, Take, Read. He promptly read a random verse from the Bible, Romans 13:13- 14, and gave his life ...read more

Tags: Descriptions Of God, Bible Influence

Denomination: Independent/Bible

My Mother Has A Fairly Rare Heart Condition Known ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 25, 2009

My mother has a fairly rare heart condition known as Hypertropic Cardiomyopathy. It is a disease of the muscle of the heart in which a portion of the muscle of the heart is thickened without any obvious cause. It’s a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in any age group and causes disabling ...read more

Tags: Heart

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer For Thieves  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 4, 2011

PRAYER FOR THIEVES About 12 years ago, three men broke into our church building here. They didn't steal much, and they didn't really damage all that much (they broke a couple of doors, and stole a few small items) but we called the police and reported the incident. After the police left, our youth ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:2-6

Tags: Prayer Answered

Last Year I Came Across The Story Of Frida ...

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Feb 1, 2010

Last year I came across the story of Frida Gashumba. Her autobiography is called ‘Chosen to Die, Destined to Live – A miraculous escape from the Rwandan Genocide’. Her best friend Claudette was Hutu. Frida was Tutsi. One day at school the Head Teacher asked Hutus to stand. He then asked Tutsis to ...read more

Tags: Racism

Denomination: Anglican

The Story Is Told (By Ernest Hemingway) Of A ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Feb 1, 2001

The story is told (by Ernest Hemingway) of a father and his teenage son who had a relationship that had become strained to the point of breaking. Finally the son ran away from home. His father, however, began a journey in search of his rebellious son. Finally, in Madrid, in a last desperate ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32, Luke 15:1, Nehemiah 4:1-23

Tags: Forgiveness, Forgiveness For Others, Family, Fatherhood, Father, Descriptions Of God, Love, Lost, Found, God's Provision, Prodigal, Son  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Wesleyan

Standing Before Holiness  PRO

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Apr 24, 2002

STANDING BEFORE HOLINESS "True repentance is when by the convicting power of God’s Holy Spirit, the sinner finally has a sense of revulsion and Godly sorrow for the condition of sin in his or her heart, and comes, empty-handed and un-defensive, without pretension or ceremony, in the most personal ...read more

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Orthodox