In Sermon Illustrations: "Forgiveness For Others"

A Prerequisite To Forgiveness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

A pastor finished his message early one Sunday and he wanted to check his congregation’s understanding. So he asked, “Can anyone tell me what you must do before you can obtain forgiveness of sin?” There was a short pause and then, from the back of the room, a small boy spoke up, “You have to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:32-35

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

Childlike Forgiveness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

A few months ago, I was in El Paso holding an evangelistic meeting, and the young people were serving dinner to the mothers being that it was Mother’s Day. I was seating in a chair watching what was going on, and right in front, a four-year-old girl pushed a two-year-old boy, who fell on the floor ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:12

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

Julia Had Been Singing "Softly And Tenderly" By ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeeva Sam on Apr 5, 2001

Julia had been singing "softly and Tenderly" by her father’s bedside. As the last word hummed in her throat, her father reached toward her. "I want that one," he said. His eyes rose to Julia in an urgent glare. "At the funeral?" she asked. He blinked slowly. "I’ll tell Reverend Walton," she said. ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Forgiveness For Others, Parable Prodigal Son

Denomination: Methodist

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

A Hungry Enemy  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 27, 2002

A HUNGRY ENEMY A woman wrote to "Pulpit Helps" to explain a miraculous lesson her family experienced. During one of their family Bible readings as new Christians, they ran across the verse, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him" (Romans 12:20 RSV). She writes: Ours sons, 7 and 10 at the time, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:20, Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Enemy, Forgiveness General, Christian Love, Christlikeness, Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

No Forgiveness Over Dinner

Contributed by Eugene Morell on Oct 13, 2011

NO FORGIVENESS OVER DINNER In "What’s so Amazing About Grace," Philip Yancey tells a story about a man and wife who one night had an argument about how supper was to be cooked. The argument was so heated that they slept in separate rooms. Neither approached the other to say "I’m sorry" or to offer ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Example Of Extreme Forgiveness

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 17, 2020

Twenty years ago, Rwanda experienced a horrible genocide as one tribal group attacked and massacred another over tribal rivalry. Here is one story of forgiveness from that horrid era. “He killed my father and three brothers. He did these killings with other people, but he came alone to me and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:3-4

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Restitution, Apology  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Only Jesus Can Give This Kind Of Forgiveness!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 12, 2024

Bruce Goodrich was being initiated into the cadet corps at Texas A & M University. One night, Bruce was forced to run until he dropped -- but he never got up. Bruce Goodrich died before he even entered college. A short time after the tragedy, Bruce's father wrote this letter to the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15

Tags: Eternity, Parents, Cross, Prayer, Lord's Prayer, Forgiving Others, Enemies, Fathers, Forgivness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Helping Others

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Jun 11, 2003

A certain lady was celebrating her 85th birthday and was asked by a reporter what advice she would have for others. Here's what she said: "Stay busy helping others." Then she was asked what she ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Compassion

Denomination: Wesleyan

No Other Peace

Contributed by Mark Wood on Mar 9, 2006

George Whitefield All I can say is I look for perpetual conflicts and struggles in this life, and I hope for no other peace, ...read more

Tags: Wisdom

Denomination: Baptist

Blaming Others

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Blaming Others • If a man cuts his finger off while slicing salami at work, he blames the restaurant. • If a man smokes three packs a day for 40 years and die of lung cancer, he blames the tobacco company. • If your neighbor crashes into a tree while driving home drunk, he ...read more

Tags: Hell

Running The Other ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 25, 2009

RUNNING THE OTHER WAY Bob Vernon, a 37 year veteran with the Los Angeles Police Department talked about this in his book: L.A. Justice, "Our department tried to demonstrate to rookie officers the value of their bullet-proof vests by placing them on mannequins and then shooting round after round at ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:3

Tags: Obedience

Other Gods  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 10, 2009

OTHER GODS J.I. Packer described the propensity to Other Gods: "What other gods could we have besides the Lord? Plenty. For Israel there were the Canaanite Baals, those jolly nature gods whose worship was a rampage of gluttony, drunkenness, and ritual prostitution. For us there are still the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:3

Tags: Idolatry

Involving Others

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Jul 30, 2010

INVOLVING OTHERS Ezra accepted the plan. He immediately swore in the leading priests and Levites as the committee to investigate the matter and see to it that the law was obeyed. But instead of participating immediately in the investigation, he withdrew into one of the rooms of the temple to fast ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

Denomination: Baptist

No Other Plans

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jan 22, 2011

NO OTHER PLANS There is an ancient legend about Jesus’ ascension into heaven. He is met by the angel Gabriel who asks him, "Now that your work is finished, what plans have you made to ensure that the truth that you brought to earth will spread throughout the world?" Jesus answered, "I have ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Anglican

No Other Plan

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Jun 17, 2011

NO OTHER PLAN An old legend imagines Jesus arriving in heaven right after the Ascension, welcomed by all the angels. Then the angel Gabriel asks Jesus, "You suffered much, dying for the sins of mankind. Does everyone down on earth know it?" "Oh, no," replied the Savior, "just a handful of folks ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Serving Others

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever the cost”. - Arthur Ashe In a small, dusty town in western Oklahoma one November there lived a young single mother struggling to make ends meet. ...read more

Scripture: John 13:12-14

Tags: Humility, Christian Service

Denomination: Charismatic

Encouraging Others

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 18, 2017

After analyzing many surveys, J. C. Staehle found that the principle causes of unrest among workers, were the following: 1. Failure to give credit for suggestions. 2. Failure to correct grievances. 3. Failure to encourage. 4. Criticizing employees in front of other people. 5. Failure to ask ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:39

Tags: Relationships, Encourage Others

Denomination: Charismatic

Helping Others

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Jun 19, 2020

Years ago, my father coached a team of eight-year-olds. He had a few excellent players, and some who just couldn't get the hang of the game. Dad's team didn't win once all season. But in the last inning of the last game, his team was only down by a run. There was one boy who had never ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:2

Tags: Supporting Others, Supporting Each Other

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Patience With Others

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 22, 2024

"Einstein was four years old before he could speak and seven before he could read". Einstein became one of the greatest physicists who ever lived. "Isaac Newton did poorly in grade school." Newton, like Einstein was one of the smartest people of his day as a scientist. "A ...read more

Tags: Patience, Kindness, Time, Maturing, Waiting On The Lord, Teaching, Endurance, Discipleship, Leadership, Suffering  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational