In Sermon Illustrations: "Forgotten"

[131]. A Message From A Poem – Hurting People Hurt

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 12, 2025

[131]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HURTING PEOPLE HURT When I was in England on ministry I went to a conference of church leaders and one of the speakers presented a very good talk on outreach for the unchurched people. One of the things he said was, “Hurting people hurt,” and I have not forgotten ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:15

Tags: Hurting, Christ Died, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Hurt, Brother, Healing, Walking In Love, Healed  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Minister And A Day Off His Rocker

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 5, 2019

I was tootling along one day last week, quite focused on getting my business for the day done. In fact, I was feeling good about the progress I was making with my “to-do list.” Nothing is more satisfying to me than the sense of being in control of my schedule. I love checking off items on my “to-do ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 11:28

Tags: Faith, Love, Trust, Hope, Surrender  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Ants, Ants, Ants, Where's The Uncles

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 27, 2021

I have learned in my life that the small things are the ones that get you down. You would think the big things are the ones to steal most of your time. But those big things call attention to themselves from the very beginning. You know they're there, you know you have to do something about it, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 30:25

Tags: Humor, Ants, Small Problems, Uncles

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Did You See My Key?

Contributed by James Snyder on Jun 22, 2024

My life has been bombarded with questions from the beginning of the day until I fall asleep at night. For the most part, I don’t prioritize questions. Usually, when people ask me a question, there is something behind that question. If I don’t see what’s behind the question, I could answer it in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:10

Tags: Lost, Saved, Keys

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Prodigal Son In The Key Of F  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Jun 13, 2001

The Prodigal Son in the Key of F Feeling footloose and frisky, a feather-brained fellow forced his father to fork over his farthings. Fast he flew to foreign fields and frittered his family’s fortune, feasting fabulously with floozies and faithless friends. Flooded with flattery he financed a ...read more

Scripture: James 2:9

Tags: Faith, Promises Of God, God The Father

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Many Years Ago, Al Capone Virtually Owned ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeffrey Dillinger on Jun 21, 2005

Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. He wasn’t famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for filling Chicago with everything evil. How did he keep himself out of jail? That is where his lawyer came into play. Big Al’s lawyer was nicknamed “Easy Eddie.” He was excellent at ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4, Proverbs 22:1

Tags: Parenting, Children, Example, Footsteps, Father  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Is Watching  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Dec 2, 2004

Notice what Malachi says; “…A child HONORS his father, and a servant HONORS his master. I am a father, so why don’t you respect me? I am a master, so why don’t you respect me? You priests do not respect me? But you ask, ‘How have we shown you disrespect?’ You have shown it by ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

An Urgent Message At Easter

Contributed by Troy Borst on Apr 4, 2015

EASTER FAMILY TIME (p) It is Easter time and a gathering opportunity for your whole family. Your family made a commitment to all get together this year at Easter to make sure you celebrated something this year as a family. Grandma chose Easter and chose to rent a few beach houses for everyone to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15

Tags: Evangelism, Sharing Christ, Christian Witness, Mission To Family

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Friends And Acquaintances?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 26, 2020

Junior high/middle school basketball is always fun to play, and more fun to watch. These youngsters have acquired some skill—more or less—and it’s still more for fun than for competition. Oh, sure, we wanted to win, and few athletes that don’t want to win will ever get very far in any kind of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:3

Tags: Youth, Book Of Life, Athletics, Friends, Relationship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

There Were Two Churches Of Christ In The Small ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There were two Churches of Christ in the small north Texas town. The church where I ministered had split from the older church years before over some petty differences. I was beginning a sermon series on the "One-another" passages of the Bible, when Gabe, a former elder, got up and walked up to ...read more

Tags: Faith

Unsung Heroines-Peter’s Mother-In-Law

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 14, 2022

Introduction: She’s only mentioned once, but in three of the Gospels. Look what happened to this lady after she received healing from Jesus! Text: Here are the texts from each of the Gospels where this event is mentioned: Matthew 8:14-15, KJV: 14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:14-15, Mark 1:29-31, Luke 4:38-39

Tags: Healings, Ministering, Unsung Heroines

Denomination: Baptist

Misapplied Scriptures, Numbers 5:11ff: Abortion?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Sep 27, 2023

Introduction: By now we’ve seen a few examples where selected (!) Scriptures are taken out of context and used in ways the writers never intended. There are some people who flat-out either twist or attempt to misapply the Scriptures in a much more devious way. They’ll take or quote a passage that, ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 5:11-31

Tags: Spirit Of Jealousy, Abortion, Adultery, Misapplied Scriptures

Denomination: Baptist

The Year Was 1980, Bill Brodherst Who Hadn't Ran ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 12, 2003

The year was 1980, Bill Brodherst who hadn’t ran in any race since his high school days decided to begin training for a marathon known as the Pepsi Challenge 10k in Omaha Nebraska. Sending in his application, he wasn’t sure they would accept him as a participant, but soon the approval came back ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Tags: Church Small Groups, Fulfillment, Endurance

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Are We There Yet? (06.28.05--Direction--John ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 28, 2005

Are We There Yet? (06.28.05--Direction--John 21:11-14 ) WHen I’m There, will I know that I am there? When we finally reach that point in life where all things finally work together and we’ve arrived at our life’s goal, that place where the many years of education, accumulated wisdom and just plain ...read more

Scripture: John 21:11-14

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Lutheran

God Knows I Tried! (10.25.05--Making It!--Genesis ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 21, 2005

God Knows I Tried! (10.25.05--Making It!--Genesis 31:1-2) Success is a measure of looking down and not looking up. It all about winning and losing. For me that winning and losing began when I left college over thirty years ago. I had spent four years and a lot of money along with thousands of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 31:1-2

Tags: Peace, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Lutheran

Greater Love Hath No Man That This, That A Man ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

"Greater love hath no man that this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). "When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son" (Romans 5:10). When nations are engaged in deadly strife, it is common for patriots to declare that he who gives his life for ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Dream-Stealers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 19, 2011

DREAM-STEALERS Years ago, I heard Pastor Anthony Mangun tell a story at Because of the Times that I have never forgotten. . . . The story is told of a young man by the name of Monty, who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer, who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:14

Tags: Goals

They Took It Away!

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 3, 2020

My parents used to operate a true “Mom and Pop” grocery store before I started school. I still remember some of the good times—and some of the bad times, too, unfortunately—from those days gone by. Some of the items they had for sale were plastic models. These were mostly Revell, Lindberg, or ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:22, 1 John 5:18

Tags: The Will Of God, Take It Or Leave It

Denomination: Baptist

Ben Franklin's Quote From The Book America's God ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 29, 2007

Ben Franklin’s quote from the book America’s God and Country by Federer pages 247-248: Thursday, June 28, 1787, Benjamin Franklin, delivered a powerful speech to the Constitutional Convention, which was embroiled in a bitter debate over how each state was to be represented in the new government. ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In Just The Last 50 Years There Has Been ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In just the last 50 years there has been incredible innovation in technology. We have so many items in our home that we take for granted that really make our lives easier. TV remotes, microwaves, refrigerators, garage doors. All of these things had to be invented by somebody. Some of the greatest ...read more

Tags: Cross Agony