In Sermon Illustrations: "Forsaken Things"

Knowing Your Way To Heaven

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

KNOWING YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN The little church in the suburbs suddenly stopped buying from its regular office supply dealer. So, the dealer telephoned Deacon Brown to ask why. "I'll tell you why," said Deacon Brown, "Our church ordered some pencils from you to be used in the pews for visitors to ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Loving ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 12, 2009

LOVING HOLLAND I love what Emily Kingsley says about disappointment and handling disappointment. She’s talking about the disappointment when your kids don’t turn out the way you thought they ought to turn out -- particularly a handicapped child. She says, "I’m often asked to describe the ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Forgiveness - Emanuel Ame Church And Renee Napier Stories

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Aug 19, 2018

Christians of all people should lead the way in forgiveness. And some do. On June 17, 2015, Dylann Roof entered a Bible study group at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Even though he was white, he received a warm welcome from the all-black congregation. When the group closed ...read more

Tags: Second Chance, Releasing To God, Forgiveness, Moving Forward, Anger  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Helping Open A Package

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 9, 2020

Some years back I noticed a male co-worker, trying to open a package of a certain candy product for his significant other. Now, we all understand the need for security in packaging and other things, but this package was sealed above and beyond the call of duty! Most of the time, each package would ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:10

Tags: Help, Kindness, Assisting Others

Denomination: Baptist

Hold That Thought!

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 23, 2020

One church where I served as pastor has a ping-pong table in the fellowship hall, and sometimes a younger member or two asked me to join them in a game. Now, I was old enough to be their grandfather but that doesn’t stop them from asking! I did appreciate the fact that these youngsters, aged around ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8

Tags: Children, Thoughts, Fun And Games

Denomination: Baptist

A Lesson From A Pair Of Mildewed Shoes

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 22, 2020

A number of years ago I received a three-year assignment to Okinawa, Japan, as part of my Air Force experience. Hardly anybody I knew had much knowledge of that part of the world, so we really had no idea what to expect. We were in for a number of surprises! We lived in a motel, basically, for a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33-34

Tags: Shoes, Life's Problems

Denomination: Baptist

Growing Through Pain

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Oct 2, 2020

Paul Tournier, the famous Swiss physician and counselor, reported his surprise in his book Creative Suffering upon reading an article entitled “Orphans Lead the World.” The article appeared in a respected medical journal and surveyed the lives of 300 leaders who had an impact on world history. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:14-27

Tags: Holy Spirit, Suffering

Denomination: Baptist

I Am Not But I Shall Be

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Aug 22, 2021

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2) The one thing about getting older is that you get to look back on more things each year and have more to ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:2

Tags: Forgiveness, Change, Transformation, Failure

Denomination: Baptist

Please Come Back Home.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

PLEASE COME BACK HOME... Max Lucado, in his book, No Wonder They Call Him Savior, tells the story of Maria and her daughter, Christina that touches the heart and shows the mercy of God. Longing to leave her poor Brazilian neighborhood, Christina wanted to see the world. Discontent with a home ...read more

Tags: Repentance, Prodigal Son, Going Home, Prodigals, Wayward Children, Evangelism, Parenting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Forgiveness Is Not

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 31, 2021

WHAT FORGIVENESS IS NOT by Dr. Larry Petton (excerpt from my book, "I CAN'T FORGIVE"). Text: Ephesians chapter 4 Ruth Bell Graham described a successful marriage as the "union of two great forgivers." Forgiveness has been described as, “Me not hurting you, because you ...read more

Tags: Forgive Them, Father, Forgiveness, Bitterness, Unforgiveness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Deity Of Christ In Scripture

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 6, 2022

While Jesus was and is a man, He was and is also God. What does the Bible say? • He is omnipresent – Matt, 18:20; Matt. 28:20 • He is omnipotent – Matt. 28:18; Heb. 1:3 1. Over disease – Matt. 4:23 2. Over Satan – Heb. 2:14 3. Over demons – Matt. 8:16 4. Over men – John 17:2 5. ...read more

Tags: Virgin Birth, Deity Of Christ, Two Natures, Christmas, Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christmas Hope

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 13, 2023

The hope of Christmas. When you think about it, that is what we have. HOPE. Listen to what the Apostle wrote in his letter while he was imprisoned in Rome. Romans 3:24-25 - 24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. 25 But if we look ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:24-25

Tags: Hope, Christmas Hope

Denomination: Baptist

[044] A Message From A Poem – Christian Patterns

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 6, 2025

[044] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHRISTIAN PATTERNS This is a “constructed poem” meaning it follows a pattern. It is a series of injunctions or commands with specific structure that I will explain. Let us take the opening line – “Take God’s truth and make it yours, and your vain ways forsake.” I ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 8:5, Philippians 3:17, Acts 7:44

Tags: Poetry, Pattern, Poem, Christian Living, Commands, Christian Patterns, Rhyming  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[115]. A Message From A Poem – Have You Trusted The God Of Faithfulness?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 27, 2025

[115]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HAVE YOU TRUSTED THE GOD OF FAITHFULNESS? God is faithful in proven circumstances. Have you actually proven the faithfulness of God in your life? We have a faithful God so we can anchor our faith in the faithfulness of God. {{Psalm 119:90 “YOUR FAITHFULNESS ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:9, Lamentations 3:22-23, Deuteronomy 32:3-4, Psalm 119:90

Tags: Christian Poems, God, Trust, Faithful, Christian Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[127]. A Message From A Poem – Heaven’ S Door Will Open To Us

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 11, 2025

[127]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HEAVEN’ S DOOR WILL OPEN TO US This poem connects with 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 – {{1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 “FOR THE LORD HIMSELF WILL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise ...read more

Scripture: John 14:3, Revelation 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Tags: Victory, The Rapture, The Coming Of The Lord, I Will Come Again, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, The Lord Descends, A Door In Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[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

[145]. A Message From A Poem – In The World But Not Of It

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 27, 2025

[145]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF IT We are citizens of this world but we are not bound to that, for as Christians, we have a higher citizenship which is in heaven – {{Philippians 3:20 “OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN from which also we eagerly wait for a Saviour, the Lord ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17, Philippians 3:20, Hebrews 11:13-14

Tags: Living In The World, Christian Poems, In The World But Not Of It, Citizens Of The World, Strangers, Heavenly Citizenship, Pilgrims, The World, Exiles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Parachute Failed On Christian At 3500 Feet

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 24, 2025

Parachute failed on Christian at 3500 feet Psalm 144:15 - Happy is that people, whose God is the LORD!" *Daniel Cave certainly proved this to be true. In 2005, Daniel was on his very first skydiving jump in Washington State. On the way down, his parachute failed to open. Daniel didn’t fall ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 144:15

Tags: High Tower, The Lord Our Rock, Righteous War, Praise The Lord, Mortality, Traitors, Deceivers, The Lord Of Hosts, Floods, Joy, Fortress, God's Help, Deliverer, King David, Brevity, Shield, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Monk Story  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Hamilton on Sep 29, 2002

Monk Story There is a story told of an old monastery that had fallen upon hard times. It was once a great order, but as a result of waves of anti-monastic persecution in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and the rise of secularism in the nineteenth, all its branch houses were lost and it ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Romantic Love

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

No Finger, No Teeth, But Fully Human!" 2 Kings ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 6, 2005

“No Finger, No Teeth, But Fully Human!” 2 Kings 4:32-36 Key verse(s) 32-33:“When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the Lord.” He was very short, and at a distance he presented an almost comical ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:32-36

Tags: Poverty, Love, God In The Hardships, Workplace Unemployment

Denomination: Lutheran