In Sermon Illustrations: "Friend Of God"

God Gave Us Our Memories So We Might Have Roses ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

God gave us our memories so we might have ...read more

Tags: Memories

The Next Time You Feel God Can't Use You....

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 4, 2014

Noah was a drunk. Abraham was too old. Isaac was a daydreamer. Jacob was a liar. Joseph was abused. Moses had a stuttering problem. Gideon was afraid. Sampson was a womanizer. Rahab was a prostitute. Jeremiah and Timothy were too young. David had an affair and was a murderer. Elijah was ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-11

Tags: Moses, Weakness, Failure, Excuses

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Life With God On Your Side Should Get Better, Shouldn't It?

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Aug 31, 2017

5 Storms in my life changed me intensely. Sometimes a storm will follow a great spiritual event just like these disciples had witnessed. … Many years ago, I was having great difficulties, and that is when I turned to Christ, and then I knew that everything in the bible was true, that Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Tags: Doubt, Storm, Difficulties, Confusion, Trials, Doubt And Fear  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Episcopal

[135]. A Message From A Poem – I Will Still Praise God My Saviour

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 17, 2025

[135]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – I WILL STILL PRAISE GOD MY SAVIOUR Some people find it hard to be joyous a lot of the time and get despondent over various setbacks and trying circumstances in life. In fact I do not know a Christian who at some time has not been through this. Honesty will admit ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13, Habakkuk 3:17-19

Tags: Praise, Setbacks, Christian Poems, Crops Fail, I Will Praise God, Exalt The Lord, No Fruit, Vine, Faithfulness, Fail, Fig Tree, Olive, Despondent  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[181]. A Message From A Poem – Man’s Departure Is Away From God

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 2, 2025

[181]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – MAN’S DEPARTURE IS AWAY FROM GOD We live in a world in decline and it was prophesied that way – {{2 Timothy 3:1-5 “Realise this, that IN THE LAST DAYS DIFFICULT TIMES WILL COME, for men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 2 Timothy 3:13

Tags: Getting Worse, Sinful Nature, Departure, Old Nature, Christian Poems, Britian, Wales, Sin, New Birth, Tribulation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Can Put Me Together Again - Humpty Dumpty Story - Humor

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 3, 2025

Remember Humpty Dumpty? Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall; Humpty Dumpty had a great fall; All the king's horses ... and all the king's men Couldn't put Humpty together again. Did you have a Humpty Dumpty when you were a ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:9-14, Colossians 1:10, Philippians 3:10, Philippians 3:13-14, 1 John 2:9  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Brokenness, Prize, Love, Healing

Denomination: Anglican

The Guide - What A White Water Rafting Trip Taught Me About God

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Mar 11, 2026

A few years ago my wife, two young daughters and I packed up and headed to Red River, New Mexico for a vacation. For a bit of adventure we decided to try something we had never done before — white water rafting. Before climbing into the raft, we were handed a stack of waivers to sign. You know the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:8

Tags: God, Trust, Guide, Refuge, Raft  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Misapplied Scriptures, John 9:31: Does God Hear Sinners, Or Not?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 13, 2023

Introduction: This is another verse of Scripture which has been used and misused by many people for a long time. Some folks teach that it’s basically useless for any sinner to pray because “well, right there, it says, ‘God heareth not sinners!’” But is that what the verse really teaches? Here’s ...read more

Scripture: John 9:31, Psalm 66:18

Tags: Blind Men, Misapplied Scripture, Unusual Healings, Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

Where Does Your Ministry Rely Upon God's Power?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 15, 2023

David Platt in his book Radical has a chapter entitled "Beginning at the End of Ourselves -- The Importance of Relying on God's Power (Subsection entitled - “Dependent on Ourselves or Desperate for His Spirit”) Platt went on to say, "This is where I am most convicted as a pastor. I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8-11, Ephesians 5:18

Tags: Repentance, Pastors, Church, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Power  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unintentionally Humorous Texts: Laban, "Why Did You Steal My Gods?”

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 23, 2024

Introduction: Let me say first of all that the Bible is a very sacred Book, not to be trifled with. It’s precious and untold numbers of believers have given their lives to simply have and read it, let alone defend it against any number of attacks. Having said that, there are a number of places ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 31:26-30

Tags: Laban, Idols, Teraphim, Jacob, Rachel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Comforters  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Mar 24, 2002

COMFORTERS When I Was Diagnosed With Cancer: My first friend came and expressed his shock by saying, "I can’t believe that you have cancer. I always thought you were so active and healthy." He left and I felt alienated and somehow very different. My second friend came and brought me ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:17, Job 1:1

Tags: Christian Love, God In The Hardships

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Don't Live Like An Orphan When You Have A Father In Heaven!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 12, 2022

Said the Robin to the sparrow, "I should really like to know, Why these anxious human beings Rush around and worry so." Said the Sparrow to the Robin, "Friend, I think that it must be, That they have ...read more

Tags: Faith, Father, Prayer, Providence, Will Of God, Sovereignty Of God, Needs  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[062a]. A Message From A Poem – Does Suffering Cancel Out A God Of Love?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

[062A]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DOES SUFFERING CANCEL OUT A GOD OF LOVE? THE POEM AS IT IS WILL NOT FIT IN THE ILLUSTRATION SPACE AVAILABLE. I HAVE HAD TO SPLIT IT INTO THREE PARTS. THIS IS THE FIRST PART PART 1 INTRODUCTION TO THIS POEM This is my most serious poem because it addresses ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:6-7, John 3:16, Exodus 34:6-7

Tags: Comfort, Suffering, Tragedy, God Of Comfort, God Of Love, Hurt, Pain, Love, Compassion  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fulfilling Your Purpose

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Apr 24, 2012

FULFILLING YOUR PURPOSE When we lived in Wiesbaden, some missionary friends bought a German toaster. When they got home, they plugged it in, placed some bread in it, and then waited for the toast to pop up a few minutes later. Well, the toast never did pop up from it because...well, it didn’t ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Baptist

Years Ago, My Youngest Daughter, Marilyn, And I ...  PRO

Contributed by Don Hutto on Jan 27, 2001

Years ago, my youngest daughter, Marilyn, and I went shopping for Connie. It’s hard. You wives, it’s hard for a man to shop for his wife because we don’t know what you want, and we don’t want to get that for you, anyway. But Marilyn and I thought we had found the perfect gift: a nightgown. You can ...read more

Tags: Thirst For God, Know God, Hunger For God, Lordship Of Christ, God's Provision, Assurance Of Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

You Are My Dear, Dear Child: I'm Delighted With You.

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 22, 2023

A famous movie-maker had a huge legal wrangle with his longtime mentor and guide. The younger man simply couldn't handle criticism and ended up rejecting the person who had helped him so much. When it was all over, a close friend summed up the real problem. "It was all about an ungenerous ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:9-13, Matthew 3:13-17

Tags: God's Love, Loved, Loved By God, Jesus Baptism

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

This Is A True Story. Two Guys In A Church, Paul ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on Jun 11, 2004

This is a true story. Two guys in a church, Paul and William decided that they really wanted to become godly men. So they started meeting with one another to pray and encourage one another; they even set goals for themselves and their behavior, and then were accountable to the other one. Paul ...read more

Tags: Grace, God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

Cliff Barrows' Honeymoon ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 21, 2010

Cliff Barrows’ Honeymoon Service Dr. James Dobson wrote a book entitled When God Doesn’t Make Sense, and in his book he shared an illustration that is very applicable to the point being drawn from this particular verse. Take a moment and reflect upon the following story: In 1945, a young ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:6

Tags: Servanthood, God's Sovereignty

If I Loved Him Better, I Would Paint Him ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 27, 2010

"If I loved him better, I would paint him better!”--Paul Gustave Doré Paul Gustave Doré was born in Strasburg, January 10, 1833. He was well-known for illustrating many works, including a version of the Bible. (You can download the set of pen and ink drawing from Project Gutenberg.) The story is ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:2-3

Tags: Jesus, Love For God

Beholding The Night Sky

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Jan 2, 2015

When our daughter was in Junior High School, she made friends with a group of girls from Olney, Texas, a community about forty minutes to the south of us. And they invited her to a function their school was having on a certain Friday night. So, I drove her over, and, when the time came, I went ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:18-23

Tags: Creation, Doctrine Of God

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed