In Sermon Illustrations: "Friendship With God"

Are You All Ears For God?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2024

A missionary translator was endeavoring to find a word for “obedience” in the native language. This was a virtue seldom practiced among the people into whose language he wanted to translate the New Testament. As he returned home from the village one day, he whistled for his dog and it came ...read more

Tags: Obedience, Voice Of God, Hearing God, Listening, Hearers Of The Word  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

So God Made A Farmer

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 6, 2024

In James chapter 5, we see a comparison between the patient farmer in the field waiting for his crops and the waiting believer in Christ preparing to meet the Lord at His return. Paul Harvey did a masterful job of describing the life of the farmer years ago. And on the 8th day, God looked down ...read more

Scripture: James 5:7-12, 1 Thessalonians 5:13-18

Tags: Patience, Return Of Christ, Prophets, Farmers, Waiting, Job, End Times, Prophecy, Second Coming, Last Days, Rapture  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Mercy

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Nov 2, 2024

Henri Nouwen tells the story of a family from Paraguay. The father spoke out against the military regime and its human rights abuses. The police arrested his teenage son and tortured him to death. Enraged townsfolk wanted to turn the boy's funeral into a huge protest march, but the doctor ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-18, Romans 5:1-11, Ephesians 2:1-5

Tags: Mercy, Sin, Evil, Salvation, Cross  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Great Quotes On The Sovereignty Of God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 10, 2024

Great Quotes on the Sovereignty of God R.C. SPROUL: “If there is one single molecule in this universe running around loose, totally free of God’s sovereignty, then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever be fulfilled.” MATT CHANDLER: “Trying to figure out God is like trying ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:1

Tags: Chosen, Election, Knowledge Of God, Calling, Sovereignty Of God, Attributes Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Judgement

Contributed by John Bright on Sep 23, 2025

I don’t believe that God’s Judgement should be our main focus, but I also believe it’s wrong to never mention the Judgement of God. Remember, God must judge humanity because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Our God is a Holy God who also wants us to be holy. (1 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:5, Romans 3:23, 1 Peter 1:16

Tags: Grace, Holy Spirit, Judgment, Holiness

Denomination: Methodist

Trust God And You Will Be Firm

Contributed by Arulselvam Rayappan on Jan 13, 2026

Trusting the Lord is a recurring theme in the Prophet Isaiah. “Unless your faith is firm, you shall not be firm” Is 7: 14. Advent is a time of trusting the Lord. God alone can save those who place their trust in Him. At times we are confused concerning the choices we have to make. On the one hand ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14

Tags: Fear, Trusting God, Afriad

Denomination: Catholic

I Read Recently About A Woman Who Was Driving ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Feb 1, 2001

I read recently about a woman who was driving from Alberta, Canada to the Yukon. She didn’t know that you never travel that way alone, especially in a rundown Honda, Civic. So she set off on a road usually reserved for four wheel drive trucks. Eventually she found herself in a truck stop. Two ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups, God's Provision, Friendship New Friends

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

As A Part Of An Assignment For A Doctoral ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

As a part of an assignment for a doctoral thesis, a college student spent a year with a group of Navajo Indians on a reservation in the Southwest. As he did his research he lived with one family, sleeping in their hut, eating their food, working with them and generally living the life of a 20th ...read more

Tags: Love, Jesus, Growth, Discipleship, Friendship, God Brings Purpose  (view more)  (view less)

God Tells Man Who He Is. God Tells Us That He ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

God tells man who he is. God tells us that He created man in His image. So ...read more

Tags: Creation

Ukraine & God's Masterplan

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Nov 28, 2022

Closed Doors - Open Doors My first trip to Ukraine was in 2000. We visited Kiev and L'viv to connect with ministry training institutions. In 2002 I made my first teaching trip to L'viv to teach at L'viv Theological Seminary (LTS). It was so rewarding to contribute to God's work in ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17, Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Direction, Obedience, Sovereignty Of God, Ukraine

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In Conspiracy Of Kindness, Steve Sjogren ...  PRO

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on May 23, 2004

In CONSPIRACY OF KINDNESS, Steve Sjogren (pronounced “SHOW-GREN”) tells the true story of Joe Delaney and his eight-year-old son, Jared, who were playing catch in their backyard. “Jared asked, ‘Dad, is there a God?’ “Joe replied that he went to church only a few times when he was a kid; he really ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To, Friendship New Friends

Denomination: Methodist

What To Do With Loneliness  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Feb 20, 2002

WHAT TO DO WITH LONELINESS Lee Strobel writes: People today will admit any problem - drugs, divorce, alcoholism - "but there’s one admission that people are loath to make, whether they’re a star on television or someone who fixes televisions in a repair shop. It’s just too embarrassing. It ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 63:1-11

Tags: Compassion, Disappointment, Friendship New Friends

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Albert Tomei Is A Justice Of The New York State ...  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jun 22, 2004

Albert Tomei is a justice of the New York State Supreme Court. A young defendant was convicted in his court for gunning down another person, execution style. The murderer had a bad record, was no stranger to the system, and only stared in anger as the jury returned its guilty verdict. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:12

Tags: Family, Forgiveness General, Friendship General

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Trying To Destroy Or Defend The Word Of God Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles Gilbert on Aug 9, 2001

Trying to destroy or defend the Word of God is like having two men push with toothpicks on opposite sides of the Rock of Gibraltar. While one is trying to push it over with his toothpick, the other is trying to hold it up ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth, Apologetics The Bible

Denomination: Church Of God

Character Is Defined As "God Expressing Himself ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 9, 2005

Character is defined as “God expressing himself through man”, in other words, it is letting God have ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Faith Involves Resting Securely On God's ...  PRO

Contributed by Peter Chan on Feb 11, 2005

Faith Involves Resting Securely on God’s Revelation –Entering the Ark. Noah’s faith in become a verb is completed with his entrance into the Ark with his family. It inspires me to learn that Noah was so confident about God’s promise and power that he went into the Ark with his family. It is one ...read more

Tags: Faith General, Walk

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

In The Book The God Chasers, Tommy Tenney ...

Contributed by Chip Monck on Feb 15, 2005

In the book The God Chasers, Tommy Tenney writes, "I don’t know about you, but I am tired of just being ‘another somebody’ to the lost around me. I have made a decision. I made up my mind and set my heart to declare, ‘I am going to pursue the presence of God in my life. I am going to get so close ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God

Denomination: Wesleyan

Paul Knew That The Wisdom And Scope Of God's ...

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on May 25, 2005

Paul knew that the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, which had been outlined in the verses prior to this verse, as well as in the previous chapter, was brought about by His amazing power. Not necessarily just the power we can see, but perhaps even more often in the power we cannot see at work, ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience, God's Provision, God's Judgment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What If Porcupines Could Dance? They Are God's ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Aug 2, 2005

What if porcupines could dance? They are God’s idea of the animal kingdom’s version of a cactus. Imagine a cactus gliding, twirling around the ballroom as the orchestra plays a waltz. Or look at that cactus in an embrace of the tango - striding, dipping, heads bobbing to the music. Cheek-to-cheek. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:7

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Unity

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Bible Teaches That God Is Awesome, He Is ...

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Sep 3, 2005

The Bible teaches that God is awesome, He is higher, greater and majestic than we can ever imagine. In fact no one can even look upon God and live. Why, even Indiana Jones understood that. When his arch enemy and Nazi,Rene Belloq, not only finds the sacred Ark of the Covenant, which in the ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God

Denomination: Christian Church