In Sermon Illustrations: "Generational Sins"

Truly Amazing Grace

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Timothy Paul Jones in his book, Proof writes about his middle daughter who had been previously adopted by another family. He was sure this couple had the best of intentions, but they never quite integrated the adopted child into their family of biological children. For one reason or another, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:1-8

Tags: Grace, Sin, Chosen, Rebellion, Adoption  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Jumping The Grand Canyon

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Jul 25, 2018

Main Idea: No matter how good you are, you cannot make it to heaven through your own effort. Verse: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV). Illustration: Once, two men had ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Sin, Need For Christ, Need For Salvation

Denomination: Charismatic

Out Of Tune

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Aug 1, 2018

Main Idea: God is perfect and He cannot tolerate any sin in His presence. Verse: “As for God, His way is perfect” (Psalms 18:30 NKJV). Illustration: Once there was a famous conductor who was asked to direct a world class orchestra. He chose a famous piece of music and the orchestra gathered ...read more

Tags: Sin, Salvation, Perfection, Need For Christ

Denomination: Charismatic

Romans 1:22

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 23, 2019

Romans 1:22 Life is so much vanity. We live on the brink of insanity. This is so very, very odd For creation is in the image of God. We plod along in our sin Knowing that we cannot win. Our souls so easily we sell To that pawnbroker of Hell. Instead of singing, "How Great Thou ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:22

Tags: Sin, Vanity, Hypocrisy, Religion, Traditions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Kill The Spider!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2020

A man continually "rededicated" his life and always prayed the same prayer, "Lord, take the cobwebs out of my life. Oh, Lord.....take the cobwebs out of my life!" His pastor had heard this prayer more times than he cared to remember and was tired of hearing it. Finally, when ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Hebrews 12:1-2, 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Confession, Repentance, Mourning Over Sin

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Paid In Full, Finally

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 10, 2020

It’s always a happy day when you make the final payment on a car loan or any other kind of loan! The money you’ve been sending somewhere else you can now send to another bill—oops—or savings account or wherever you feel led to put it. I know, there are some folks who are greatly excited if you ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Salvation, Payment For Sin, Blood Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

Cs Lewis On Repentance - The Hole We Find Ourselves In

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Sep 19, 2022

Now what was the sort of hole man had got himself into? He had tried to set up on his own, to behave as if he belonged to himself. In other words, fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms. Laying down your arms, saying you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Romans 2:4, Mark 1:15, 2 Corinthians 7:9-10, Romans 6:23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Sin, Salvation, Gospel, Repentance, The Cross  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Provides But We Personally Must Take Actions!

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Nov 10, 2022

Genesis 7 Was Noah righteous because he never sinned? - See Hebrews 11:7 What were God’s instructions to Noah? Go into the ark, you and your whole family Take in the ark animals (what were they?) “Clean” animals “unclean” animals Birds How many days did God give Noah to bring in the animals? – ...read more

Tags: Judgement, Love, Sin, God, Actions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God's View Of People

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Nov 16, 2022

Genesis 8:15-22 Devotional After the flood had dried up, God instructed Noah (v15) and Noah obeyed (v16). Isn’t it interesting that we note birds from the ark but not fish…. Noah, did you keep fish in the ark??? – either he kept fish in the ark or God kept fish in the clouds or God recreated ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 8:15-22

Tags: People, Love, Worship, Sin, God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

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

Blood Of The Lamb

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 6, 2025

All the Passover lambs were killed by bleeding and the blood was collected in a bowl. Then, it was applied to the door on the two sides and the top. Exodus 12:7 “And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it.” They had ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:7

Tags: Sins, Transgressions, Iniquities, Blood, Lamb  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

[078]. A Message From A Poem – Failure Leads To Hurt And Sorrow

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 12, 2025

[078]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FAILURE LEADS TO HURT AND SORROW This poem was written one Sunday morning while waiting for a church service to start. It flowed quickly. It was around the time I was speaking on a series in the life of Peter. Identify yourselves if you have never failed the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:7-10

Tags: Hurt, Forgiveness, Sin, Failure, Sorrow  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No Place To Hide

Contributed by Rick Palmer on Oct 14, 2018

In 1980 I was hired as a City Police Officer in a small Midwest town with a population of 2200. The first week on duty we closed an investigation of a local man who held a position in the School system. He had gained the confidence of the parents, students, and the community. After a traffic ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:24, Luke 12:2-3, Romans 14:12, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 20:11-13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Judgement, Hidden Sin, Sin Revealed, Running From God, Judgement Seat Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

When C.i. Scofield Met Jesus

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 14, 2023

Many years ago in St. Louis, a lawyer visited a Christian to transact some business. Before the two parted, his client said to him, "I've often wanted to ask you a question, but I've been afraid to do so." "What do you want to know?" asked the lawyer. The man replied, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Evangelism, Sin, Salvation, Gospel, Alcohol, Adam, Witnessing, Drunkenness, Sinful Nature, Sinners  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

D L Moody, An American Evangelist Of The Last ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

D L Moody, an American evangelist of the last century, would quote St Paul’s words, "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:19): Here is a bank cheque. The firm, "My God"; the promise, "shall supply"; the amount, "all you need"; the capital, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:19

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Baptist

What Does Living By Faith Mean Today? It Means ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

What does living by faith mean today? It means deciding what is the controlling principle in our lives. Is it luck or chance? I had just parked my car at the office and a lady came up to me and said, "That’s a nice car but I wouldn’t want to drive it!" I was rather puzzled and asked "Why not?" ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Baptist

Someone Is Reported To Have Asked A Concert ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Nov 6, 2000

Someone is reported to have asked a concert violinist in New York’s Carnegie Hall how she became so skilled. She said that it was by “planned neglect”. She planned ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Intelligence Is Not The Same As Wisdom.  PRO

Contributed by Ted Sutherland on Feb 19, 2001

Intelligence is not the same as wisdom. A minister, a Boy Scout, and a computer expert were the only passengers on a small plane. The pilot came back to the cabin and said that the plane was going down but there were only three parachutes and four people. The pilot added, “I should have one of he ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:47-52, James 3:13-18

Tags: Parable General

Denomination: Baptist

The Book Of Judges Ends With These Words, "In ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 26, 2001

The Book of Judges ends with these words, "In those days there was no king," no law. And because there was no law, "every man did what was right in his own sight." Can you imagine what a world like that would be? Just look at Los Angeles in 1992, or Miami in the 1980’s, or Watts in the 1960’s. ...read more

Tags: Commandments General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

E. C. Mckenzie Said, "A Good Sermon Helps ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Feb 27, 2001

E. C. McKenzie said, “A good sermon helps people to two ways: Some rise from it greatly strengthened; ...read more

Tags: Communication General

Denomination: Wesleyan