In Sermon Illustrations: "God Brings Purpose"

Is God In Residence?

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 27, 2009

IS GOD IN RESIDENCE? I once saw a poster of a valentine-shaped heart with a castle on top of it. There was a flag with a slogan, oversized and coming out of the top of the castle. The slogan read: "Joy is the banner flown from the heart when the King is in residence." Well, stupid me, I didn’t ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: *other

Dancing With God

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Mar 5, 2009

DANCING WITH GOD One of my very favorite stories is told by Gertrud Mueller Nelson in To Dance with God: Family Ritual and Community Celebration. It’s the first thing she says at the beginning of Chapter 1: "Some years ago, I spent an afternoon caught up in a piece of sewing I was doing. The ...read more

Tags: Discovery

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

In Front Of God

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

IN FRONT OF GOD I read the story of a man who took a slip of paper and wrote upon it only three letters spelling "G-O-D." He showed it to his friend, who was plainly overcome with greed and the worship of wealth. He took a coin, and after having placed the coin over the slip of paper, asked his ...read more

Tags: Idolatry

The Vessel God ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

THE VESSEL GOD USES The Master was searching for a vessel to use; on the shelf there were many--which one would He choose? "Take me", cried the gold one, "I’m shiny and bright, I’m of great value and I do things just right. My beauty and luster will outshine the rest And for someone like ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

Tags: Servanthood

God's Salvation ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

GOD’S SALVATION CHURCH In the 1990s, a cult from Taiwan relocated to San Dimas, California, and registered itself as God’s Salvation Church. In 1997, the Chen Tao cult, also known as the Flying Saucer cult, led by Hon-Ming Chen, headed to Garland (mistaken for "God Land"), Texas, where they expect ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:1-51

Tags: Rapture

God's Detour

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Mar 31, 2009

GOD'S DETOUR The year was 1920. The scene was the examining board for selecting missionaries. Standing before the board was a young man named Oswald Smith. One dream dominated his heart. He wanted to be a missionary. Over and over again, he prayed, "Lord, I want to go as a missionary for you. Open ...read more

Tags: Disappointment

Denomination: Wesleyan

Dear God  PRO

Contributed by Shane Hargrave on Mar 31, 2009

Dear God, So far today, I’ve done all right. I haven’t gossiped, and I haven’t lost my temper. I haven’t been grumpy, nasty or selfish. But in a few minutes, God, I’m going to ...read more

Tags: Attitude General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Prayer Of God's ...

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Apr 21, 2009

A PRAYER OF GOD’S SERVANTS We are God’s servants. We put God’s love for all people first. No race is superior to another. No government is more loved than another. No nation is dearer than another. We do not put our nation’s economy before God’s economy. He tells us to seek first His Kingdom, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:45

Tags: Servanthood, Servants Of God, Servant Attitude

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God's Calendar

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Jun 22, 2009

GOD'S CALENDAR Here’s my calendar for July. (………) I mark up the days which have a special meaning for me or an event to watch out for. Last month I did have a calendar event – it was my birthday! That was a ‘red-letter day’, something which marks an important day. I won’t tell you how many years ...read more

Tags: Time

Denomination: Baptist

The Love Of God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 12, 2023

Several years ago, John MacArthur had the opportunity to spend several days traveling with the well-known gospel musicians, Bill and Gloria Gaither. At one point, he asked Bill what, in his estimation, were the greatest Christian lyrics ever written, aside from the inspired Psalms. Without ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:1, John 3:16, Romans 5:8

Tags: Cross, God's Love, Hymns, Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Seeking God

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Aug 6, 2023

“Seeking God” Isaiah 55: 1-9 08/06/23 When my grandson Isaiah was three years old, he had a problem of wandering off and hiding. One day my daughter Maeghan and my wife Becky were shopping at a local mall and of course, he slipped off. All of a sudden, they realized he was missing. They ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-9, Luke 11:9, Jeremiah 29:13, Deuteronomy 4:29-31

Tags: Obeying God, Seeking God

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Struggling With God?

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jun 17, 2024

Here is a wee question, is struggling with God a bad thing? Where is a person's character developed? Did the saints of God become saints before or without struggling with God, without responding to those things in the scriptures or the words of Jesus that offended them, before they repented of ...read more

Tags: Faith, Jacob, Isaac, Struggling, The Upper Room, Character Development, Becoming The Church, Fear, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Abraham, Disciples, Journey  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

God With Us

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Dec 2, 2024

I started out by describing a song that I had been singing all week long. (I used Leaning on the Everlasting Arms but you can use any song). I spent about 5 - 7 minutes giving all the details of the song. The author, the beat, where it is used at, who sung the song, etc. I keep the title ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:23, Philippians 2:5-11

Tags: Emmanuel, Immanuel, God With Us

Denomination: Church Of God

Encounter With God

Contributed by Samuel M on Jan 25, 2025

Moses' encounter with God, not only resurrected his calling, but it also resurrected a 400-year-old promise given to Abraham. Our experience or visitation with God not only resurrects our calling, but also resurrects the promises of our ...read more

Tags: Faith, Hope

Seeking God

Contributed by Samuel M on Feb 18, 2025

Seeking God is a life-giving living experience similar to a boat crossing earthly waters and entering divine waters, where we behold the glory of God, are swept up in God's ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:1

Tags: Faith, Hope

If God Is Good

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 1, 2025

There is a problem at the heart of Christianity. If God is good and loving why is there evil and suffering in the world? There is an old response when you are asked to do something: “I would if I could but I can’t so I won’t.” That response is like one of the ways our world tries to solve this ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:17

Tags: Evil, Suffering, Goodness Of God

Denomination: Methodist

Seek God

Contributed by Samuel M on Apr 26, 2025

The Christian life can be summarized in two lines: "Always preparing to meet God" and "Meet God." ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:29

Tags: Faith, Hope

Entitlement With God

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 20, 2025

A Jewish woman is walking on the beach with her little grandson. Suddenly a huge wave sweeps the boy out to sea. Desperate, the woman looks up to heaven and says, “God, please rescue my grandson, my only grandson, the light of my life!” Miraculously, the next big wave deposits ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 25:1-24, Deuteronomy 25:1-18, Isaiah 61:1-3, 2 Chronicles 36:20-21, Matthew 20:1-16, Matthew 3:9-10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: False Hope, Owed, Abraham, Privilege, Entitlement, Assumptions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Seeking God

Contributed by Samuel M on Jul 8, 2025

For performing a miracle or plan, God sometimes sends his angels, but to a person who seeks God, God comes directly (in person or through his presence) to meet him. He does not send an angel, but He comes directly. He will remove the fascination of supernatural things or creatures but turn your ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:13

Tags: Faith, Hope

What Is The Will Of God For Me?

Contributed by Tony Abram on Feb 8, 2009

WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD FOR ME? I have said many times over the past 50 years of international ministry to God's people when asked, "What is the Will of God for me? and how can I know it and do it?" I have said that, in a nutshell, the Will of God is the Word of God--and the Word of God is the ...read more

Tags: God's Sovereign Will