In Sermon Illustrations: "God Cares For You"

The Purpose Of Preaching

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 25, 2021

Warren Wiersbe, "Preaching must be marked by three elements: conviction, warning, and appeal ("reprove, rebuke, exhort"). To quote an old rule of preachers, "He should afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted." If there is conviction but no remedy, we add to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Comfort, Preaching, Pastors, Conviction, The Word Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Meditate On The Lord.

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 18, 2021

Where I was Pastoring at the time I got 5th Sunday off. I had a favorite fishing hole. The water wasn’t very deep so I could wade in the water. That was fun for me. It had big trees that hung over the water and the sun would shine through them and made it look beautiful. It was great, this river ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6

Tags: Life Is Rough, God Teaches To Smooth Us

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Unsung Heroes-Those Who Made Copies Of The Scriptures

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Sep 30, 2021

Introduction: sometimes we forget, or take for granted, the easy availability of God’s Word. Retail stores (not just Christian bookstores) sometimes have copies of the whole Bible for a dollar per copy! Secondhand or thrift stores occasionally have donated Bibles and other portions for a very ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 9:1-2

Tags: Baruch, Daniel, Jeremiah, Word Of God, Scribes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

He Is Our Strength

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Oct 12, 2021

My beautiful mama was always so strong, a tower of strength, courage and faith that stood like a beacon for our family. Psalm 46:1 says God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. As I meditated on this, I remembered a time when I was about 3 years old or so. I saw myself ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1, Psalm 28:8, Psalm 37:39, Exodus 15:2

Tags: Fear, Protection, Strength, God Is Our Strength

Denomination: Charismatic

Keys To Understanding The Parables

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 13, 2022

KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING THE PARABLES Parables provide insight into the nature, coming, growth and of the Kingdom of God. Parables are by design intended to be surprising. They often sneak up on us. Parables are used to simulate thinking and cause the hearer to carefully contemplate what they ...read more

Tags: Teaching, Truth, Preaching, Parables, Kingdom Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Responsiblity To All Living Creatures

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Nov 18, 2022

Genesis 9:1-7 Devotional From Gen. 9:1-3 we note God blessed Noah and his sons. What was the command? – same as for the first man and woman – populate the earth (somewhat of a new beginning) What were given to man in v2? – man was given the responsibility to rule over all other creatures on ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:1-7

Tags: People, Nature, God's Love, Responsibilty On Earth

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Who's In Charge?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jun 3, 2023

One of the most disturbing movies ever produced is Francis Ford Coppola’s classic reflection on the Vietnam War, Apocalypse Now. The film tracks an American officer who is sent upriver into the heart of the war-torn countryside in order to find and eventually assassinate a renegade commander who ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 6:1-17

Tags: God's Sovereignty, Wrath, Apocalypse, Four Horsemen

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Pearl Tree Parable

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 24, 2023

The kingdom of God is like a seed which a woman planted in her garden, and when the time came for the harvest, the tree branches were groaning under the weight of hundreds of large and beautiful pearls which rained down upon everyone who had taken shelter there, and they all became rich beyond ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-52

Tags: Fruit, Kingdom Of God, Reward, Hidden Future

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Sun And The Wind

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 16, 2024

One day, the Sun and the Wind argued over who was stronger. They see a man walking with a coat and decide to settle their dispute by seeing who can make him remove his coat. The Wind blows fiercely, but the harder it blows, the tighter the man clutches his coat. Then, the Sun gently shines its warm ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 15:1

Tags: Persuade, Fables, God's Warmth, Gentleness, Gentle  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Use The Old Golf Ball!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 8, 2024

As the golfer approached the first tee, a hazardous hole with a green surrounded by water, he debated if he should use his new golf ball. Deciding that the hole was too treacherous, he pulled out an old ball and placed it on the tee. Just then he heard a voice from above say loudly: "Use the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Lord's Prayer, Will Of God, Golf, Thy Will Be Done

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Imagine Being Near A Mountain Lake. Sometimes ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Feb 20, 2002

Imagine being near a mountain lake. Sometimes early in the morning when the lake is perfectly calm, the reflection of the mountains is magnificently duplicated and mirrored on the lake’s surface. The interesting thing is that if you were to take on little flat stone and skip it across the surface ...read more

Tags: Sin Fall Of Man, Sin Separates From God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Power Can Be Used In At Least 2 Ways. It Can Be ...  PRO

Contributed by James May on Apr 20, 2001

Power can be used in at least 2 ways. It can be unleashed or it can be harnessed. Drop an atomic bomb and just watch as raw power is unleashed or harness the power of the atom and it will produce energy to make enough electricity for entire states. On the Day of Pentecost, and on the day you ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:38, Acts 2:1-4

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, God's Omnipotence, Gifts General

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sophomore  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on May 24, 2002

Do you know the meaning of the word "sophomore?" The word sophomore comes from two Greek words "sophos" and "moros." "Sophos" means to be wise. "Moros" is the word from which we get the world "moron." "Moros" means stupid, blockhead, or fool. So the word "sophomore" means wise fool. And ...read more

Scripture: John 1:6-28

Tags: Mother Theresa, God's Omniscience, Faith Vs. Works

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Gather A Crowd At Church!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 25, 2021

How to Gather a Crowd at Church! A cattle rancher got saved and surrendered to preach. He went to a Bible conference which was all about how to build a crowd. Asked about it later, he said, "It was strange. In all my years as a cattle rancher, I never had to go to a conference to learn how ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Bible, Teaching, Preaching, Word Of God, Pastors, Churches  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Make Yourself At Home  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Feb 20, 2002

MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME Becky Pippert, is a Christian author from Naperville, Illinois. While doing campus ministry she met a student named Bill on a college campus in Portland, Oregon. Bill was brilliant, and always looked like he was pondering something deep. He had messy hair, and the entire ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Christian Love, Promises Of God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Standing Where The Fire Has Already Been!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 26, 2023

“Many years ago, a father and his daughter were walking through the grass on the Canadian prairie. In the distance, they saw a prairie fire, and they realized that it would soon engulf them. The father knew there was only one way of escape: they would quickly begin a fire right where they were and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9

Tags: Reconciliation, Assurance, Blood Of Jesus, Roman Road, Wrath Of God, Holiness Of God, Forgiveness, Satan, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Little Boy Walked Into His Dad’s Den Just ...  PRO

Contributed by Dana Chau on Sep 24, 2001

A little boy walked into his Dad’s den just as his Dad finished reading a book. The son asked, "What were you reading?’ The Father replied, "I was reading the book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible." The little boy curiously asked, "What’s it about? His Dad replied, "It’s about God’s ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope, Jesus Teachings, Second Coming

Denomination: *other

Faithful For A Promise  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jul 28, 2002

FAITHFUL FOR A PROMISE A promise from God is a statement we can depend on with absolute confidence. Here are 12 promises for the Christian to claim. God’s presence -- "I will never leave thee" (Heb. 13:5) God’s protection -- "I am thy shield" (Gen. 15:1) God’s power -- "I will strengthen thee" ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Faith, Deception, Peace, Prayer, Promise  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Great Background On The Oldest Psalm - Psalm 90

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 27, 2025

John Phillips gave us this helpful background information: "Next to the book of Job, Psalm 90 is most likely the oldest piece of writing in the Bible. This psalm was written by Moses in the wilderness on the way from Egypt to Canaan. So, Psalm 90 stands in grand isolation as the oldest psalm ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:1-17

Tags: Children, Moses, Resurrection, Prayer, Fearing The Lord, Brevity Of Life, God's Forgiveness, Sins, Jesus' Death, Answered Prayer, Prayer Requests, Trusting God, Passover, Eternal Life, Reverence, God's Mercy, Lamb Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Story Is Told (By Ernest Hemingway) Of A ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Feb 1, 2001

The story is told (by Ernest Hemingway) of a father and his teenage son who had a relationship that had become strained to the point of breaking. Finally the son ran away from home. His father, however, began a journey in search of his rebellious son. Finally, in Madrid, in a last desperate ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32, Luke 15:1, Nehemiah 4:1-23

Tags: Forgiveness, Forgiveness For Others, Family, Fatherhood, Father, Descriptions Of God, Love, Lost, Found, God's Provision, Prodigal, Son  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Wesleyan