In Sermon Illustrations: "God first" showing 921-940 of 20,269

What Other Gods?

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Mar 2, 2009

WHAT OTHER GODS? What other gods could we have besides the Lord? Plenty. For Israel there were the Canaanite Baals, those jolly nature gods whose worship was a rampage of gluttony, drunkenness, and ritual prostitution. For us there are still the great gods Sex, Shekels, and Stomach (an unholy ...read more

Tags: Idolatry

Denomination: Other

Hide And Seek With God  PRO

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Mar 7, 2009

HIDE AND SEEK WITH GOD This week I have been hammered by the immensity of what it means to "abandon," "forsake," or "leave alone" the omnipresent God, God who is everywhere. How is that possible? It is ONLY possible if God allows us to leave, allows us to turn our back upon God Himself. Yes, it ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience

Denomination: *other

The Word Of God Is Not Bound.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

Voltaire was born in Paris, France in 1694. As a philosopher, historian and free thinker, he became a most influential and prolific writer during what has been called the Age of Enlightenment. He vehemently opposed the Christian faith and wrote many rather scoffing works expressing his disdain ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Timothy 2:9

Tags: Scripture, Word Of God, Atheism, Sovereignty Of God, Voltaire  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Inerrant Word Of God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 21, 2020

"Divine Inspiration is not asserted of the authors of Scripture but of the writings themselves. But inspiration was not mechanical. The Holy Spirit did not destroy the personality and individual characteristics of the individual writers but rather so worked through the entire being of the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Bible, Truth, Inspiration, Word Of God, Inerrancy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thank God For The Delusion!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

Someone told a reformed alcoholic that his experience wasn't valid; that his religion was a delusion. He said, "Thank God for the delusion; it has put clothes on my children and shoes on their feet and bread in their mouths. It has made a man of me and it has put joy and peace in my ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3:1-7

Tags: Changed Life, Forgiveness, Salvation, Word Of God, New Life, New Birth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Our God Resigns??

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 8, 2021

Ray Stedman, noted pastor and author, once traveled to England to speak at a Bible conference. The church sanctuary was filled with people eager to hear this well-known teacher. The service began with singing and praise to the Lord. One of the songs was the chorus "Our God ...read more

Tags: Lord, Humor, Will Of God, Sovereignty Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Not Afraid To Offend God

Contributed by Jw Worcester on Feb 8, 2021

The true “Lord’s Prayer” is John 17, also sometimes called the High Priestly Prayer. In verses 1 – 20 Jesus had already prayed for Himself and His mission. He also prayed for His disciples. Jesus prayed this prayer before Jesus and the disciples left for the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: John 17:22, John 17:24

Tags: Grieve, Knowing Jesus

Daddy, Is God Dead?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 13, 2022

A little girl looked up at her daddy while sitting on his lap and asked, "Daddy, I need to ask you something. Is God dead?" The father said, "Honey, why in the world are you asking me such a ridiculous question! What would make you ask me such a question?" His daughter ...read more

Tags: Fathers, Children, Family, Prayer, Revival, Mothers, Home  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Means Business

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on May 28, 2022

Little Johnny was going to a public school and he was doing very poorly in math. So his mother decided to put him into a Catholic school. When she got his report card at the end of the term, his grades in math had improved tremendously. So she asked him why. He replied, "When I saw that ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Sin's Penalty, Law Upheld, Hope In Jesus, Cross

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Misusing The Image Of God

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Nov 27, 2022

Genesis 11:1-9… v1: as Noah and his family continues life from the ark (likely they had other children) A couple of things in context helps us: Genesis 10 talks about the nations of people and their own languages Gen 10:24 on – we only read about Joktan’s sons, not Peleg’s Gen 11:10 – only 2 ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

Tags: God's Image, Babel, Nations, Man, Languages, Sin  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Where Is God Working?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on May 21, 2023

Pastor Henry Blackaby, of Faith Baptist Church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada began to sense God leading them to an outreach ministry on the college campus. He had never done student work. Their church had never done student work. Their denominational student ministries department recommended ...read more

Scripture: John 5:17-20, Romans 3:10-11, John 6:44

Tags: Discipleship, Joining God At Work, Holy Spirit, God At Work, Evangelism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Funny Letter To God!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 5, 2023

A little boy named Johnny wrote a letter to God asking for one hundred dollars. The local post office didn't know where to send the letter, so they sent it to the White House. The President had a secretary that saw the letter and so she sent the little boy five dollars, thinking that would ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-7, James 4:1-2

Tags: Churches, Children, God, Pastors, Prayer, Tithing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He Strives With God.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jun 10, 2024

A bit of an aside, I can remember when I have pulled a few all night jobs out of necessity back in my power distribution days when a fault would require repairing, nothing like a 24 plus hour day to exhaust you. Lack of sleep is never a good thing, but in Jacob’s case it led to a change in the man ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Tags: Night, Jacob, Exhaustion, Wrestling With God, Deciever, Lack Of Sleep, Israel Tehman, 24 Hours Awake, God Strives, He Strives With God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Dwelling Place Of God

Contributed by Samuel M on Jul 6, 2024

The enemy wants to destroy every place where God meets with us. He does not want the dove of God to rest and settle on our lives. He is fine with visitation of God but not fine with habitation of God. He is constantly looking to destroy every place in our hearts that could become a resting place ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 66:2

Tags: Faith, Hope

Because God Is Sovereign...

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 10, 2024

Because God is Sovereign... 1. He Requires No Counsel - Romans 11:34 2. He Seeks No Advice - 1 Corinthians 2:16 3. He Lacks No Wisdom - James 1:5 4. He Asks No Permission – Job 33:13 5. He Answers to No Man - Romans 9:20 Isaiah 40:13-14 - Who hath directed the Spirit ...read more

Tags: Chosen, God's Will, Election, Sovereignty Of God, Attributes Of God, Called  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Is Left-Handed!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 12, 2024

Little Philip was spending the weekend with his grandmother after a particularly trying week in infant school. His grandmother decided to take him to the park on Saturday morning. It had been snowing all night and everything was beautiful. His grandmother commented, 'Doesn't it look like ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:34, Colossians 3:1

Tags: Father, Jesus, Children, Sunday School, Grandmother, Throne Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Easter, Easter

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Mar 11, 2023

Is Easter just a holiday, with dyed eggs and yummy candy? Is it a time when children play and all dress so fine and dandy? Is Easter when adults find some much-needed relaxation? Is it a break from their work to enjoy a short vacation? Or does Easter remind us how Christ died our debt to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-10

Tags: Resurrection, The First Day Of The Week, Easter, Calvary, Holiday  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

God Gave Me The Light

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Apr 22, 2008

GOD GAVE ME THE LIGHT I remember back when I graduated from college and was beginning to interview for ministry positions. I was being looked at by three churches, but I wanted God to be able to guide in where I would go, so I agreed to go to the first church that would give me the official call. ...read more

Tags: Trust

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

C.s. Lewis Recounts That When He First Started ...  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Lawrence on Jul 7, 2001

C.S. Lewis recounts that when he first started going to church he disliked the hymns, which he considered to be fifth-rate poems set to sixth-rate music. But as he continued, he said, "I realized that the hymns (which were just sixth-rate music) were, nevertheless, being sung with devotion and ...read more

Tags: Humility, Church Practices

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When I Was First Allowed To Mow The Lawn, My Dad ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hiehle on Jul 20, 2001

When I was first allowed to mow the lawn, my dad taught me how to mow between our yard and our neighbor’s yard. The goal was to mow in a straight line between our two yards. He told me that in order to mow a straight line, I was to first pick a point at the upper corner of our property. At that ...read more

Tags: Discipleship, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Nazarene