In Sermon Illustrations: "God Is Personal" showing 1,101-1,120 of 19,237

When God Shows Up

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Feb 3, 2019

I just finished reading a book called, “The Shack.” I read it about ten years ago, and something made me read it again, and I’m so glad I did. I commend it to you as a book that captures the very essence of a God who wants nothing more than to have a loving relationship with you. What an incredible ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11, Isaiah 6:1-8

Tags: Humility, The Shack, God Shows Up, Miracle, Sacred In The Ordinary, Sacred In Secular  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

All Sin Is Against God.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

“W. S. Plumer said, “We never see sin aright until we see it as against God. All sin is against God in this sense: that it is His law that is broken, His authority that is despised, His government that is set at naught Pharaoh and Balaam, Saul and Judas each said, ‘I have sinned’ which is only ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: David, Sin, Repentance, Holiness, Prodigal Son  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Creation Shows The Glory Of God!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

"The stars are God's fingerprints. The sun is a mere smidgen of His radiance. The moon is to remind us that He doesn't sleep at night. The vastness of space proclaims the infinity of His wisdom, while the sand pebble indicates His thoroughness with the puniest details. The lion hints ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-3

Tags: Creation, Glory, God, Nature, Agnosticism, Sovereignty Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Story

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Dec 20, 2020

Story of God does not end with the resurrection or with the disciples. The story is still being written and lived through the Body of ...read more

Scripture: John 15:26

Tags: Christmas, The Body Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Give God A Blank Check!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

I read once about a family that put their elderly grandmother on a plane for her first flight. She wasn’t too sure about this mode of transportation, but she grudgingly went along with it. When she returned, some of the family members couldn’t help playfully asking, “Grannie, did the plane hold you ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Faith, Commitment, Trust, Will Of God, Believing God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Great Quotes On The Sovereignty Of God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 8, 2021

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 to catch a fish in the Pacific Ocean ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 4:34-35

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

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Facts About The Sovereignty Of God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 8, 2021

GOD'S RESUME – what the Bible teaches about the Sovereignty of God 1. He existed before anything else. Ps. 90:2: "Before the mountains were born, before You gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, You are God." 2. He created all things. John 1:3: "All ...read more

Tags: Lord, Will Of God, Judge, King Of Kings, Sovereignty Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Family!

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 28, 2021

It is hard to get over the disappointment that God, having made an exception in my case, didn’t seem to call nice, accomplished, courteous, alert ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, Luke 19:10, James 2:1-7

Tags: Worship, Salvation, Gospel, The Cross, Church  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

God's Sunlight

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Aug 28, 2021

How is it that the sunlight gives us such joy? Why does this radiance when it falls on the earth fill us with the joy of living? The whole sky is blue, the fields are green, the houses all white, and our enchanted eyes drink in those bright colors which bring delight to our souls. And then there ...read more

Scripture: James 1:17-27

Tags: Feeling God's Present, Not Feeling God's Presents

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Bible Verses On The Presence Of God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 10, 2022

Joshua 1:9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (NKJV) Honor and majesty are found in His presence; strength and joy are found in His sanctuary. 1 Chronicles 16: 27 (AMP) And He ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:9

Tags: Holy Spirit, Presence Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Not Far From The Kingdom Of God

Contributed by Scott Sutton on Aug 17, 2022

In the days of the circuit riders, a minister was out riding one afternoon and came upon a man out working in his field. “Fine day isn’t it?” the minister called out. “It's fine for you”, the man replied, “All you have to do is ride around on that horse thinking about God all day long, while ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God, Kingdom Of Heaven

Denomination: Baptist

Not Hearing And Hearing From God!

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Nov 14, 2022

Genesis 8:1-18 Devotional v1: Can God forget things? Why or why not? – God IS Omniscient (all knowing), otherwise, He would not be God! The Hebrew word for “remember" is zakar = to remember, to recall, bring to mind! v1-3: How did God stop the flooding? – stopped rain from the sky, closed ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 8:1-18

Tags: Fear, Wisdom, Obedience, God's Word, Actions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Our Mission-Minded God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 10, 2023

Notice how all three members of the Trinity are involved in Missions: The Father is the first missionary, who goes out of himself in creating the world and sending the Son for our salvation. The Son is the second missionary, who redeems humanity and all creation through his life, death, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Acts, Evangelism, Church, Missions, Revival, Witnessing, Great Commission  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Assurance

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 13, 2023

Have you ever been in a store and see a child that has gotten separated from his parents? The fear is very evident on the child's face as well as the parents’ face. It's a horrible feeling when the child turns around and can't find his parents. They frantically look through every ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:15-22

Tags: Assurance, God's Plan

Denomination: Baptist

Thank You, God, For Rattlesnakes!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 26, 2023

There was a farmer who had three sons: Ron, Don and Little John. All had their names on the church roll, but none ever attended church or had time for God. Then one day Don was bitten by a rattlesnake. The doctor was called and did all he could to help Don, but the outlook for his recovery was very ...read more

Tags: Judgment, Repentance, Spiritual Fruit, Brokenness, Unfaithfulness, Backsliding, Revival  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Currency

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Mar 19, 2023

Jesus might have asked, when presented with the coin with Caesar's image on it: "Whose image do you bear, whose image is stamped on you?” And the answer would have been - or should - have been: "We are carrying God’s image, we are carrying God’s name.” He coined us in his image. He ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:34-40, Matthew 22:19-21

Tags: Coin, Image Of God, Jesus The Stranger, Circulation, Joseph G Donders  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Thank God For Blessed Subtractions!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 10, 2023

Three local pastors were discussing their Easter Sunday results with one another on the Monday after Easter. The Methodist minister said, "Easter services worked out great for us! We gained four new additions at First Methodist!" Praise God! The Baptist preacher grinned ...read more

Tags: Arrogance, Bragging, Preachers, Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, Easter, Revival, Church Growth, Pride, Pastors  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Church That Voted God Out!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2024

The story is told about a poor woman who lived across the tracks and wanted to join a very fashionable church. She talked to the pastor about it, but he sought to discourage her. He suggested she go home and think about it carefully for a week. At the end of the week she came back. He said, “Go ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-12

Tags: Church, Revival, Favoritism, Pastors, Membership, Partiality  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational