In Sermon Illustrations: "God Is Working"

The Problem With Success

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 11, 2018

Henry Blackaby: “Moderate success in ministry is a spiritual hazard. It can make us content to live ...read more

Tags: Pastors, Pastoring, Preachers, Church, Success  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Let Me Close With This Story, At First You May ...  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 31, 2002

Let me close with this story, at first you may not catch my point, but hang in there, when I land you will see a wonderful point. I had been teaching in Virginia, and I resigned my position and accepted a pastorate of a mission work in eastern Kentucky. The area was very poor, and the little church ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

Tags: Funerals Christian, Death

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Aunt Bessie's Pickled Beets!" 2 Corinthians ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 19, 2005

“Aunt Bessie’s Pickled Beets!” 2 Corinthians 7:2-13 Key verse(s): 10:“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” The worst part of doing wrong is being found out. We’ve all been caught doing wrong in life; especially when we ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:2-13, Luke 17:5-10

Tags: Crucifixion

Denomination: Lutheran

The Reason For Evangelism

Contributed by John Bright on May 15, 2025

The Reason for Evangelism The “WHY” might be the most important missing part for choosing to not share a personal testimony and the Good News with other folks. I recently read the book, “Five Little Words to Change a Life,” by Nick and Rozanne Savoca (2022). Nick shares an experience that uses a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 15:11-32

Tags: Evangelism, Prodigal Son

Denomination: Methodist

[200]. A Message From A Poem – On The Emmaus Road – Easter Poem

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 13, 2025

[200]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – ON THE EMMAUS ROAD – EASTER POEM The greatest bible study in history happened on the road leading to Emmaus. The reason why the disciples, who were still in shock, did not understand the events that were unfolding rapidly before them, was that they did not ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:35, Luke 24:30-31, Luke 24:32, 2 Timothy 3:16, Luke 24:13-35, Luke 24:27  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Scripture, Easter, Bible Study, Cleopas, The Emmaus Road, Breaking Of Bread, Burning Hearts, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[259]. A Message From A Poem – The Cold Frosty Night Reveals The Dawn

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 8, 2026

[259]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE COLD FROSTY NIGHT REVEALS THE DAWN The cold, frosty night is this current existence in the world where Christians live and are waiting for their Lord to come. The dawn is the coming of the Lord. A number of people correctly see this coming for the Church and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Luke 12:32, 1 John 3:2

Tags: Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, The World Is Getting Worse, Cold Nights, Frosty Nights, Love, Second Coming, Misery, Dawn, Waiting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Crosses Are Heavy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 11, 2002

CROSSES ARE HEAVY In March of 1997, Scott Mathews wanted the young people of Carthage, Missouri to understand the love of God. The theme for youth group that month was, “The Cross.” So they built a 500 lb, 8 by 14 foot redwood cross. It took ten students to move it. Crosses are heavy, you ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ, Forgiveness In Jesus, Easter Good Friday

Almost Ten Years Ago, I Taught A Life Science ...  PRO

Contributed by Dana Chau on Apr 15, 2002

Almost ten years ago, I taught a Life Science class at Mission High School in San Francisco. The class was made up of students who didn’t want to take Biology and failed Life Science at least once before, some more than once. Many days, I would have students who came to class from the police ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Christian Love

Denomination: *other

Ever Hear The Story Told About The Preacher Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Darren Mccormick on Jan 11, 2006

Ever hear the story told about the preacher who decided to skip church one Sunday morning to play a round of golf? Every Sunday on his way to the church building he’d drive by a golf course----and during warm weather he’d often see church members playing golf. It wouldn’t have bothered him so ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Max Lucado Describes The Choice Joseph Made To Be ...

Contributed by Darren Mccormick on Dec 4, 2006

Max Lucado describes the choice Joseph made to be obedient by comparing it to going out on a limb for God. He claims, Quote from Max Lucado (TAKEN OFF A SERMON TAPE): Joseph was perched firmly on his branch in the tree. It was thick, reliable and perfect for sitting. It was so strong that he ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Should We Strive To Be Like Jesus! Of Course! But ...

Contributed by Timothy Shumer on Aug 22, 2004

Should we strive to be like Jesus! Of course! But He was perfect, and for me, there’s always a little sense within that I know I am going to fall short of that perfection. I know I should keep it as a goal before me. Frankly, if I aim for that, I’ll get nearer than if I don’t, and if I am devoted ...read more

Tags: Faith, Peace

Denomination: Baptist

A Prayer For Deliverance  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 26, 2005

A Prayer for Deliverance 1. Personally affirm your faith in Christ: “Lord Jesus Christ, I believe You are the Son of God and the only way to God – that You died on the cross for my sins and rose again so that I might be forgiven and receive eternal life.” 2. Humble yourself: “I renounce all ...read more

Our Founding Fathers Believed Very Strongly In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Our founding fathers believed very strongly in God’s presence. When our earliest universities began, most of them were founded to train Christian preachers. * When Harvard was established in 1636, their statement of purpose said, “Every student’s main aim is to know Jesus Christ, & to recognize ...read more

Tags: Political Freedom

Paul Harvey Told The Story Of A Family On ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Sickling on Jan 1, 2008

Paul Harvey told the story of a family on Christmas Eve. For several years this family had a tradition where the Mother and children would go to the Christmas Eve service, and the Father would stay home and read the paper. Then when they got back from church, they would open their gifts. The ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Eternal Life  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 1, 2008

ETERNAL LIFE If you are Christian, eternal life does not simply mean going to heaven for eternity. Eternal life means a never-dying spirit that has already sprung to life in you! In other words, eternal life starts NOW! Your life that lasts eternally in the next world is the same life that begins ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Ever-Flowing Stream Of Grace

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Ever-flowing Stream of Grace (Gives Strength) Gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak: Isaiah 40:31 says, "But those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength." "Wait on the Lord" (qawah) is one word, an active verb in the original Hebrew writings, and is the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:31

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Asking Why

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

ASKING WHY In his Good Friday sermon for 2005, Dr. Richard Lischer asked these questions: -"Have you ever been tempted? So was (Jesus). Thus your temptations have been redeemed in His. -Have you ever been hated? So was He. You have a place in Him. -Have you ever been lonely, afraid, without a ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

What Really Matters  PRO

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Jul 28, 2011

What Really Matters It was two weeks before Christmas and it began to start. Everyone was scrambling and rushing to get to Wal-Mart. Their credit cards were in the orange and checking account in the red in hopes that their rich uncle would soon be dead. Old Saint Nick sitting high on a mountain ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-40

Tags: Christmas, Tree, Poem, Santa Claus

Denomination: Baptist

Callous, Cold And Conniving Or Restored, Revived And Redeemed?

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 23, 2021

(Presented on weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Day before the invitation hymn, hymn of decision) Unlike Jesus, David was not sinless on his way to the wilderness or in the wilderness but he is described as a man after God’s own heart. Something David did that was good is that he attended a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19

Tags: Prophetic Zeal, Culture, Racism, Civil Rights

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[199]. A Message From A Poem – On Stony Shores

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 13, 2025

[199]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – ON STONY SHORES This is a short poem and I do not wish to add to it. I live close to the beach and the rainforest. Some beaches in the tropics here have a lot of smooth rocks on them, basalt in origin from past volcanic activity. In the tropical rainforest you ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:7-8, Psalm 1:3

Tags: Planted By The Water, Rocky, Streams Of Water, Christian Poems, Tropical Rainforest, Stony, Waters Of Life, Stream, Refreshment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational