In Sermon Illustrations: "Gone"

[187]. A Message From A Poem – My Final Destination

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 5, 2025

[187]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – MY FINAL DESTINATION What is your final destination? “Well,” say some, “death is the end of it all. There is nothing after death. Evolution placed us here and will see our end recycled.” Those who deny an eternal spirit in man just ignore the bible’s message – ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-15, John 12:32, Ephesians 4:30, Ephesians 2:8-9, Hebrews 9:27, Psalm 1:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Glory In Heaven, Christian Poems, Heaven, Journey, Destination, Final, Seal  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[216]. A Message From A Poem - Place The Lord Always In Your Focus

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 3, 2025

[216]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - PLACE THE LORD ALWAYS IN YOUR FOCUS Placing the Lord always in your focus means having Him as THE priority in your life. So often we ask Jesus to share our priorities but it must not be like that. We have many priorities over our lifetimes. Sometimes work must ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20, Matthew 22:37, Matthew 6:33

Tags: Priority, Christian Poems, Jesus Is Number 1, Priorities, Focus, First  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[231]. A Message From A Poem - Reflections In Older Life

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 18, 2025

[231]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - REFLECTIONS IN OLDER LIFE This poem was completed in 2020 when I was 77 years old. I don’t think I am unique in any way. I believe as people get older and know that most of their life has already gone, there comes a time for reflection on one’s life. That is what ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:31, Psalm 71:17-18, Isaiah 46:4

Tags: Grey Head, Old, Old Age, The Shepherd, Reflections, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Parson's Got Converted (By His Own Sermon)

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

William Haslam was a high church Anglican vicar in Cornwall in the 19th Century. In 1851, he had gone to stay with a friend, Mr, Aitken who had challenged Haslam that he wasn’t converted. During that week, Haslam was shocked that he had nothing to offer his congregation as they were dying. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:42

Tags: Revival, Corn, 19th Century

Denomination: Anglican

[248]. A Message From A Poem – Starlight Is Always There

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 2, 2026

[248]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – STARLIGHT IS ALWAYS THERE This is a short poem, one just came straightaway to me. I could expand it more but I decided I will not do that. Although the poem was written in 2020, the original thought for this came to me one evening when I was walking home. Here ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 John 1:12

Tags: Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Unveiled Face, Obscured, Love, Barriers, Stars, Shining, Starlight  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[307]. A Poem Message - This Poor, Sinful World – With God In Control

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 11, 2026

[307]. A POEM MESSAGE - THIS POOR, SINFUL WORLD – WITH GOD IN CONTROL God is in control. God always has the control and the whole of the universe one day will come together in the new heavens and the new earth and sin is gone forever. The poem begins with what I see as a fact. If there was ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:4-5, John 1:3

Tags: World, Sin, Judgment, Control, Meaningless, Coming Judgment, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Sinful Word  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pappy Was A Pleasant Fellow. His Face Was Quite ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Heartsill on Oct 25, 2000

Pappy was a pleasant fellow. His face was quite drawn from age, but when he smiled, even his wrinkles seemed to smile with him. Pappy owned a pawnshop. Everyone who knew him respected and adored him. There was a room in the back of his shop where he spent time tinkering with his own precious items. ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Parable Prodigal Son, Parenting

Denomination: Baptist

Even Back Then I Was Searching For Hard Evidence ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 14, 2001

Even back then I was searching for hard evidence of God as an alternative to faith. And one day found it-on television, of all places. While randomly flipping a dial, I came across a mass healing service being conducted by Kathryn Kuhlman. I watched for a few minutes as she brought various people ...read more

Byron Deel, Grew Up With An Alcoholic And Abusive ...  PRO

Contributed by Ian Biss on Oct 1, 2001

Byron Deel, grew up with an alcoholic and abusive father. Byron had two brothers and three sisters, a large family, but his dad spent the family income on alcohol, and he drank and ranted and raved and hit them. When Byron was twelve, his father walked away from the family, and did absolutely ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:6

Tags: God The Father, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Grace Brethren

Listen, Son: I Am Saying This As You Lie Asleep, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

Listen, son: I am saying this as you lie asleep, one little paw crumpled under your cheek and blond curls stickily wet on your damp forehead. I have stolen into your room alone. Just a few minutes ago, as I sat reading my paper in the library, a stifling wave of remorse swept over me. Guiltily I ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Children

Michael Is The Kind Of Guy You Love To Hate. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 1, 2003

Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, “If I were any better, I would be twins!” If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was there telling the employee ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment, Character

My Name Is Vicki, And I Am Addicted. I Am Not ...  PRO

Contributed by Vicki Edwards on Apr 13, 2004

My name is Vicki, and I am addicted. I am not attempting at this time to recover, though I am growing more aware of my neediness daily. I’ll tell you of this obsession, which began in my childhood. My mother knew the same dependence, though I feel she is not as addicted as I am today. I wish she ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:8

Tags: Sharing My Testimony, Addiction

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Even A Snake Has A Heart!  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 2, 2004

“Even A Snake Has a Heart!” 1 John 1: 1-10 Key verse(s): 9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” We recently endured the effects of a fairly major windstorm here at Beech Springs. It happened as we were out of town ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9-10

Tags: Sin General, Faith

Denomination: Lutheran

First The Stones; Then The Mountain!" 1 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 26, 2005

“First The Stones; Then The Mountain!” 1 Corinthians 9:24-28 Key verse(s) 6:“Therefore I do not run as a man aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.” One thing I have learned is that one of the primary reasons for accepting defeat too soon is that some of us, myself included, tend to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-28

Tags: Endurance, Faith

Denomination: Lutheran

The ‘holy Grail' Of Super Glues!" John 17:1-5 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 15, 2005

“The ‘Holy Grail’ of Super Glues!” John 17:1-5 Key verse(s) 4:“I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” It takes a special hand to deal with glue! Some are born to handle the sticky and others not. I am one of the latter lot. While, like most men, I find the ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-5, Ephesians 4:1-6

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Lutheran

In The Book

Contributed by Ken Pell on Oct 19, 2009

In the book “101 Romantic Ideas” Laura Jeanne Allen tells the following story. My Grandfather and Grandmother were married for over half a century, and played their own special game from the time they had met each other. The goal of their game was to write the word "SHMILY" in a surprise place ...read more

Tags: Marriage, Marriage General

Denomination: Nazarene

The Gift Of The Skates

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2009

THE GIFT OF THE SKATES So how do we recognize His authority in our lives? How do we express our faith and our love to Him? By committing ourselves to His mission. Jesus doesn’t say anything about saving sinners and getting them into heaven. The primary priority of his mission is to preach good ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-6

Tags: Christmas

Learning To Give Thanks When Suffering ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 26, 2009

Learning to Give Thanks When Suffering Loss--Bouquet of Rose Thorns You must die to live; take up your cross daily in order to follow Christ; give in order to receive; all those who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. The bitter and the sweet are realities when you put your faith ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 10:1-11

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Keeping The Last Note

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 21, 2011

KEEPING THE LAST NOTE When little Elena was diagnosed with the rare and terminal form of pediatric brain cancer in 2006, her parents were told she had just 135 days to live. The distraught couple vowed to make each moment special for Elena and her sister Gracie, then four. "We wanted to protect ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Sacrifices

We Lost The Farm

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

"WE LOST THE FARM" Richard Culp worked in the hot California sun as foreman of a large ranching operation. He and his wife, Geneva, also owned their own farm, consisting of 200 acres of almond trees. Then years of bad weather and skimpy harvests forced Richard to take on additional work, but even ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Tags: God In The Hardships