In Sermon Illustrations: "Good Deeds"

The Highest Honour A Nation Can Bestow Upon One ...

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Jan 22, 2007

The highest honour a nation can bestow upon one of her sons is to name him “The Father of his country.” This is a title given to heroes as far back in history as the Roman Empire. “When a Roman citizen had done some brave, beautiful deed of infinite value and of noble self-denial, while soldiers ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

A Smile Is All We Need

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Apr 26, 2008

A SMILE IS ALL WE NEED When the famous Canadian 20th Century Pentecostal missionary, Jonathan Goforth, was 16 and still living at home with his parents on the farm, his father bought a second farm. He asked Jonathan to look after a huge field on that second farm and get it ready for harvest. ...read more

Tags: Love For God

Denomination: Anglican

Igdaliah, A Man Of God

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 21, 2020

Text: Jeremiah. 35:4, KJV: And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which (was) by the chamber of the princes, which (was) above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door: Thoughts: Igdaliah ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 35:4

Tags: Man Of God, Men Of God, Igdaliah

Denomination: Baptist

Understanding Mortification  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Understanding Mortification Romans 8:13 says, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." (King James) Mortification is the special ministry that enables the child of God to overcome those evil desires that could ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:13

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Which Desire Are You Feeding?  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Which Desire are You Feeding? Romans 8:13 says, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." (King James) Mortification is the special ministry that enables the child of God to overcome those evil desires that could ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:13

Tags: Overcome, Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[034] A Message From A Poem – Beneath His Wings – My Prayer

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 23, 2025

[034] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BENEATH HIS WINGS – MY PRAYER In this poem there is a little word interplay in each stanza. It is simple to see. The reason for this poem is to express a prayer for personal concerns. I tried to cover a number of points I thought were important. These are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:29-31, Luke 18:10-11, Nehemiah 2:4, Luke 18:13-14, Romans 12:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Devoted To Prayer, Silent Prayer, Prayer, Sincerity, Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Wealthy Man Before Leaving On An Extended ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kilson on May 6, 2006

A wealthy man before leaving on an extended vacation said to a contractor, "While I am away, I want you to build me a fine new home according to these plans. Be sure you work with extreme care, and use the best of everything. Tell me the cost as soon as you have it and I’ll send you a check." ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Tags: Heaven, Foundation, Dishonesty, Eternity, Building  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Shame Upon The Father

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 30, 2010

SHAME UPON THE FATHER A man was successful in business and had a well-educated son who was highly respected and honored, like his father. But one day to everyone’s surprise, the young man was charged with embezzlement. At his trial, he appeared nonchalant and arrogant about his sinful actions. ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 28:7

Tags: Father's Day

Luther's Confessions

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Dec 8, 2011

LUTHER'S CONFESSIONS Before writing, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," before becoming a leader of the Reformation, before his 95 Theses, Martin Luther was a Catholic priest. One thing that did not change for him was a passionate conviction that Christians must repent and confess their sins. As a ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9, Psalm 66:18

Tags: Confession, Repentance, Confession Of Sin

Denomination: Baptist

Unsung Heroes: Ebed-Melech, A Man Who Helped Jeremiah The Prophet

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Sep 9, 2021

Introduction: The Old Testament prophets sometimes faced severe persecution. Jeremiah certainly had his share of troubles and in this instance, he had preached God’s message but was thrown into a cistern! Most likely he was going to be left there to die, but an unsung hero helped rescue Jeremiah. ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 38:7-13, Jeremiah 39:15-18

Tags: Jeremiah, Persecution, Ebedmelech

Denomination: Baptist

In 1971 Jane Fonda And Donald Sutherland Starred ...  PRO

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Nov 8, 2003

In 1971 Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland starred together in a movie named “Klute”. It was about a small town detective who had come to the big city in search of a killer, who coincidentally was stalking Jane Fonda’s character. At one point in the movie Donald Sutherland’s character, Detective ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:6-14

Tags: Holiness, Wisdom

Denomination: Orthodox

Gen. Douglas Macarthur Wrote This Prayer For His ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 19, 2001

Gen. Douglas MacArthur wrote this prayer for his son. He prayed: "Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, & brave enough to face himself when he is afraid. One who will be proud & unbending in honest defeat, & humble & gentle in victory. "Build me a son ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Children, Father's Day, Father, Goals, Dreams  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Magnitude Of The Request

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 26, 2011

THE MAGNITUDE OF THE REQUEST Napoleon and his soldiers overcame an island in the Mediterranean Sea. They had fought for many days to take the island and finally succeeded. After the capture of the island at the price of many lives, Napoleon and his generals gathered for a celebration. As they were ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:24

Tags: Prayer How To

A Gift Of Kindness - You Never Know

Contributed by Roberta Karchner on Oct 20, 2018

A number of years ago, my husband and I went to Applebees on our Anniversary for a quiet dinner together. It was, indeed, very quiet, because my husband had just been ordered to undergo an MRI, and we knew that the results might change our future forever. Still, we did what old married couples ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:31, Hebrews 13:2, Matthew 25:39-40

Tags: Do Unto Others, Love Your Neighbor, Loving Acts, Kind Acts

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Basics

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Charles Spurgeon, “A man’s life is always more forcible than his speech. When men take stock of him they reckon his deeds as dollars and his words as pennies. If his life and doctrine disagree the mass of onlookers accept his practice and reject his preaching.” Will Rogers, “Live in such a way ...read more

Tags: Faith

I Love You Already

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Sep 16, 2008

I Love You Already There was an elderly man who lost his wife of 70 years. He was blind and could barely walk with assistance. He was being moved to a nursing home because his bride was no longer able to care for him. As the nurse led the old gent down the hallway to his new room, he started ...read more

Tags: Attitude General

Denomination: United Methodist

The Choice: Build Up Or Tear Down  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 11, 2009

THE CHOICE: BUILD UP OR TEAR DOWN Years ago I picked up a poem named "The Choice." I do not know where I got it nor the author, but it illustrates the importance of building others up. This poem raises the question of whether we will "tear down or build up." "I watched some men tearing a building ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Tags: Encouragement

The Only Thing Left Was The Sign

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 14, 2020

A number of years ago, I drove by a small shopping center in a Midwestern city. The display of signs stated there was everything from a bookstore to a pet shop to—my favorite—a hobby shop! I’ve been interested in model trains and aircraft for many years, and thought this would be a good place to ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:5

Tags: Forsaken Things, Closed Churches

Denomination: Baptist

The Blood Of Jesus Christ Cleanses All Sin

Contributed by Raymond Petzholt on Oct 17, 2005

How is it possible that the blood of Jesus Christ has such power to redeem and cleanse us from all sin? This is possible because of who Jesus is and what He did when He died on the Cross. First, Jesus was, is and always will be, absolutely sinless in thought word and deed. Secondly, Jesus ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:7

Tags: Redemption, Forgiveness, Blood Of Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

Ashamed When It Counted The Most

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 18, 2019

Ashamed when it counted the most My two sisters, when they were somewhat younger, liked to play the piano and took lessons for some time. I like music, too, but not all the practicing that went along with it! We found out there was going to be a “recital” where all of the students in their ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, 1 John 2:28

Tags: Christian Life, Shame, Rewards

Denomination: Baptist