In Sermon Illustrations: "Gospel Of John"

[111]. A Message From A Poem – Harvest Through Death

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 20, 2025

[111]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HARVEST THROUGH DEATH This poem lay for 27 years waiting to be finished and now it is. Its theme is the fruit of Christ’s sacrifice as the Grain of Wheat. Jesus told to Andrew and Philip a truth I am sure the disciples did not understand. {{John 12:24-25 “Truly, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18, John 12:24-25

Tags: Dying To Oneself, Harvest, Upon This Rock, Redeemed, Souls, Grain Of Wheat  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[122]. A Message From A Poem – He Is Coming He Is Coming

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 8, 2025

[122]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HE IS COMING HE IS COMING Here is a poem that meant a lot to me. It is a source of joy to know the Lord is coming again. I am unashamedly a pre-Tribulationist and pre-Millennialist, BUT the poem is not featuring that. It is solely focussed on the Lord coming ...read more

Scripture: John 14:3, Titus 2:12-14

Tags: The Church, Jesus Is Coming, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, He Is Coming  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[189]. A Message From A Poem – Lord, Wash Not Only My Feet

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 6, 2025

[189]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – LORD, WASH NOT ONLY MY FEET This poem has its setting on the Passover night and it is this incident – {{John 13:3-10 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, rose from supper ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:26, John 13:3-10

Tags: Christian Poems, Clean, Disciples, Cleansing, Foot Washing, Hand Washing, The Word Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Secret Service Christians

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 30, 2025

A man was coming out of church one day. The pastor stood at the door to shake hands and gently pulled him aside. “Brother,” he said, “you need to join the Army of the Lord.” The man smiled, “Pastor, I’m already in the Lord’s army.” “Then how come I only see you at Christmas and Easter?” He ...read more

Scripture: John 2:11, Matthew 5:14-16

Tags: Commitment, Discipleship, Kingdom

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

[219]. A Message From A Poem - Praise God – Praise God

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 4, 2025

[219]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - PRAISE GOD – PRAISE GOD This is a poem written solely for the matter of praise. It could become a hymn but I am not capable of writing music and harmony. Praise is the focus being placed on the Father and Son or One or the Other. It is not a focus on ourselves. ...read more

Scripture: John 9:37-38, Psalm 150:1-6

Tags: Praise, Worthy, Praise God, Praise The Lord, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Bridge Operator

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 5, 2025

There was once a man whose job was to operate a drawbridge for passing trains. Most of the time the bridge stayed raised to allow ships to move freely along the busy waterway. But when a train was scheduled to cross, he would lower the bridge, lock it in place, and signal that the way was ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, Romans 5:8

Tags: Grace, Atonement, Sacrifice, Redemption

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Little Word That Changes Everything

Contributed by David Dunn on Dec 26, 2025

Opening (attention hook) (Hold up a big card with the word IF written on it) “Does anyone know this word?” (Let them shout: IF!) “This is a tiny word… but it can change what happens next.” >> The Story There was a little girl named Lily, and Lily loved to ask questions. One morning her ...read more

Scripture: John 14:15, James 1:22

Tags: Obedience, Choice

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

[274]. A Message From A Poem – The Instincts Of Life

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 24, 2026

[274]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE INSTINCTS OF LIFE The purpose of this poem is to demonstrate the stupidity of evolution. Evolution is an excuse not to believe in God and therefore not to be accountable, but woe to the evolutionist, for a day of accountability is coming. {{Hebrews 9:27 ...read more

Scripture: John 1:3, Hebrews 9:27

Tags: Jacana Bird, Gradual Change, Jesus Christ Created Life, Everyone Is Accountable, Creation, Evolution, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Water Birds, Jacana  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[282]. A Message From A Poem – The Lord Will Never Fail Me

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 31, 2026

[282]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE LORD WILL NEVER FAIL ME (possible song) This is a more unusual poem and in my mind, there was the possibility of a song. The poem has rhythm which is necessary for singing. The metre may defeat that though but not a problem for a good musician. I love ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33, Hebrews 13:5-6

Tags: Fail, Abide, Keep, Christian Poems, Failure  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[294]. A Message From A Poem – The Troubled New Year Begins

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 20, 2026

[294]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE TROUBLED NEW YEAR BEGINS These comments for the poem are being written on 10 February 2026. It is very important Christians understand current events in the world because we are in the very last days of the Church age and the Lord’s coming for His Bride, the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17

Tags: Troubles, The New Year, The Signs Of The Times, Christian Poems, Current Affairs, Start Of The Year  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unfold Your Deck Chair - Funny Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 3, 2026

In a "Peanuts" strip, ... Charlie Brown and Lucy were discussing ... theology. Lucy said, ... "On the great cruise ship of life, ... some people ... take their deck chairs ... to the bow. And some people ... take their deck chairs ... to the stern. Where do you put your deck ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-34, John 14:6

Tags: Deck Chair, Faith, Life, Ship, Chair  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

How Do You Make This Thing Work? War Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 3, 2026

The story is told ... about an Army sergeant ... who was caught near a beach ... by German artillery ... and managed to protect himself ... by moving to the water's edge. While improving his position with a trench shovel, ... he came upon an ornate crucifix ... the kind that prosperous ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-34, John 14:6

Tags: Faith, Lordship, War, Superficial

Denomination: Anglican

Looking For A Loophole. W C Fields Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 3, 2026

It is a difficult thing... to look in the mirror of our soul... and see where we really stand ... in our relationship with God. Some hold back ... from a total commitment to Jesus... and in a way, ... are looking for a loophole ... to make them acceptable ... before God. (Pause) W. C. Fields ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-34, John 14:6

Tags: Spirit, Battle, Commitment, Flesh, Loophole  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Wolfing Down Yourself

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 6, 2026

***WOLFING DOWN THE PAIN By F. Buechner OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS RESENTMENT AND ANGER ARE POSSIBLY THE MOST FUN. TO LICK YOUR WOUNDS, TO SMACK YOUR LIPS OVER GRIEVANCES LONG PAST, TO ROLL OVER YOUR TONGUE THE PROSPECT OF BITTER CONFRONTATION STILL TO COME. TO SAVOR TO THE LAST TOOTHSOME MORSEL THE ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:3-7, John 15:11

Tags: Hurt, Unforgiveness

Denomination: Assembly Of God

[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

I Want To Build A Bridge

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 28, 2026

I WANT TO BUILD A BRIDGE! The parents had died and left the farm to their two sons. The farm was divided by a creek. There was deep, hard feelings between the two brothers. They had not spoken to each other in several years. They went to the same church but they would not talk or even look at each ...read more

Scripture: John 15:14, Matthew 1:23

Tags: Bridge, Build

Denomination: Assembly Of God

They Called Me Frodo

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 18, 2026

I want to tell you about a title I had in high school. Picture a 5'6" and a half, scrawny, 110 pound kid with long curly hair down to his collar bone. Got it? The nickname was Frodo. Do you know what I did to earn that nickname? Nothing. The last Lord of the Rings movie had come out about ...read more

Scripture: John 1:29, Isaiah 53:7

Tags: Identity, Names

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christians Aren't Perfect, Just ...

Contributed by Lonnie Erwin on Sep 24, 2007

Illustration: "Christians Aren’t Perfect, Just Forgiven" Whether seen on bumper stickers, heard during altar calls, developed from a narrow interpretation of Lutheran or fundamentalist theology, or perpetuated in fluffy paperbacks, the reduction of the gospel to cheap forgiveness is ever with ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Colossians 4:6 Addresses The Way We Talk, Saying ...

Contributed by John Boquist on Jul 18, 2008

Colossians 4:6 addresses the way we talk, saying that our speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt (4:6). In the ancient world, salt was valuable, and served at least two purposes as nothing else could do. First it was a purifying agent. In those centuries before refrigeration, salt was ...read more

Tags: Words

Denomination: Baptist

Not Enough Scriptures

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Sep 23, 2019

I and several other preaching students were permitted to visit Brother G. E. Steward, a masterful preacher of the gospel, who was holding a gospel meeting in Houston, TX, in the summer of 1972. We were permitted to bring lessons at that meeting. He was following Brother Keeble’s manner of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11, Hebrews 4:12

Tags: Faith, Disciples, Word Of God, Sound Doctrine, Masterful Preacher, Gospel Meeting, Training Preachers, Scriptures, Power In The Word, Sermon Delivery, Marshall Keeble, Power In Preaching, G E Steward  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ