In Sermon Illustrations: "Great God"

The Next Time You Feel God Can't Use You....

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 4, 2014

Noah was a drunk. Abraham was too old. Isaac was a daydreamer. Jacob was a liar. Joseph was abused. Moses had a stuttering problem. Gideon was afraid. Sampson was a womanizer. Rahab was a prostitute. Jeremiah and Timothy were too young. David had an affair and was a murderer. Elijah was ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-11

Tags: Moses, Weakness, Failure, Excuses

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Misapplied Scriptures, John 9:31: Does God Hear Sinners, Or Not?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 13, 2023

Introduction: This is another verse of Scripture which has been used and misused by many people for a long time. Some folks teach that it’s basically useless for any sinner to pray because “well, right there, it says, ‘God heareth not sinners!’” But is that what the verse really teaches? Here’s ...read more

Scripture: John 9:31, Psalm 66:18

Tags: Blind Men, Misapplied Scripture, Unusual Healings, Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

Where Does Your Ministry Rely Upon God's Power?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 15, 2023

David Platt in his book Radical has a chapter entitled "Beginning at the End of Ourselves -- The Importance of Relying on God's Power (Subsection entitled - “Dependent on Ourselves or Desperate for His Spirit”) Platt went on to say, "This is where I am most convicted as a pastor. I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8-11, Ephesians 5:18

Tags: Repentance, Pastors, Church, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Power  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unintentionally Humorous Texts: Laban, "Why Did You Steal My Gods?”

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 23, 2024

Introduction: Let me say first of all that the Bible is a very sacred Book, not to be trifled with. It’s precious and untold numbers of believers have given their lives to simply have and read it, let alone defend it against any number of attacks. Having said that, there are a number of places ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 31:26-30

Tags: Laban, Idols, Teraphim, Jacob, Rachel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

[135]. A Message From A Poem – I Will Still Praise God My Saviour

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 17, 2025

[135]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – I WILL STILL PRAISE GOD MY SAVIOUR Some people find it hard to be joyous a lot of the time and get despondent over various setbacks and trying circumstances in life. In fact I do not know a Christian who at some time has not been through this. Honesty will admit ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13, Habakkuk 3:17-19

Tags: Praise, Setbacks, Christian Poems, Crops Fail, I Will Praise God, Exalt The Lord, No Fruit, Vine, Faithfulness, Fail, Fig Tree, Olive, Despondent  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Linus On The Hope In The Truth

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

Linus on the Hope in the Truth A Peanuts cartoon pictured Lucy and Linus looking out the window at a steady downpour of rain. "Boy," said Lucy, "look at it rain. What if it floods the whole world?" "It will never do that," Linus replied confidently. "In the ninth chapter of Genesis, God promised ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

Liberty In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 14, 2009

LIBERTY IN LIMITS Tom Landry, former Hall of Fame Coach of the Dallas Cowboys and a great man of faith in Christ, once had this to say: "Most successful football players not only accept rules and limitations but, I believe, they need them. Players are free to perform at their best only when they ...read more

Scripture: James 1:25

Tags: Boundaries, Knowing God's Will

Ravi Zacharias Tells In One Of His Books About A ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Henes on Jun 21, 2001

Ravi Zacharias tells in one of his books about a trip he made to Vietnam in 1971 to travel the country and preach. Wherever he traveled for a month in Vietnam a Vietnamese man who translated for him accompanied him. They were both young, and they saw many things that shocked them, things neither ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, God In The Hardships, God's Provision

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Bless Assurance: Fanny Crosby

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 16, 2021

ASSURANCE: free from doubt, a positive declaration intended to give confidence, a sure promise, in a religious sitting it means salvation by the inner witness of the Holy Spirit that we are justified. No harm will come, with great faith. FANNY JANE CROSBY was born in 1820 and died in 1915 at the ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, John 14:27, John 14:1-3

Tags: Assurance, God Can

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Running For Life

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Nov 13, 2008

RUNNING FOR LIFE Recently I read a fable about a dog who loved to chase other animals. He bragged about his great running skill and said he could catch anything. Well, it wasn’t long until his boastful claims were put to the test by a certain rabbit. With ease the little creature outran his ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Pentecostal

Be Holy?

Contributed by John Kilough on Apr 24, 2014

"Be holy, for I am holy." For most people this can be a very intimidating statement. The Lord God says, "Be holy, for I am holy." The issue with that is, well God is God and I am not. It is easy for Him to say be holy, but I just have way too many faults. However, we love the Lord and we are ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:16

Tags: Holiness, God's Commandments

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Love Makes  PRO

Contributed by Mike Leiter on Sep 2, 2003

Love makes obedience a thing of joy! To do the will of one we like to please Is never hardship, though it tax our strength; Each privilege of service love will seize! Love makes us loyal, glad to do or go, And eager to defend a name or cause; Love takes the drudgery from common work, And asks ...read more

Tags: Compassion, Love For God

Denomination: Vineyard

Alexander Kept "Hope" For Himself

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 26, 2009

ALEXANDER KEPT "HOPE" FOR HIMSELF As Alexander the Great was setting out on his conquest of Asia, he inquired into the finances of his followers. To ensure that they would not be troubled over the welfare of their dependents during their absence, he distributed crown estates and revenues among ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

I Remember Saying This Very Clearly As A Young ...

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Sep 10, 2009

I remember saying this very clearly as a young man “Well God I’m pleased that I have Jesus in my life but I’d like to try it on my own before I really give my whole life over, and this was even after publicly declaring Jesus as my Lord and saviour. How thick I was, you see even Kings who have ...read more

Tags: Truth, Trust God

Denomination: Salvation Army

Christian, If Thou Wouldst Know The Path Of Duty, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2002

Christian, if thou wouldst know the path of duty, take God for thy compass; if thou wouldst steer thy ship through the dark billows, put the tiller into the hand of the Almighty. Many a rock might be escaped, if we would let our Father take the helm; many a shoal or quicksand we might well avoid, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:6

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers, God's Omniscience, God The Father

I Remember Hearing The Director Of The George ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

I remember hearing the director of the George Muller Foundation telling of God’s perfect timing in the provision of guidance and resources. The Foundation had been requested to commence a new child-care project which would require a great commitment in time and resources. The trustees decided ...read more

Tags: Knowing God's Will, Prayer, God's Provision, Giving General

Denomination: Baptist

The Harp String Of Hope

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2011

THE HARP STRING OF HOPE G.F. Watt has a famous painting entitled Hope. It pictures a poor woman against the world. Her eyes are bandaged so that she cannot see ahead. In her hands is a harp, but all the strings are broken save one. Those broken strings represent her shattered expectations, her ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:1-11

Tags: God Brings Hope

[062a]. A Message From A Poem – Does Suffering Cancel Out A God Of Love?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

[062A]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DOES SUFFERING CANCEL OUT A GOD OF LOVE? THE POEM AS IT IS WILL NOT FIT IN THE ILLUSTRATION SPACE AVAILABLE. I HAVE HAD TO SPLIT IT INTO THREE PARTS. THIS IS THE FIRST PART PART 1 INTRODUCTION TO THIS POEM This is my most serious poem because it addresses ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:6-7, John 3:16, Exodus 34:6-7

Tags: Comfort, Suffering, Tragedy, God Of Comfort, God Of Love, Hurt, Pain, Love, Compassion  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

B. Tennessee Williams Tells A Story Of Someone ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 30, 2001

B. Tennessee Williams tells a story of someone who forgot- the story of Jacob Brodzky, a shy Russian Jew whose father owned a bookstore. The older Brodzky wanted his son to go to college. The boy, on the other hand, desired nothing but to marry Lila, his childhood sweetheart- a French girl who ...read more

Tags: God's Forgiveness, Lordship Of Christ, Promises Of God

Brezhnev's Hope

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jun 5, 2011

BREZHNEV'S HOPE As Vice President of the U.S., George Bush represented the U.S. at the funeral of former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. Bush was deeply moved by a silent protest carried out by Brezhnev's widow. She stood motionless by the coffin until seconds before it was closed. Then, just as ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Nazarene