In Sermon Illustrations: "Growing"

Heart Of ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Heart of Temptation “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God… does [not] tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives ...read more

Scripture: James 1:13-15

Tags: Temptation General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The History Of Wwjd

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Sep 9, 2008

The History of WWJD Wikipedia encyclopedia states this about the common abbreviation WWJD: The phrase "What would Jesus do?" (often abbreviated to WWJD) became popular in the United States in the 1890s and again in 1990s as a personal motto for thousands of Christians who used the phrase as a ...read more

Tags: Jesus Teachings

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Bamboo Servant  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

THE BAMBOO SERVANT Once upon a time, in the heart of an ancient Kingdom, there was a beautiful garden. And there, in the cool of the day, the Master of the garden would walk. Of all the plants of the garden, the most beautiful and beloved was a gracious and noble bamboo. Year after year, Bamboo ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Glorify God In Your Body

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Dec 15, 2016

When I was in high school at Littlefield, Texas, a boy was occasionally seen in the corridors who I did not ever see in my classes. His head was a grayish purple color, irregularly shaped, and at least twice the size of a normal person’s head. I understood that he was a student at the school who ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:20

Tags: Body, Glorify, Elephant, Proteus

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Wee Bobby Moffett, Missionary

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Aug 6, 2021

HAVE YOU HEARD OF WEE BOBBY MOFFETT? There was a small village church in Scotland that did not seem to be growing. The deacons cornered the pastor and had serious questions about the church. The deacons asked WHY HAS THERE BEEN NO GROWTH IN THE CHURCH THIS YEAR? We have not had one new ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-5, John 6:5-9

Tags: Failure, Possibilities, Attitudes

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Postman

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Dec 1, 2023

In the quiet routines of everyday life, a seemingly ordinary event unfolded – a postman knocking on a door, bearing a letter. A child-like voice responded from within the house, promising to come and receive the letter. However, minutes passed without any sign of the resident. The postman's ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:34

Tags: Mercy, Compassion

Denomination: Other

[040] A Message From A Poem – Chaotic Times Are Meant To Be

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 1, 2025

[040] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHAOTIC TIMES ARE MEANT TO BE This world is in chaos and your understanding of that depends on your assessment in the scriptures. Right now in the United States there is a new presidency under Trump, and the sick state of American society is being revealed with ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-4, 2 Timothy 3:12-13

Tags: Last Days, Chaos, Leaven, Poetry, United States, President Trump, Evil  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Embracing God's Grace

Contributed by Rev. Randy Barker on Apr 2, 2025

Title: Embracing God's Grace: A Message of Hope from the Churches of Christ in Christian Union Introduction: Dear Friend, We are delighted to share with you the message of God's grace and the transformative power of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In this gospel tract, we will ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8

Tags: Grace, Mercy

Denomination: *other

[082]. A Message From A Poem – For Men - The Three Gs

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 14, 2025

[082]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR MEN - THE THREE Gs There are 9 poems in this series. This poem is part of a Trilogy - three sets of three. The first set is addressed to MEN, the second to ALL CHRISTIANS and the third is SPECIFIC. This is the first one in the first set - FOR MEN. ALL ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:9-10, 1 John 2:16, Philippians 2:3

Tags: Glory, Gold, Strength, Poetry, Poem, Girls, Ensnare, For Men  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[084]. A Message From A Poem – For Men - The Three "fs"

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 16, 2025

[084]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR MEN - THE THREE Fs There are 9 poems in this Trilogy series. This poem is part of a Trilogy - three sets of three. The first set is addressed to MEN, the second to ALL CHRISTIANS and the third is SPECIFIC. This is the third one in the first set - FOR ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:14, James 4:4, 1 Corinthians 1:9, Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Friendliness, Fellowship, Faithfulness, Poetry, Poem  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[159]. A Message From A Poem – Good Seed In The Thorny Ground

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 9, 2025

[159]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GOOD SEED IN THE THORNY GROUND This poem was written for a recent message in a series I am currently doing on the Parables of the Kingdom from Matthew 13. It relates to the third soil type in the parable known as The Sower, {{Matthew 13:22 “The one on whom seed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:31-34, Ephesians 5:11, Matthew 13:22

Tags: Riches, Priorities, Choked, Good Seed, Parable Of The Sower, Worries, Thorny Ground, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[207]. A Message From A Poem – Our Behaviour Is Not Of The World

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 21, 2025

[207]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – OUR BEHAVIOUR IS NOT OF THE WORLD If I am a fool I will act like a fool. If I care for no one, you will probably find me at parties drinking and smoking pot. You see our behaviour flows from what we are inside. James had something to say about this – {{James ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:10, Romans 12:2, Acts 4:13, James 3:11-12

Tags: Christian Poems, Grandstanding, Ambition, Definitions, Worldly Standards, Good Soldiers, The World System, Conformed To The World, Behavior, Jesus, Truth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[234]. A Message From A Poem - Rigid Trees Are Our Example

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 24, 2025

[234]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - RIGID TREES ARE OUR EXAMPLE Trees are a wonderful aspect of God’s creation and they are the mightiest organic structures on earth, discounting the great coral reefs. This poem is not about trees in general, but specific trees. Those are the ones that are often ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5, Psalm 1:3

Tags: Christian Poems, Melaleuca Trees, Paperbarks, Rigid Trees, Gales, Strong Tree Trunks, Character, Wind, Stand Strong, Trees, Deep Roots  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[308]. A Message From A Poem - This Sinful World Faces Reality

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 11, 2026

[308]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THIS SINFUL WORLD FACES REALITY The opening line sets the theme of this poem – “The differential is greater now than ever it was,” and becomes a contrast of what is righteous and what is wicked. The gap is widening and wickedness is growing. The 6 stanzas - each ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:3, Revelation 21:1-2

Tags: World, Judgment, Reality, Decline, Coming Judgment, Sin In The World, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mickey Mantle's Salvation Story

Contributed by Tom Feola on Feb 4, 2012

MICKEY MANTLE'S SALVATION STORY The #7 is for the Mick, or Mickey Mantle, who played for the New York Yankees.    Why do I bring this out about Mickey Mantle.  Well 1st of all without a team playing with Him Mick would have won zero World Series.  But because of a team effort Mickey played in 12 ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bamboo  PRO

Contributed by Danny Thomas on May 21, 2001

Bamboo Once upon a time, in the heart of the Western Kingdom, lay a beautiful garden. And there, in the cool of the day, the Master of the garden was wont to walk. Of all the denizens of the garden, the most beautiful and most beloved was gracious and noble bamboo. Year after year, bamboo grew yet ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-33, Psalm 34:18, Psalm 51:17, Luke 9:1-6, Daniel 1:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Evangelism, Doing God's Will, Christian Disciplines, Discipleship, Destiny, Harvest, Humility, Persistence, Witness, Welcome  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

His Name Is Roger Crawford … He's About Forty ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 6, 2001

His name is Roger Crawford … he’s about forty years old. He makes his living as a consultant and public speaker. He has written two books and travels all across the country working for Fortune 500 companies, national and state associations, and school districts. Those aren’t bad credentials. But ...read more

A Wonderful, Imaginative Short Story By Nathaniel ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 24, 2002

A wonderful, imaginative short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates the necessity of having the right focus. It is entitled “The Great Stone Face.” The tale centers around a man named Ernest who grew up in a village renowned for a natural wonder that rested just outside its boundaries. ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 11:16-23

Tags: Humor, Mother's Day, Story, Devotional

Earlier This Month, The Siegfried & Roy Show In ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Oct 26, 2003

Earlier this month, the Siegfried & Roy show in Las Vegas was brought to a dramatic close when a seven-year-old, white Bengal tiger attacked Roy and drug him off the stage before an audience of 1500 people. It was Roy’s 59th birthday, and shortly after introducing the Tiger, it bit Roy on the ...read more

Tags: Sin Deceptive, Sin General

Denomination: Methodist

Chuck Had Been Perhaps The Most Hard-Working ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 17, 2004

Chuck had been perhaps the most hard-working salesman in his company’s history – at least in recent memory. He usually spent sixty-five to seventy-five hours a week at the office when he wasn’t traveling. And when he was on the road, his weekly work hours could run as high as ninety. Of course, ...read more