In Sermon Illustrations: "Hardship Of Life"

I'm Standing For My Marriage  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Mar 7, 2003

I'M STANDING FOR MY MARRIAGE A former Pastor in Seattle, WA wrote a power statement about marriage… I am standing for the healing of my marriage! I won’t give up, give in, give out, or give over till that healing takes place. I made a vow; I said the words; I gave the pledge; I gave a ring; I ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-24, Mark 10:2-12, 1 Corinthians 6:16, Ephesians 5:22-33, 1 Corinthians 11:11, Malachi 2:13-16, Jeremiah 31:31-34  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faithfulness, Conflict, Commitment, Marriage General, Marriage Commitment, Marriage  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[339]. A Message From A Poem - What We See Is Great Sadness

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 24, 2026

[338]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WHAT WE SEE IS GREAT SADNESS This world is a hurting, and it’s a sad place and so much misery is everywhere. Christians in western nations tend not to notice the terrible suffering in the world because they don’t seek out information about it. It is certainly ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:37, John 5:40, Isaiah 30:15, Romans 8:18

Tags: Sin, Repent, Suffering, Repentance, Wickedness, Sorrow, Sadness, Unwillingness, Unwilling, Unwilling To Repent  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Carrots, Eggs Or Coffee  PRO

Contributed by Joel Santos on May 9, 2006

CARROTS, EGGS OR COFFEE A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as though just as one problem was solved, a new one ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Lovely Words Of Praise And Faith Found In The ...  PRO

Contributed by Garth Wehrfritz- Hanson on Sep 29, 2006

The lovely words of praise and faith found in the hymn Now Thank We All Our God would lead us to believe that this hymn was written during a time of victory. Quite the opposite was the case. Martin Rinkart, a Lutheran pastor in Eilenburg, Germany, wrote the hymn during the Thirty Year War which ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Fear Of Aging

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what happened.” - Jennifer Yane As you grow older, what’s inside you doesn’t change but your body changes, and it’s confusing to look in the mirror. If you live your life as though you are a perpetual image contestant, your age is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:3-4

Tags: Aging, Serving, Inner Beauty

Denomination: Charismatic

[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

The King Who Humbled Himself

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 1, 2025

In John's Gospel, Jesus shared these words: BIBLE "If I your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also should wash each other's feet." Jesus did this as an example. Then Jesus took the bread and the cup and set another example. "Do this, in remembrance of me." ...read more

Scripture: John 13:14, Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:27

Tags: Blood, Body, King, Visit, Humbled  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

[323]. A Message From A Poem - Vanitas Vanitatum – Part 1 Of 3

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 27, 2026

[323]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - VANITAS VANITATUM – PART 1 of 3 This poem begins with the story of a man who is committed to so many things but in the end he became worn out and finally could not find fulfillment in what he was doing. He began to despair and could not see the purpose of life. ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:2-3, 1 Timothy 6:7, Ecclesiastes 1:14, Ecclesiastes 2:11, Ecclesiastes 10:1, Ecclesiastes 9:13-18, Ecclesiastes 3:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Vanity, Wisdom, Despair, Foolishness, Folly, Under The Sun, Remember Your Creator, Vanity Of Vanities, Vanitas Vanitatum, Christian Poems, An Appointed Time, Under Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[343]. A Message From A Poem - Whoa! Stop Your Gallop And Take Stock

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 30, 2026

[343]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WHOA! STOP YOUR GALLOP AND TAKE STOCK Paul said to examine oneself in this passage – {{2 Corinthians 13:5 “TEST YOURSELVES to see if you are in the faith. EXAMINE YOURSELVES, or do you not recognise this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - unless ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:12, 1 Corinthians 4:4, Galatians 6:4, 2 Corinthians 13:5

Tags: Examine Yourself, Test Yourself, Christian Poems, Gallop, Take Stock, Neglect Of The Bible  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Great Quotes On Thanksgiving

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 21, 2019

GREAT CHRISTIAN QUOTES ON THANKSGIVING 1. God says to give thanks in everything. That doesn’t mean you need to give thanks FOR everything. You don’t need to give thanks FOR that bad day. Or FOR that bad relationship. Or being passed over at work. Financial hardship. Whatever it is – you are not ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving, Gratitude, Great Quotes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If You Can't Beat ‘em?" Philippians 1: 12-14 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 5, 2005

“If You Can’t Beat ‘Em?” Philippians 1: 12-14 Key verse(s): 14:“Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em! We’ve all said it at times when it just seemed hopeless and there ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-14, Philippians 1:12-14

Tags: Faith, Endurance

Denomination: Lutheran

A Bubbling Baby, A Bubbling Joy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 16, 2002

A BUBBLING BABY, A BUBBLING JOY On September 23, 1930, early in the morning a baby boy was born in Albany, Georgia. At that moment, of course, his family had no way of knowing that this bouncing baby boy would grow up to become one of the most beloved and respected singers and entertainers ...read more

Canadian Thanksgiving  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Oct 2, 2004

CANADIAN THANKSGIVING The first North American Thanksgiving is traced back to 1578 when the English navigator Martin Frobisher held a formal ceremony in what is now called Newfoundland. We don’t believe this is when the kissing-of-the-cod tradition began, but there was indeed a great party to give ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Baptist

Is God Waiting For You?  PRO

Contributed by Paul Dietz on Sep 12, 2008

Is God Waiting for You? Koinonia is the Greek phrase which describes this spiritual intimacy that is born through having the true knowledge of who God is in a personal way. I must confess, I am the one who made the choice not to experience Koinonia for all those years in my spiritual way with the ...read more

Tags: Disciplines General

Denomination: *other

Clarion Call Of One  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2009

CLARION CALL OF ONE The actions of a few are often a clarion call to courage. It requires radical sacrifice and radical commitment to accomplish these things. All that it takes is for one man to refuse to surrender! Anyone who is familiar with Winston Churchill understands that he was such a man ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14, Malachi 3:6

Tags: Endurance

Earth In The Bargain!" Revelations 22: 20-21 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 26, 2005

“Earth in the Bargain!” Revelations 22: 20-21 Key verse(s): 21:“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.” The surest way to become hopeless is to simply open your eyes in the morning and look around you. Everything seems to be falling apart. Huge deficits, world terrorism, train, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 22:20-21, Revelation 22:20-21

Tags: Second Coming, Knowing Christ

Denomination: Lutheran

[325]. A Message From A Poem - Vanitas Vanitatum – Part 3 Of 3

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 27, 2026

[325]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - VANITAS VANITATUM – PART 3 of 3 This poem begins with the story of a man who is committed to so many things but in the end he became worn out and finally could not find fulfillment in what he was doing. He began to despair and could not see the purpose of life. ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:2-3, 1 Timothy 6:7, Ecclesiastes 1:14, Ecclesiastes 2:11, Ecclesiastes 10:1, Ecclesiastes 9:13-18, Ecclesiastes 3:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Vanity, Wisdom, Despair, Foolishness, Under The Sun, Appointed Time, Remember Your Creator, Vanity Of Vanities, Vanitas Vanitatum, Christian Poems, Under Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Phillip Keller Visited A Potter In Pakistan A...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

Phillip Keller visited a potter in Pakistan and gained the most understanding ever of the meaning found in "Your will be done in earth as it is in heaven." The words of the prophet came to mind: "Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear my words" (Jer. 18:2). ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:10

Tags: Lord's Prayer

[310]. A Message From A Poem - Though The Fig Tree Does Not Blossom

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 13, 2026

[310]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THOUGH THE FIG TREE DOES NOT BLOSSOM There is a poem called “I Will Still Praise God My Saviour” which is longer than this one. This one may have been the first part and got added to it just later. It is the same but the last stanza is added to the other ...read more

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

Tags: Praise, Faithful, Fail, Exalt, Fig Tree, Blossom, Fruitless, Olive, Despondent, Setbacks, Crops, Christian Poems, Exalt The Lord  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Price They Paid – From Illustrations ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jul 5, 2007

THE PRICE THEY PAID – From Illustrations Unlimited:Have you ever wondered what happened to those fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-17, Hebrews 12:2

Tags: Price

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational