In Sermon Illustrations: "Heart"

Corrie Ten Boom On Forgiveness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

Corrie Ten Boom had her entire family killed in a Nazi concentration camp for hiding Jews in their home. In her book, “The Hiding Place” she writes: It was at a church service in Munich that I saw him, a former S.S. man who had stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:13

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

How To Get Rid Of Your Pastor!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 9, 2023

What a blessing it is to have a pastor who loves the Lord, who teaches the Word, and who leads his "flock" aright. I thank God we have a man like that in the church which I attend. In these days of apostasy, when there is such a tragic departure from an emphasis on the Word, how we ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-11

Tags: Division, Preachers, Ministry, Pastors, Apostasy, Man Of God, Churches  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Son Of Sam Serial Killer Is Now A Servant Of God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 25, 2024

The story of David Berkowitz, infamously known as the “Son of Sam,” is a remarkable tale of redemption and transformation. 1. Background: In the late 1970s, David Berkowitz terrorized New York City as a serial killer. He shot and killed six young people and wounded seven others during a spree ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Colossians 3:1-4

Tags: Saul Of Tarsus, Miracle, Forgiveness, Salvation, Conversion, Redemption, Transformation, Prison Ministry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Is Still In The Healing Business Today.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 11, 2024

JAMES CHAPTER 5 - our pathway to healing in time of need Larry Miley grew up in the northeast corner of the Ivory Coast, where his father was a missionary physician. When he was 14, he was laid low by a bout of malaria, and his father gave him an injection. All seemed well at first, and Dr. Miley ...read more

Tags: Faith, Healing, Obedience, Prayer, Miracles, Sickness, Elders, Fasting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Good Man Wants To Get Into Heaven

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jul 21, 2024

I was recently at the gym having a conversation with someone I just met. Within a matter of 10 minutes, I realized that this man was a better man than me. He had volunteered in more countries than I could count in 10 minutes of our conversation. He was a teacher, he served the poor in many ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16, Romans 3:23

Tags: Grace, Justification, Good Works, Works Righteousness

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

When We Raise Our Hands, God Will Intervene

Contributed by Saumiman Saud on Feb 18, 2025

WHEN WE RAISE OUR HANDS, GOD WILL INTERVENE Heavenly Father, I have just realized how Almighty You are, even though I have known this for a long time. Forgive me, Father, for often facing various problems relying only on myself. It turns out that I am limited and have no strength of my own. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:11

Tags: God, Raised Hands

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Life Full Of Gratitude

Contributed by Saumiman Saud on Feb 22, 2025

Life Full of Gratitude My Father in Heaven, forgive me if I have been negligent in giving thanks to You, even though the blessings I receive are always abundant. Although I am not wealthy, I am not poor, thanks to God's grace. Thank you, Lord, Thank you. Give thanks in all circumstances; for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Life, Gratitude

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[064]. A Message From A Poem – Dull The Sight - Life’s Not Right

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 21, 2025

[064]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DULL THE SIGHT - LIFE’S NOT RIGHT This short poem is a bit like a person trying to read with glasses that are smeared and hazy. What is read will be distorted and the wrong message will be gained. If he/she tries to walk around then an accident is a ...read more

Scripture: James 5:19-20, Hebrews 10:25, 1 John 1:7

Tags: Poem, Dull, The Bible, Light, Vision, Prayer, Sight, Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How The Philippian Jailer Got Saved - Crisis

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Oct 2, 2025

How the Philippian jailer got saved - Crisis This Philippian jailer was saved! He was saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. And if you have never trusted in the Lord, He wants to save you the same way. But let's take a closer look at how the Lord touched the jailer's ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Tags: Crisis, Christian Service, Philippian Jailer, Demon Possession, Spiritual Transformation, Evangelism, Paul, Salvation, Missions, Silas  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Sin Of Achan

Contributed by John Bright on Oct 3, 2025

We struggle with someone suffering for the actions of another. In that day, they were not so individualistic as we are in this Western World. Whenever I share the Sin of Achan from the book of Joshua, modern folks like to protest. Here’s the story: The Israelites are given a great victory over ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:5, Joshua 7:24-26

Tags: Sin, Consequences

Denomination: Methodist

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

Denomination: Anglican

Let Me Give You An Example To What I’m ...  PRO

Contributed by Bill Lobbs on Nov 4, 2000

Let me give you an example to what I’m saying by sharing with you a story that I recently read in one of the history books in my library. I read how on July 3l, 1838 on the Island of Jamaica, a man named William Knibbs, gathered 10,000 slaves for a great praise gathering. They were celebrating ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:12, Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Freedom, Great Commission, Gospel, Lordship Of Christ, Ignorance, What Is Evangelism?  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Josh Mcdowell, A Dedicated Christian ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 23, 2001

Josh McDowell, a dedicated Christian intellectual, wrote, "I was invited to speak in a university in South America. Because of the university’s Marxist leanings, I was the first American to speak there in four years, & it was a tense situation. "Big photographs of me had been posted all over ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Faith General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Saturday Afternoon A Father And His Six-Year ...  PRO

Contributed by Brent Zastrow on Apr 18, 2001

One Saturday afternoon a father and his six-year old son Mickey were fishing near a bridge by the Kokomo Reservoir when a woman lost control of her car, slid off the bridge and hit Mikey at a rate of about 50 mph. Sheriff Marr, the boys grandfather, had seen the results of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:10

Tags: Saint, Miracles Of Jesus, Jesus Christ, God's Provision

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Adopted By Christ  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Jul 9, 2001

Illus.: “Adopted by Christ” John was born into a family of 12 children. They were very poor. He was the youngest. He never remembered his father eating a meal with the rest of the family. He had to work long hours to feed his family. One day his father ran off with another woman, leaving his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:11-20

Tags: Beauty, Ashes, Children, God's Provision, Trinity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Wesleyan

John Todd Was A Preacher Back In The Late ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Aug 14, 2001

ILL. John Todd was a preacher back in the late 1800’s. When he was 6 years old, both of his parents died. So a kind-hearted aunt raised him until he left home to study for the ministry. Years later, this aunt became seriously ill, & even though she was a Christian, she wrote him a letter ...read more

Tags: Government

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Preacher Recalls One Such Instance During ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Oct 11, 2001

ILL. A preacher recalls one such instance during the Sunday evening service. When he finished speaking, he asked, "Is there anyone else who would like to say something?" At that, a rather dignified visitor stood up & said, "Yes, sir, I’d like to say something. This is the first time I’ve been ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Tags: Repentance, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Of My Favorite Christmas Stories Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 6, 2001

ILL. One of my favorite Christmas stories is about the old shoe cobbler who dreamed one Christmas Eve that Jesus would come to visit him the next day. The dream was so real that he was convinced it would come true. So the next morning he got up & went out & cut green boughs & decorated his ...read more

Tags: Christmas Advent, Christian Disciplines, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Cross Has Been Saved—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 24, 2002

THE CROSS HAS BEEN SAVED--Communion Meditation Art Toalston in The Baptist Press - Nov. 15, 2001 reported from New York and he wrote: “The cross has been saved. That’s the cross of steel beams uncovered as workers in New York cleared away debris at the World Trade Center. Recovery worker Frank ...read more

Tags: Books And Literature, Memorial, Sacrifice, Police, Veterans  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Then God Made Dads  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Jun 11, 2002

THEN GOD MADE DADS When the Lord was creating fathers he started with a tall frame. And an angel standing nearby said, “What kind of father is that? If You’re going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put fathers up so high? He won’t be able to shoot marbles without kneeling. ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Father, Father's Day, Children

Denomination: Wesleyan