In Sermon Illustrations: "Higher Righteousness"

Today We Celebrate Holy Communion. In Our ...  PRO

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Sep 1, 2007

Today we celebrate Holy Communion. In our Methodist and Anglican traditions the spirit of repentance has always been at the heart and center in observing this holy sacrament. Traditionally since the publication of the first BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER in 1549 and John Wesley’s 1784 work THE SUNDAY ...read more

Tags: Righteousness, Bread Of Life

Denomination: Methodist

Jim Always Thought He Was A Pretty Good Guy. Oh ...

Contributed by Fred Schaeffer on Dec 5, 2008

Jim always thought he was a pretty good guy. Oh ... he made some mistakes once in a while ... but overall he thought he was OK. He knew that he wasn’t a BAD person. Oh, he fudged on his income tax a little bit .. not really cheated he said .. just fudged a little bit. He would stay out on ...read more

Tags: Repentance, Self-Righteousness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Lesson On Purity From Ermine

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 9, 2020

In the forests of Northern Europe lives the ermine, a small animal best known for his snow-white fur, which is his protection and security. Instinctively, he protects his glossy coat with great care lest it become soiled. Hunters often capitalize on this trait. Instead of setting a mechanical trap ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Purity, Righteousness, Beatitudes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I've Always Stood On God's Promise In Matthew ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 27, 2001

I’ve always stood on God’s promise in Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." A few years ago God showed me in one situation how he does indeed supply our needs providing we do put him first. I was pastoring a church in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:20-21

Tags: God's Provision, Love, Righteousness

The Keeper Of The Springs

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 2, 2020

THE KEEPER OF THE SPRINGS by Peter Marshall Once upon a time, a certain town grew up at the foot of a mountain range. It was sheltered in the lee of the protecting heights, so that the wind that shuddered at the doors and flung handfuls of sleet against the window panes was a wind whose fury was ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-10

Tags: Sin, Purity, Righteousness, Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Important Hebrew Name Of God

Contributed by William Nickoley on Feb 4, 2017

“The days are coming,” says the LORD, “that I will raise up a righteous Branch for David, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the earth. 6 . . . And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’” Jeremiah ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:5-6

Tags: God's Name, God's Righteousness, Relationship With God, God Our Righteousness, Handout  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Ivan The Terrible

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 11, 2014

THE BURIAL CLOTHES OF IVAN THE TERRIBLE In 1547 Ivan the IV became Grand Duke of Russia, and he proclaimed himself "Czar" which is a form of the word "Caesar." He actually claimed to be god on the earth. He later became known as Ivan the Terrible, because he was a cruel, vicious leader. He not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14

Tags: Righteousness, Jesus Parables, Wedding Banquet

What Alcoholics Can Teach Us

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 31, 2014

Philip Yancey interviewed a young alcoholic who had formerly been an active church member, but had allowed Alcoholics Anonymous to replace the church. When questioned why, the young man responded, "Mainly I'm trying to survive, and AA helps me in that struggle far better than any church." ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:5

Tags: Accountability, Authenticity, Dependency, Self-Righteousness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It's Too Late To Do Anything!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 8, 2020

Here is an illustration of these two basic approaches to righteousness: SAVIOR or SELF? An Englishman by the name of Ebenezer Wooten had just concluded a preaching service in the village square. The crowd had dispersed, and he was busily engaged in loading the equipment. A young man approached ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:5, Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Salvation, Righteousness, Witnessing, Works, Grace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Alex Navalny - Russian Dissident

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 19, 2024

Russian opposition leader and outspoken Christian, Alexei Navalny. Navalny voluntarily returned to Russia - knowing he would be arrested and imprisoned. Navalny, 47, dies while serving a 19-year sentence in a penal colony north of the Arctic Circle. In Navalny’s closing statement during his 2021 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Tags: Righteousness, Sermon On The Mount, Sacrifice, Integrity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Made America Great, Donald Trump?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on May 23, 2016

WHAT MADE AMERICA GREAT, DONALD TRUMP? Donald Trump says that he wants to make America great again. If he does, he should listen to the words of French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, who visited America in 1831, said, "I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:34

Tags: America, Memorial Day, Righteousness, July 4th

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Late Bloomers! (09.22.05--Grace Walks!--Psalm ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 20, 2005

Late Bloomers! (09.22.05--Grace Walks!--Psalm 93:5) Fairness is a doctrine that we have gone hog-wild with. We seem as a people possessed by a sense of “all things being equal.” Unfortunately, we are so captivated by a sense of justice at all costs, we often lose sight of the fact that a doctrine ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 93:5

Tags: Beauty, Holiness, God's Omniscience, Walk, Righteousness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Faking It

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 8, 2021

One of my wife’s third graders was wearing a Fitbit watch, which prompted my wife to ask, “Are you tracking your steps?” “No,” said the little girl. “I wear this for Mommy so ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:1-13

Tags: Deception, Torah, Works Righteousness, Religious But Lost

Denomination: Independent/Bible

You Can Change

Contributed by Richard Tow on Mar 27, 2023

Colin Smith tells the story of a friend who had a severe heart attack. The man said it felt like an elephant on his chest. He survived, but the doctor told him he would have to change his diet. Colin asked the man what he ate before the heart attack. The man said he loved cheeseburgers, fries, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6, 2 Timothy 2:22, Luke 6:21

Tags: Habits, Hunger, Addiction, Righteousness, Health, Eating  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Appetite Killers

Contributed by Richard Tow on Mar 27, 2023

If we want our appetite for righteousness to grow, we must avoid appetite killers. This is true in the natural. Every parent knows that kids who eat too much candy will not have an appetite for the healthy food at dinner time. The same is true with our spiritual appetite. If we snack on the things ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6, Colossians 3:2, Ephesians 4:24, Psalm 81:10, Psalm 42:1-2, Luke 6:21  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Worldliness, Entertainment, Seek, Hunger, Desire, Righteousness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Desiring More Of God

Contributed by Richard Tow on Mar 27, 2023

A. W. Tozer prayed a prayer that I can identify with. Perhaps it resonates with you as well. Here is the first part of his prayer. “O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6, Luke 6:21, Proverbs 4:23

Tags: Zeal, Hunger, Revival, Desire, Righteousness, Passion  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

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

[086]. A Message From A Poem – For All Christians - The Three Rs

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 22, 2025

[086]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR ALL CHRISTIANS - THE THREE Rs 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 second one in the second set ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:17-18, Romans 5:10-11, Luke 1:68, Ephesians 1:7

Tags: Righteousness, Poetry, Relationship, Poems, Reconciliation, Redemption  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Your Two Dirty Pennies Are An Insult

Contributed by David Goering on Aug 14, 2018

Suppose somebody befriended you in your town and offered to buy you a big beautiful house, and told you that you could choose the house you wanted. Then when he was handing you the title deed you reached in your pocket and pulled out two pennys, and when you did they accidentally fell out of your ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Free Gift, It Is Finished, Salvation, Righteousness, Good Works  (view more)  (view less)

[315]. A Message From A Poem - Thoughts Prompted By Romans Chapter 1

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 20, 2026

[315]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THOUGHTS PROMPTED BY ROMANS CHAPTER 1 This is not taking the bible’s verses for Romans 1 and refashioning them for a poem as I do sometimes. The poem is based on thoughts from the reading of the chapter, not on exposition of the chapter. The opening chapter of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:15-16, Romans 1:18

Tags: Salvation, Gospel, Righteousness, The Wrath Of God, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational