In Sermon Illustrations: "Hoping"

Blueprints For Your Children’s Character

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 15, 2020

There is a Minister who received an urgent note that said that a man in his congregation wanted to get a hold of him. The man’s problems have been 10 years in the making but have become urgent when the consequences of neglect suddenly materialized. The minister met the man at his office. He was a ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6, Deuteronomy 7:9

Tags: Children, Parenting, Blueprints

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Valley Of the Shadow Of Death

Contributed by Rev Purvi Satvedi on Oct 27, 2023

An experience Peter Marshall, the great Scottish preacher, related during his ministry: On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, Peter Marshall preached to the regiment of midshipmen in the Naval Academy at Annapolis. A strange feeling which he couldn’t shake off led him to change his announced topic ...read more

Tags: Death, Funeral, Valley

Denomination: Brethren

Called To Serve

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Dec 1, 2023

In 1884, a devastating famine struck India, claiming over 50 lakh lives. In the midst of despair, Christian organizations from America, driven by compassion, sailed to India to provide medical aid and sustenance. Dr. John, accompanied by his daughter Ida Scudder, arrived in Ranipet. The dire ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Tags: Service, Called

Denomination: Other

[025] A Message From A Poem - Balance Of God’s Attributes

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 9, 2025

[025] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - BALANCE OF GOD’S ATTRIBUTES One area where it takes deeper study to understand, is the attributes of God. The attributes are what is the completeness in God and they are many. It is what God is. We speak about love and mercy and compassion, but we also have ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 85:10-11, Exodus 34:5-7, Hebrews 2:17

Tags: Love, Forgiveness, Faithful, Judgment, Balance, Merciful, Attributes, Penalty, Poetry, Attributes Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unwanted Items--The Unwanted Scroll

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 30, 2025

Introduction: Before the printing press was invented, all correspondence had to be written and copied by hand. Even in Old Testament times, there were scribes who made copies of various things. Needless to say, it would be a tragedy if these handwritten works were ever lost. It was even worse when ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 36:20-26

Tags: Jeremiah, Baruch, Roll Of A Book, Destroyed Writings

Denomination: Baptist

[161]. A Poem Message – Jesus, Remember Me When You Come In Your Kingdom

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 11, 2025

[161]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JESUS, REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU COME IN YOUR KINGDOM This poem is about the repentant thief on the cross who turned to the Lord for salvation. One criminal did and one did not. Here is the gospel account – {{Luke 23:40-43 but the other answered, and rebuking him ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:3, John 14:2, Luke 23:40-43

Tags: Easter, Paradise, Thief On The Cross, Remember Me, The Repentant Thief, Two Destinies, Two Thieves Crucified  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[299]. A Message From A Poem – The World Imitates The Forest In Drought

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 27, 2026

[299]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE WORLD IMITATES THE FOREST IN DROUGHT This poem is a comparison. The first 5 stanzas describe trees affected by a long, dry spell, and the remainder of the poem transfers those conditions to a sinful world suffering a spiritual drought. Sometimes I like to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5-6, Lamentations 3:22-23

Tags: Drought, Desertion, Sustain, Spiritual Drought, Christian Poems, Fallen Leaves  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[316]. Poem Message - To Be Absent From The Body And At Home With The Lord

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 20, 2026

[316]. A POEM MESSAGE - TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY AND AT HOME WITH THE LORD This poem means a lot to me. What of the future? What of the glorious hope? What of the Christian’s destiny? These questions all have one answer – TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY IS PRESENT WITH THE LORD! That is taken ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:4, 1 Corinthians 2:9, 2 Corinthians 12:4, Philippians 3:20-21, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Death, Destiny, Home, Called, Citizenship In Heaven, Present With The Lord, Absent From The Body, At Home With The Lord, Christian Poems, Passing Through Death, Inexpressible Words  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[328]. A Message From A Poem - Wake Up And Read The Signs!

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 30, 2026

[328]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WAKE UP AND READ THE SIGNS! Those who might follow my writing know that sometimes I address current events and prophetic subjects (eschatology). The reason for doing that is that we might understand the signs of the times. Look at what Jesus said in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, Matthew 16:1-3

Tags: Increase, Rapture, Wake Up, Wickedness, Return, Alert, Signs Of The Times, Read The Signs, Christian Poems, Darker Days  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[348]. A Message From A Poem - Without Christ The Life Is Wasted

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 12, 2026

[348]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WITHOUT CHRIST THE LIFE IS WASTED This poem covers the two states of mankind. One of those is lost and one is found. One is salvation and one is destruction. This is an examination of life and the two destinies. Both are considered. We live in a sinful world ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14, Psalm 1:5-6

Tags: Wasted Life, Two Ways, The Broad Way, The Righteous, The Wicked, The Narrow Way, Wasted, Two Destinies, Christian Poems, Two Eternal States  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Event Occurred Back In The Early 60's When ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Pace on Apr 11, 2002

The event occurred back in the early 60’s when Abortion was not a legal option. She was a young High School student. She met a boy that was everything that she dreamed of. She allowed him to have his way with her and she became pregnant. He told her that he had no desire to marry her and was going ...read more

Tags: Abortion

Denomination: Baptist

The Cross At Ground Zero  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 10, 2002

THE CROSS AT GROUND ZERO I’m an excavation laborer, and a member of union local 731. Pick-and-shovel work is my trade. I live in New Jersey, but I’m a New York City native, Brooklyn born and bred. After the Towers collapsed, my city was hurting. When I heard they needed guys like me for ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Promises Of God, Lord's Supper

Several Times My Daughter Had Telephoned To ...  PRO

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Feb 19, 2005

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say... "Mother, you must come see the daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead. "I will come next Tuesday, " I promised, a little reluctantly, on her third call. Next Tuesday dawned ...read more

Tags: Discipleship, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Pentecostal

Broken Hearts Not Broken Glass!" Proverbs 19:1 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 18, 2005

“Broken Hearts Not Broken Glass!” Proverbs 19:1 Key verse(s) 1:“Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.” It’s time to rise up and take a christian stand! Christians are being persecuted worldwide. There is no doubt of this even in the minds of the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 19:1

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Peace

Denomination: Lutheran

On The Other Hand?" Mark 13:9-13 Key Verse(S) ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 26, 2005

“On The Other Hand?” Mark 13:9-13 Key verse(s) 13:“‘All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.’” Often times what determines whether or not we are standing tall in this life is measured by the depth of our convictions. There was a time not so long ago ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:9-13

Tags: Faith General, Doubt

Denomination: Lutheran

My In-Laws—harold And Dorothy Wills—retired Here ...

Contributed by Doug Lyon on Jul 23, 2006

My in-laws—Harold and Dorothy Wills—retired here to the Bloomsburg area back in 1987. They knew of Bloomsburg because their daughter, Kathy, married Charlie and Kay Dyer’s son, Charlie. Barb and I were living in Washington, DC when Barb’s parents moved to Bloomsburg. And so we would make an ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

More Than Anyone Else Christian Parents Can Have ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

More than anyone else Christian parents can have the most influence on their children, because when Christ died upon the Cross the veil was ripped open so they could enter into the presence of God who sits on the Throne of Grace. The call to pray is from God’s Word and we are given a sure promise, ...read more

Scripture: John 20:11-18

Tags: Faith

Mike The Headless Chicken

Contributed by Terry Blankenship on Apr 2, 2008

Mike the Headless Chicken On September 10, 1945, Mike’s short life was about to take a turn for the worse. On this day, Mike received a death sentence. His owners, Lloyd and Clara Olsen, decided that it was time to slaughter a group of birds, some to sell and to prepare others for themselves. Out ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Mike The Headless Chicken

Contributed by Terry Blankenship on Apr 2, 2008

Mike the Headless Chicken On September 10, 1945, Mike’s short life was about to take a turn for the worse. On this day, Mike received a death sentence. His owners, Lloyd and Clara Olsen, decided that it was time to slaughter a group of birds, some to sell and to prepare others for themselves. Out ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Mike The Headless Chicken  PRO

Contributed by Terry Blankenship on Apr 2, 2008

Mike the Headless Chicken On September 10, 1945, Mike’s short life was about to take a turn for the worse. On this day, Mike received a death sentence. His owners, Lloyd and Clara Olsen, decided that it was time to slaughter a group of birds, some to sell and to prepare others for themselves. Out ...read more

Tags: Hypocrite, Con, Thief

Denomination: Baptist