In Sermon Illustrations: "Identifying With Christ"

We Can't Know The Day - But We Can Know The Season When Christ Returns.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 6, 2024

Jesus specifically told us that there would be signs in the sky in the sun and moon and stars (Luke 21:25), and he told us to “look up”, as our redemption draws near. Believers need to look up when the "season" of His return arrives.   The apostle Paul had this to say about the ...read more

Tags: Rapture, Day Of The Lord, Return Of Christ, Seasons, Times  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christmas Humor

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 21, 2020

A Sunday School was putting on a Christmas pageant which included the story of Mary and Joseph coming to the inn. One boy wanted so very much to be Joseph, but when the parts were handed out, a boy he didn’t like was given that part, and he was assigned to be the inn-keeper instead. He was pretty ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-12

Tags: Coming Of Christ, Christmas, Christ, Manger, Birth Of Christ, Mary And Joseph  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Few Years Ago, The Newspapers Reported The ...  PRO

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on Nov 16, 2004

A few years ago, the newspapers reported the story of how on March 5, 1994, Deputy Sheriff Lloyd Prescott was teaching a class for police officers in the Salt Lake City Library. As he stepped into the hallway, he noticed a gunman herding 18 hostages into the next room. Thinking quickly, Prescott ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Baptist

Christina Recently Gave Birth To Our First ...

Contributed by Chris Surber on Jun 17, 2010

Christina recently gave birth to our first daughter. After three sons I am very pleased to have a little girl. Recently I was speaking to the academic dean of the seminary where I am pursuing doctoral studies. The school had asked for individual and family photos of students like me who are ...read more

Tags: Suffering Joy In

Denomination: Christian Church

On A Wall Near The Main Entrance To The Alamo In ...  PRO

Contributed by David Browne on Dec 9, 2000

On a wall near the main entrance to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, is a portrait with the following inscription: "James Butler Bonham--no picture of him exists. This portrait is of his nephew, Major James Bonham, deceased, who greatly resembled his uncle. It is placed here by his family so that ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, Humanity Of Christ, Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Baptist

Calvin Miller Said, "One Cannot Even Begin To ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 29, 2001

Calvin Miller said, "One cannot even begin to understand the life of Christ ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ, Jesus Teachings, Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Pastor From A Bygone Age, Named Arthur John ...  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Lawrence on Apr 6, 2001

A pastor from a bygone age, named Arthur John Gossip, wrote: The wonderful thing about Christ is that as people looked at Him, followed Him, and watched Him, it became apparent to them that this is what God must be like. They concluded that if there is a God at all, then He must have Christ’s ...read more

Tags: Humanity Of Christ, Forgiveness In Jesus, Divinity Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Some Of You Might Have Heard Of The Late Malcolm ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Milton on Sep 25, 2001

Some of you might have heard of the late Malcolm Muggeridge. He was a British journalist and a noted atheist for many years of his life. But in his sin, in the very midst of about to commit yet another vile act of wickedness, he came face to face with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He repented and ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, Basics Of Christianity, Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Strong Evidence  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

STRONG EVIDENCE There is evidence for the deity of Jesus -- good, strong, historical , cumulative evidence; evidence to which an honest person can subscribe without ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, Divinity Of Christ, Apologetics General

Garbed As A Peasant  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Mar 18, 2002

GARBED AS A PEASANT Soren Kierkegaard, the Danish theologian, told a story about a certain kingdom wherein there was a handsome prince, searching for a woman worthy enough to be his wife and become queen of the land. One day while running an errand for his father he passed through a poor village. ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Humanity Of Christ, Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Popular Ideas Of Jesus  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 5, 2009

POPULAR IDEAS OF JESUS As we consider the risk of following Jesus, we must acknowledge the same thing; we must acknowledge that Jesus is THE Christ, not some popularized version we hear about today. In a posting just this last June, Kevin DeYoung, in his Restless and Reformed blog, describes ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-29

Tags: Faith, Christ, Jesus, Culture, Jesus Christ  (view more)  (view less)

It’s Too Late To Hide

Contributed by Mark Beaird on Dec 31, 2015

It’s Too Late to Hide I first noticed him as he shuffled past me while making his way through the crowd of excited children swarming around the room at the school for deaf and blind children outside Saigon, Vietnam. He moved slow, but steady. His arms and legs were twisted and drawn in such a ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:15-16

Tags: Blessings In Christ, Accepted By Grace, Acceptance In Christ

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Royalty Clothed In Rags

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

“This is the way the Savior came into the world. He did not lay aside His deity; He laid aside His glory. There should have been more than just a few shepherds and angels to welcome Him—all of creation should have been there. Instead of collecting taxes, that fellow Caesar should have been in ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-12

Tags: Christmas, Birth Of Christ, The First Coming Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Have You Stopped Listening To God?

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Dec 14, 2020

Speaking of Jesus the Christ: "What is uncertain is not the “coming” of Christ but our own reception of him, our own response to him, our own readiness and ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-9, Luke 2:8, Luke 2:14

Tags: Coming Of Christ, Go Forth Meeting Christ

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Purpose Of Testing Your Faith Is To Help You ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim George on Feb 5, 2001

The purpose of testing your faith is to help you to see whether or not your faith is real and how strong that faith is. A jeweler gives as one of the surest tests for a true diamond what is called the water test. An imitation stone is never ever so brilliant as a genuine stone. A genuine diamond ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-3

Tags: Growth In Christ, Doubt

Denomination: Baptist

Philip Yancey In His Book Disappointment With God ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on May 25, 2001

Philip Yancey in his book Disappointment with God wrote this: "Imagine for a moment becoming a baby again: giving up language and muscle coordination, and the ability to eat solid food and control your bladder. God as a fetus! Or imagine yourself becoming a sea slug – that analogy is probably ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Humanity Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical Free

You’ve Got To Count The Cost When You ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 25, 2001

"You’ve got to count the cost when you carry the ...read more

Tags: Discipleship, Commitment To Christ

It Is One Of The Supreme Handicaps Of The Church ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Sep 8, 2001

IT IS ONE OF THE SUPREME HANDICAPS OF THE CHURCH THAT IN IT THERE ARE SO MANY DISTANT FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST AND SO FEW REAL DISCIPLES. ALL OF ...read more

Tags: Discipleship, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Free Methodist

John M. Moore, The Hymn Writer Captured This ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Oct 3, 2001

John M. Moore, the hymn writer captured this truth when he wrote… Why did they nail Him to Calvary’s tree? Why, tell me, why was He there? Jesus the Helper, the Healer, the Friend— Why, tell me, why was He there? Then the songwriter answers the rhetorical question by saying… All my iniquities on ...read more

Tags: Crucifixion, Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Wesleyan

Max Lucado, In His Book, "Applause From ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 9, 2001

ILL. Max Lucado, in his book, "Applause from Heaven," tells about flying home after having been gone for more than a week of speaking engagements. He says, "I know that my wife & our two daughters will be waiting at the airport for me. And as I walk down the long corridor & round the bend & into ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, Heaven

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ