In Sermon Illustrations: "In The World But Not Of It"

A Lesson From A Pair Of Mildewed Shoes

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 22, 2020

A number of years ago I received a three-year assignment to Okinawa, Japan, as part of my Air Force experience. Hardly anybody I knew had much knowledge of that part of the world, so we really had no idea what to expect. We were in for a number of surprises! We lived in a motel, basically, for a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33-34

Tags: Shoes, Life's Problems

Denomination: Baptist

I Can't... The Giant Defines Me?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Aug 26, 2021

Jeremiah 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? FACE YOUR UNCONQUERABLE LIMITATIONS. YOU CAN BE AN AGENT OF CHANGE IF YOU WANT TO… From 1886 to 1954 track and field had HIT THE WALL, SPLAT… SPLATTING IS A TERM IN LONG DISTANCE RUNNING. ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:27, Philippians 4:13

Tags: Opportunities, I Can't

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Please Come Back Home.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 14, 2021

PLEASE COME BACK HOME... Max Lucado, in his book, No Wonder They Call Him Savior, tells the story of Maria and her daughter, Christina that touches the heart and shows the mercy of God. Longing to leave her poor Brazilian neighborhood, Christina wanted to see the world. Discontent with a home ...read more

Tags: Repentance, Prodigal Son, Going Home, Prodigals, Wayward Children, Evangelism, Parenting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Can’t Escape The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2022

My favorite story about the Holy Spirit is the story C.S. Lewis told about a college student who wrote to him. The young man was an atheist. And he was very concerned because he had made friends with some Christian students. They were enthusiastically witnessing to him about Jesus, and it had ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:9-11

Tags: Holy Spirit, Regeneration

We Owe Our Whole Lives To God!

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Nov 3, 2022

Genesis 6:1-9 Some think that the “sons of God” in this passage are angels; how can we say not? - v3 tells us that these men will die and angels are eternal beings; also, Jesus Himself tells us in the Gospels that angels do not marry! What can we say about Gen 6:2? – God’s creations of people are ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:1-9

Tags: Love, Thanksgiving, Sin, Life, Jesus Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Christmas Hope

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 13, 2023

The hope of Christmas. When you think about it, that is what we have. HOPE. Listen to what the Apostle wrote in his letter while he was imprisoned in Rome. Romans 3:24-25 - 24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. 25 But if we look ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:24-25

Tags: Hope, Christmas Hope

Denomination: Baptist

The Unsearchable Riches In Christ

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Mar 6, 2023

There was a news story reported in July 2011 that a well known Hindu temple in southern India revealed vast treasures and hidden secrets. The temple itself was well known and previously unguarded. (The Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum, India) The temple had been there for hundreds of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-13

Tags: Gold, Diamond, Hidden Treasure, Unknown Riches, Mystery Revealed  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Leading With Wisdom

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Sep 22, 2023

Leading with Wisdom Nelson Mandela, an icon of leadership, stands as a beacon of inspiration in the annals of history. His remarkable journey from tribal beginnings to global acclaim offers valuable insights into the art of leadership. Unlike many leaders whose legacy is shrouded in varying ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19, Proverbs 11:14, Proverbs 15:28, James 3:17

Tags: Gentle, Peaceable, Learn To Listen, Leadership, Team  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Star In The East

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 19, 2023

On November 28 of this year, I was driving west from my house at about 7 in the evening. It was quite dark already. As I looked through the windshield of my vehicle, I saw a line in the sky. A bright white line. Because it was so far away, this line in the sky must’ve been half a kilometre long. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-18, Numbers 24:17

Tags: Birth Of Jesus, Wiseman, Christmas, Bethlehem, Magi, Star  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Emptiness Of Earthly Pursuits And The Fulfillment Of Divine Love

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 19, 2024

Justin Bieber: In various interviews and social media posts, Bieber has spoken candidly about his struggles with fame, substance abuse, and finding purpose. He has credited his renewed Christian faith for helping him find a sense of meaning and stability that he couldn't find in his earlier ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

Tags: Materialism, Fame, Emptiness, Void, Spiritual Transformation, Purpose, Meaning  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

You've Been Summoned

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Apr 18, 2024

A couple of years ago I had the honor of serving on a jury. It was by no means a noteworthy trial but it was important to the people involved. I felt a great deal of responsibility as the jury deliberated and eventually arrived at a verdict. We all wanted to make the right, fair and just decision ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Witness, Testimony, Witnessing, Great Commission, Evangelism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Price Has Been Paid For You

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Aug 28, 2024

The story is told of a young man who left the old country and sailed to America to make a new life in the new world. Before he left, his father pressed some money in his hand. It wasn't much, but it was all he had. He hoped it would tide the boy over until he found a job. His mother handed him ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:13-14

Tags: Good News, Barriers, Intimacy With God, Missing Out

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Time Is Now

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Nov 11, 2024

Sermon Illustration: "The Time Is Now!" Biblical Text: 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV) - "For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:2

Tags: Faith, Hope

Denomination: Methodist

"a Candle In The Window: Embracing Hope This Advent"

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Dec 22, 2024

As the evening wore on and the fire crackled gently in the hearth, Old Thomas gathered his family close, the soft glow of the candle illuminating their faces. It was a time for connection, reflection, and the cherished rituals of Advent that had been passed down through generations. “Now, let’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-6

Tags: Love, Hope

Denomination: Methodist

[032] A Message From A Poem – Before The Lord We Are His

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 21, 2025

[032] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BEFORE THE LORD WE ARE HIS To start with I want to say that all my poems are copyright in the sense that I own them and don’t want them altered without permission. All my poems God gave and therefore can be used in your ministry or for your enjoyment. I wish the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 19:16, Philippians 3:20, 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Tags: Savior, King, Poetry, New Bodies, The Rapture  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[107]. A Message From A Poem – Gospel Reflections

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 9, 2025

[107]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GOSPEL REFLECTIONS This poem begins with reflections them moves to creation, then the death of the Lord followed by salvation and ends with a very pleasant scene in peaceful waters and sunlight. The inspiration for this was recall of the tropical scenery around me ...read more

Scripture: John 1:3, Psalm 23:2

Tags: Salvation, Reflection, Waters, Sunlight, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Atonement, Creation, Beauty  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[122]. A Message From A Poem – He Is Coming He Is Coming

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 8, 2025

[122]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HE IS COMING HE IS COMING Here is a poem that meant a lot to me. It is a source of joy to know the Lord is coming again. I am unashamedly a pre-Tribulationist and pre-Millennialist, BUT the poem is not featuring that. It is solely focussed on the Lord coming ...read more

Scripture: John 14:3, Titus 2:12-14

Tags: The Church, Jesus Is Coming, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, He Is Coming  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[156]. A Poem Message – Jesus Lord, Your Sacrifice Has Done Much (Easter)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 7, 2025

[156]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JESUS LORD, YOUR SACRIFICE HAS DONE MUCH (Easter) This poem concentrates on the sacrifice of Christ, making it applicable at Easter or the Lord’s Supper. It deals with the Sin-bearer, the Lamb of God, the Man of sorrows and other points. It is essential that we ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:26, Revelation 5:9, Philippians 2:8

Tags: Sin Bearer, Christian Poems, My Substitute, Table Of The Lord, Good Friday, Calvary, The Cross, Man Of Sorrows, Sacrificial Lamb, Death Of Christ, Sacrifice, Communion, Jesus, Easter  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[173]. A Message From A Poem – Look Up Look Up

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 22, 2025

[173]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – LOOK UP LOOK UP Two lines I wrote in the poem are:- “Your heart is where your mind is set. Your mind is what your heart has fixed.” This is not a circular argument and is allied with this verse – {{Colossians 3:2 “SET YOUR MIND on the things above, not on the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1, Colossians 3:2

Tags: The Mind, Set Your Mind, Christian Poems, Earthly, Look To Christ, Looking To Jesus, Heavenly Minded, Look Up, The Heart  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[313]. A Message From A Poem - Thoughts From Psalm 1

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 18, 2026

[314]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THOUGHTS FROM PSALM 1 Psalm 1 is a most important Psalm as it is the gateway to the Psalms. It draws the lines. The righteous and wicked are what the Psalms deal with, and that is underpinned by Psalm 1. The Psalm is a wonder in creation. It is simple yet ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:12, Psalm 1:6, Jeremiah 21:8

Tags: Righteous, Two Ways, Wicked, Christian Poetry, The Way Of Life, Christian Poems, Way Of Death  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational