In Sermon Illustrations: "Jesus Is Coming"

It Never Dawned On Me Until

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 20, 2022

I must confess I am too poor to pay attention at this time in my life. I hope one day I will win the lottery and be able to afford to pay attention. But, of course, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage says that you can’t win a lottery unless you play the lottery. Well, I don’t play the lottery. ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Attention, Listening

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

As If I Really Could

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 24, 2023

Have you ever had the feeling that you've been hoodwinked? You can't point out the specifics, but something deep inside suggests you have been. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I had a wonderful vacation at St. Augustine, one of our favorite places to go. Something happened ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:17

Tags: Fixing, Hoodwink

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Idiots Make Me Look Good, So Says The Boss

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 10, 2024

Often, I get agitated by people I call "idiots." I don't have an inclusive definition for what an idiot really is; I just use the word carelessly. Especially is this true when I'm out in the neighborhood driving around. Sometimes, I'm in such a nervous frenzy when I get home, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 26:4

Tags: Responsibility, Driving, Idiots

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I’ll Tell You When I’ve Had Enough

Contributed by James Snyder on Jun 15, 2024

It was evening, and the day was just about over. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I were chilling in the living room, watching TV. It is always lovely when the day ends, and you can relax. Doing nothing can become a habit. I’m not sure what we were watching on TV; it really doesn’t ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-8

Tags: Pleasure, Desires, Ice Cream

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Journey Of 1,000 Miles Begins With An Apple Fritter

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 12, 2025

Life has many paths, and I have discovered that traveling any of them takes a lot of energy. Unlike The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, my energy comes from those wonderful Apple Fritters. I can't remember the first time I had one, but I vividly remember the last time. Trying to get ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Agreement, Discussion, Apple Fritters

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Heat Is Not Just A Number, It’s An Attitude

Contributed by James Snyder on Jun 28, 2025

Dr. James L. Snyder Lately, the temperature in Florida has topped 100°. I saw on the news that the Northeast is also hitting 100°. It's easy to see why everyone wants to come to Florida. If they can't, they wish for some of our heat. Well, good luck with that. We’ll send you all ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Tags: Heat, Sun, Cold, Attitude

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

In His Marvelous Book, The Kingdom Of God Is A ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Jul 23, 2001

: In his marvelous book, The Kingdom of God is a Party, Tony Campolo tells a story that illustrates how I believe the church must begin to live out our witness in the new millennium. Campolo was attending a Christian conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. Since there was a six-hour time differential ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony, Compassion, Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[358]. A Message From A Poem – Zebra Matters

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 31, 2026

[358]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – ZEBRA MATTERS This poem is blank verse. True blank verse has no rhyme scheme but does have proper metre. In this poem the metre is 11-8-11-8 right through the poem. Modern poetry is nothing more than narrative broken up into various length lines. What ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:15-16

Tags: Compromise, False Teachers, False Doctrine, Laodicea, Hot, Cold, Confusion, Conformity, Black And White, Christian Poems, Zebras, Blank Verse  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The 100% Solution!" John 14:25-27 Key Verse(S) ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 18, 2005

“The 100% Solution!” John 14:25-27 Key verse(s) 27:“‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’” Since the beginning of time, mankind has craved peace! When Adam and Eve came upon the body of their ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:1-9, John 14:25-27

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Lutheran

Hat In Hand Thankfulness!" 1 Thessalonians 5: ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 24, 2004

“Hat In Hand Thankfulness!” 1 Thessalonians 5: 12-28 Key verse(s): 18: “. . . give thanks under all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Thanksgiving! It is easy to forget, especially when our lives are so filled with other things. Perhaps that’s why we have a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Lutheran

Together Communication And Attitude Have ...

Contributed by Ricki Lee Brooks on May 5, 2010

Together communication and attitude have potential... either for good or for evil. Here’s what we mean… It was attitude that took out yet another marriage. They were in their twenties. They were the parents of two beautiful children. He, however, had a miserable problem. She endured it. The ...read more

Tags: Attitude General

You Have The Time?

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Jan 22, 2008

YOU HAVE THE TIME? Years ago, I was in the library at Seminary doing some research and this quite old and distinguished gentleman, obviously someone of great stature, he approaches me and asks, “Peter, can you tell me what time it is?” I was quite taken back. I had been at Seminary for less than a ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Trouble? Joe Was Trouble...

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 25, 2023

TROUBLE? JOE WAS TROUBLE! SOMEONE IS HURTING! I had taught school in Virginia several years. I was assistant principal. I often observed the kids in the younger classes and thought someday I will teach that child. There was a young boy named Joe. Joe was in the office pretty often in some kind ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:8, Mark 12:29

Tags: Help, Trouble, Ministry

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Have You Ever Hurt Anybody?  PRO

Contributed by Ken Ritz on Dec 30, 2005

Brennan Manning tells a story in his book The Ragamuffin Gospel. 25 years ago, he had a drinking problem. He voluntarily entered a 28-day treatment program. Early on in the treatment program they had to sit in a circle with a leader and tell the other people in the group, about the extent of their ...read more

Tags: Mortal Lessons, Richard Celtzer, Brennan Manning, Addiction

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Complete Silence  PRO

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Dec 29, 2008

COMPLETE SILENCE In college, one of the jobs I had was working in a medical file warehouse. Talk about mundane, boring, monotonous. These were huge warehouses that contained millions of files from hospitals all over the San Francisco Bay Area. I did one of three things: I pulled a file for a ...read more

Tags: Disciplines Silence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[198]. A Message From A Poem – O Forest, How You Weep In Pain

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 13, 2025

[198]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – O FOREST, HOW YOU WEEP IN PAIN This is a serious poem and I like it very much. Like most of my poems it comes out of some personal experience. If this was a musical composition it would be in a minor key. The summary is, “O forest, how you weep in pain, but ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:22-23, Amos 4:7-8

Tags: Tropical Rainforest, Drought, Weeping, Barrenness, Signs Of The Times, Christian Poems, Rainforest, World, Sin, Persecution, Forest, Barren, Dryness, Pain  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

They Shoot Horses Don’t They". The Movie ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Dec 18, 2000

"They Shoot Horses Don’t They". The movie is about an actress who has a fallen career on the big screen during the 20’s. She enters a dance marathon hoping to win the jackpot and use the money to launch a new movie career. As the marathon draws closer to the end, she realizes that she and her ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, God Brings Hope, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Lutheran

Hocus Pocus  PRO

Contributed by Doug Johnston on Mar 14, 2001

Hocus Pocus Salvation can be difficult to understand, especially when it’s not clearly explained. During the Middle Ages, the most educated people in European villages was usually the priest. He was a source of information and help, as well as the one holding the keys to heaven. The people ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:1

Tags: Lord's Supper

Denomination: Baptist

Peter Mcmartin, Van. Sun Columnist, Writing In ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on May 25, 2001

Peter McMartin, Van. Sun columnist, writing in yesterday’s paper said: Where is our sun? Where is the true warmth of our existence? Here he is asking essentially where can joy be found. His answer is family: “I will eat Christmas dinner with my wife and children – who are the suns of my existence – ...read more

Tags: Joy, Emotions, Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Unresolved Anger Smolders Like Something Burning ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jun 4, 2001

Unresolved anger smolders like something burning underground. I can still see the Canadian park rangers digging holes around a camp site located deep in the wilderness of the Algonquin Provincial Park. I was on a wilderness canoe trip with some friends when we paddled up to a small island. The ...read more

Tags: Anger, Divorce, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Methodist