In Sermon Illustrations: "Jesus Temptation"

[332]. A Message From A Poem - We Walk By Faith And Not By Sight

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 8, 2026

[332]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WE WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT This poem is about a Christian’s walk with the Lord. To walk by sight means our eyes are on the things of the world and have been removed from God. That is failure. To walk by faith means eyes on the Lord, and how do we do ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:9, 2 Corinthians 5:6, Psalm 119:143-144, Psalm 119:10, Hebrews 12:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faith, Faithful, Walk, Guidance, Eyes On Jesus, Looking To Jesus, Walk By Faith, Look To Jesus, Walk With The Lord  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Smart Phone Theology

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Oct 29, 2024

Smart phones are really smart. Even smarter than I know. I use my phone for so much more than calling and texting but it’s not uncommon for me to learn new features and abilities my phone has that I previously had never known. Over the years I’ve learned that my phone is a compass, can take video ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13, 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Service, Holy Spirit, Power, Temptation, Gifts, Giftedness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Resolved, Never To Do Anything, Which I Should Be ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my ...read more

Tags: Temptation Resisting, Sin Separates From God, Holiness

Unless There Is Within Us That Which Is Above Us, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

Unless there is within us that which is above us, we shall soon yield to that which is ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:6-9, Joshua 7:6-9

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers, Kingdom Of God, Temptation Resisting

Upon Entering A Little Country Store, A Stranger ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 29, 2001

Upon entering a little country store, a stranger noticed a sign reading, "Danger! Beware of Dog" posted on the glass door. Inside, he noticed a harmless old hound dog asleep on the floor besides the cash register. He asked the store manager, "Is that the dog folks are supposed to beware of?" "Yep, ...read more

Tags: Faith, Clarity, Temptation Resisting, Understanding, Sin Deceptive  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

B. Simpson, The Founder Of The Christian And ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 23, 2001

.B. Simpson, the founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, told of a man who advertised for a coachman. Among those who came were two who seemed to him to be particularly bright. He took them aside and asked them how near they could drive to the edge of a precipice without falling ...read more

Tags: Faith, Lead, Temptation General, Sin General, Soldier  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Stretching Your Conscience Like Silk  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 27, 2013

Adam Clarke was a sales clerk in a store that sold fine silk to people of the upper classes in London. One day his employer showed young Adam how he could increase sales and profits by stretching the silk as he measured it out. Young Adam Clarke looked his ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:22-23, Proverbs 20:10

Tags: Sin, Dishonesty, Conscience, Temptation General, Clear Conscience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Moses Just Said "no"

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 2, 2020

Moses just said "No" to the things of the world. 1. He refused POSITION in Egypt (11:24). 2. He refused PLEASURE in Egypt ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:15-16

Tags: Worldliness, Things Of Earth, Moses, Egypt, Temptation, Compromise  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Dangers Of Toying With Sin

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 12, 2023

Several years ago our family visited Niagara Falls. It was spring, and ice was rushing down the river. As I viewed the large blocks of ice flowing toward the falls, I could see that there were carcasses of dead fish embedded in the ice. Gulls by the score were riding down the river feeding on the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Sin, Salvation, Temptation, Deceit, Sinners, Sin Nature  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Is Your Biggest Spiritual Challenge??

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 14, 2023

Discipleship Journal asked its readers to rank the areas of greatest spiritual challenge to them. The results came back in this order: 1. Materialism 2. Pride 3. Self-centeredness 4. Laziness 5. (Tie) Anger/Bitterness and Sexual lust 6. Envy 7. Gluttony 8. Lying The respondents also noted ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Lust, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Tests, Trials, Temptations  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Angel Of Music

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 14, 2023

In Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical The Phantom of the Opera, a young chorus girl named Christine Daae receives voice training from a mysterious musician she calls the “Angel of Music.” Christine believes this is the angel her dying father had promised to send to complete her musical training. As ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:8, 1 John 4:4

Tags: Evil, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, Armor Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Greatest Spiritual Challenges We Face

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 8, 2024

A recent survey of Discipleship Journal readers ranked areas of greatest spiritual challenge to them: 1. Materialism. 2. Pride. 3. Self-centeredness. 4. Laziness. 5. Anger/Bitterness. 5. Sexual lust. 7. Envy. 8. Gluttony. 9. Lying. Survey respondents noted temptations were more potent when they ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Lust, Discipleship, Temptation, Pride, Anger, Spiritual Battles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Achilles' Heel

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 15, 2024

The ancient Greeks told a story of a warrior named Achilles. His mother had been warned that he would die of a wound, so she dipped him as an infant in the river Styx. That was supposed to make him invincible. THERE WAS ONE PROBLEM -- she held him by one heel which the protective waters did not ...read more

Scripture: James 1:9-15

Tags: Evil, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, Trials, Lust  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It All Started With An Apple

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 24, 2025

In my backyard I have two apple trees. They grow low to the ground and in July the apples are plentiful but small and green. Harvest is not until late September here in Ontario. But the low hanging branches present an enticing temptation to pick the apples. One beautiful morning I noticed an ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:7-25, Romans 6:1-4, Romans 3:21-31

Tags: Original Sin, The Fall, Sin, Obedience, Temptation, Adam  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Words "It Is Finished" Are Also A Cry Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Garth Wehrfritz- Hanson on Apr 11, 2003

The words “It is finished” are also a cry of victory in the sense that Jesus completed, he accomplished what God had sent him in this world to do. In this sense, it is like the athlete who enters a marathon race with the single-minded intention of both reaching the finishing line and coming in ...read more

Tags: Run Hard, Worry, Following Jesus, Jesus Christ, Easter Good Friday  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Wandering Off  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 14, 2003

WANDERING OFF Dr. Andrew Bonar told me how, in the Highlands of Scotland, a sheep would often wander off into the rocks and get into places that they couldn’t get out of. The grass on these mountains is very sweet and the sheep like it, and they will jump down ten or twelve feet, and then they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:36, John 10:1-18

Tags: Sheep, Shepherd, Love, People In Acts, Jesus Christ, Jesus Teachings, Flock  (view more)  (view less)

Taking Out The Trash

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 12, 2016

When my wife and I got married, we were able to move into a small little house. It was just right for us two kids. We soon realized, however, that we needed to have a discussion about the division of duties. I was the bigger of the two of us and we decided that I would be responsible for taking ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:11-13

Tags: Jesus, Suffering, Rejection, Shame, Trash, Mocked, Outside The Camp, Jesus Suffered  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Are You Tired? I Am.

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Dec 22, 2023

Can you believe it? Another year is in the books. I don’t know about you, but as magical and wonderful this time of year is, it is exhausting. I’m tired! And the fact is that it’s not just this time of year. I find myself getting weary and tired often. Life is like that. It can wear you down. ...read more

Scripture: James 4:7, Matthew 4:1-11

Tags: Perseverance, Endurance, Temptation, Discouragement, Weariness, New Years, Tiredness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Outline Of The Lord's Prayer

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 8, 2022

This profoundly simple model captures everything we need to know about prayer. It sets the standard, or pattern, for praying the way Jesus prayed. Outline: The paternity of prayer: “Father” The priority of prayer: “Hallowed be your name” The program of prayer: “Your kingdom come” The ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness, Prayer, Temptation, Lord's Prayer, Daily Bread, Kingdom Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A New Industry Report Says That Total Consumer ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 24, 2001

"A new industry report says that total consumer spending online in February 2001 trended upward to an estimated $3.4 billion ." "The Boston Consulting Group study says that the sales in the nine leading online categories ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Jesus Teachings, Money