In Sermon Illustrations: "John Mark"

Few Who Bear His Cross  PRO

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jul 18, 2013

FEW WHO BEAR HIS CROSS In Thomas á Kempis' book, The Imitation of Christ he says, Jesus has many who love his kingdom in heaven, but few who bear his cross. He has many who desire comfort, but few who desire suffering. He finds many to share his feast, but few his fasting. All desire to rejoice ...read more

Scripture: John 12:24-26, Galatians 2:20, Luke 12:32-40, Mark 11:1

Tags: Lordship, Following Jesus

Denomination: Nazarene

Casket Stolen

Contributed by Roberta Karchner on Feb 28, 2020

Funerals usually go calmly. But sometimes things happen that change everything. Perhaps the greatest example is that of Easter morning, as the women arrive to prepare the body, only to find that the stone was rolled away and the body of Jesus was missing. There was much running around and great ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-8, Matthew 28:1-10, Luke 24:1-10, Mark 16:1-8

Tags: Easter, Tomb, He Is Risen, Stone Rolled Away, Ressurection, Missing Body, Mary At Tomb  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Volunteers

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Sep 2, 2023

THE VOLUNTEERS This poem is dedicated to all faithful volunteers. We could not make it without your willingness to serve. Thank you, Loyd C Taylor, Sr. The Volunteers There are some special people that we know Found in needy places across this land; They’re people that selflessly serve others, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:41, Colossians 3:23, Proverbs 14:23, John 6:27

Tags: Volunteers, Helpers, Service, Sacrifice, Support, Servant, Labor Day  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Have You Ever Asked God To Wake You Up In The Morning?

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 23, 2024

Be careful what you pray for. We all know the feeling of trying to wake up to a blaring alarm clock. I had been really tired from working late and had overslept several times in the past week. I was traveling at the time, not at home. It wasn’t an emergency since I work from wherever I am, but I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7, Mark 11:24, 1 John 5:14

Tags: Prayer, How To Pray, Answered Prayers, Faith

Denomination: Charismatic

The Rabbinic Understanding Of Palm Sunday

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

In the Talmud, you can see how the Rabbis tried to harmonize some of the prophesies of the Old Testament, including Palm Sunday. They did not understand the two comings: R. Alexandri said: R. Joshua b. Levi pointed out a contradiction. it is written, in its time [will the Messiah come], whilst it ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11, Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, John 12:12-19

Tags: Palm Sunday, Triumphant Entry, Two Comings, Jewish Understanding

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Man Who'd Die For Her—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 2, 2003

THE MAN WHO’D DIE FOR HER-- COMMUNION MEDITATION On the southern border of the empire of Cyrus, there lived a great chieftain named Cagular who tore to shreds and completely defeated the various detachments of Cyrus’ army sent to subdue him. Finally the emperor, amassing his whole army, marched ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45, Isaiah 42:1-9

Tags: Romantic Love, Lord's Supper, Forgiveness In Jesus

Roman Short Whip

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 10, 2025

Roman short whip, also called a flagrum. It was made of two or three leather (ox-hide) thongs or ropes connected to a handle. The leather thongs were knotted with several small pieces of metal, usually zinc and iron, attached at various intervals. Scourging would quickly remove the skin. According ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:4-6, Mark 15:15, Matthew 27:26

Tags: Scourge, Stripes, Whipping, Flagrum, Short Whip  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

A Book That Has Changed My Life Is What's So ...  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Aug 26, 2003

A book that has changed my life is What’s So Amazing About Grace? In it the author, Philip Yancey quotes Mark Twain. Apparently Twain used to say he put a dog and a cat in a cage together as an experiment, to see if they could get along. They did, so he put in a bird, pig and goat. They, too, got ...read more

Scripture: John 11:45-56

Tags: Unity

Denomination: Baptist

No True Freedom Without God  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 24, 2009

NO TRUE FREEDOM WITHOUT GOD According to Mark Parsec, Independence Day "celebrates America’s Declaration of Independence from the tyranny of England under King George." The Declaration of Independence of 1776, he says, was not intended to declare war with England, nor did it actually establish our ...read more

Scripture: John 8:36, John 8:32

Tags: Independence Day

Erickson's Thoughts On God The Father

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

ERICKSON'S THOUGHTS ON GOD THE FATHER And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent' (John 17:3) Dr. Packer's devotional approach to theology is evident from his choice of textbook which is Millard Erickson's 'Christian Theology'. Here's an ...read more

Scripture: John 17:3

Tags: God The Father

History Records That During The Civil War, Many ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Jun 27, 2001

History records that during the Civil War, many acts of violence were committed by both the armies of the north and the south. Once such act occurred in October of 1862 in the town of Palmyra, Missouri. According to W. E. Sutterfield, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Palmyra, the town was ...read more

Scripture: John 15:13

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Cross Agony, Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

Two Old Saw Bucks On A Hill! ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 25, 2005

Two Old Saw Bucks on a Hill! (06.27.05--Direction--John 21:4-6 ) How often we see things dimly in the morning light only to confront something altogether different than what we thought we saw in the first place. Not long ago I was awakened early, much earlier than I normally venture out in the ...read more

Scripture: John 21:4-6

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Lutheran

If Only We Would Turn Around! ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 26, 2005

If Only We Would Turn Around! (06.28.05--Direction--John 21:7-9 ) It’s a funny thing about life isn’t it that when we find ourselves off course we very seldom consider reversal the right direction to take. I guess it is just human nature to assume that where we’ve been already was a good choice ...read more

Scripture: John 21:7-9

Tags: God Brings Purpose, Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Lutheran

A Click And A Pop-Up Menu! ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 28, 2005

A Click and a Pop-Up Menu! (06.30.05--Direction--John 21:15-19 ) Just being in love is not enough especially when you are considering spending the rest of your life in that condition. Internet romance is on a real boom swing around the world. Only a few short years ago anyone who “dated” on ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-19

Tags: Romantic Love

Denomination: Lutheran

Just Passing Through! (09.16.05--Heavenly ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 14, 2005

Just Passing Through! (09.16.05--Heavenly Citizens!--John 8:51) How disturbing it would be to take a trip and every time you came to a town or city you were compelled to stop and investigate every facet of where you were; to taste and see everything there was everywhere you went. So inclined you ...read more

Scripture: John 8:51

Tags: Soldier, Death

Denomination: Lutheran

On Little Yellow Flower! (11.04.05--Faith That ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 2, 2005

On Little Yellow Flower! (11.04.05--Faith That Flies!--John 6:18-19) Now is the time of year when most of the flowers in my wife’s flower beds have wilted and sagged. The frost has struck more than once, making even the hardier mums droop a bit. The time of blossoming has passed for most of the ...read more

Scripture: John 6:18-19

Tags: Faith General, Devoted, Doubt

Denomination: Lutheran

Hans The Tailor  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Dec 6, 2005

Consider the story of Hans the tailor. Because of his reputation, an influential entrepreneur visiting the city ordered a tailor-made suit. But when he came to pick up his suit, the customer found that one sleeve twisted that way and the other this way; one shoulder bulged out and the caved in. He ...read more

Scripture: John 4:7-16

Tags: Misconceptions

Denomination: Lutheran

Submitting Totally To God's Plan For Us And Our ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 7, 2006

Submitting totally to God’s plan for us and our loved ones, is difficult to do. But, it is a must for any Christian seeking the “whatever it takes” solution to the difficult problems in life. In 1878, when William Booth’s Salvation Army was beginning to make its mark, men and women from all over ...read more

Scripture: John 2:5

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: Lutheran

Shane Claiborne Tells About How His Little ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Feb 4, 2008

Shane Claiborne tells about how his little community of faith received some money. First, they won a lawsuit against the police of New York for misconduct. Shane with several hundred people had protested the arresting of people for sleeiping outside by sleeping outside. They were arrested, charged, ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-26

Denomination: Church Of God

Joseph Smith: If Someone Had Shared Grace...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Sep 19, 2011

JOSEPH SMITH: IF SOMEONE HAD SHARED GRACE... Jesus was gracious to the woman taken in adultery. Sometimes, that is what reaches people. Sometimes, Christians are like the scribes and Pharisees, choosing to be judgmental instead of gracious. In the 1820's, a young woman named Emma gave birth to ...read more

Scripture: John 8:3-11

Tags: Evangelism, Grace, Witnessing, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Baptist