John Updike Sermon Illustrations, Free Preaching Ideas on John Updike

A Good Man Wants To Get Into Heaven

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jul 21, 2024

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I was recently at the gym having a conversation with someone I just met. Within a matter of 10 minutes, I realized that this man was a better man than me. He had volunteered in more countries than I could count in 10 minutes of our conversation. He was a teacher, he served the poor in many ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16, Romans 3:23

Tags: Grace, Justification, Good Works, Works Righteousness

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Superior Love

Contributed by David Tack on Sep 18, 2024

| 458 views

“The strenuous Christian mandate to extend unconditional love towards those that hate you is a fatiguing duty for the soldiers of the cross of Christ! In the heat of a damning spiritual warfare, when the spiritual defensive battlefronts are diminishing, the fleshly armaments derived from the human ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, Romans 5:7-8, Ephesians 2:4-7

Tags: Love, Unconditional, Soldier

Denomination: Baptist

You Cannot Swim To Hawaii

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Sep 20, 2024

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If you put three swimmers on the coast of California and ask them to swim to Hawaii, the Olympic swimmer might swim 500 miles before she dies. The second swimmer might be a good swimmer and swim 25 miles before he dies. The last swimmer does not know how to swim very well and swims only one mile ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 29:29, John 8:58, Matthew 25:31-33

Tags: Jesus Is The Way, Other Religions

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Deconstruction, Deconstruction, Deconstruct, Decon....

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Sep 20, 2024

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One cannot insist that all truth claims are power plays, that all truth claims destroy freedom. C. S. Lewis writes in The Abolition of Man: “But you cannot go on ‘explaining away’ forever: you will find that you have explained explanation itself away. You cannot go on ‘seeing through’ things ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16, John 18:38, Acts 26:25

Tags: Doubt, Truth, Objective Truth, Deconstructing Faith

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

W.e. Vines Defines True Saving Faith

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 13, 2024

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W E Vines defines genuine saving faith as consisting of the following: (1) A firm conviction which produces full acknowledgment of God's revelation of Truth - (2 Thess. 2:11 -"in order that they all may be judged who did not believe [pisteuo] the truth, but took pleasure in ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:11

Tags: Believing, Faith, Salvation, Truth, Assurance, Works (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

That Great Getting' Up Morning...

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Oct 30, 2024

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| 422 views

And now O Lord – When I’ve done drunk my last cup of sorrow— When I’ve been called everything but a child of God— When I’ve done travelling up the rough side of the mountain— O – Mary’s baby— When I start down the steep and slippery steps of death— When this old world begins to rock beneath my ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25, 1 Corinthians 15:20-26

Tags: Death, Resurrection, Hope, Dying, Funeral (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Was Jesus Involved In Politics?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 4, 2024

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WAS JESUS INVOLVED IN POLITICS? I hear that all the time as the excuse for Christians not voting. Is that biblically true? I spent hours searching through the Gospels for the truth and found these key teachings that describe Jesus' attitude and involvement toward the issue of government and ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:1, John 10:10, Isaiah 9:6

Tags: Jesus, Evil, America, Corruption, Elections, Rulers, Presidents, Politics, Second Coming, Government, Return Of Christ, Voting, Kings (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Be Careful What You Imitate

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Nov 17, 2024

| 669 views

In the late 1990s, aspiring actor and writer Johnny Knoxville had moved from Knoxville, Tennessee to Los Angeles, California, and landed work in commercials in order to support his wife and infant daughter. Among his ideas was one to produce an article that involved testing various self-defense ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:11, Ephesians 5:1-2

Tags: Imitate, Bad Examples, Good Examples, Johnny Knoxville

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Loving Congregation

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 2, 2025

| 233 views

This is the greatest need we have in the local congregation today – to be seen as a place where love for on another is present. What does that look like? A quote from St. Francis of Assisi: “Blessed is the servant who loves his brother as much when he is sick and useless as when he is well and an ...read more

Scripture: John 13:34-35, 1 Peter 4:8

Tags: Love, St Francis Of Assisi

Denomination: Methodist

Who Was Salome?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

| 196 views

By comparing Matt. 27:56 with John 19:25, it seems likely that Salome was sister to Mary (Jesus’ mother). “By inference from the other Gospel accounts, Salome is also identified with the mother of the sons of Zebedee (Mt. 27:56) and with the sister of Mary the mother of Jesus…. (John 19:25)… If ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:56, John 19:25, Mark 10:35-40

Tags: Jesus' Family, Mary's Sister, Jesus' Aunt, Salome

Denomination: Independent/Bible

[042] A Message From A Poem – Christ In Me And I In Him

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 2, 2025

| 239 views

[042] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHRIST IN ME AND I IN HIM I meant this to be a personal, yet touching poem. The title – Christ in me and I in Him” can be taken as a one-way dialogue between two people, the Lord and me. I am sharing with my Saviour the thoughts in my mind. (A personal chat). On ...read more

Scripture: John 12:24, Mark 6:49-50, Acts 18:9

Tags: Wheat, Prayer, Poem, Christ In Me, A Grain Of Wheat, Personal Chat (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[046]. A Message From A Poem – Christians In Response

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 6, 2025

| 183 views

[046]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHRISTIANS IN RESPONSE This is another poem where I make use of rhyming patterns. Each line has an internal rhyme separated by one syllable. Here it is explained – “My life was SPENT, and WENT its way, with worldly discord gained.” The rhyming scheme for the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:19, Revelation 5:11-13

Tags: Praise, Christians, Response, Poetry, Poem, Death Of Christ (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[060]. A Message From A Poem – Do Not Trust Ourselves – Trust God

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

| 275 views

[060]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DO NOT TRUST OURSELVES – TRUST GOD When you think you know it all: Then you don't. When you think you’ll do it all; Then you won’t. I find this a delightful poem (for myself) and I am sharing my own experience here in writing it. Often we think we know best ...read more

Scripture: John 6:7-10, 2 Corinthians 12:10

Tags: Trust Ourselves, Weakness, Strong, Weak, Poetry, Poem, Human Strength, Trust, Strength (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[062a]. A Message From A Poem – Does Suffering Cancel Out A God Of Love?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

| 151 views

[062A]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DOES SUFFERING CANCEL OUT A GOD OF LOVE? THE POEM AS IT IS WILL NOT FIT IN THE ILLUSTRATION SPACE AVAILABLE. I HAVE HAD TO SPLIT IT INTO THREE PARTS. THIS IS THE FIRST PART PART 1 INTRODUCTION TO THIS POEM This is my most serious poem because it addresses ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:6-7, John 3:16, Exodus 34:6-7

Tags: Comfort, Suffering, Tragedy, God Of Comfort, God Of Love, Hurt, Pain, Love, Compassion (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[062b]. A Message From A Poem – Does Suffering Cancel Out A God Of Love?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

| 138 views

[062B]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DOES SUFFERING CANCEL OUT A GOD OF LOVE? THE POEM AS IT IS WILL NOT FIT IN THE ILLUSTRATION SPACE AVAILABLE. I HAVE SPLIT IT INTO THREE PARTS. THIS IS THE SECOND PART THE INTRODUCTION FOR THE POEM IS IN PART 1. PART 2 SECTION B - PART 1 (THE CHRISTIAN ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:6-7, John 3:16, Exodus 34:6-7

Tags: Hurt, Pain, Love, Compassion, Comfort, Suffering, Tragedy, God Of Comfort, God Of Love (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[062c]. A Message From A Poem – Does Suffering Cancel Out A God Of Love?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

| 141 views

[062C]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DOES SUFFERING CANCEL OUT A GOD OF LOVE? THE POEM AS IT IS WILL NOT FIT IN THE ILLUSTRATION SPACE AVAILABLE. I HAVE HAD TO SPLIT IT INTO THREE PARTS. THIS IS THE THIRD PART. THE INTRODUCTION FOR THE POEM IS IN PART 1. PART 3 SECTION C - PART 1 (GOD ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:6-7, John 3:16, Exodus 34:6-7

Tags: Tragedy, God Of Comfort, God Of Love, Pain, Love, Christ, Compassion, Comfort, Suffering, Hurt (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Boxer To Preacher

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Mar 22, 2025

| 431 views

George Foreman died in March 2025 at age 76. Foreman was a heavyweight boxer for the USA in the 1968 Olympic Games - winning the Gold medal. He later became a professional Boxer and world Champion. In 1977 after a fight with heavyweight Jimmy Young, Foreman had a crisis experience. He thought he ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10, Luke 19:1-10

Tags: Born Again, Salvation, Gospel

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[095]. A Message From A Poem – From Chains To Release

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 2, 2025

| 175 views

[095]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FROM CHAINS TO RELEASE This poem covers a lot of ground. It starts with, and develops the chains of sin; the work of Christ on the cross; our redeemed state in a persecuting world; God is looking for faithfulness and commitment; we praise the Lord because He ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:2, Romans 6:23, John 10:10

Tags: Captives, Bound By Chains, Chained By Satan, The Chains Of Sin, Poetry, Poem, Chains, Released (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Hint Of Heaven

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 22, 2025

| 232 views

“At present we are on the outside of the world, the wrong side of the door. We discern the freshness and purity of morning, but they do not make us fresh and pure. We cannot mingle with the splendours we see. But all the leaves of the New Testament are rustling with the rumour that it ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:42-54, John 14:1-4

Tags: Faith, Heaven, Eternal Life

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[113]. A Message From A Poem – Have You Seen A Gouldian Finch?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 20, 2025

| 100 views

[113]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HAVE YOU SEEN A GOULDIAN FINCH? I keep finches including the gouldian finch, one of the most beautiful finches in the world, if not the most beautiful. If you have not seen one, go do a search on the internet. This poem covers a number of subjects. When you look ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8, Acts 17:30-31, John 1:3

Tags: Christian Poems, Gouldian Finches, Wise Designer, Creation, Evolution, Repent, Colors, Christian Poetry (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In Sermon Illustrations: "John Updike"

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