In Sermon Illustrations: "Judgment Seat"

I Don't Believe In Hell

Contributed by Raymond Petzholt on Jul 5, 2023

Illustration: “I don’t believe in Hell.” The fact that a lot of people have a tough time believing in a literal Hell was brought home to me in a very meaningful way. When I pastored in Chino, CA we lived in a parsonage right next to the Church. I soon noticed that a certain man was walking up ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:28, Mark 9:43-45, Luke 16:23

Tags: Hell, Salvation, Facing Death

Denomination: Baptist

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

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

[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

[251]. A Message From A Poem – That Coffin Is Not Me

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 2, 2026

[251]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THAT COFFIN IS NOT ME This is a special poem and unusual for my style. It is full of meaning, very serious meaning. It is me telling my story (as if I had died). Some may find the subject strange; others may not want to think about such things. The point is, we ...read more

Scripture: John 10:9-10, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, Hebrews 9:27, Genesis 2:17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Funeral Service, Absent From The Body, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Repent And Be Saved, Christian Burial, Death, Heaven, Alive, Dead, Coffin, Christian Funeral, Hell  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No Jacket Required  PRO

Contributed by Johanna Radelfinger on May 26, 2003

NO JACKET REQUIRED I shook my head in disbelief. This couldn’t be the right place. After all, I couldn’t possibly be welcome here. I had been given an invitation several times, by several different people, and had finally decided to see what this place was all about. But, this just couldn’t be the ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, Salvation, Repentance

Denomination: Adventist

Moses' Stutter  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Moses’ Stutter The hallway is silent now except for the two wheels of the mop bucket and the shuffle of the old man’s feet. Both sound tired. Both know these floors. How many nights has Hank cleaned them? Always careful to get in the corners. Always careful to set up his yellow caution sign ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Evangelism And Football  PRO

Contributed by Paul Dietz on Sep 28, 2008

Evangelism and Football We are now in the midst of one the hottest seasons of the year. No, I'm not talking about the weather and its accompanying temperatures. After all we have just finished having summer this past week and autumn is upon us. And also some trees up on the mountains in Grant and ...read more

Tags: Youth Day, Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: *other

The "Broken" Sheepdog And The Shepherd  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 22, 2011

THE "BROKEN" SHEEPDOG AND THE SHEPHERD Philip Keller tells a story in his book, Lessons from a Sheep Dog, about how a bedraggled collie named Lassie came into his possession. One day he happened to notice an ad in the paper that simply said: "Border collie to good owner. Currently uncontrollable ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-18

Tags: Parable Lost Sheep

The Cane Ridge Revival

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 23, 2011

THE CANE RIDGE REVIVAL One of those great revivals of the American past took place in the late spring and early summer of 1801 at Cane Ridge in central Kentucky. A pastor named Barton Stone, who had been called to serve this little Methodist church by Daniel Boone, decided to call a four-day ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Revival

[001] Message From A Poem - 20 Snippets Of Living

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 30, 2024

[001] MESSAGE FROM A POEM - 20 SNIPPETS OF LIVING Sometimes we all like to put our thoughts to paper and this is what I have done here with this poem. I think we are quite familiar with the Proverbs and the wisdom contained there. I am at the latter end of my life and looking forward to the ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:3

Tags: Poem, Ways To Live, Living, Advice

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[007]. A Message From A Poem - A Shepherd Left His Comfort Zone

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 1, 2024

[007]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - A SHEPHERD LEFT HIS COMFORT ZONE Shepherds and sheep feature quite often in the biblical record and Jesus used parables and illustrations involving sheep. This poem was developed from a comment a Convention speaker made when teaching on the Lost Sheep. The ...read more

Scripture: John 10:9, John 10:10-11, John 10:14-15, Luke 15:4-6

Tags: Jesus Died For The Sheep, 100 Sheep, Night, Sheep, Lost Sheep, Crucified, The Good Shepherd, Jesus Our Shepherd, Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[276]. A Message From A Poem – The King’s Highway

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 24, 2026

[276]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE KING’S HIGHWAY This poem is a picture. It places all Christians on the highway to heaven, one I have called, “The King’s Highway.” We are familiar with Pilgrim’s Progress which was the journey Pilgrim took on his way to the Celestial City. In a pale ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:23, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, John 3:7

Tags: Highway Of The King, Highway, Pilgrims, Pilgrims Progress, Journey To Heaven, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Rapture, Born Again  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

This Past Week, Josie Received A Rather ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

This past week, Josie received a rather interesting story via the e-mail that I would like to paraphrase for you this morning. Unfortunately, I do not know the name of the author. However, I do know that it was written by one of the students who witnessed this experiential sermon in a small ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:21

Tags: Grace, Character, Purpose, Adversity, Troubles, Anger, Misfortune, Commitment To Christ  (view more)  (view less)

The Following Were Answers Provided By 6th ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2002

The following were answers provided by 6th graders during a history test. Watch the spelling! Some of the best humor is in the misspelling. Even funnier read aloud to someone else! 1. Ancient Egypt was inhabited by mummies and they all wrote in hydraulics. They lived in the Sarah Dessert. The ...read more

Tags: Children, Ot Characters

Last Week, Bernie Came To The Church Door. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Oct 9, 2002

Last week, Bernie came to the church door. He showed up about five minutes before I was getting ready to leave for an appointment, and my first response to his arrival was, oh, no, not now. Bernie had been drinking – I could smell it on his breath. He was sweating profusely and was a little bit ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:13-20

Tags: Fellowship

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Other Side Of The Road!" Luke 17: 1-4 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 18, 2005

“The Other Side of The Road!” Luke 17: 1-4 Key verse(s): 3:“So watch yourselves. ‘If you brother sin, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.’” There but by the grace of god go I! From youth on I was taught the valuable resource of this adage. Along with “Don’t pout or your face will stay ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:1-4

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Lutheran

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

I Surrender All – Judson W. Van Deventer, 1896

Contributed by Richard Goble on Mar 19, 2008

I Surrender All – Judson W. Van DeVenter, 1896 Van DeVenter beautifully describes the process of absolute surrender in his timeless hymn I Surrender All. If I may impose my perception of this hymn, I would suggest that He reveals the struggle involved in surrendering all that he is to the Lord. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Root Beer Thirst --- ...

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Apr 3, 2010

Root Beer Thirst --- --- As a kid in High School, I loved to go to amusement parks, and so did my friends. We only had a couple of amusement parks in the SF Bay Area and my high school buddies and I were able to convince our parents to drop us off at one of these amusement parks that was like a six ...read more

Tags: Stress

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Road To Emmaus - The Good Samaritan Inn

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Apr 28, 2020

The Road to Emmaus The scene: A table in the Inn in Emmaus – with a big sign on the Table saying “The Good Samaritan Inn in Emmaus” Luke and Cleopas seated around a Table Cleopas and Luke start talking: Cleopas: Luke, Where’s he gone – he was standing right there and puff - He just ...read more

Tags: Road To Emmaus, Sketch

Denomination: Anglican

Spurgeon Quote

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on Aug 16, 2022

I want to read something to you. It’s from a sermon preached by Charles Spurgeon… listen to what he says here… it’s kind of a long quote, but man it’s good. “Everybody admires Luther! Yes, yes, but you do not want anyone else to do the same today. When you go to the Zoological Gardens you all ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Perseverance, Faithfulness

Denomination: Independent/Bible