In Sermon Illustrations: "Knew Shepherd in the Psalms"

[017] A Message From A Poem - Altogether Lovely One

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 21, 2024

[017] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - ALTOGETHER LOVELY ONE There are times when we feel our hearts going out in worship to our Lord. What is the difference between praise and worship? This is not a sermon so I won’t be answering that question here, but I hope you think on it and that it might warm ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:11, Isaiah 53:3-4, Psalm 150:1-3

Tags: Worship, Praise, Gold, Magi, Sorrow, Frankincense, Myrrh, Lovely One  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On Sheep

Contributed by Warren Lamb on Oct 12, 2008

On Sheep Jesus Christ is called The Great Shepherd; He calls us His sheep. On one of my shelves in my study is a little book bearing the title, "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23." The author, Phillip Keller, was a sheep rancher and has many insights to share about sheep. One that he shares is ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Some Years Ago A Famous Actor Was Giving An After ...

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Feb 1, 2008

Some years ago a famous actor was giving an after dinner speech. He asked his audience if there was any famous poem that they would like him to recite. There was a silence. Eventually an old vicar raised his hand and said: "Psalm 23 please." The actor agreed, on one condition: that the ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Dragging My Sin  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 6, 2005

DRAGGING MY SIN In this award winning film called “The Mission,” Robert DeNiro plays a mercenary who has taken asylum in the local church after killing his brother in a fit of jealous rage. He eventually leaves the church and heads to a mission post located above the waterfalls in a South American ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-11, Psalm 32:1-11, Mark 5:1-19, Mark 5:1-19

Tags: Forgiveness General, Forgiveness For Others, Character

[085]. A Message From A Poem – For All Christians - The Three Ps

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 21, 2025

[085]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR ALL CHRISTIANS - THE THREE Ps There are 9 poems in this Trilogy series. This poem is part of a Trilogy - three sets of three. The first set is addressed to MEN, the second to ALL CHRISTIANS and the third is SPECIFIC. This is the first one in the second set ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 47:5-7, Galatians 5:22-23, Romans 12:11-12, Psalm 57:7-9

Tags: Praise, Prayer, Patience, Poetry, Poems, Vital Links  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[031] A Message From A Poem – Before Him Lay The Cross

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 19, 2025

[031] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BEFORE HIM LAY THE CROSS We have a retrospective view of the cross in a very limited understanding, but the Lord’s view in the Garden of gethsemane was a forward one. The anticipation of that ordeal was a dreadful one. That comes out in the description and this ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2, John 3:16-17, Psalm 69:1-3, Psalm 22:13-16, Matthew 26:38-39  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Love, Endurance, Cross, Suffering, Gethsemane, Endure, Calvary, The Cross, Anticipation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Sunday School Teacher Decided To Have Her ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Shafit on Aug 4, 2007

A Sunday school teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible: Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter. Little Rick was excited about the task, but he just couldn’t remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Legacy Of Haddon Robinson

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Oct 7, 2022

Haddon Robinson wrote the classic book on preaching called, “Biblical Preaching.” It has sold more copies than any other preaching textbook. He taught and practised expository preaching to thousands. I had the privilege of being one of his students from 1996-1999 in the Doctor of Ministry program ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:12, 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Tags: Death, Family, Remember, Legacy

Denomination: Pentecostal

[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

Vacant Homes, Vacant Lives  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 9, 2011

VACANT HOMES, VACANT LIVES TIFTON, GA — The most interesting thing about Tifton is an abandoned Victorian house filled with thousands of bats. Tift County declared the once-elegant house in the town’s historic district off limits after a bat specialist said that maybe 20,000 bats had moved in, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:11, Psalm 119:11-16, Luke 11:1-13, Galatians 5:22-23, Psalm 84:1-12, John 2:13-23, Luke 7:36-50, John 1:46-56, James 2:14-26, Luke 11:24-26, Matthew 12:43-45, Matthew 12:44-45  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Bible Influence

The Optimist Says, The Cup Is Half Full. The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 16, 2001

The optimist says, the cup is half full. The pessimist says, the cup is half empty. The child ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1, Nehemiah 1:11

Tags: Parable General, Joy, Thanksgiving Holiday

In An Earlier Century, There Lay A Large Boulder ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Warren on May 1, 2001

In an earlier century, there lay a large boulder in the middle of the roadway. Traveler after traveler walked past the boulder, veering off the side of the road to get around it. All the while, they were shaking their head and muttering, "Can you believe that? Someone should get that big thing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Psalm 61:1-8

Tags: Doing God's Will, Evangelism, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Reaching The End Of A Job Interview, The Human ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 4, 2001

Reaching the end of a job interview, the human resources person asked a young engineer fresh out of MIT what kind of a salary he was looking for. "In the neighborhood of $140,000 a year, depending on the benefits package." "Well, what would you say to a package of 5-weeks vacation, 14 paid ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3, Luke 17:7-10

Tags: Servant, Workplace, Christian Disciplines

He Could Have Turned Around  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2001

He could have turned around A 20-year-old man was arrested by the Omaha Police on the “suspicion of robbery and giving police false information,” which was one of many wrong turns for this young man. His first wrong turn was the desire to make some quick, easy money for whatever reason. His ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:14, Proverbs 29:6

Tags: Sin Deceptive, Sin Wages Of, Repentance

Today In Sunday School The Teacher Told Us A ...

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jul 13, 2001

Today in Sunday School the teacher told us a story about Gaylord and his old dog that wouldn’t bite anybody. Seems that the dog liked to run alongside when Gaylord rode his bike. Gaylord either did not have a chain guard on the bike or this was in the days when they did not use them. Anyway, one ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 36:7, Revelation 21:4

Tags: Trust, Pain, Distrust

Denomination: Baptist

The One True God  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 18, 2002

THE ONE TRUE GOD "Back in my Bible college days I struck up a friendship with a man from the Far East. Before his conversion to Christianity, the worship of man-made wooden images and human-like deities was a way of life. As a little boy, the question came to his mind one day, 'Why do I worship ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:12-121, Leviticus 26:1

Prayer's Best Position  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on May 20, 2002

PRAYER'S BEST POSITION Three ministers were talking about prayer in general and the appropriate and effective positions for prayer. As they were talking, a telephone repairman was working on the phone system in the background. One minister shared that he felt the key was in the hands. He always ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 5:1-8, John 17:1-26

Tags: Prayer How To, Prayer General, Strength

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

But Before That...  PRO

Contributed by Gregg Strawbridge on Jul 7, 2002

BUT BEFORE THAT... In 1992, when our own Govenor, Kirk Fordice stated unreservedly “America is a Christian nation” the response bordered on hysteria. But before that -- Congress, declared 1983 to be the “Year of the Bible” — stating that the Bible, the Word of God, has made a unique contribution ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:18, Psalm 33:12

Tags: Kingdom Of God, America, Freedom, History, Heritage, July, Independence, Independence Day  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Tony Evans Says, "If You Limit Worship To Where ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Hamilton on Apr 29, 2003

Tony Evans says, “If you limit worship to where you are, the minute you leave that place of worship you will leave your attitude of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 113:1-3, Matthew 2:1-18

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Baptist

In A Recent Survey In Discipleship Journal ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Simms on Dec 7, 2003

In a recent survey in Discipleship Journal Magazine, readers reported that their greatest spiritual challenges came from 1. Materialism 2. Pride 3. Self-centeredness 4. Laziness 5. Anger/Bitterness (Tie) 6. Sexual Lust (Tie) 7. Envy 8. Gluttony 9. Lying Survey respondents noted that temptations ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 11:4-35, Psalm 73:1-28

Tags: Temptation Resisting, Temptation General

Denomination: Baptist