In Sermon Illustrations: "Knowing God"

There Have Been Some People, Who, The Minute They ...  PRO

Contributed by Peter Schmidt on Nov 13, 2003

There have been some people, who, the minute they were born, everyone knew that they were destined for greatness. In 1500 A.D. a baby boy was born that all expected great things from. His name was Charles, and his father was Duke Philip, the Duke of Burgundy, and Charles’ mother was Joanna, the ...read more

Tags: Christmas, God's Love

Denomination: Lutheran

Dr. William Sloan Coffin Of New York’s ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Dec 11, 2000

Dr. William Sloan Coffin of New York’s Riverside Church said this in the April 20,1984 Lutheran Standard after the death of his son, Alex."The night after Alex died, I was sitting in the living room of my sister’s house outside of Boston, when a middle-aged lady came in, shook her head when she saw ...read more

Tags: Faith, God The Father

Denomination: Lutheran

In His Spiritual Autobiography, William Barclay, ...  PRO

Contributed by Don Hawks on Apr 14, 2002

In his spiritual autobiography, William Barclay, the venerable Scottish scholar, tells the tragedy of losing his 21-year-old daughter and her fiance who were drowned in a boating accident. He writes, "God did not stop that accident at sea, but he did still the storm in my own heart so that somehow ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Disappointment

Denomination: Methodist

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

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

[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

The Moravian Brethren, 200 Years Ago, Formed One ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

The Moravian Brethren, 200 years ago, formed one of the greatest missionary movements. Two of their members heard of a leper colony in Africa where no missionary was allowed to enter and then return home for fear that the disease might spread in Germany. They volunteered to go into that leper ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, God In The Hardships, Descriptions Of God, Follower

Denomination: Baptist

Why Bad Things Happen

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Jun 19, 2020

So, what should we say then when bad things happen? Some may say God is still all powerful and all knowing so it seems like it’s still God’s plan that this bad thing happened isn’t it? Kinda, sort of or maybe. There is a difference between what God allows and what God wants. I know that sounds ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:4-5

Tags: Dont Ignore Gods Instructions, Follow Gods Instructions

Denomination: Independent/Bible

That's Why I Think It Is Very Important In ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Jan 8, 2005

That’s why I think it is very important in understanding God’s grace to comprehend the difference between three words- used in Scripture. Justice - Mercy & Grace. Justice is deserved punishment. Mercy is exemption from punishment, Grace is favor when punishment is deserved. (Repeat) Let me ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Grace

Denomination: Christian Church

Deformed Foot Straightened By Long-Term Painful ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 26, 2010

Deformed Foot Straightened by Long-term Painful Pressure In Paul’s life he did face suffering for Christ - Colossians 1:24: "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body’s sake, which is the Church." None of us ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5

Tags: God In The Hardships, Discipline

He Didn't Lift Us Up To Let Us Down  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 23, 2002

HE DIDN'T LIFT US UP TO LET US DOWN The Christian group the Imperials recorded one of my favorite songs over 20 years ago. It is called, “He Didn’t Lift Us Up To Let Us Down.” “He didn’t bring us this far to leave us. He didn’t teach us to swim to let us drown. He didn’t build His home in us ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Faith

Denomination: Church Of God

Complaining On The Day Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 30, 2009

Complaining on the Day of Judgment The story is told of billions of people scattered on a great plain before Almighty God’s Throne. Some of the groups near the front talked heatedly - not with cringing shame; but, with belligerence. "How can God Judge us?" said one. "What does He know about ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-18

Tags: Injustice, God's Judgment

Sending A Teacher To A Dying Boy

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

SENDING A TEACHER TO A DYING BOY There was a school system in a large city that had a program that helped children in the hospital keep up with their homework. One day a teacher who was assigned to that program received a routine call asking her to visit a particular. She took the child’s name and ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

How Deer Become Thirsty

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 30, 2020

There are 2 times when a deer develops tremendous thirst - one is when he is running from danger, the other is when he is facing an opponent in combat. When he is hunted, he will take to the river and stay submerged as long as he can hold his breath. He will then swim downstream in the middle so ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Psalm 42:2

Tags: Psalms, Worship, Deer, Hungry For God, Longing For God, Thirsting For God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He Gives More Grace

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

"He gives more grace when the burdens grow greater. He sends more strength when the labors increase, To added affliction He addeth His mercy, To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace. When we have exhausted our store of endurance, When our strength has failed 'ere the day is half ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5-6, Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Pain, Grace, Prayer, Suffering, Will Of God, God's Goodness, Love Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Stranger Came By The Other Day With An Offer ...  PRO

Contributed by Larry Brincefield on Aug 21, 2003

A stranger came by the other day with an offer that set me to thinking. He wanted to buy the old barn that sits out by the highway. I told him right off that he was crazy. He was a city type. You could tell by his clothes, his car, his hands, and the way he talked. He said he was driving by and saw ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment, God In The Hardships

Denomination: Nazarene

The Cast Of Your Misfortune!" 1 Peter 5: 1-10 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 19, 2004

“The Cast of Your Misfortune!” 1 Peter 5: 1-10 Key verse(s): 9: “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kin do sufferings.” One of the loneliest times in anyone’s life is when suffering strikes and it puts you into ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-10

Tags: Endurance, God In The Hardships

Denomination: Lutheran

Never Have More Children Than You Have Car ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

1. Never have more children than you have car windows. 2. Never loan your car to someone to whom you have given birth. 3. Pick your friends carefully. A "friend" never goes on a diet when you are fat or tells you how lucky you are to have a husband who remembers Mother’s Day--when his gift is a ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

The Lord Is Your Shepherd, And That's Enough  PRO

Contributed by Larry Moyer on Aug 5, 2009

THE LORD IS YOUR SHEPHERD, AND THAT’S ENOUGH One time there was a newspaper office in that always had a practice that if the pastors in that city would call in and give them texts and titles to their messages, they would print them in the paper so all the people in the city would know on what ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Everyone Wants To Be A Winner

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 17, 2011

EVERYONE WANTS TO BE A WINNER You want to know how bad it was to be a New Orleans Saints. Derland Moore, the Saints nose tackle from 1973 to 1985, once was asked what it was like to be a Saint, and said: "We were the league's doormats. When I went out and people would ask me if I played for the ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Methodist

The Harvard University Handbook.....amazing!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on May 19, 2016

THE HARVARD UNIVERSITY HANDBOOK.......AMAZING! These words were printed in the first Harvard University handbook! "Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life, John ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-17

Tags: Bible, Humanism, Liberalism, American History

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Read A Story Of A Father Who Was Preparing To ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Jun 9, 2003

I read a story of a father who was preparing to go on a trip to grandma’s house over the Thanksgiving Holidays. He describes the episode as if it were a theology lab. This father and mother began comparing their mental notes of spiritual perceptions. He said, “A journey is a journey, whether the ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Promises Of God

Denomination: United Methodist