In Sermon Illustrations: "Life Challenge"

Caterpillar Ugly, Butterfly Beautiful  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Caterpillar Ugly, Butterfly Beautiful It is a well-known fact that a caterpillar changes into a butterfly. The butterfly can truthfully say as he looks at the caterpillar, "Such was I, but now I am changed." Every Christian has once been a sinner, living for self and the momentary pleasures ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 4:7-11

Tags: Resurrection, Salvation, New Life, Born Again, Christian Witness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Imagine If You Would That You Want To Go On The Bus.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jan 22, 2012

Imagine if you would that you want to go to Oamaru on the bus, the buses run to Oamaru every day of the week and there are at least three different bus companies to choose from. The trick with all these bus companies is that they charge different fares and that they go at different times. You can ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-10

Tags: Journey, Life Journey, Journey Of Faith, The Will Of God, Journey With Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Knowledge Of Good And Evil  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Jan 8, 2014

THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL Viktor Frankl in his book, "Man's Search for Meaning," describes the reactions of two brothers with the same heredity, the same environment, in the same concentration camp under the Nazis. One became a saint and the other a swine. Frankl tells us the reason why. He ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:19

Tags: Good And Evil, Life And Death, Forbidden Fruit, Knowledge Of Good

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Because He Lives  PRO

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Sep 24, 2014

It’s because He lives we should be able to face tomorrow, it’s because He lives all fear should be gone. Because He lives we are pretty sure who holds the future. Is that the lyrics Bill Gaither wrote? No, but that’s the way many Christians feel. The first verse of Because He Lives says it all. God ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-3

Tags: Troubled Times, Trials And Difficulties, Time Of Trouble, Trials Of Life

Denomination: Baptist

In The Ice Age Movies A Squirrel Is On A Neve...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 5, 2015

In the Ice Age movies a squirrel is on a never ending quest for the acorn. He tries and he tries to get that acorn, and meets with a variety of misadventures along the way. He never succeeds in getting the acorn. In one of these movies, the squirrel has a "near death" experience, and finds himself ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:13-16

Tags: Heaven, Alien, Better Life, Better Home, Temporary Home  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Renewed Like The Eagle  PRO

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 24, 2016

RENEWED LIKE THE EAGLE When the Psalmist mentions the renewal of the eagle, he may be referring to the "molting process" in an eagle’s life. As eagles age, their beaks and talons become encrusted with calcium. Thus, neither is as sharp as they once were. When this happens the aging eagle cannot ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5

Tags: Revival, Renewal, Eagle, Crucified Life, Waiting On God, Lie  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Managing Time

Contributed by David Simpson on Jan 30, 2018

No matter what changes, no matter how much changes, TIME remains the same. And even though we know that, we never seem to have enough time. Consider the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon. Calvin says to Hobbes, "God put me on earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now I am so far behind I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 39:4-6

Tags: Investing Your Life, Spending Time Wisely, Time Management

Denomination: Christian Church

The Easy Yoke

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 15, 2020

A yoke was a wooden frame which was put on the backs of animals and around their necks joining the two animals for a common task, such as plowing or pulling a load. If you were yoked with Jesus Christ, who do you think would "pull the load"? Obviously the Lord. And so in order to manifest ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Discipleship, Beatitudes, Christian Life, Surrender, Yoke, Following Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is It A Weight Or A Wing?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 2, 2020

“The race of the Christian life is not fought well or run well by asking, "what's wrong with this or that?" but by asking, "is it in the way of greater faith, greater love, and greater purity? Not: “Is it a sin?” But: “Does it help me run the race! Is it in the way? ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1

Tags: Purity, Christian Life, Running The Race, Habits, Weights, Hindrances  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Excess Baggage

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 2, 2020

In 1845, the ill-fated Franklin Expedition sailed from England to find a passage across the Arctic Ocean.The crew loaded their two sailing ships with a lot of things they didn't need: a 1,200-volume library, fine china, crystal goblets, and sterling silverware for each officer with his initials ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2, Colossians 3:1-4, Matthew 6:33

Tags: Vision, Worldliness, Spiritual Victory, Habits, Spirit Filled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Died Before We Came Here

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 6, 2022

When James Calvert went as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the captain of the ship sought to turn him back, crying out “You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages” Calvert only replied, “We died before we came here.” In ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:1-11

Tags: Discipleship, Missions, Christian Life, Dying To Self, Crucified With Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Incredible Symbol Of The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 2, 2023

Gordon Brownville's Symbols of the Holy Spirit tells about the great Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, the first to discover the magnetic meridian of the North Pole and to discover the South Pole. On one of his trips, Amundsen took a homing pigeon with him. When he had finally reached the top ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-23

Tags: Church, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Acts, Spirit Filled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Are Here To Live, Not To Just Make A Living.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 10, 2024

In 1923 a very important meeting was held at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. Attending this meeting were nine of the world's most successful financiers: Charles Schwab, steel magnate: Samuel Insull, president of the largest utility company: Howard Hopson , president of the largest gas ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10

Tags: Greed, Life, Riches, Suicide, Fame, Death, Money, Wealth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

El Perfume De Cristo En Nuestras Vidas

Contributed by Carlos Vazquez on Feb 19, 2025

Introducción: "De lo Común a lo Extraordinario" Imagina un campo de lavanda en la Provenza, Francia. Es hermoso, con un mar púrpura de flores ondeando con el viento. Sin embargo, si solo nos quedamos allí, las flores se marchitarán y perderán su esencia. Es ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:15-16, John 15:19, Job 23:10, Isaiah 40:31, Ephesians 5:18, Matthew 5:16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Holy Spirit, Life, Santificación, Transformación Espiritual, Testimonio Cristiano  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

[352]. A Message From A Poem – Written On The Train

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 23, 2026

[352]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – WRITTEN ON THE TRAIN I was undertaking a drive of 1 800 km and had gone about 150 km from home when I had an accident. The vehicle limped badly for another 950 km where I had to leave it for repairs and return home. The return trip was about 1 100 km and was ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 9:9-10, Psalm 31:10-14, Romans 5:3-5

Tags: Life, Tribulation, Sorrow, Accident, Rejoicing, Train, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Lights Along The Shore

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Jul 9, 2017

The Lights Along the Shore To me, lighthouses are among the most charming of man-made structures. Their unique and essential purpose makes each one a thing of exquisite beauty. Seafarers seeking a haven on a stormy night find a beam from the shore as precious as life itself. Perhaps Philip ...read more

Scripture: John 1:3-7, John 8:12, Matthew 5:14-16, 2 Peter 1:19, Revelation 22:5, John 3:19-21, Malachi 4:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Navigation, Light, Sea, Harbor, Light And Darkness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Courage Is Fear That Has Said Its Prayers – ...  PRO

Contributed by David Dewitt on May 29, 2001

Courage is fear that has said its ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Excuses, Fear And Worry, Better, Life, Prayer Supplication, Worth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Church Of God

Who Is Jesus Christ  PRO

Contributed by Michael Bird on Jan 15, 2002

To the artist He is the One Altogether Lovely. To the architect He is the Chief Cornerstone. To the astronomer He is the Sun of Righteousness. To the baker He is the Living Bread. To the banker He is the Hidden Treasure. To the biologist He is the Life. To the carpenter He is the Sure ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ, Jesus Teachings, Jesus Life, Divinity Of Christ, Trinity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

James Calvert (1813-1892) Was A Zealous ...  PRO

Contributed by Darren Ethier on May 7, 2002

James Calvert (1813-1892) was a zealous missionary to cannibals on the Fiji Islands. His faithful work bore fruit in the lives of those accustomed to taking the life of others. Years later and English earl visited the Fiji Islands and was critical of a chief’s conversion to Christianity. "You’re a ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:15, 2 Corinthians 5:17

Tags: Born Again, Christian Love, New Life, New Creation, Joy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Someone Once Said…"I Made 6 Resolutions Last ...  PRO

Contributed by Jonathan Busch on Jan 6, 2003

Someone once said…”I made 6 resolutions last year and I kept them all Year long. They are in an ...read more

Tags: Decision, New Year, New Life, New Year's Day, Resolution  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal