In Sermon Illustrations: "Lift Him Up"

My Stripes

Contributed by Scott Jensen on Oct 8, 2008

My Stripes Many years ago I was enlisted in the Air Force and competed for promotion to Technical Sergeant. I was a Staff Sergeant that had been recognized as one of the best. I had fire wall 5 performance reports and had been Group NCO of the Year for two consecutive years. I had all the right ...read more

Tags: Disappointment

Denomination: Lutheran

The Beginning Of Lee  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2009

THE BEGINNING OF LEE Lee, a reporter for the Chicago Tribune and a self-professed atheist was sitting at his desk on Christmas Eve. A slow news day he found himself reminiscing about the Delgado family that he had featured while writing a series of articles about Chicago’s neediest people a few ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-22, Luke 23:43, Luke 24:13-35

Tags: Christmas, Evangelism How To

Keep Your Fork  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

KEEP YOUR FORK The sound of Martha’s voice on the other end of the telephone always brought a smile to Brother Jim’s face. She was not only one of the oldest members of the congregation, but one of the most faithful. Aunt Martie, as all the children called her, just seemed to ooze faith, hope, and ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Humaita Prison

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 3, 2009

HUMAITA PRISON Charles Colson, Director of Prison Fellowship and former Counsel to the President of the United States Richard Nixon, who himself went to prison as a result of the Watergate affair wrote this: "Humaita Prison in Brazil is a remarkable place. Almost twenty years ago, it was a ...read more

Tags: Atonement

Denomination: Anglican

The Falsities Of Mormon Author Betty Eadie

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2010

THE FALSITIES OF MORMON AUTHOR BETTY EADIE The idea of hell and judgment are nowhere to be found in Betty Eadie’s bestseller, Embraced By The Light, on the N.Y. Times bestseller list for more than 40 weeks, including 5 weeks as #1. In November 1973 Eadie allegedly died after undergoing a ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:1-3

Tags: False Teaching

The Church Without Outreach

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2011

THE CHURCH WITHOUT OUTREACH Fred Craddock tells the story of his first church. It was a beautiful little white church on a hill in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The church was beautifully maintained. The pews had been hand-hewn from giant poplar trees that had grown nearby. Little kerosene lamps on the walls ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Who Wants To Play By The Rules?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 3, 2020

Wouldn’t life, or sporting events, be easier if there were no rules? Nobody to tell you what you can or can’t do, no restrictions, and anything goes. Easy, right? I can recall a couple of times when it sure seemed that some folks either didn’t want to play by the rules. Maybe they just plain ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:31

Tags: Wrong, Right, Rules, Self Will

Denomination: Baptist

Honor Your Father And Mother

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 13, 2020

Father’s Day 2020 is just a few days away as I write this. My dad left this world in 2018 but I still remember so many things about him. Some of course are too personal to share but there a good number of good memories I’ll always cherish. Dad was about five feet, ten inches in height—the smallest ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:2

Tags: Memories About Dad, Father's Day, Fathers

Denomination: Baptist

[020] A Message From A Poem - Arrogance Without Truth

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 26, 2024

[020] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - ARROGANCE WITHOUT TRUTH Those of us who are older know very well the great change that has come over our societies from what we lived under in the 1950s to the 1990s at which point it all started to decline. The decline is rapid now as we see lawlessness, riots, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 2:17-18, 2 Timothy 3:1-2

Tags: Truth, Arrogance, The Me Generation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[082]. A Message From A Poem – For Men - The Three Gs

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 14, 2025

[082]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR MEN - THE THREE Gs There are 9 poems in this 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 first set - FOR MEN. ALL ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:9-10, 1 John 2:16, Philippians 2:3

Tags: Glory, Gold, Strength, Poetry, Poem, Girls, Ensnare, For Men  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[084]. A Message From A Poem – For Men - The Three "fs"

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 16, 2025

[084]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR MEN - THE THREE Fs 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 third one in the first set - FOR ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:14, James 4:4, 1 Corinthians 1:9, Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Friendliness, Fellowship, Faithfulness, Poetry, Poem  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[099]. A Message From A Poem – Glorious Truths From Romans

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 7, 2025

[099]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GLORIOUS TRUTHS FROM ROMANS Romans is the most doctrinal book in the Bible so it would be impossible to cover all the points in a poem. I am currently working through Romans in a commentary – ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:25, Romans 5:15, Romans 3:24, Romans 5:11, Romans 5:18, Romans 4:5, Romans 5:16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Grace, Romans, Law, Reconciliation, Redemption, Justification, Righteousness, Doctrine, Condemnation, Poem, Transgression, Christian Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[185]. Poem Message – Mouths That Sham Rejoicing

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 4, 2025

[185]. POEM MESSAGE – MOUTHS THAT SHAM REJOICING When I was young we generally could trust what people said to us. There was a great deal of honesty back then (1950s) but that has evaporated. People tell us barefaced lies and that is now the way of the world. That makes the Christian life ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:8-9, Jeremiah 7:9-10

Tags: Pretend, Pretence, No Commitment, Praise, False, Sing, Rejoice, Lies, Dishonesty, Worship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[231]. A Message From A Poem - Reflections In Older Life

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 18, 2025

[231]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - REFLECTIONS IN OLDER LIFE This poem was completed in 2020 when I was 77 years old. I don’t think I am unique in any way. I believe as people get older and know that most of their life has already gone, there comes a time for reflection on one’s life. That is what ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:31, Psalm 71:17-18, Isaiah 46:4

Tags: Old Age, The Shepherd, Reflections, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Grey Head, Old  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[234]. A Message From A Poem - Rigid Trees Are Our Example

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 24, 2025

[234]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - RIGID TREES ARE OUR EXAMPLE Trees are a wonderful aspect of God’s creation and they are the mightiest organic structures on earth, discounting the great coral reefs. This poem is not about trees in general, but specific trees. Those are the ones that are often ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5, Psalm 1:3

Tags: Christian Poems, Melaleuca Trees, Paperbarks, Rigid Trees, Gales, Strong Tree Trunks, Character, Wind, Stand Strong, Trees, Deep Roots  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[297]. A Poem Message – The Wisdom Of The World Is Foolishness With God

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 26, 2026

[297]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE WISDOM OF THE WORLD IS FOOLISHNESS WITH GOD {{1 Corinthians 1:26-28 “Consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, but GOD HAS CHOSEN THE FOOLISH THINGS OF THE WORLD TO SHAME THE WISE, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:6-8, Colossians 2:20, 1 Corinthians 1:18-21, 1 Corinthians 1:20, 1 Corinthians 1:26-28  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Christian Poems, Wisdom Of God, Foolish Things, Universities, The Foolishness Of Man, Wisdom Of The World, Christian Poetry, Vain, Wisdom, Philosophy, Foolishness, Humanism, Gnosticism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mr. Holland’s Opus": Leaving A Legacy, ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Jun 15, 2001

["Mr. Holland’s Opus": Leaving a Legacy, Citation: Mr. Holland’s Opus, (Hollywood Pictures, 1995), rated PG, written by Patrick Sheane Duncan, directed by Stephen Herek; submitted by Greg Asimakoupoulos, Naperville, Illinois] Mr. Holland’s Opus is a movie about a frustrated composer in Portland, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:2-3

Tags: Family, David, Fulfillment, Gifts General, Jonathan, Legacy, Leadership General  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Numbers Of The Bible  PRO

Contributed by Stephen Schwartz on Dec 17, 2001

Numbers of the Bible” One The number one is for God. We must begin with number one or we cannot have number two or any other number. Mathematically speaking we cannot get anywhere without the number one. We must begin with God. Two The number two is for man. Man as an individual. God made ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:21, Matthew 17:1-9

Tags: Future, God's Omniscience, Kingdom, Tomorrow

Denomination: Methodist

The Full Treatment! (09.21.05--Grace ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 19, 2005

The Full Treatment! (09.21.05--Grace Walks!--Hebrews 10:14) Recently I had the old corvair restored. I had given the mechanic a list and was confident he would fix everything on it. Most of the items had to do with the structural integrity of the suspension and frame, so I was confident the car ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:14

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, God's Forgiveness, Perseverance

Denomination: Lutheran

Rach And I Have A Friend Who Is A Source Of Grief ...  PRO

Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Feb 17, 2005

Rach and I have a friend who is a source of grief for us. It is not that he has done anything to us – he is quite dear to us actually. Rather it is what he has done to himself, what he has chosen to believe. About ten years ago, this friend began absenting himself from church. He was getting ...read more

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed