In Sermon Illustrations: "Living For God"

Forgive Us Our Christmases

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2008

FORGIVE US OUR CHRISTMASES Have you ever stopped to watch the Christmas rush go by? Christmas struggles are humorous because they touch at the very center of where we live. A little girl was pushing the limits of her mother's very last nerve. Mom was nearing the end of a hectic season of ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Could Be Worse  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2008

COULD BE WORSE It was a few days before Christmas on the Oregon coast. Two men whose families lived next door to each other opted to go sailing while their wives went Christmas shopping. An unexpected storm surprised the weekend sailors. Before long, the sea became angry, and the two had a ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Materialism, Shopping

Tenth Hours

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

TENTH HOURS Napoleon said that in every battle there [is] a period of ten or fifteen minutes which decides the issue of the conflict. Certainly in the battle of life there are moments and hours which, so far as we can tell, determine our history: hours when the spirit in which we lived, the step ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

We Are Having Some Difficult Times, And People ...

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Feb 26, 2009

We are having some difficult times, and people are struggling, but there are some things we need to realize and remember this morning. “A few centuries ago, 4/5s of the French spent 90% of their income for food. With only what you and I consider a marginal tip to a waitress, they had to provide ...read more

Tags: Poverty

Denomination: Baptist

Maturity

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 27, 2020

Automatic behaviour is the hallmark of immature people bent on survival, they accept few challenges and experience little growth. Immature people react with a small part of themselves to a small part of the world. They limit themselves by paying attention only to what is close-up, by focusing on ...read more

Scripture: John 12:24

Tags: Maturity, Immaturity

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Soul

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 11, 2023

John Ortberg describes it this way, “We each have an outer life and an inner one. My outer self is the public, visible me. My accomplishments, my work, and my reputation lie there. But inside is my soul that part of me that speaks in silence to others but yells at me. It's the inside stuff of ...read more

Scripture: John 10:10, Matthew 16:26, Matthew 22:37

Tags: Spiritual Growth, Soul Care, Inner Health

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Successful Businessman--Modern Day Rich ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 30, 2009

Successful Businessman--Modern Day Rich Fool John Ortberg tells the story of a successful businessman. He worked 14 hours a day, even on weekends. He thought the 40 hour work week was such a good idea he would often do it twice a week. His goal was to be the best businessman he could be. Even when ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:16-19

Tags: Parable Rich Fool

[345]. A Message From A Poem - Wickedness Increases In The Last Days

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 2, 2026

[345]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WICKEDNESS INCREASES IN THE LAST DAYS ( May 2026). This poem was written 5 years ago but conditions then were almost as bad as they are today. I think the difference is that they are more intense now and progress at a much greater rate. It is the misled ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:5-7, Titus 2:13, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 2 Timothy 3:13, Genesis 12:3  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: World, Evil, Hope, Antichrist, Last Days, Rapture, Wickedness, Wicked, Christian Poetry, Christian Poem, Increasing Wickedness, Hatred Of Israel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Water Jar  PRO

Contributed by Truuke Ameigh on Mar 2, 2003

Hi Kids! Today we are talking about prayer and I have a special demonstration for you that shows how prayer works. First, I’m going to give each one of you a little bottle of food coloring. Be careful with it so we don’t stain the carpet or our clothes. Now, do you see this jar of water here on ...read more

Tags: Children, Prayer How To, Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Every Once In A While My Daughter Starts ...

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Apr 30, 2004

Every once in a while my daughter starts crying. From then on in, the battle begins. My wife and I have an ignorance contest. Who can lay the stillest for the longest without getting up? The trick to winning this battle is to learn how to tune it out. If I can somehow stay in a sort of ...read more

Scripture: John 10:27

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Faith

Denomination: Lutheran

I Did A Google Image Search For The

Contributed by James Jack on Apr 11, 2009

I did a google image search for the “armour of God.” It’s extraordinary the number of diagrams and pictures devoted to this theme. For our instruction and entertainment (well, actually more for our entertainment), I’ll show you a selection. • They normally involve someone decked out somewhat like ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Denomination: Anglican

Mike Murdock Notes This From His Book Leadership ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 6, 2008

Mike Murdock notes this from his book Leadership Secrets of Jesus page 209: i. He starts with scripture verse “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7. ii. Everything begins with a seed to sow! Someone plants a small acorn. It becomes ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

This Reminds Me Of An Incident I Experienced ...  PRO

Contributed by Bev Sesink on Feb 5, 2005

This reminds me of an incident I experienced while also working in South Africa. I had been working on a research project but had made a significant error early on in the project. Instead of coming clean I unfortunately chose to try and cover my mistake. It wasn’t too long before my conscience ...read more

Tags: Sin Bondage To, Fear, Becoming A Christian

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Mark Of Jesus  PRO

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Feb 17, 2012

THE MARK OF JESUS When I was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Levelland, there was a man in our church, the owner of a local business and a highly intentional Christian. The apostle Paul once said of himself that he bore "on [his] body the marks of Jesus" (Gal. 6:17). Well, this man bore ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:25-33

Tags: Sanctification

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

[156]. A Poem Message – Jesus Lord, Your Sacrifice Has Done Much (Easter)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 7, 2025

[156]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JESUS LORD, YOUR SACRIFICE HAS DONE MUCH (Easter) This poem concentrates on the sacrifice of Christ, making it applicable at Easter or the Lord’s Supper. It deals with the Sin-bearer, the Lamb of God, the Man of sorrows and other points. It is essential that we ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:26, Revelation 5:9, Philippians 2:8

Tags: Sin Bearer, Christian Poems, My Substitute, Table Of The Lord, Good Friday, Calvary, The Cross, Man Of Sorrows, Sacrificial Lamb, Death Of Christ, Sacrifice, Communion, Jesus, Easter  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[235]. A Message From A Poem - Romans 5 Verses 3 - 5

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 25, 2025

[235]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - ROMANS 5 VERSES 3 - 5 This is a shorter poem based solely on 3 verses from Romans. Here are those verses – {{Romans 5:3-5 “Not only this, but we also exult in our TRIBULATIONS, knowing that tribulation brings about PERSEVERANCE, and perseverance, PROVEN ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:35, Romans 5:3-5

Tags: Tribulation, Christian Poems, No Separation From Christ, Perseverance, Hope, Character  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

While I Was In A Convenience Store This Past ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 10, 2002

While I was in a convenience store this past week I noticed one of those tabloid newspapers with this bold headline: “Bible Prophecies the US Government Doesn’t Want You To Know”. You don’t need ...read more

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Congregational

Martin Luther Understood This When He Wrote, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 13, 2004

Martin Luther understood this when he wrote, "The maid who sweeps her kitchen is doing the will of God just as much as the monk who prays. The Christian shoemaker does his Christian duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, ...read more

We Make So Few Genuine Decisions In Life. Most ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

We make so few genuine decisions in life. Most of the choices we make are effected by outside forces and demands. But when it comes to the most important decision in life our decision about God He seeks only a ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Psalm 103 Blesses The Lord For

Contributed by Tony Abram on Jul 6, 2009

" Psalm 103 blesses the Lord for "all his benefits," which include not only the forgiveness of sins, but also the lifting of shame. ... God attaches to the lowly and the unclean, raising them from their slime and crud. Where shame is concerned, God ...read more

Tags: Salvation