In Sermon Illustrations: "Living In Sin"

Praying The Beatitudes

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 15, 2020

PRAYING THE BEATITUDES Blessed are the poor in spirit. Matthew 5:3 Heavenly Father, I want the humility not to be impressed with myself and my accomplishments. Increase in me (John 3:30). More of You, God, none of me. I am overwhelmed with the sense of my spiritual need. I recognize my true ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Prayer, Beatitudes, Poor In Spirit, Blessed Are The Meek, Matthew 5, Blessed Are The Pure In Heart  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Is It Like On The Other Side?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 22, 2022

Kansas City, Missouri is separated from Kansas City, Kansas by the Missouri River. Years ago, there was a farmer who lived on the Kansas side of the river. He had a farm, a wife and a beautiful daughter. The farmer and his family had never been across the river. They had lived their whole life on ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Tags: Death, Revelation, Heaven, Hope, Eternal Life, New Jerusalem, Funerals  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Smart Phone Theology

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Oct 29, 2024

Smart phones are really smart. Even smarter than I know. I use my phone for so much more than calling and texting but it’s not uncommon for me to learn new features and abilities my phone has that I previously had never known. Over the years I’ve learned that my phone is a compass, can take video ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13, 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Service, Holy Spirit, Power, Temptation, Gifts, Giftedness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It Is Better To Die For Something Than It Is To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

It is better to die for something than it is to ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

This World Is The Land Of The Dying; The Next Is ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

This world is the land of the dying; the next is the ...read more

Tags: Death

Staring Down The Critic's Barrel!" Proverbs 9: ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 17, 2005

“Staring Down the Critic’s Barrel!” Proverbs 9: 7-10 Key verse(s): 8b:“. . . rebuke a wise man and he will love you.” The Bible tells us that “rebuke a wise man and he will love you.” Love? What happened to getting the emotional revenge that is so satisfying? There doesn’t seem to be a lot of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:7-10, Psalm 82:3-4, Philippians 2:13-14

Tags: Grace, Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

[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

[165]. A Message From A Poem – Kindness In The Christian’s Pain

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 15, 2025

[165]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – KINDNESS IN THE CHRISTIAN’S PAIN We all need kindness, but not everyone can give kindness. Some find it too hard because of their backgrounds, and some are just so selfish they are incapable of it. Kindness is a special gift when it is given in a sacrificial way, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12, Ephesians 2:7, Galatians 5:22

Tags: Pain, Compassion, Kindness, Great High Priest, Christian Poems, God Is Kind  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[248]. A Message From A Poem – Starlight Is Always There

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 2, 2026

[248]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – STARLIGHT IS ALWAYS THERE This is a short poem, one just came straightaway to me. I could expand it more but I decided I will not do that. Although the poem was written in 2020, the original thought for this came to me one evening when I was walking home. Here ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 John 1:12

Tags: Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Unveiled Face, Obscured, Love, Barriers, Stars, Shining, Starlight  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Those Of Us Who Have Been Shocked By God's Truth ...

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 13, 2008

Those of us who have been shocked by God’s Truth at some point in our lives often realize that what we have been doing in good faith and, we thought, to honor God was in fact just the opposite of what God wants. And, I hasten to add, we often spend the ...read more

Tags: Repentance

Denomination: Catholic

He Is Our Desperate Need: 2 Peter ...

Contributed by Michael West on Oct 2, 2008

He is our desperate need: 2 Peter 1:3-4 Without Him, we are lost. Without Him, we are like a toy that needs batteries… We were born into this world blind to the truth of God— I Corinthians 2:14. Without Him, we would have remained full of corruption. With Him, we now ...read more

Tags: Sanctification

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Matthew Sprained His Ankle Playing Football. The ...

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Oct 21, 2008

Matthew sprained his ankle playing football. The doctor told him to get off his crutches as soon as possible, because the injury would develop scar tissue if he did not walk on it. If an injury develops scar tissue, later on it can be worse and more painful and you lose mobility. Some people ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

Denomination: Pentecostal

I Want To Matter

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Mar 19, 2009

I WANT TO MATTER I once asked a friend of mine what was his biggest fear? After listening to his response, I told him that my biggest fear in life is being insignificant. If I can’t make a difference in the lives of those around me, and impact their lives for the sake of the Kingdom, then my ...read more

Tags: Goals

Denomination: Methodist

The Measure Of God's Word

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Jul 30, 2010

THE MEASURE OF GOD'S WORD The Word of God is the measure of our lives. Imagine different teams of men building a house with everyone measuring by their foot, not tape measure. The carpentry, flooring, coverings, windows and doors would be a mess. It simply would not come together. That's why we ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

Denomination: Baptist

Spirituality And Justice

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Feb 16, 2011

SPIRITUALITY AND JUSTICE Quoting Major Campbell Roberts when he spoke at the launch of this TSMP goal, "Two hungers are emerging, a hunger for - Spirituality and a hunger for – Justice. If we can live out and help another find a relationship with Jesus that energises them to live and act justly ...read more

Tags: Justice

Denomination: Salvation Army

Land Of The Dying

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 5, 2011

LAND OF THE DYING When John Owen, the great Puritan, lay on his deathbed his secretary wrote (in his name) to a friend, "I am still in the land of the living." "Stop," said Owen. "Change that and say, 'I am yet in the land of the dying, but I hope soon to be in the land of the living.'" ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Tags: Funerals Christian

Buy Back Time With The Wisdom Of God

Contributed by Samuel M on Jul 6, 2024

When we do our daily activities including work with the wisdom of God, we can buy back time. When we live our lives with wisdom of God, we buy back many years of our life. Despite our busy schedules, when we do our work with God’s wisdom, there will always be ...read more

Tags: Faith, Wisdom

In Les Misérables The Antagonist Is A Police Man ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on Jun 2, 2003

In Les Misérables the antagonist is a police man named Javert. He is a pitiful man who believes in judgment alone and not mercy. Last week we saw the clip from the movie where Jean Valjean receives mercy from the Bishop and I told you that he lives the rest of his life trying to give the same ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: *other

When I Was A Small Boy, I Attended Church Every ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

When I was a small boy, I attended church every Sunday at a big Gothic Presbyterian bastion in Chicago. The preaching was powerful and the music was great. But for me, the most awesome moment in the morning service was the offertory, when twelve solemn, frock-coated ushers marched in lock-step down ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:15-24

Tags: God's Provision

We Might Shake Our Heads At Such Blatant ...  PRO

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Oct 11, 2007

We might shake our heads at such blatant hypocrisy, but the truth is most people fail to live up to their own Words. One prime example of this might be Karl Marx who wrote the Communist Manifesto in 1848. Marx’ had --- and still has --- millions of followers. His Philosophy has shaped (and some ...read more

Tags: Matthew

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ