In Sermon Illustrations: "Loved By God"

Loyalty To God Or Ourselves?

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Feb 19, 2009

LOYALTY TO GOD OR OURSELVES? When I was in seminary, I had some conversations with some fellow students, with a good mentor and friend Ron Mabry, with a Dr. Stafford and the credentialing team in Indiana. Through these interactions God was speaking to me and asking me where my loyalties to lie? Is ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Church Of God

Misusing The Image Of God

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Nov 27, 2022

Genesis 11:1-9… v1: as Noah and his family continues life from the ark (likely they had other children) A couple of things in context helps us: Genesis 10 talks about the nations of people and their own languages Gen 10:24 on – we only read about Joktan’s sons, not Peleg’s Gen 11:10 – only 2 ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

Tags: Man, Sin, Babel, God's Image, Nations, Languages  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Desiring More Of God

Contributed by Richard Tow on Mar 27, 2023

A. W. Tozer prayed a prayer that I can identify with. Perhaps it resonates with you as well. Here is the first part of his prayer. “O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6, Luke 6:21, Proverbs 4:23

Tags: Zeal, Hunger, Revival, Desire, Righteousness, Passion  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Where Is God Working?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on May 21, 2023

Pastor Henry Blackaby, of Faith Baptist Church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada began to sense God leading them to an outreach ministry on the college campus. He had never done student work. Their church had never done student work. Their denominational student ministries department recommended ...read more

Scripture: John 5:17-20, Romans 3:10-11, John 6:44

Tags: Evangelism, Holy Spirit, Discipleship, God At Work, Joining God At Work  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

He Strives With God.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jun 10, 2024

A bit of an aside, I can remember when I have pulled a few all night jobs out of necessity back in my power distribution days when a fault would require repairing, nothing like a 24 plus hour day to exhaust you. Lack of sleep is never a good thing, but in Jacob’s case it led to a change in the man ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Tags: Israel Tehman, 24 Hours Awake, God Strives, He Strives With God, Night, Jacob, Exhaustion, Wrestling With God, Deciever, Lack Of Sleep  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Dwelling Place Of God

Contributed by Samuel M on Jul 6, 2024

The enemy wants to destroy every place where God meets with us. He does not want the dove of God to rest and settle on our lives. He is fine with visitation of God but not fine with habitation of God. He is constantly looking to destroy every place in our hearts that could become a resting place ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 66:2

Tags: Faith, Hope

Because God Is Sovereign...

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 10, 2024

Because God is Sovereign... 1. He Requires No Counsel - Romans 11:34 2. He Seeks No Advice - 1 Corinthians 2:16 3. He Lacks No Wisdom - James 1:5 4. He Asks No Permission – Job 33:13 5. He Answers to No Man - Romans 9:20 Isaiah 40:13-14 - Who hath directed the Spirit ...read more

Tags: Chosen, God's Will, Election, Sovereignty Of God, Attributes Of God, Called  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Is Left-Handed!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 12, 2024

Little Philip was spending the weekend with his grandmother after a particularly trying week in infant school. His grandmother decided to take him to the park on Saturday morning. It had been snowing all night and everything was beautiful. His grandmother commented, 'Doesn't it look like ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:34, Colossians 3:1

Tags: Father, Jesus, Children, Sunday School, Grandmother, Throne Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Spend Time With God

Contributed by Samuel M on Feb 1, 2025

Moses after spending 40 days with God on the mountain, found out that God can be seen on a daily basis. So he pitched up a tent outside the camp to meet God on a daily basis. Some things are learned by spending time with God that are not learned anywhere else. Spending time with God teaches us ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:7-11

Tags: Faith, Hope

Seeing The Face Of God

Contributed by Samuel M on Feb 1, 2025

The world does not need more churches or preachers; but it needs people who can see the face of God. Seeing the face of God means seeing or experiencing the attributes and natures of God. A person who sees or experiences Jesus' nature and displays it in his life is the need of the world. The ...read more

Tags: Faith, Hope

Obedience Matters To God

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 2, 2025

So many churches in our day have been captivated by church growth techniques and have made attendance the measure of success. I have got bad news for these folks – God’s measure of success is the ...read more

Scripture: John 14:15, 1 John 5:2-3, 1 Samuel 15:22

Tags: Obedience, God's Will

Denomination: Methodist

See The Lamb Of God

Contributed by Samuel M on Mar 19, 2025

When we are going through difficult times( or testing) and still remain obedient to God’s word, we will find, see (the lamb of God) and receive a greater (or deeper) revelation of the lamb of God. When Abraham was about to offer his only son as a sacrifice, he saw the ram caught in the thicket. ...read more

Tags: Faith, Hope

God Moved The Mountain

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Aug 7, 2025

A small church was growing very fast. Every Sunday, more and more people were coming to worship. But there was one big problem—there was no proper parking lot. Many people had to park far away and walk a long distance to the church. The pastor and the church members started praying. They asked God ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:20

Tags: Faith, Prayer

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Full Armor Of God

Contributed by John Bright on Oct 3, 2025

Our defense is provided by the Full Armor of God found in Ephesians 6. I would recommend this article: https://www.gotquestions.org/full-armor-of-God.html (I also want to recommend the YouVersion Bible App for your smart phones or computers. Good studies there on the Full Armor of God) Here’s a ...read more

Tags: Prayer, Full Armor Of God

Denomination: Methodist

The House God Moved

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 12, 2025

The story of that little church in Swan Quarter, North Carolina, still stirs my heart. In 1874 the congregation built a modest wooden building, but the land they truly wanted had been refused by its owner. Two years later a storm struck the town, the kind of storm that tears apart homes and ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-8, Psalm 127:1

Tags: Guidance, Providence

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Word Of God - Is Alive

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 28, 2026

The Scriptures are clear ... Crystal clear Quote ... "For the word of God .... is living" Unquote (Hebrews 4:12) The Scriptures, .... the Word of God, .... is unlike any other book you have ... in your home ... or that is in the library. The Library of Congress lays claim ... to be ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12-16, Isaiah 55:11

Tags: Alive, Living, Word, Scriptures, Spirit, Soul  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

If There Is No God, Who Decides?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Mar 6, 2026

In 1882, the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche wrote a short parable that still echoes through Western culture. He imagines a man running into a crowded marketplace in broad daylight, holding a lantern. He cries out, “Where is God? I will tell you—we have killed Him. You and I. We are His ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17, Judges 2:10-15

Tags: Evil, Culture, Meaning, Good, Values, God Is Dead  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

[162]. A Message From A Poem – Jewels Of God’s Reflected Beauty

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 12, 2025

[162]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JEWELS OF GOD’S REFLECTED BEAUTY This was a difficult poem to write trying to get it right the way I wanted. It is probably an unusual subject anyway. By jewels, I mean literal jewels. I love gemstones though I have none. Can’t afford them, but my God has so ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:9, Revelation 21:18-21, Revelation 21:16-17, Revelation 21:10-11, Revelation 21:1-3  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Christian Poems, Gemstones, Home Of The Bride, Precious Gems, Gems, Colors, Pearls, The Holy City, The New Jerusalem, Christian Poetry, Color, Gold, Pearl  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A New Perspective On Ugly Sweaters

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Nov 5, 2019

I am not stylish. I will never be named “best dressed” minister. I do not enjoy clothes shopping. Yet, even though shopping is a task, there are occasions when I do need to pick up an item or two and even though I don’t have an eye for what’s fashionable I can sense when something is absolutely ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:10

Tags: Goodness, Humanity, Dignity, Image Of God, Love Neighbor  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Seventeen Year Cicada Locust Lives Up To Its ...  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on May 1, 2007

The seventeen year cicada locust lives up to its name. When my children were little the locusts invaded. The little bugs had lived as larvae in the ground for a long seventeen year snooze. When they awoke one Saturday morning, it sounded like all the chain saws in the county had been ...read more

Tags: Love

Denomination: United Methodist