In Sermon Illustrations: "Loving God"

In The Fulness Of Time, God Sent His Son

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 19, 2022

•When God sent His Son into the world, the ancient world benefited from several conditions that made it far easier to spread the news of the good new of salvation. Some of those conditions were: • Roman Law - This protected Paul and others as they traveled the Roman world and preached the ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Bethlehem, Rome, Prophecy, History, Sovereignty Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If You Want God's Favor

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2023

"If you want God's favor, there are two ways to relate to him. You can relate to him as an heir, or you can relate to him as a slave. The difference is that a slave tries to become acceptable to his master by presenting him valuable service; but the heir trusts that the inheritance of his ...read more

Tags: Grace, Freedom, Law, Legalism, Slave, Sonship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Faith Is Resting My Whole Weight On God!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 23, 2023

When missionary John Paton was translating the Scripture for the South Sea islanders, he was unable to find a word in their vocabulary for the concept of believing, trusting, or having faith. He had no idea how he would convey that to them. One day while he was in his hut translating, a native came ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Faith, Revival, Faithfulness, Spiritual Fruit, Fruit Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

7 Ways That Eve Distorted The Word Of God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

Let’s go back to Genesis 2:16-17 to review exactly what God said and then we’ll compare it to the distortion Eve came up with: “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in ...read more

Tags: Eve, Sin, Evil, Satan, Truth, Temptation, Word Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Knows What Is Happening In Your Nation

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 21, 2023

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that God is asleep when it comes to nations, or that He is out of touch when it comes to carnal banquets, or that He sits in Heaven wringing His hands when it comes to godless rulers (and foolish presidents!) who make unfair, rash, or stupid decisions. Mark it ...read more

Tags: Kings, Governments, Presidents, Wicked Rulers, Nations  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Still Has One More Move

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Sep 22, 2023

This is a story about a painting in a famous art gallery in France. The painting depicts two chess players, one of whom is Satan, who appears arrogantly confident, and the other is a man who looks forlorn. If Satan wins, he wins the man's soul. (The painting is now popularly known as ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:4, 1 Corinthians 10:13, James 4:7, Ephesians 6:11, 1 Peter 5:8-9  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Painting, Control, Player, Chess

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If God Took The Holy Spirit Out Of This World...

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 15, 2023

"If God were to take the Holy Spirit out of this world, much of what we’re doing in our churches would go right on and nobody would ever know the difference!" "I do not believe in a repetition of Pentecost......but I do believe in a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8-11, Ephesians 5:18

Tags: Church, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Revival, Feast Of Pentecost  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Power Of God's Word In The Philippines

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 17, 2024

Joanne Shetler, a dedicated missionary, spent years living among the Balangao people in the Philippines. Her mission was to translate the Bible into their language and share the good news of the Savior. However, progress was slow. One day, Ama, a man who had adopted Joanne as his Balangao ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12

Tags: Bible, Salvation, Missions, Miracles, God's Word, Genealogies Of The Bible  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Theology Of Sin - The Chasm Between God And Mankind.

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 11, 2024

Without a sense of sin, says Soren Kierkegaard, there is no true Christianity ..."Take away the alarmed conscience and you may close the churches and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23, Romans 6:1-2

Tags: Church, Sin, Repentance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Since God Chose You To Be The Holy People Whom ...

Contributed by Doane Brubaker on Mar 30, 2007

“Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with... gentleness...” (Colossians 3:12, NLT) The word is “meekness”. That’s not weakness, it’s strength under control. When I was working in dairy farm construction, our crew put in a comfort-stall barn ...read more

Denomination: Mennonite

If You Really Want To Discern What Direction God ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Feb 19, 2008

If you really want to discern what direction God is leading you then get better acquainted with God. Connect with Him on a consistent basis. Forty years ago a Philadelphia congregation watched as three 9-year-old boys were baptized and joined the church. Not long after, unable to continue with its ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

One Day C.h. Spurgeon Noticed A Barn With A ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 2, 2002

One day C.H. Spurgeon noticed a barn with a weather vane on its roof. At the top of the vane were these words: God is love. Spurgeon said to his friend that he thought this was an inappropriate place for such a message. He said, "Weather vanes are changeable, but God’s love is constant. His friend ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God, God's Provision

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Nothing Can Choke The Heart And Soul Out Of ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Oct 11, 2001

Nothing can choke the heart and soul out of walking with God like legalism. Consider the story of Hans the tailor. Because of his reputation, an influential entrepreneur visiting the city ordered a tailor-made suit. But when he came to pick up his suit, the customer found that one sleeve ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:33-35, Mark 5:1-12

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Christian Love, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer Doesn't Change God, It Changes Me  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2002

PRAYER DOESN'T CHANGE GOD, IT CHANGES ME In a scene from Shadowlands, a film based on the life of C.S. Lewis, Lewis has returned to Oxford from London, where he has just been married to Joy Gresham, an American woman, in a private Episcopal ceremony performed at her hospital bedside. She is dying ...read more

Tags: Submission, Petition, Prayer Persistence, Prayer Answered, Prayer General, Humility  (view more)  (view less)

If We Are Truly Full Of Thanks For What God Has ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 26, 2008

If we are truly full of thanks for what God has done for us and we are truly grateful for the things that God has done which we could not have done for ourselves, then the result is a love for others and a desire to serve others. If our attitude is truly changed, then giving to others and meeting ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Church Of God

Ruby's Prayer  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2011

RUBY'S PRAYER Ruby Hamilton, a businesswoman in her fifties, was stunned at the loss of her husband of 32 years in a car accident. Her anger and disappointment went deeper than a more typical expression of grief though. She had become a follower of Christ in her late twenties, but her husband ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:14-15, John 4:35-38, James 5:17, Daniel 3:5-17, John 4:3-34, 1 Peter 1:3-10, Psalm 41:1-12, Romans 12:14-18, Psalm 8:47, Philippians 4:1-8, Matthew 6:9-13, Matthew 15:32-39, 1 John 2:3-9, Luke 19:1-10, Luke 21:5-19, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, 1 Timothy 2:3-4, John 3:16-17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Evangelism, Prayer, Good Works, Hallowed, God Answers, God Is Love, God Is Faithful, God Is True, Honor God, Prayer Answered  (view more)  (view less)

Someone Might Say, "Well, God Does Not Raise ...

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Jan 10, 2008

-Someone might say, “Well, God does not raise dead people anymore.” I would agree that it is not very common, but the Lord still does it. I have told some of you about my own experience with death. When I was between 1 & 2 years old, I got a hold of a piece of wood from an old orchard sprayer tank. ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

There Is Nothing Like A Father's Blessing And ...

Contributed by David Hill on Jul 8, 2004

There is nothing like a father’s blessing and love. One day I was at work when out of nowhere my father pulled up to the job in a brand new candy apple red truck. It was the bomb. He got out and said nothing. Of course I’m thinking to myself he bought a new truck. As he started to leave, he got ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God, God The Father

Denomination: Baptist

Darwin's Start

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Mar 25, 2009

DARWIN'S START It was because of the death of his daughter that Charles Darwin couldn't make sense of a loving God. This seemed to put him on his path to finding a way to take God out of the creation story. (Source: ...read more

Tags: Evolution

Denomination: Wesleyan

I Remember Reading A Peanuts Cartoon Strip In ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

I remember reading a Peanuts cartoon strip in which Lucy comes up to her brother Charlie Brown and does something that is very unusual for her. She says--I love you. But Charlie Brown keeps responding by saying: no you don’t. And each time Lucy answers a little louder: yes I do, I really love you. ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Promises Of God