In Sermon Illustrations: "Loving Others"

Chris Paul: Forgiving The Murderers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 23, 2011

CHRIS PAUL: FORGIVING THE MURDERERS In April, 2011, Rick Reilly wrote a moving story about forgiveness from the life of Chris Paul, the all-star basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets. Reilly writes: On the moonless night of November 15, 2002, five boys ran across a park, jumped a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:4

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Ask Seek Knock

The Best Thanksgiving Ever

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” – Epictetus They lived a comfortable life in the upscale part of town, the children were teen and pre-teen then and had most anything their hearts desired. They had begun to recite their ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Gratitude, Serving Others, Giving Spirit

Denomination: Charismatic

Jesus Took Our Place

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Jul 25, 2018

Main Idea: Jesus died a horrible death so we could live for eternity. Verse: Jesus “Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness…” (1 Peter 2:24 NKJV). Illustration: A man was sentenced to a horrible death. He was to be buried up ...read more

Tags: Salvation, Sacrifice Of Christ, Sacrifice For Others

Denomination: Charismatic

Communication: Who Is The Problem, Really?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 8, 2021

. A woman met with a counselor and stated, "I want to divorce my husband." ?On what grounds?” asked the counselor. ?Grounds? We have two acres at the edge of town with a big lawn and some fruit trees.” ?No, that's not what I meant. Do you have a grudge?” ?Yes, we've a two car ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:2, Jeremiah 17:9

Tags: Communication, Blame, Rationalization, Blaming Others

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Little Boy Just Got Saved And Sat On A Bench ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Richardson on May 16, 2001

A little boy just got saved and sat on a bench next to old man who looked upset. The little boy said to the man, "Sir, do you need to get saved?" The man startled said abruptly, "I’ll tell you I’ve been a Deacon in this church for over 30 years and Chairman of Deacons for 15 years." The ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General, Forgiveness For Others, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

C.s. Lewis: "Everyone Says Forgiveness Is A ...  PRO

Contributed by David Ward on Jan 23, 2006

C.S. Lewis: “Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:13, Matthew 7:1-6

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Forgiveness, Family Relationships, Financial, Employer, Hypocrisy, Love, Job, Relationships  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Robert Ingersoll, The Notorious Skeptic, Was ...

Contributed by Scott Malone on Apr 5, 2005

When Robert Ingersoll, the notorious skeptic, was in his heyday, two college students went to hear him lecture. As they walked down the street after the lecture, one said to the other, “Well, I guess he knocked the props out from under Christianity, didn’t he?” The other said, “No, I don’t think he ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Faith

Denomination: Baptist

When Robert Ingersoll The Notorious Skeptic, Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Larry Norman on May 10, 2002

When Robert Ingersoll the notorious skeptic, was in his heyday, two college students went to hear him lecture. As the walked down the street after the lecture, one said to the other, “Well, I guess he knocked the props out from under Christianity, didn’t he?” The other said, “No, I don’t think he ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Holiness

Denomination: Baptist

The Animal Kingdom Is Fascinating To ...  PRO

Contributed by Gerald Cornelius on Dec 15, 2000

The animal kingdom is fascinating to observe. There is fierce competition that exists within various species. For example, the wild Dogs of Africa are competitive for their mates. In a documentary one pack of dogs revealed this struggle for dominance. The male dog had two ...read more

Tags: Envy, Christian Love

Denomination: Baptist

Church Conflicts Happen For Pretty Unusual ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Jan 28, 2001

Church conflicts happen for pretty unusual reasons. In the 1890s there was a small Baptist church in Mayfield County, Kentucky. The church had just two deacons, and those two men seemed to be constantly arguing and bickering with each other. On a particular Sunday, one deacon put up a small wooden ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, Colossians 3:13, 1 Corinthians 16:14, Philippians 2:14

Tags: Christian Love, Unity

Denomination: Baptist

John Piper Summed Up Our Problem Well With His ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Hamilton on Sep 29, 2002

John Piper summed up our problem well with his statement, ‘The weakness of our hunger for God is not because he is unsavoury, but because ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Tags: Love For God, Fulfillment

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Jesus Said, "By Their Fruit You Will Recognize ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Apr 28, 2003

Jesus said, “By their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matt. 7:20, NIV). I had the privilege this week of praying with the man who pastors the Arabic Christian Church. He explained to me that in his church he has families from Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, the Sudan and other Arabic ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Peace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Was A Man Who Was Born On August 19, 1843 ...  PRO

Contributed by Doug Lyon on Sep 11, 2004

There was a man who was born on August 19, 1843 near Clinton, Michigan. When he was 17 years old he moved to his sister’s home in Tennessee where he enlisted in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He got out of the army a year later in 1862 and he went to St. Louis to study law. On ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ, Commitment, Love Of The Disciples, Love

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Leonardo Da Vinci, Just Before He Commenced Work ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeeva Sam on Mar 20, 2001

Leonardo Da Vinci, just before he commenced work on his "Last Supper" had a violent argument with a fellow painter. Leonardo was so bitter that he determined to paint the face of his enemy, the other artist, into the face of Judas, and thus take his revenge by handing the man down in infamy and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-36

Tags: God's Forgiveness, Forgiveness For Others, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Methodist

Don't Magnify Yourself Against Those That Are Fallen

Contributed by James Dina on Oct 9, 2020

DON'T MAGNIFY YOURSELF AGAINST THOSE THAT ARE FALLEN "If indeed you will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach" (Job 19:5) 1. Many people forget their own frailty, how easy is it for them to fall. We should be taught by the mistakes of others to avoid being ...read more

Scripture: Job 19:5, Psalm 35:26

Tags: Love, Exaltation, Correction

Denomination: Pentecostal

Becky And I Bought A House In 2000. We Got It ...

Contributed by Randy Bennett on Nov 22, 2004

Becky and I bought a house in 2000. We got it for a really good price – because it was in need of a lot of work! We put a lot of time and energy into that house. We remodeled the kitchen, the baby’s room, the dining room, the bathroom, we put in a furnace, we tore out two old chimneys, we put on a ...read more

Tags: Discipleship, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

John 14:15 "If You Love Me, You Will Obey What I ...

Contributed by Steven Cannon on Jan 15, 2007

John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- John 14:17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[061]. A Message From A Poem – Do You Love Me More Than These?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

[061]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE? How sound is our love? How enduring is it? How sturdy is it – does it flicker on and off like some lights? Is your love for the Lord, your Saviour, prepared to go to a martyr’s death? The inspiration for this poem came from that ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:4-5, 1 John 4:19, John 21:15-17

Tags: Love, Friendship, Poetry, Poem, First Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[062a]. A Message From A Poem – Does Suffering Cancel Out A God Of Love?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

[062A]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DOES SUFFERING CANCEL OUT A GOD OF LOVE? THE POEM AS IT IS WILL NOT FIT IN THE ILLUSTRATION SPACE AVAILABLE. I HAVE HAD TO SPLIT IT INTO THREE PARTS. THIS IS THE FIRST PART PART 1 INTRODUCTION TO THIS POEM This is my most serious poem because it addresses ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:6-7, John 3:16, Exodus 34:6-7

Tags: Comfort, Suffering, Tragedy, God Of Comfort, God Of Love, Hurt, Pain, Love, Compassion  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[062b]. A Message From A Poem – Does Suffering Cancel Out A God Of Love?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

[062B]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DOES SUFFERING CANCEL OUT A GOD OF LOVE? THE POEM AS IT IS WILL NOT FIT IN THE ILLUSTRATION SPACE AVAILABLE. I HAVE SPLIT IT INTO THREE PARTS. THIS IS THE SECOND PART THE INTRODUCTION FOR THE POEM IS IN PART 1. PART 2 SECTION B - PART 1 (THE CHRISTIAN ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:6-7, John 3:16, Exodus 34:6-7

Tags: Hurt, Pain, Love, Compassion, Comfort, Suffering, Tragedy, God Of Comfort, God Of Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational