In Sermon Illustrations: "Loving Others"

On Suffering  PRO

Contributed by David Tack on Jan 11, 2012

ON SUFFERING "It is a very difficult matter to understand when God permits affliction or loss to come into our lives. Our humanity wants to cry out, "Why me God? I love you and faithfully serve you. Why did you permit this sorrow to happen to me?" . . . one reason for affliction is to make us into ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:17

Tags: Suffering Joy In

Denomination: Baptist

Abraham Lincoln's Call To A National Day Of Prayer

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 17, 2023

I love how President Abraham Lincoln pointed out to Americans that our pride can cause our nation to suffer: “We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3, 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Repentance, Nation, Fasting, Prayer, Revival  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Rich Man And The Mirror

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 10, 2024

One day a certain old, rich man of a miserable disposition visited a rabbi, who took the rich man by the hand and led him to a window. He said, "Look out there my wealthy friend." The rich man looked into the street. "What do you see"? asked the rabbi. "I see men, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10

Tags: Gold, Selfishness, Silver, Money, Wealth, Greed, Riches  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Are We Teaching?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Aug 22, 2025

WHAT ARE WE TEACHING OTHERS? I recently heard the story of a German shepherd that was expecting little ones. She ran out in front of a car and injured her back legs. The doctor said she would heal but it would take a long time. The dog had her litter of puppies. When their eyes were open, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13

Tags: Teach, Example

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Not Afraid To Offend God

Contributed by Jw Worcester on Feb 8, 2021

The true “Lord’s Prayer” is John 17, also sometimes called the High Priestly Prayer. In verses 1 – 20 Jesus had already prayed for Himself and His mission. He also prayed for His disciples. Jesus prayed this prayer before Jesus and the disciples left for the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: John 17:22, John 17:24

Tags: Grieve, Knowing Jesus

Five Finger ...

Contributed by John Browning on Jan 31, 2009

Five Finger Prayer This is so neat. I had never heard this before. This is beautiful - and it is surely worth making the 5 finger prayer a part of our lives. 1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1-13

Tags: Prayer How To

Denomination: Baptist

Following Jesus Is Not Easy. Being Faithful Is ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Feb 23, 2009

Following Jesus is not easy. Being faithful is not easy. Giving and sacrificing. Generosity. Showing kindness and love. Being faithful and consistent. Offering praises and worship even when you don’t feel like it can be a huge sacrifice. You will most likely be rejected at some point. You might ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices

Denomination: Church Of God

Let's Say That I Am At Home, Sitting In My ...

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Jul 7, 2009

Let’s say that I am at home, sitting in my favorite chair and Diana comes in and puts her hands out. In her hands, is a beautiful watch that she says she has purchased for me. Now, what would happen if I yelled at her in anger and said for her to get it away from me and to never do such a thing ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: *other

God Wants To Touch Us. He Knows That We Need His ...

Contributed by Greg Nance on Nov 23, 2009

God wants to touch us. He knows that we need his touch to live. Through Jesus God came here to do just that. Jesus’ death for us, and resurrection for us, and ascension to glory from which he sent the Holy Spirit for us, is God’s gift to us so that we can touch him. Our granddaughter, Brisa, ...read more

Tags: Comfort

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Abound, Then Rebound

Contributed by Danny Presswood on Jan 26, 2009

ABOUND, THEN REBOUND Abundant Love must REBOUND. Rebounding, as every good basketball team knows, is the cutting edge between defense and offense. Whichever team rebounds most successfully becomes the team in control of the ball. The team that rebounds becomes the offense, goes on the move and ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Baptist

Corrie Ten Boom

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Nov 28, 2025

Corrie Ten Boom was a Jew that worked with the underground resistance against Hilter. 6 million died. Corrie, her dad Caspar and sister, BETSY were arrested. They were taken into captivity by the Germans in the Jewish Death Camps. Corrie and her sister were captives. In her book THE HIDING PLACE, ...read more

Scripture: Job 42:10, Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Faith, Plan, Trust

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Proud People Vs Broken People

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 20, 2022

Proud people focus on the failures of others. Broken people are overwhelmed with a sense of their own spiritual need. Proud people have a critical, fault-finding spirit; they look at everyone else’s faults with a microscope but their own with a telescope. Broken people are compassionate; they can ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23, Galatians 2:20

Tags: Brokenness, Humility, Revival, Repentance, Pride  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Reason For Evangelism

Contributed by John Bright on May 15, 2025

The Reason for Evangelism The “WHY” might be the most important missing part for choosing to not share a personal testimony and the Good News with other folks. I recently read the book, “Five Little Words to Change a Life,” by Nick and Rozanne Savoca (2022). Nick shares an experience that uses a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 15:11-32

Tags: Evangelism, Prodigal Son

Denomination: Methodist

Many Of You Here This Morning Know The Story Of ...

Contributed by Joe La Rue on Apr 1, 2008

Many of you here this morning know the story of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, the commander of the American forces in the Philippines when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941 and launched their assault on the Philippine Islands later that day. When all hope of saving the Philippines was ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Thankful People Are Happy People  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 19, 2011

THANKFUL PEOPLE ARE HAPPY PEOPLE I read a news story once of a woman who was getting ready to jump off a 44 story building in New York City. Witnesses said that she did not look like the type of person who would do such a thing. She was very distinguished and well dressed. All the attempts ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5

Tags: Family, Gratitude, Share

[129]. A Message From A Poem – Historic Glimpses - Past, Present, Future

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 12, 2025

[129]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HISTORIC GLIMPSES - PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE The bible is so true that we can count the future as historical. The title of this poem is Historical Glimpses and is in three sections – what is past; what is present; and what is future. God knows the end from the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:35-39

Tags: Jesus, Earth, Future, Past, Historic, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Musical "Fiddler On The Roof,” ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on May 29, 2001

In the musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” Tevye, a man devoted to tradition, finds his thinking challenged when his oldest daughter wants to marry for love, instead of having her marriage arranged by her parents. It had never occurred to him that one would marry for love, and one night he cannot help ...read more

Tags: Marriage Commitment

Denomination: Baptist

Trapping The Ball!" Psalm 25: 16-21 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 4, 2004

“Trapping the Ball!” Psalm 25: 16-21 Key verse(s): 21 “May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.” Integrity! Perhaps it is one of the loneliest words in the English language. For many it creates the image of one standing alone, apart from the others, because just the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 25:16-21

Tags: Character

Denomination: Lutheran

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

2. Gary Thomas, A Friend Of Rick Warren, Noticed ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jan 6, 2004

2. Gary Thomas, a friend of Rick Warren, noticed that many Christians were stuck in a worship rut. He raised the question, “Since God has intentionally made us all different, why should everyone be expected to love (worship) God the same way?”(1) Gary has discovered that for 2,000 years Christians ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:29-30

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Pentecostal