In Sermon Illustrations: "Malachi 4 1 2a"

When A Thief Was Surprised At Church!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 13, 2023

When I was pastoring in Texas, something strange happened one Christmas that I will never stop laughing about. Because it was a Christmas holiday, we were at home with our family taking a break from our normal ministry schedule. We did not go to the church campus for the weekend. But, while we ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:10-11, Proverbs 3:9-10, 1 Timothy 6:10, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Tags: Stealing, Surprises, Tithing, Robbing God, Pastors, Church, Giving, Humor  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Illustration Of Giving

Contributed by John Oscar on Jan 15, 2017

A family came home from church one Sunday and after they had lunch they sent their 6-year-old son off to play. After awhile, his mother realized that they hadn’t heard much from him, which any parent knows is a recipe for disaster. The mother got up from her recliner and walked to the child's ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, Malachi 3:6-12

Tags: Faith, Offering, Giving, Tithe Or Give, Tithes And Offering  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

[228]. A Message From A Poem - Raptured To The Lord

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 15, 2025

[228]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - RAPTURED TO THE LORD The Rapture is the hope of the Church. The bible calls it this – {{Titus 2:13 “looking for THE BLESSED HOPE and THE APPEARING OF THE GLORY OF OUR GREAT GOD and Saviour, Christ Jesus.”}} That verse looks at the two future comings, the Rapture ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 4:2, 2 Peter 1:19, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Titus 2:13, Revelation 4:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Trumpet Sound, Rapture, The Morning Star, Christian Poems, The Sun Of Righteousness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[039] A Message From A Poem – Can We Understand His Goodness?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 28, 2025

[039] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CAN WE UNDERSTAND HIS GOODNESS? This poem is one of my absolute top favourites. It just flowed and I attribute it to the Lord’s presence when I wrote it. I think it came to me late one night as a happy rhythm and flowed quite well so that it was written quicker ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:9-10, 2 Corinthians 6:2, Malachi 3:2-4

Tags: Love, Salvation, Goodness, Poetry, Understand  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When I Think Of Stewardship (Humor)  PRO

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 29, 2008

When I think of stewardship it brings to mind a story about a small Church located in a farming community. The pastor of the church would call on every member of the congregation as part of the annual pledge campaign. The next home he was going to visit was Farmer Brown’s. Now Mr. Brown was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:18, Proverbs 3:9, Hebrews 7:1, Matthew 6:21, Malachi 3:8-12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Giving, Stewardship

Denomination: Anglican

The Refiner's Fire  PRO

Contributed by Tim Harrison on Apr 9, 2002

THE REFINER'S FIRE The story is told of a group of women that met for Bible study. While studying in the book of Malachi, chapter three, they came across verse three which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled the women and they wondered how this statement ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 66:10, Isaiah 48:10, Zechariah 13:9, Malachi 3:3

Tags: Character, God's Image, Refine, Purify, New Creation, Time  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: *other

What Would Jesus Do?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 15, 2020

One woman writes: Our fourth grader celebrated his birthday on crutches, so he couldn’t carry the cupcakes into school without help. I asked our sixth-grader, Noah, to help his brother carry them in. I could,” he said, but I’d prefer not to. ”Spotting a teaching moment, my husband asked Noah, What ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 4:2, Ephesians 4:31, Ephesians 3:17, Galatians 5:23

Tags: Kindness, Helpful, Christlike

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I'm Standing For My Marriage  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Mar 7, 2003

I'M STANDING FOR MY MARRIAGE A former Pastor in Seattle, WA wrote a power statement about marriage… I am standing for the healing of my marriage! I won’t give up, give in, give out, or give over till that healing takes place. I made a vow; I said the words; I gave the pledge; I gave a ring; I ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-24, Mark 10:2-12, 1 Corinthians 6:16, Ephesians 5:22-33, 1 Corinthians 11:11, Malachi 2:13-16, Jeremiah 31:31-34  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faithfulness, Conflict, Commitment, Marriage General, Marriage Commitment, Marriage  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Probability Of Prophecy Fulfilled

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Aug 27, 2023

There are 61 major prophecies that Jesus fulfilled. If you can find anyone living or dead, who can fulfil only half of these predictions than I have $1000 for you. The following probabilities are taken from Peter Stoner in Science Speaks to show that coincidence is ruled out by the science of ...read more

Scripture: Micah 5:2, Malachi 3:1, Zechariah 9:9, Psalm 22:16, Zechariah 11:12, Zechariah 11:13, Isaiah 53:7, Isaiah 53:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Fulfilled Prophecy, Prophecy Fulfilled, Probability, Mathematics

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

[054]. A Message From A Poem – Day Is At Hand

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 12, 2025

[054]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DAY IS AT HAND This poem is figurative in a sense. I look at the early glimmer of light in the east as the sun soon will rise. Then it increases until it is full day with the bright shining sun. What the poem does is begin with the harbinger of the dawn in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-2, Isaiah 11:6-9, Romans 8:19-22, 2 Peter 1:19, Malachi 4:1-3  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: The Lion, Poetry, Set Free, Poem, Morning Star, Millennial Kingdom, Sun Of Righteousness, Messiah, Nature, Prophecy, Second Coming, Rapture, The Church  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Crying In The Wilderness -Billy Graham Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 3, 2025

In 1948, ...a remarkable religious phenomenon occurred... in the United States. It began in a tent ... near Hollywood California, ...under the preaching ... of a young evangelist. The crowds were sparse at first ... but as the preaching continued, ... the crowds began to grow. At first, ... ...read more

Scripture: John 1:6-7, John 1:19-21, Malachi 4:5, John 3:30, John 1:25, Deuteronomy 18:15-19  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Baptizing, Evangelism, Witness, Wilderness, Baptize, Crying  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Barna Research On Divorce  PRO

Contributed by Thomas Monroe on Feb 18, 2002

Barna research shows: That divorce in the church is just as commonas outside the church. In the church 33%, outside the church 34%. Also, the south is second in the nation in divorce. The south has a divorce rate of 35%, just behind the west (38%), and leading the Midwest (32%) and ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 2:13-16, Hebrews 13:4, Mark 10:2-12, Matthew 19:4-6, Mark 10:7-8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Marriage, Commitment, Divorce, Faithfulness

Denomination: Baptist

The Parable Of The French Fry

Contributed by Doug Fannon on Sep 23, 2019

Once upon a time, last week, I picked up my son after football and he was hungry. So he and I stop at Burger King to pick up a snack. Well I bought for my son two of his basic food groups, Chicken Nuggets and French Fries. After going through the drive through, tossing in the bag of food in front ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 24:1, Psalm 50:10-15, 2 Corinthians 9:7, Malachi 3:8-10

Tags: Giving, Stewardship, Tithing

Denomination: Baptist

Not A Popular Subject

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Nov 26, 2022

I used to try to teach on giving about once a year and that focused on tithing because I watched my Mom’s life. She never made even enough money to live on, yet God never let her do without. She kept tithing and giving whether she was doing well or doing not so well. You know, the two LEAST ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:10, 2 Corinthians 9:7, Luke 6:38, Proverbs 11:24

Tags: Giving, Alms, Tithing

Denomination: Charismatic

Stewardship Billfold Story - Humor

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 3, 2025

When I think of stewardship it brings to mind a story about a minister who was baptizing his new converts in a farm pond not far from the church. One of the gentlemen that was being baptized was a prosperous farmer known in his community for his tight grip on the dollar. When his name was called ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:8-12, Hebrews 7:1, Matthew 25:18, Matthew 6:21, Proverbs 3:9  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Steward, Stewardship, Baptism, Money

Denomination: Anglican

Touched By A Five Year Old

Contributed by John Gullick on Aug 15, 2017

On July 27th In Indiana a policeman, Lieut Aaron Allen was shot by a man he was trying to help. He was killed and he had a five year old son. Not long after police including the police chief drove cars 1- 2 hours down highway 31 in Indiana and arrived in a town with their sirens going. They ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:15-19

Tags: Thankfulness, Love

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Misfit In This World !!!

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Mar 28, 2015

A young girl who had recently become a Christian asked the famous Baptist Preacher Charles Spurgeon…”What friends do I need to give-up now?" The Prince of Preachers replied "Hey, you do not have to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:4

Tags: Age, Friendship New Friends, Assuage

Denomination: *other

The Lights Along The Shore

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Jul 9, 2017

The Lights Along the Shore To me, lighthouses are among the most charming of man-made structures. Their unique and essential purpose makes each one a thing of exquisite beauty. Seafarers seeking a haven on a stormy night find a beam from the shore as precious as life itself. Perhaps Philip ...read more

Scripture: John 1:3-7, John 8:12, Matthew 5:14-16, 2 Peter 1:19, Revelation 22:5, John 3:19-21, Malachi 4:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Harbor, Light And Darkness, Navigation, Light, Sea  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Deadly ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

DEADLY PROFESSION Every year, between 300 and 400 doctors take their own lives (roughly one per day). No other profession has a higher suicide rate. And, in sharp contrast to the general population where male suicides outnumber female suicides 4 to 1, the rate among male and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-5

Tags: Stress

Giving Up The World

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 9, 2011

GIVING UP THE WORLD A man once said to D. L. Moody, "Now that I am converted, must I give up to the world?" "No," answered the evangelist, "you need not give up the world; if you give a ringing testimony for the Son of God the world will give you up pretty quick. They ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17

Tags: Christian Witness