In Sermon Illustrations: "Matthew 16:27-30"

Bridesmaids - Apperiances Can Be Deciving

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 19, 2025

Beloved ... Appearances can be deceiving. Suppose ... we were to ask the ten Bridesmaids ... to stand in front of us ... in no particular order. Could you pick out the five foolish ones? The Answer of course is: No, ... and neither could I. We could argue about it ... we could all agree, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Tags: Foolish, Bridesmaids, Foolishness

Denomination: Anglican

Your Light And Life Can Make A Difference - Teddy Stallard Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 19, 2025

Miss Thompson taught Teddy Stallard in the fourth grade. He was A slow, ... unkempt student, ... a loner ...shunned by his classmates. The previous year his mother died, ... and what little motivation for school ... he may have once had ...was now gone. Miss Thompson ... did not particularly ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Tags: Oil, Mother, Light, Lamp

Denomination: Anglican

Ten Dollars Is Ten Dollars

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 28, 2025

A man named Stumpy illustrates how money affects people. Stumpy and his wife Martha went to the state fair every year and every year when Stumpy saw the antique bi-plane he would say, “Martha, I’d like to ride in that airplane.” Martha always replied, “I know Stumpy, but that airplane ride costs ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:24-28

Tags: Money, Stewardship

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Church

Contributed by Mitchell Leonard on Jan 16, 2026

“The Church” “You don’t have to agree with me today. You don’t have to like me and what I have to say. You can go home ANGRY, but I really hope that you can See that I LOVE YOU, and that’s why I’ve shown you God’s plan. It’s a CHURCH, a group of BELIEVERS, that honor and glorify JESUS It’s NOT ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Tags: The Church, Glorifying God

Denomination: Baptist

Grass On Your Path

Contributed by David Dunn on Jan 21, 2026

Prayer sharpens perception. It tunes the heart so you sense danger before it speaks. John Bunyan once wrote, “Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.” Both can’t thrive in the same heart. Early African believers understood this. Each had a path ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:41

Tags: Prayer, Vigilance

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Benediction

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 3, 2026

May you know the warmth of God’s loving embrace May you know the joy of God’s ever-presence May you know the peace of God’s gentle whisper May you know the strength of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:20

Tags: Peace, Joy, Strength, God's Presence

Denomination: Methodist

[237 J] [10]. A Message From A Poem - Scenes From The Gospels - Part 10

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Dec 12, 2025

[237 J] [10]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - SCENES FROM THE GOSPELS - PART 10 They are here to enjoy! Scenes from the Gospels are very special to me. I love them. They have taken a lot of effort, and many, many months revision to get them as correct as possible with the difficult word limitations. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:1-4, Matthew 13:10-13, Luke 4:38-39, Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 10:29-37, Matthew 3:7, Matthew 12:33-37, Matthew 11:7-15  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Herod The Edomite, Murderer, The Magi, The Good Samaritan, The Wise Men, Brood Of Vipers, Mother In Law Of Peter, Pharisees, Sadducees, John The Baptist, Levite, Fever, Jesus Heals, Wilderness, Herod  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

To Risk  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 25, 2001

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool To weep is to risk appearing sentimental To reach out for another is to risk involvement To expose feelings is to risk exposing, your true self To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss To love is to risk not being loved in ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 24:1-13, Matthew 25:14-30, Matthew 25:31-46

Tags: Fear And Worry, Doubt, Endurance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Etiquette Nowadays Often Demands Of A Christian ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 4, 2002

“Etiquette nowadays often demands of a Christian that he should not ’intrude’ his religion on company. Out with such etiquette! It is the etiquette of hell! True courtesy to my fellow’s soul makes me speak to him, if I believe that his soul is in danger. How many, my dear friend, were you ever the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-17, Matthew 28:18-20, Matthew 20:1-16

Tags: Great Commission, Church Purpose Of, Evangelism Fear Of

Although Douglas Macarthur Graduated From West ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Nov 7, 2002

"Although Douglas MacArthur graduated from West Point at the top of his class, he continued to prepare himself for service to his country. He studied every military textbook he could get his hands on. He visited battlefields and personally reviewed the tactics which the victors and the losers ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:11-14, Matthew 25:1-13, Matthew 25:1-13

Tags: Discipleship, Second Coming

Denomination: United Methodist

A Sunday School Teacher Told Her Class Of 2nd ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Aug 2, 2004

A Sunday School teacher told her class of 2nd graders the story found in Luke 16 of the Rich man and Lazarus. How that when they were here upon the earth the rich man had everything that money could buy and poor Lazarus had to beg for mere crumbs. But when they died, the rich man due to his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24, Matthew 16:24, Luke 16:19-31

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Christian Church

No Contest  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 28, 2004

NO CONTEST When we get to heaven, there will be no contest to see who was the most deserving of God’s grace because no one deserves it. There will only be one contest in heaven. When we look back and see what we were before, when we see the pit from which he rescued us, when we recall how ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16, Galatians 2:20-21, Matthew 20:1-16

Tags: Promises Of God, Parable Vineyard, Grace

If I Don't Love This One...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

"IF I DON’T LOVE THIS ONE..." There was a little girl who had a very large collection of dolls heaped on her bed. A guest in her room one day asked herd "Do you love dolls" Then, with tender loving care, she spread out the whole collection for the guest to inspect and admire. The guest asked her, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-47, Matthew 5:38-48, Micah 5:2-5

Tags: Christian Love

Zordak - The Resurrection

Contributed by Samuel Young on Apr 7, 2021

I am Zordak, Jesus’ guardian angel. I want to tell you the story of Jesus. Jesus had died and laid in the grave. I was very sad. There were one hundred Roman soldiers and whole army of evil angels guarding the grave. But Sunday morning is coming… It was still dark. The dew was still on the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:62-66, Matthew 28:2, Luke 24:1-44

Tags: Easter, Resurrection

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Soul

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 11, 2023

John Ortberg describes it this way, “We each have an outer life and an inner one. My outer self is the public, visible me. My accomplishments, my work, and my reputation lie there. But inside is my soul that part of me that speaks in silence to others but yells at me. It's the inside stuff of ...read more

Scripture: John 10:10, Matthew 16:26, Matthew 22:37

Tags: Spiritual Growth, Soul Care, Inner Health

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Silent Night Holy Night

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Dec 20, 2023

"Silent Night" is one of the most beloved Christmas carols, known for its serene and tranquil melody. The story behind the song begins in the small Austrian village of Oberndorf bei Salzburg in 1818. The lyrics were written by Joseph Mohr, a young priest, and the music was composed by ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:16-25, Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 2:4-20

Tags: Silent Night Holy Night, Stille Nacht, Christmas, Christmas Season, Carols, Birth Of Jesus Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Swallowed By A Whale - The Sign Of Jonah

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 13, 2025

Jonah was in the belly of a great fish for 3 days and 3 nights! A kayaker from Chile was in the mouth of a Humpback whale for about 3 seconds - before being spit out! The story was reported by CNN (February 13, 2025) A humpback whale briefly swallowed a 24-year-old kayaker last Saturday during ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:17, Matthew 12:39, Matthew 12:40

Tags: Bible, Jonah, Miracles, Rejection, Escape, Signs, Reliability Of Scripture  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[155]. A Message From A Poem – Jesus Elevated In The Midst

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 6, 2025

[155]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JESUS ELEVATED IN THE MIDST Not I, but Christ. That is how it ought to be. That is the emphasis we need to have in our living and ministry. I am nothing without my Lord. If I think I am something I am deluded. If I think the ability is mine I am a disgrace. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:15, Matthew 21:9, Galatians 6:3

Tags: Lifted Up, Christian Poems, Jesus Elevated, Ride On A Donkey, Hosanna, Palm Sunday, Worthy Is The Lamb, Jesus In The Midst  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[159]. A Message From A Poem – Good Seed In The Thorny Ground

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 9, 2025

[159]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GOOD SEED IN THE THORNY GROUND This poem was written for a recent message in a series I am currently doing on the Parables of the Kingdom from Matthew 13. It relates to the third soil type in the parable known as The Sower, {{Matthew 13:22 “The one on whom seed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:31-34, Ephesians 5:11, Matthew 13:22

Tags: Thorny Ground, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Choked, Riches, Priorities, Good Seed, Parable Of The Sower, Worries  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[216]. A Message From A Poem - Place The Lord Always In Your Focus

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 3, 2025

[216]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - PLACE THE LORD ALWAYS IN YOUR FOCUS Placing the Lord always in your focus means having Him as THE priority in your life. So often we ask Jesus to share our priorities but it must not be like that. We have many priorities over our lifetimes. Sometimes work must ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20, Matthew 22:37, Matthew 6:33

Tags: Priority, Christian Poems, Jesus Is Number 1, Priorities, Focus, First  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational