Matthew 4:12-12:23 Sermon Illustrations, Free Preaching Ideas on Matthew 4:12-12:23

[083]. A Message From A Poem – For Men - The Three Cs

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 21, 2025

| 181 views

[083]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR MEN - THE THREE Cs There are 9 poems in this series. This poem is part of a Trilogy - three sets of three. The first set is addressed to MEN, the second to ALL CHRISTIANS and the third is SPECIFIC. This is the second one in the first set - FOR MEN. ALL ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:37, Romans 13:11-12, 2 Peter 1:13, Romans 12:1

Tags: The Flesh, Be Awake, The Old Nature, Compromise, Carnality, Complacency, Poetry, Poem, Take A Stand (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[088]. A Poem Message – Specific – For Young Christians - The Three Ls

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 25, 2025

| 134 views

[088]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – SPECIFIC – FOR YOUNG CHRISTIANS - THE THREE Ls There are 9 poems in this Trilogy series. This poem is part of a Trilogy - three sets of three. The first set is addressed to MEN, the second to ALL CHRISTIANS and the third is SPECIFIC. This is the first one in ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:14, 1 John 4:19, 1 John 5:2, Matthew 11:28-29, Proverbs 1:33 (view more) (view less)

Tags: Love, Listen, Learn

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[094]. A Message From A Poem – Forgetting The Past, Look Ahead

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 1, 2025

| 193 views

[094]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FORGETTING THE PAST, LOOK AHEAD Someone posted to a Christian forum I was on, a four line stanza once, that in effect said that you can not go back and fix the past, i.e. to go back and alter the beginning but you can start from here and make a brand new end. I ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16, Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Regret, Hope, Past, End, Failure, Start, Look Ahead (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[097]. A Message From A Poem – Gates Of Hesitation

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 3, 2025

based on 1 rating

| 294 views

[097]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GATES OF HESITATION This poem tells a story. Jesus told His listeners something – {{Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate for THE GATE IS WIDE and the way is broad that leads to destruction and many are those who enter by it, for THE GATE IS SMALL and the way ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:21, Matthew 12:30, Psalm 1:1-6, Matthew 7:13-14

Tags: Two Ways, Broad Gate, Gates, Destruction, Hesitation, Narrow Gate (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Return Good For Evil - Martin Luther King

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on May 11, 2025

| 268 views

Jesus doesn’t just ask us to avoid revenge—he calls us to actively do good in return. Not because the other person deserves it, but because he deserves our obedience. And we’ve seen it lived out—not just in Bible times, but in our own history. Perhaps one of the clearest modern examples is Dr. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42

Tags: Evil, Martin Luther, Doing Good

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Lazy Man Search

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Jun 25, 2025

| 329 views

Humor: The Laziest Man Search - Roll Me Over One hot June day, when the foreman didn’t hear or see any activity, he found his workers in the breakroom soaking up the A/C. He said, “This is the laziest bunch of workers I’ve ever seen. I just don’t know which one of you is the laziest.” He reaches ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23, Ephesians 4:28, John 6:27, Psalm 90:17, 1 Corinthians 3:6-9, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Matthew 9:35-38, Colossians 3:23-24, John 4:35-38 (view more) (view less)

Tags: Humor, Labor, Lazy, Laughter, Zealous, Preacher Jokes, Work Humor (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

How Trust Is Earned

Contributed by John Bright on Jul 11, 2025

| 171 views

Integrity is WHAT I STAND ON: A COMMITMENT TO MY PROMISES Matthew 5:37 “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’” Can you be trusted? There is an old saying: Trust is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:37

Tags: Trust, Integrity

Denomination: Methodist

[137]. A Message From A Poem – If There Is Despair Such As In Virus Times

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 18, 2025

| 97 views

[137]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – IF THERE IS DESPAIR SUCH AS IN VIRUS TIMES This poem was written in the middle of the COVID virus, that terrible scourge from China. Depending on where you lived in the world, you suffered repression from governments, some not too bad, but others were draconian. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 6:7-8, Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Rider On The Fourth Horse, Pestilence, Repression, The Pale Horse, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Covid Virus, Difficult, Hard, Hard Times, Virus, Difficult Times (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[140]. A Message From A Poem – In Despair But Not Alone

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 23, 2025

| 102 views

[140]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – IN DESPAIR BUT NOT ALONE There is some personal sorrow in this poem and some of the poem’s content comes from experience, not a pleasant one. When writing this – a task that was difficult because of the way I used the rhyme scheme – I appealed to the Psalms and my ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 64:2-7, Psalm 38:12, Psalm 141:10, Psalm 35:7-8, Matthew 5:43-44, Psalm 31:4 (view more) (view less)

Tags: Enemies, Nets, Christian Poetry, God Helps Us, Alone, Help, Despair, Net, Snare (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Airport Luggage

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jul 29, 2025

based on 1 rating

| 167 views

You’re late for a connecting flight, hauling heavy bags through a terminal. Finally, you hand them over at the gate. That moment of relief? That’s what Jesus offers. He says, “Let me carry what’s crushing you.” Your weariness does not disqualify you—you are qualified by it. Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28

Tags: Carry, Weary, Heavy, Burdens

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

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

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 9, 2025

| 110 views

[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

[168]. A Message From A Poem – Leave The Future With Your God

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 18, 2025

| 177 views

[168]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – LEAVE THE FUTURE WITH YOUR GOD I think it is true to say that we all run around making plans and trying to resolve problems in the ordering of our lives. We are creatures of this earth, though we are citizens of heaven. (Philippians 3:20). Things in this life ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 56:11, 2 Timothy 3:13, Matthew 6:34, Matthew 6:31, Matthew 6:25, Philippians 3:20 (view more) (view less)

Tags: Do Not Worry, Christian Poems, Future, Anxiety, Worry, Wait On The Lord (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[175]. A Message From A Poem – Bema – The Judgement Seat Of Christ

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 22, 2025

based on 1 rating

| 847 views

[175]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BEMA – THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST What do Christians think of the judgement that is coming for Christians that is outlined in these very telling verses? – {{1 Corinthians 3:11-15 “for no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 John 2:28, Revelation 4:10-11, Matthew 10:42, Revelation 22:12 (view more) (view less)

Tags: Reward, Cup Of Cold Water, Bema, Judgment Seat Of Christ, Judged, Judgment, Shame, Penalty, Judge, Rewards, Ashamed, Heaven (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[184]. Poem – Mirror Mirror On The Wall, Who’s The Worst Of Us All?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 5, 2025

| 189 views

[184]. POEM MESSAGE – MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL, WHO’S THE WORST OF US ALL? This is an unusual poem I think, the name taken from the saying, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of us all?” Here we have a reflective poem and a challenging one in our personal lives. There is often so ...read more

Scripture: James 1:23, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Matthew 9:2, Revelation 12:10

Tags: Mirror Mirror On The Wall, Sin, Reflection, Shame, Disgrace, Mirrors, The Accuser, Forgiveness (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[208]. A Message From A Poem – Our God Is Our Strength

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 21, 2025

| 508 views

[208]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – OUR GOD IS OUR STRENGTH {{Psalm 81:6-10 “I relieved his SHOULDER of the burden. His hands were freed from the basket. Psa. 81:7 YOU CALLED IN TROUBLE, AND I RESCUED YOU. I answered you in THE HIDING PLACE of thunder. I proved you at the waters of Meribah. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6, Psalm 81:16, Psalm 81:6-10

Tags: Finest Wheat, Rescue, Honey, Shoulder, Trouble, Honey From The Rock, Christian Poems, Water, Call (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Praying For Rain

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 27, 2025

| 258 views

A story from drought-stricken Texas captures the boldness of true intercession. For months no rain had fallen. Desperate believers called a Friday-night prayer meeting. One farmer stopped for fuel on the way. In the back seat lay an umbrella. The station attendant mocked, “Why carry that? It ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:24, James 5:17, Matthew 7:7, 1 Kings 18:41, Luke 18:1 (view more) (view less)

Tags: Prayer, Intercession, Providence, Persistence, Expectation, Faith (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Secret Service Christians

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 30, 2025

| 312 views

A man was coming out of church one day. The pastor stood at the door to shake hands and gently pulled him aside. “Brother,” he said, “you need to join the Army of the Lord.” The man smiled, “Pastor, I’m already in the Lord’s army.” “Then how come I only see you at Christmas and Easter?” He ...read more

Scripture: John 2:11, Matthew 5:14-16

Tags: Commitment, Discipleship, Kingdom

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

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

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 3, 2025

| 71 views

[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

The Mansion Builder

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 7, 2025

| 104 views

A story is told of a believer who arrived in heaven and was greeted by an angel who offered to show him his new home. They walked down golden streets lined with breathtaking mansions. Each home seemed larger and brighter than the one before—until they reached a small, simple cottage at the end of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21, Revelation 22:12, 1 Timothy 6:18-19, Luke 12:33-34

Tags: Eternity, Stewardship, Faithfulness, Generosity

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist