In Sermon Illustrations: "Matthew"

If It Is Impossible It Will Take A Little Longer

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Aug 7, 2023

The Navy branch ... of the service ... called the Seabees ... had a unique slogan ... during World War II, (Pause) If its difficult, ... it will take a day or two. If its impossible, ... it will take a little longer. (Pause) It seems to me ... there are a number of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52

Tags: Difficult, Impossible, Truths

Denomination: Anglican

Come And See

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Aug 22, 2023

Come and See ~ When was the day you received the invitation? Come and see. Come and see. When was the day you heard the Master’s voice? When was the day you made Christ your choice? When was the day you allowed the Savior in? When was the day you were cleansed from sin? That was the day He ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28, John 4:29

Tags: Christ, Invitation, Knowing God

Denomination: Baptist

Traveling With A Pack?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Aug 30, 2023

I have several different pairs of glasses. I really focus on one pair. A rose colored pair of glasses makes everything appear rosy. Everything you see will be rosy as we have a rose filter. Years ago I read about a pet dog. The little girl bottle fed the puppy and raised it to adult ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:25-26, Romans 12:2

Tags: Change, Paradigm, Attitudes

Denomination: Assembly Of God

A Funny Letter To God!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 5, 2023

A little boy named Johnny wrote a letter to God asking for one hundred dollars. The local post office didn't know where to send the letter, so they sent it to the White House. The President had a secretary that saw the letter and so she sent the little boy five dollars, thinking that would ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-7, James 4:1-2

Tags: Pastors, Tithing, Churches, Children, God, Prayer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Thief On The Cross - Alistair Begg

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 19, 2023

If you were to die tonight and you were getting entry into heaven, what would you say? If you answer that, and if I answer it in the first person, we've immediately gone wrong. “Because I believed”, “Because I have faith”, “Because I am his”. Loved ones the only proper answer is in the third ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:33-44, Luke 23:32-43

Tags: Pride, Arrogance, Thief On The Cross, Alistair Begg, Easter, Good Friday, Crucifixion, Salvation, Cross  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Star In The East

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 19, 2023

On November 28 of this year, I was driving west from my house at about 7 in the evening. It was quite dark already. As I looked through the windshield of my vehicle, I saw a line in the sky. A bright white line. Because it was so far away, this line in the sky must’ve been half a kilometre long. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-18, Numbers 24:17

Tags: Birth Of Jesus, Wiseman, Christmas, Bethlehem, Magi, Star  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Rapture Why God Doesn't Reveal When

Contributed by Raymond Petzholt on Feb 26, 2024

When I and my sister were young children we use to regularly have babysitters when our parents went out in the evenings. Some of the babysitters were fun! Some weren’t. The fun ones were the ones that let us play wild games that normally our parents would never let us do in the house if ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:32, Matthew 24:36

Tags: Second Coming, Rapture, Judgment

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Call God A Liar With Joy

Contributed by John Allen on Mar 11, 2024

There is a sin committed by many Bible-believing Christians, a sin that borders on the curse of Revelation 22:19, taking away from the words of the Bible. More specifically, it is a common sin of the enemy: Redefining the words of Scripture. What word? Joy. A well-meaning Christian says, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4, Matthew 13:44

Tags: Happiness, Joy

Trapped

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 15, 2024

Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. When my son was practicing with his little league baseball team there was a practice field. The practice field was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:18, Galatians 5:7

Tags: Change, Trapped

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Praying Lost Friends Into The Kingdom Of God

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 11, 2024

Some years ago a young girl was very sick and not expected to recover. Because of her love for Jesus, she was troubled that she had not been able to do more for Him in her short life. Her pastor suggested that she make a list of people in their little town who needed Christ and pray that they might ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8

Tags: Evangelism, Faith, Unsaved, Death, Children, Heaven, Missions, Prayer, Lost  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You've Been Summoned

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Apr 18, 2024

A couple of years ago I had the honor of serving on a jury. It was by no means a noteworthy trial but it was important to the people involved. I felt a great deal of responsibility as the jury deliberated and eventually arrived at a verdict. We all wanted to make the right, fair and just decision ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Witness, Testimony, Witnessing, Great Commission, Evangelism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Church Matters

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 1, 2024

Why do people in churches seem like cheerful, brainless tourists on a packaged tour of the Absolute? The tourists are having coffee and doughnuts on Deck C. Presumably someone is minding the ship, correcting the course, avoiding icebergs and shoals, fueling the engines, watching the radar screen, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 4:11-13

Tags: Eternity, Church, Mission

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Of Herods And Kings

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 4, 2024

"Every Herod dies and comes alone to stand before the Lamb upon the Throne." ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:19-20, Revelation 5:1-8

Tags: Power, Politics, Sovereignty, Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From East To West

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 12, 2024

How far is the east from the west? Where does the east end and the west begin? A certain state once had this slogan: "Where the west begins and the tall corn grows." The last part of the slogan is true; the first is not. No one knows where the west begins or where it ends. It's all a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:12, Matthew 6:9-15

Tags: Forgiveness, Satan, Devil, Spiritual Warfare, Guilt, Condemnation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God With Us

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Dec 2, 2024

I started out by describing a song that I had been singing all week long. (I used Leaning on the Everlasting Arms but you can use any song). I spent about 5 - 7 minutes giving all the details of the song. The author, the beat, where it is used at, who sung the song, etc. I keep the title ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:23, Philippians 2:5-11

Tags: Emmanuel, Immanuel, God With Us

Denomination: Church Of God

The Ocean Of Understanding Awaits

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Dec 22, 2024

Many saved by grace through faith in Christ wait on the shore of a great ocean. For them great opportunities to serve, encounter life change, and gain deeper understanding of God and their fellow man awaits. All ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33, Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Faith, Belief, Understanding, Ocean, Depth, Kingdom Of God, Shore  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Seeing The Light, Reflecting The Light.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jan 24, 2025

Did anyone else see the comet during the week, Comet Atlas 3G? Janaki and I went out to Titahi Bay to see it, thankfully we had another dad and daughter park near us who could point it out, otherwise we might not have seen it. The power of their witness was in instructing us where to look. ...read more

Scripture: John 8:12, Matthew 5:14-16

Tags: Witness, Testimony, Salt, Salt And Light, The Light Of God, The Light Of The World, Reflecting Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Taxes And More Taxes

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

A businessman on his deathbed called his good friend and said, "Luigi, I want you to promise me that when I die you will have my remains cremated." "And what," his friend asked, "do you want me to do with your ashes?" The businessman said, "Just put them in an ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:21, Romans 13:6-7

Tags: Government, Taxes, Irs

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Blind Bartimaeus

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

John MacArthur points out two pieces of information that help set the context for today’s narrative. i. Before modern medicine, many babies would become blind from eye infection. Venereal diseases also cause infants to go blind, which is why perhaps the disciples asked whose fault it is if a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:29-34, Mark 10:46-52

Tags: Healing, Blind, Bartimaeus

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Children's Faith

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

"Children’s Letters to God" series, actual authentic letters written by kids to God: "Dear God, I read the Bible. What does ’begat’ mean? Nobody will tell me. Love, Alison." "Dear God, did you mean for the giraffe to look like that or was it an accident?" - ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11, Matthew 18:3

Tags: Childlike Faith, Questions

Denomination: Independent/Bible