In Sermon Illustrations: "Misery"

A Prayer For A Nation At War  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 19, 2003

A PRAYER FOR A NATION AT WAR Our Father in Heaven, We thank You that You know exactly what is going on here on earth. We sinful human beings constantly find ourselves confused, distressed, and alarmed because of our own behavior and that of others. What miseries result from our sinful ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, War, Prayer Supplication

Denomination: Independent/Bible

January 8, 2004 Usatoday Reported This On Their ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Jan 15, 2004

January 8, 2004 USATODAY reported this on their website: Woman admits she lied about losing $162M lottery ticket CLEVELAND (AP) — A woman admitted through tears Thursday that she lied about losing the winning ticket for a $162 million lottery prize, saying: "I wanted to win so badly for my kids ...read more

Scripture: John 1:16

Tags: Money, Sin Bondage To

Denomination: Evangelical Free

I Have A Friend In Nashville Who Had Two Very ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Adams on Jan 1, 2005

I have a friend in Nashville who had two very different sets of grandparents. On his father’s side, his grandfather had worked in factories, and had spent all his life saving money vigorously. They seldom traveled, though they bought a nice farm and a large house in another state. They stayed ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Hymn: Now Thank We All Our God

Contributed by Christian Cheong on May 26, 2008

HYMN: NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD In 1607, a German named Martin Reinkardht wrote “Now Thank We All Our God”, which has become one of the great hymns of praise. He was in Eilenburg, Saxony, during the Thirty Years’ War. The walled city of Eilenburg saw a steady stream of refugees pour through its ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Thanksgiving, Worship Benefits, Gratitude To God

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Dunant Was Born In 1828 In Switzerland. He Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Aug 1, 2002

Dunant was born in 1828 in Switzerland. He was born of wealthy parents, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, so to speak. He could have lived a life of lazy luxury. Yet, Dunant was a caring, compassionate young man who visited the sick & poor. As a young man he established an organization in ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

In His Book In The Eye Of The Storm, Max Lucado ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeremy Houck on Jun 4, 2005

In his book In the Eye of the Storm, Max Lucado tells about something that happened to him while he was in high school. Every year, he and his family used to go fishing during spring break. But one year, his brother and his mom couldn’t go, so his dad let him invite a friend. They looked forward ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Following Is A True Easter Story By Roger ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The following is a true Easter story by Roger Hawthorne One of the first Easters of my ministerial career began with a blizzard. I was still a student pastor, and we had arranged to have an ordained pastor come to serve communion. There was a question if he would be able to make it through the ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will

Inoculations From The Great Physician

Contributed by Sam Higgs on Sep 27, 2011

INOCULATIONS FROM THE GREAT PHYSICIAN The summer of 1980 was a very different summer for many of us. Most had just graduated High School and were away from home for the first time. Up till this time we had chosen our own clothing and color schemes, but that was a distant memory to us now. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18

Tags: War

Denomination: Baptist

The Deceitful World We Live In

Contributed by Paul Robinson on Mar 7, 2023

In 1939, Hollywood gave the world "The Wizard of Oz." Since then, the movie has become a classic. It tells the story of Dorothy, who is whisked away to the land of Oz, where she meets three friends, faces a wicked witch, and must find how to return home. The movie is filled with colorful ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:2-3

Tags: Deceit, The World

Denomination: Baptist

[211]. A Message From A Poem – Panoramic View From The Pinnacle (Part 1)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 24, 2025

[211]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – PANORAMIC VIEW FROM THE PINNACLE (PART 1) NOTE: When I went to post this it could not be sent because it said the whole thing was too long. Therefore I had to split it into two Parts.. This is Part 1 and Part 2 will follow after this. This is a longer poem. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 16:9, Hebrews 4:13

Tags: Reprobates, Christian Poems, Pinnacle Of A Rock, Tech Companies, Faith Way, World System, Wickedness, Delusion, Reprobate, Humanism, Allegory, Images  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Two Guys From Prince George Die And Wake Up In ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on May 28, 2003

Two guys from Prince George die and wake up in hell. The next day the devil stops in to check on them and sees them dressed in parkas, mittens and toques warming themselves around the fire. The devil asks them, "What are you doing? Isn’t it hot enough for you?" The two guys reply, "Well, you ...read more

Tags: Hell

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Name Auschwitz Brings Terror And Grief To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The name AUSCHWITZ brings terror and grief to the hearts of many people. It is the sight of an infamous NAZI DEATH CAMP where 4 million Jews died during World War II. A half-ton of hair is still PRESERVED. The SHOWERS that once sprayed POISON GAS still stand. Maximillian Kolbe, a Franciscan priest ...read more

Tags: Cross Agony

Billy Graham's Story About An African Mother Who ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 1, 2009

Billy Graham’s Story About An African Mother Who Prayed Let me share this story to show you the position we have with the Lord in prayer. Billy Graham shares this story of an African mother who came to Christ and grew in her commitment and devotion to the Lord. She was a woman that prayed all the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:2

Tags: Prayer General

Adversity

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.” - Mary Anne Radmacher Sometimes life deals us a situation so adverse, a loss so great, we feel unable to meet the challenge of facing day after day in our pain and loss. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5

Tags: Adversity, Courage, Perserverance, Trials

Denomination: Charismatic

A Pound Of The Eternal

Contributed by David Parks on Jan 14, 2022

A Pound Of The Eternal David E. Parks One of the most compelling quotes I have ever read comes from a book by Charles Swindoll, Improving Your Serve: The Art of Unselfish Living. Out of the hundreds of books that I have read over the decades, I know of no quote that has as frequently returned to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33

Tags: Faithfulness, Laodicea, Commitment

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Lovely Words Of Praise And Faith Found In The ...  PRO

Contributed by Garth Wehrfritz- Hanson on Sep 29, 2006

The lovely words of praise and faith found in the hymn Now Thank We All Our God would lead us to believe that this hymn was written during a time of victory. Quite the opposite was the case. Martin Rinkart, a Lutheran pastor in Eilenburg, Germany, wrote the hymn during the Thirty Year War which ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

In 1 John 4:18, We Are Assured That Love Defeats ...

Contributed by Kelly Mitchell on Jan 10, 2013

In 1 John 4:18, we are assured that Love defeats fear. That’s good news. But be careful not to read that God’s Love, and God’s Love alone drives out fear. It can. It does. However, some things are very difficult to fight alone. Go back and read verse 12 of Chapter 4 as well. There we are ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:18

Tags: Fear And Worry, Finding Fulfillment, Hardship Of Life, Outreach, Obedience, Missions, Servanthood, Affliction, Opportunity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Oppress The Poor

Contributed by James Dina on Nov 16, 2020

DON'T OPPRESS THE POOR "A poor man that oppresses the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food." (Proverbs 28:3) Anyone who oppress the poor reproach the Almighty God that creates the poor but those that honor Him has mercy on the poor (Proverbs 14:31). It is a grievous ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 28:3, Proverbs 28:27

Tags: Love, Poor, Rain, Oppression

Denomination: Pentecostal

[062c]. A Message From A Poem – Does Suffering Cancel Out A God Of Love?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

[062C]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DOES SUFFERING CANCEL OUT A GOD OF LOVE? THE POEM AS IT IS WILL NOT FIT IN THE ILLUSTRATION SPACE AVAILABLE. I HAVE HAD TO SPLIT IT INTO THREE PARTS. THIS IS THE THIRD PART. THE INTRODUCTION FOR THE POEM IS IN PART 1. PART 3 SECTION C - PART 1 (GOD ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:6-7, John 3:16, Exodus 34:6-7

Tags: Tragedy, God Of Comfort, God Of Love, Pain, Love, Christ, Compassion, Comfort, Suffering, Hurt  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 30, 2025

[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