In Sermon Illustrations: "My Sheep"

Before The Water

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 15, 2018

Scott Harrison, founder of charity:water, shares this story: "I recently had the chance to visit charity:water's very first project. It was a well that we had funded on my thirty-first birthday and then built in the IDP camp of Bobi, Uganda. "The sprawling camp of 31,000 people had cleared out, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Tags: Easter, Crucifixion, Birth Of Christ, Christmas, Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Churches Closed Due To Lack Of Power!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 19, 2022

Bill Crowder gives us a greatIllustration of Need for the Power of the Holy Spirit: "The first winter that my wife Marlene and I were married was marked by severe blizzards. I can vividly remember one Sunday when we awoke to find that the electricity had been knocked out by an ice storm. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:11

Tags: Holy Spirit, Power, Acts 2, Church

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

New Church Treasurer

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 4, 2022

The day the old church treasurer resigned, the church asked the local grain elevator manager to take the position. He agreed under 2 conditions: 1. No treasurer’s report would be given for the first year 2. No questions be asked about finances during that year The people were surprised but finally ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:10

Tags: Giving, Tithing, Money

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Rescued Twice

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 23, 2022

A wealthy English family once invited friends to spend some time at their beautiful estate. The happy gathering was almost plunged into a terrible tragedy on the first day. When the children went swimming, one of them got into deep water and was drowning. Fortunately, the gardener heard the others ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Galatians 1:4

Tags: Salvation, Miracle, Sovereignty Of God, Rescued

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Have We Learned?

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Mar 6, 2023

What Have We Learned? They shouted with praises, reaching the sky, Pushing and shoving to see Jesus pass by. Crying, “Hosanna, glory to the King!’ He comes to us today, great joy He doth bring." They threw down palm leaves, covering the way, Making a clear path for Him to travel that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11

Tags: The Passover, Ressurrection, Easter, Palm Sunday, Poetry, Holiday  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Get Off The Bench And Get In The Game!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 2, 2023

A well-known coach was once asked, “How much does college football contribute to the national physical-fitness picture?” “Nothing,” the coach replied abruptly. “Why not?” the startled interviewer asked. “Well,” said the coach, “the way I see it, you have 22 men down on the field desperately ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-13

Tags: Service, Ministry, Church, Disciples, Spiritual Gifts, Volunteers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Never Satisfied, More!

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 23, 2024

REMEMBER THE STORY ABOUT THE DOG AND HIS BONE? There was a real smart dog that had searched and searched for just the right bone. After several hours the dog found a real big wonderful bone. He picked the good bone up and started home with his prized bone. On the way home the dog had to pass over a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:18

Tags: Comparison, Satisfied

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Wesley Fetter Lane

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 5, 2025

Each year, on May 24, we remember the date in 1738 when John Wesley had his heart “strangely warmed” in the Bible study on Aldersgate Street. I tend to agree with the folks that claim this is the day Wesley became a Believer and after this, he had a great assurance of his salvation. Have you ever ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-4, Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Power, John Wesley, Aldersgate, Fetter Lane, Holy Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Why The Grasshoppers?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 3, 2026

THERE WAS A SUCCESSFUL CORN FARMER THAT LEARNS ABOUT THE VALLEY. In the mid-west there was a very successful corn farmer. He grew many acres of corn and made his living by selling corn. One spring he plowed, fertilized and planted hundreds of acres of corn. Later that year a swarm of millions of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-5

Tags: Restoration, Valleys

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Peter Cartright And President Andrew Jackson

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jan 12, 2026

President Andrew Jackson is going to hell There was a fiery old revival preacher named Peter Cartwright who was famous for telling it like it is. One day he was preaching near Washington D.C. And the people of the church heard that President Andrew Jackson was coming to visit them. So, they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46, Mark 9:43-48, Matthew 5:22, Luke 16:19-31

Tags: Andrew Jackson, Peter Cartright

Denomination: Anglican

The Anchor That Holds

Contributed by Samuel Shamaun on Jan 20, 2026

A pastor once visited a small fishing village and noticed many boats tied securely at the shore. During a storm, the waves were strong, and the wind was fierce. Some boats drifted dangerously, but others remained steady and unmoved. Curious, the pastor asked a fisherman why some boats stayed safe ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:19

Tags: Faith, Hope

Denomination: Pentecostal

God's Timing Is Perfect

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 24, 2026

So Peter wants them to remember something that is very important, something we tend to forget: God’s timing is perfect! Amen? This can be hard for us to comprehend because we are the created and God is the Creator. The created can never fully understand the Creator. I have begun experimenting ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:8-9, Job 33:4, Psalm 139:14

Tags: Creator, God's Timing

Denomination: Methodist

[338]. A Message From A Poem - What Of Israel The Nation?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 18, 2026

[338]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WHAT OF ISRAEL THE NATION? Israel will always be a thorn in the side of haters and detractors and those who dismiss the great, unfulfilled promises for Israel found in scripture. In fact the Old Testament prophetic books are so full of prophecy such as the coming ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 12:10-11, Jeremiah 31:31-33, Romans 11:27, Romans 11:25-27, Romans 11:11-12, Genesis 12:2-3  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Israel, The New Covenant, The Jews, Restoration Of Israel, Curse Israel And Be Cursed, Covenant With Israel, Persecution Of The Jews, Christian Poems, Haters Of Israel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Metamorphosis  PRO

Contributed by Paul Dietz on Aug 16, 2008

METAMORPHOSIS I can recall how taken back I was, in my fourth grade science class, when I first became aware of this almost magical phenomena of an ugly, old caterpillar becoming a beautiful butterfly. Of course at that age I had a very hard time understanding the whole biological time-clock thing ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: *other

The Emperor And The Seed  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 18, 2002

THE EMPEROR AND THE SEED Once there was an emperor in the Far East who was growing old and knew it was coming time to choose his successor. Instead of choosing one of his assistants or one of his own children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young people in the kingdom ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:10

Tags: Faith, Fear, Courage, Truth, Humility, Hypocrisy, Honesty, Leadership, Risk, Patience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Christmas Giving To Others

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Ann Voskamp writes, “It’s almost a dozen years now, nothing under the Christmas tree here. Strange, the way children teach adults. It started at bedtime one year, I do remember that. Smoothing back hair, kissing foreheads, pulling up the blankets over my kids. Tucking them in. Prayers said all in a ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:4

Tags: Christmas, Gift Giving

Denomination: Methodist

Rain On The Rocks

Contributed by Jack Kale on Sep 30, 2017

Rain on the Rocks We were on the last morning of a five day float down the Buffalo River in Arkansas. Our family joined another for the second annual Kale-Parker river trip. Everyone had their own boat and each was packed with supplies ranging from coolers, cook-wear, clothes, fishing gear, and ...read more

Tags: Beauty, Color, Rain, Rocks, Stones  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: *other

God's Preservation Of His People Through Two Dreams

Contributed by Richard Tow on Aug 1, 2022

The amazing story is told by the historian Josephus.xxxviii When Alexander began his campaign against Phoenicia, he sent messengers to Juddua, the high priest in Jerusalem, “demanding aid from the Jews and the payment of the tribute which they used to pay to the King of Persia.”xxxix Not wanting to ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 9:1-8, Romans 8:28, 1 Peter 5:7

Tags: Faith, Protection, Jerusalem, Obedience, Favor, Deliverance, Dream, Alexander The Great  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

How To Receive The Lord's Righteousness - A Terrific Trade

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 29, 2025

This is David's message to us in Psalm 37:5-6, where he tells us to trust in the Lord. David said, "Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday." *How is the Lord ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:1-11, 2 Corinthians 5:21

Tags: Horrible Times, Shelter, God's Peace, Rest, Hardships, Cares, Cast Your Cares, Evil, Trust, Suffering, Trusting God, Righteousness, Rejoice, Pain, Peace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

[259]. A Message From A Poem – The Cold Frosty Night Reveals The Dawn

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 8, 2026

[259]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE COLD FROSTY NIGHT REVEALS THE DAWN The cold, frosty night is this current existence in the world where Christians live and are waiting for their Lord to come. The dawn is the coming of the Lord. A number of people correctly see this coming for the Church and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Luke 12:32, 1 John 3:2

Tags: Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, The World Is Getting Worse, Cold Nights, Frosty Nights, Love, Second Coming, Misery, Dawn, Waiting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational