In Sermon Illustrations: "Niagara Falls"

Simeon The Pillar Hermit

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Aug 28, 2024

Simeon was probably like most boys his age in A.D. 403. The 13-year-old spent much of his time caring for his father's flocks on the hillside of Cilicia. But one day, while listening to a sermon on the beatitudes, stirred and changed he left his home and family and began a lifelong pursuit of ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:20

Tags: Finding God, Monks, Intimacy With God, Separation, Holiness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Be Careful What You Imitate

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Nov 17, 2024

In the late 1990s, aspiring actor and writer Johnny Knoxville had moved from Knoxville, Tennessee to Los Angeles, California, and landed work in commercials in order to support his wife and infant daughter. Among his ideas was one to produce an article that involved testing various self-defense ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:11, Ephesians 5:1-2

Tags: Imitate, Bad Examples, Good Examples, Johnny Knoxville

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Unrecognised Riches

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

In the late nineteenth Century in South Africa, an old man was digging for gold in a river bed. He had been at it for many years. Every now and then he found a little bit of gold, not enough to make him rich – but just enough to maintain his interest. The part of river in which he was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:21

Tags: Riches, Diamonds

Denomination: Anglican

The Hidden Mud And Leaves!" Ephesians 6:10-17 ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 14, 2004

“The Hidden Mud and Leaves!” Ephesians 6:10-17 Key verse(s): 10: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” We moved to Beech Springs valley some sixteen summers ago now. We had been looking for a place that could afford us peace, quiet and some room for our growing family to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-17

Tags: Battle, Doubt, Enemy, Stand, Strong  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Tiger Breath!" Matthew 6:9-13 Key Verse(S): ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 6, 2005

“Tiger Breath!” Matthew 6:9-13 Key verse(s): 13:“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” It has been foreordained that life is a temptation! Now that is a depressing thought if I ever heard one. Foreordained? That means that no matter what I do or how I do it, ultimately I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13, Matthew 4:1-11

Tags: Sin Exposed, Risk Of Sin, Release, Sin Separates From God

Denomination: Lutheran

My Days Of Wonder In The Hospital

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 1, 2025

Dr. James L. Snyder My plans for the New Year were horribly changed by ending up in the hospital. Around the middle of the month, it seemed like I may have had the flu. After all, everybody around me had the flu, and I just wanted to fit in with society in general. I had to cancel my Sunday ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Tags: Nurse, Hospital, Sick

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

[027] A Message From A Poem – Based On Psalm 91

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 10, 2025

[027] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BASED ON PSALM 91 When people are asked for their favourite Psalm, usually Psalm 23 is given, the Shepherd Psalm. There are a few who chose Psalm 91 as a Psalm they love and the reasons are not hard to find in this Psalm. This is a beautiful Psalm. I am pasting ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:9-11, Psalm 91:1-4, Psalm 91:5-10, Psalm 91:11-13, Psalm 91:14-16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Compassion, Angels, Protect, Rescue, Care, Refuge, Shelter, Deliver  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[180]. A Poem Message – Lost Three Things - One Son – The Prodigal Son

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 29, 2025

[180]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – LOST ONE SON – THE PRODIGAL SON The third of the lost parables is the son. It is the best know. Gospel preaching has made use of this parable over and over and that is fair enough. However its greater meaning is a wayward son of the family, who entered into a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:18, Luke 15:11-12, Luke 15:11-32

Tags: Repentance, Lost, Love Of The Father, The Prodigal Son, Parable Of The Lost Son  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

9998; Imagine You Have Moved To A Beautiful ...

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Jan 7, 2004

✎ Imagine you have moved to a beautiful beach front home on the Pacific coast (we’re using our imagination, so you may as well have your dream house). The movers have just left and you are faced with the daunting task of getting settled in. That’s when the phone rings. I call and say, ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: Assembly Of God

When Is Jesus Coming? The Bible Is Very Clear ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Dow on Jun 12, 2004

When is Jesus coming? The Bible is very clear that no one knows when that event will occur. It is kind of like trying to anticipate the next terrorist attack. People have their best guesses and the terror index goes up and down and so far nothing has happened here in the States. I actually ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

Rust Frets Even Men Of Iron!" Judges 15: 11-20 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 22, 2004

“Rust Frets Even Men of Iron!” Judges 15: 11-20 Key verse(s): 18 “Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the Lord, ‘You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?’” Though writing more than a hundred years ago, ...read more

Scripture: Judges 15:11-20

Tags: Disappointment, Emotions

Denomination: Lutheran

When Life Crashes In  PRO

Contributed by Johnny Creasong on Aug 20, 2004

When Life Crashes In The classic MG moved briskly through the afternoon traffic. The drive enjoyed the quick response of the small high-powered convertible. After driving her station wagon, this little red car was rather like taking off her boots and putting on sneakers. Driving along with the ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God

Denomination: Church Of God

The Old Man With The Rags  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Nov 5, 2004

THE OLD MAN WITH THE RAGS A beggar lived near the king’s palace. One day he saw a proclamation posted outside the palace gate. The king was giving a great dinner. Anyone dressed in royal garments are welcome. The beggar went on his way. He looked at the rags he was wearing and sighed. Slowly ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:10

Tags: Confession Of Sin, Repentance

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Linchpin For Disaster!" Romans 13: 8-14 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 10, 2004

“Linchpin for Disaster!” Romans 13: 8-14 Key verse(s): 13: “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.” In the recent heavy rains that struck the state this past spring, of chief concern ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:8-14

Tags: Emotions, Faith

Denomination: Lutheran

Our Poor Choices--His Good Grace!" Genesis 16: ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 27, 2004

“Our Poor Choices--His Good Grace!” Genesis 16: 1-15 Key verse(s): 3: “So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife.’” Do you ever pray for discernment? People tend to pray for things that they ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:1-15

Tags: God The Father, God's Forgiveness, Commitment, Belief

Denomination: Lutheran

This Reminds Me Of An Incident I Experienced ...  PRO

Contributed by Bev Sesink on Feb 5, 2005

This reminds me of an incident I experienced while also working in South Africa. I had been working on a research project but had made a significant error early on in the project. Instead of coming clean I unfortunately chose to try and cover my mistake. It wasn’t too long before my conscience ...read more

Tags: Sin Bondage To, Fear, Becoming A Christian

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Just Something I Believed! (10.17.05--That ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 13, 2005

Just Something I Believed! (10.17.05--That Person!--Mark 6:2-3) Sometimes we want to believe something so hard that even when we know the truth, we cling to the error. I grew up believing that all cats were sneaky and couldn’t be trusted. All dogs were rather dumb and couldn’t be devious if ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:2-3

Tags: Racism

Denomination: Lutheran

Philip Yancey Shared This In Rumours Of Another ...  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Dec 10, 2005

Philip Yancey shared this in Rumours of Another World, pp.154-55: Living in Colorado, I climb mountains. Colorado has 54 mountains rising above 14,000 ft and every summer I climb some of them. On a summer weekend in the mountains, I see casual hikers who have no idea what they are doing. In ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Came Across A News Story About A Guy Named Aron ...

Contributed by J. Curtis Goforth, O.s.l. on Sep 30, 2006

I came across a news story about a guy named Aron Ralston who was an avid hiker. Now I don’t know if this guy lived, slept, and ate hiking, but this guy was deeper into it than Jennifer and I are. We prefer the intermediate trails, but this guy the news story was about was into hiking hardcore. ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

I Read About A Pastor Who Decided To Experiment ...  PRO

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Jan 16, 2007

I read about a Pastor who decided to experiment with changing those sad statistics in his church. He made a list of 12 people who had recently been baptized in their church, and then he and his wife invited them over. Naturally, these new Christians were thrilled to be invited to their Pastor’s ...read more

Tags: Small Groups

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ