In Sermon Illustrations: "Not Hearers Only"

A Collector’s Item?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 23, 2020

Hard to believe, but I may have a collector’s item! In my own house! Now, before you start sending me “Can I see it?” types of emails, maybe I should explain just what this “collector’s item” really is. Really, it wasn’t that much of a collectible, even from a couple of years ago. It’s only ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-20, Colossians 3:2

Tags: Stewardship, Collector's Items

Denomination: Baptist

Failed Love

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Sep 15, 2020

Thomas Carlyle lived from 1795 to 1881. He was a Scot essayist and historian. During his lifetime, he became one of the world’s greatest writers. However, he was human, and humans make mistakes. On October 17, 1825, Carlyle married his secretary Jane Welsh. She was an intelligent, attractive, ...read more

Scripture: Song of Songs 7:1

Tags: Love, Marriage

Denomination: Baptist

The Difference Maker

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Sep 16, 2020

My pastor, Wana Archer, tells about a time when he was a teenager and worked at a restaurant for .25 cents/hour. In this restaurant, there was a gambling machine that looked like a pinball machine. A player would deposit a nickel and get one shot to hit the jackpot or win some money. He noticed ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1-11

Tags: Holy Spirit, Obedience

Denomination: Baptist

Unsung Heroines-Joash's Aunt And Nurse

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 2, 2022

Introduction: These two ladies risked certain death to save the crown prince (and, it might be added, the ancestor of the Messiah!) Text: 2 Chronicles 22:10-12, KJV: 10 But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 22:10-12

Tags: Joash, Unsung Heroines, Jehoshabeath

Denomination: Baptist

Curse Turned Blessing

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Dec 7, 2022

Sometimes missing a flight turns into a blessing. My older son was flying from Little Rock to Kansas City through Dallas but missed his connection because the flight was late leaving Little Rock. He called from the airport bemoaning his fate but said that there was another flight he could book ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28

Tags: Blessing, Joseph, Providence, Opportunity, Blessings  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A New Year Devotional

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 22, 2022

A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other! In fact, here are some startling stats about typical resolutions for the new year in America: • 27% break their resolutions by the first week of January. • 31% lose their resolutions by the second week of January. • 41% ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33, Numbers 6:24-26

Tags: Things, Devotional, Blessings, Resolutions, Peace, Happiness, Joy, Hope, Finances, New Year  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Illustration – The Coffee Cup

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 18, 2024

AN ILLUSTRATION – THE COFFEE CUP I don’t prefer strong coffee for it has a couple of effects on me. My wife bought these coffee bags that had “intense” on the packets. I know I might horrify some people but I found I could use these coffee bags 4 times. They only need to be in hot water for a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1, 1 John 2:16-17, 1 John 1:8-10

Tags: Adulterated, Sin Is Subtle, Sin, Deceived, Coffee, Coffee Mug  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[059]. A Message From A Poem – Distressful Times Will Come Upon Us

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 13, 2025

[059]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DISTRESSFUL TIMES WILL COME UPON US Are you battling in life because of some problem that won’t go away? Are you weighed down by a stressful matter and can’t shake it? Does your life feel like it is starting to come apart? Do you feel the storms are thundering ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:20, 1 Peter 5:7, Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Anxiety, Anxious, Distress, Cast, Heavy Laden, I Am With You Always, Stressful, Stressful Living  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[076]. A Message From A Poem – Expectations, Testimony And Pleading

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 11, 2025

[076]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – EXPECTATIONS, TESTIMONY AND PLEADING The three words in the title are what the poem is about. Firstly there is expectation of our heavenly home when we are transported from the physical life. Then there is testimony and that is about the way God looks after us, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9, Psalm 119:143, Psalm 119:77, Psalm 119:47

Tags: Great Things, Pleading, Expectations, Turn To The Lord, Scripture, Testimony, Poetry, New Home, Delight, Poem  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[095]. A Message From A Poem – From Chains To Release

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 2, 2025

[095]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FROM CHAINS TO RELEASE This poem covers a lot of ground. It starts with, and develops the chains of sin; the work of Christ on the cross; our redeemed state in a persecuting world; God is looking for faithfulness and commitment; we praise the Lord because He ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:2, Romans 6:23, John 10:10

Tags: Captives, Bound By Chains, Chained By Satan, The Chains Of Sin, Poetry, Poem, Chains, Released  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Biblical Proof The Creator Of Heaven And Earth Wrote The Bible

Contributed by Raymond Petzholt on Aug 25, 2025

Biblical Proof the Creator of Heaven & Earth also Wrote the Bible Hebrews 3:4 “For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.” A house does not build itself. A creation cannot create itself! Christ has built all things for He is God! (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16-17; ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 3:4

Tags: Inspiration Of The Bible, Science In The Bible

Denomination: Baptist

It’s Like The Story Of The Boy Who Was ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Jun 25, 2001

It’s like the story of the boy who was shooting rocks with a slingshot. He could never hit his target. As he was in his Grandma’s backyard one day, h spied her pet duck. On impulse h took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck was dead. “The boy panicked and hid the bird in the woodpile, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-12

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Guilt, Sin Bondage To

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Professional Golfer Paul Azinger Was Diagnosed ...  PRO

Contributed by Todd Randolph on Jun 30, 2001

Professional golfer Paul Azinger was diagnosed with cancer at age 33. He had just won a PGA championship and had ten tournament victories to his credit. He wrote, "A genuine feeling of fear came over me. I could die from cancer. Then another reality hit me even harder. I’m going to die eventually ...read more

Tags: Death, Finding Fulfillment, Heaven

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On September 27, 1991, As Was His Custom, Gerald ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 30, 2001

On September 27, 1991, as was his custom, Gerald Sittser, a professor of religion and philosophy at Whitworth College, prayed, asking God to protect and bless his family. Something went terribly wrong. Later that afternoon, returning from a family outing, a drunk driver lost control of his car ...read more

Let Go Of The Rope  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Sep 17, 2001

LET GO OF THE ROPE Corrie ten Boom told of not being able to forget a wrong that had been done to her. She had forgiven the person, but she kept rehashing the incident and so couldn’t sleep. Finally Corrie cried out to God for help in putting the problem to rest. "His help came in the form of a ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General, Forgiveness For Others, Anger

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Was A Single Mother Who Had Heard A ...  PRO

Contributed by Morris Mott on Sep 27, 2001

There was a single mother who had heard a Biblical financial teacher say, “Quit looking at your job as the source of your income. Look at your job as only one avenue, one channel the Source, El Shaddai, uses to bring finances into your life. Begin to teach your children to look to their heavenly ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33

Tags: God's Provision, Prayer Answered, Promises Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Book, No Bad Dogs, By British Dog Trainer ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Yount on Nov 30, 2001

In the book, No Bad Dogs, by British dog trainer Barbara Woodhouse, she says dogs understand love better than we do. She writes, “In a dog’s mind, a master or a mistress to love, honor, and obey is an absolute necessity. The love is dormant in the dog until brought into full bloom by an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:46-49

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

Buried In The Deepest Sea  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Mar 8, 2002

BURIED IN THE DEEPEST SEA Several years ago Rick Stacy baptized a man in Lake Superior. It was late October and about 9:00 PM. Rick had been talking with Myron and his wife about accepting the Lord as their personal savior and sealing that decision with baptism into Jesus. Myron was hesitant ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3:3, Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:11-15

Tags: Grace, God's Forgiveness, Forgiveness, Baptism, Atonement, Born Again, Redemption, New Life, Sin  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Was Wrong  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Mar 24, 2002

I WAS WRONG Jim Bakker is back in the pulpit again. "It’s awesome to die and come back," he told about 400 worshipers at Way of Life Church, where he was the guest speaker Sunday. The former PTL Ministries leader presided over a multimillion dollar TV ministry until he resigned amid a sex and ...read more

Tags: God's Love, Great God, Grace, Impact, Repentance, People  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Ruthless Trust  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 29, 2002

RUTHLESS TRUST During times of transition, what we most need to practice is "ruthless trust." Brennan Manning has written a brilliant book by that title and tells the story of John Kavanaugh who went to work for three months at "the House of the Dying" in Calcutta. He went not only to give help, ...read more

Tags: Faith General, Abortion, Examples Of Faith