In Sermon Illustrations: "One God"

They Won't Let Me In, Either!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 27, 2014

THEY WON’T LET ME IN, EITHER! Years ago in the Deep South, a Baptist church was struggling over whether or not to allow a black gentleman to join their church. He had been their janitor for years and decided he wanted to be part of the church family. A special vote of the congregation was called ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:1-20

Tags: Church, Racism, Presence Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Persuaded By The Mail

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 11, 2014

"I GIVE UP!" In the early 1960s, the publishers of Time Magazine were concerned about their declining circulation, so they designed a campaign to send out thousands of letters making an emotional appeal to potential subscribers. In the past, such mailings had been done manually, at a great cost in ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-17

Tags: God's Love, Surrender, Persuasion

A Band Of Theologians  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 4, 2014

A BAND OF THEOLOGIANS Dr. Robert Jastrow, scientist and agnostic once said, "Now we see how astronomical evidence leads to a biblical view of the origin of the world." He concluded w/a monumental statement: "For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 18:1-5

Tags: Science, God, Atheism, Agnostic

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Too Wicked For Ministry

Contributed by Keith Foskey on Apr 16, 2014

Paul Washer is a powerful preacher and evangelist. He once had a seminary student send him a message. He was afraid that he was too bad to enter the ministry. He sent him a message that simply said, "I think I am too wicked to be in the ministry." And Paul Washer wrote him back and said, "You are ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:19-26

Tags: Assurance, Confidence, Reliance On God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Orphans

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 24, 2014

Rubel Shelly tells of his friends Rich and Patty White, who traveled to a 3rd world country to adopt a little girl named Olona. After 2 years of effort and paperwork, the Whites stood before a judge who read words from an official document: “Inasmuch as Olona Morgan is orphaned and unwanted by ...read more

Scripture: John 14:18

Tags: Chosen By God, Orphan, Unwanted

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It Felt Like Abuse...but, Lesson Learned

Contributed by Pastor Randall Timblin on Jan 18, 2017

So there I am. I’m sitting on the couch...with my eyes closed...attempting to nap. I hadn’t felt good all day. Because my wife is out of town visiting her elderly parents, our dog, who is lovesick for her, spends his entire day and night in our bedroom, in some doggie blankets, placed on the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 73:28

Tags: Relationship To God, Great Expectations

Denomination: *other

The Called

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 15, 2019

The Called are those who have been summoned by God. Called to salvation (Rom. 8:30) Called both Jews and Gentiles (1 Cor. 1:24) Called "with a holy calling" (2 Timothy 1:9) Called with a heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1) Called out of darkness into His marvelous light (1Pet. 2:9) Called to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:30

Tags: Election, Calling, God's Sovreignty

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Prayers Are Answered Just The Opposite Of How You Prayed!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

Found on the body of a Confederate Soldier during the Civil War: I asked for strength that I might achieve; I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things; I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-3

Tags: Prayer, Will Of God, Mysteries, Surprises

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tribes And Nations

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Nov 29, 2022

Genesis 11:10 – Gen. 12:5 Shem (oldest son of Noah, in the lineage of David, Joseph, and Jesus Christ) We note Shem’s genealogy both in Genesis 10 and here in Genesis 11; why? – Abraham and eventually Israel came from the lineage of Shem; Genesis 11 gives details and sets up Abraham Shem ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:10-32

Tags: Faith, God, Israel, Population

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Peanut Parable

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 24, 2023

The kingdom of God is like a man who looked in a new way at a food grown and eaten only by poor folks, the peanut, and developed over three hundred by products from it: cereals, oils, dyes, soaps, and food substitutes. It turned out that the crop restored the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-52

Tags: Kingdom Of God, Lavish, Growth

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

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

A Christian Doctor Carried Out An Interesting ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Jones on Nov 3, 2000

A Christian doctor carried out an interesting survey recently involving his patients. As they waited in the waiting-room, they were asked to fill out a little survey on themselves. One of the questions asked was “What is your number one wish?” On analyzing the answers ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope, Guilt, Peace

Denomination: Baptist

Last Time, I Mentioned The Movie City ...  PRO

Contributed by Craig Simonian on Jun 8, 2001

Last time, I mentioned the movie City Slickers… where Billy Crystal asked Curley what the meaning of life was. He pointed his finger up. “Your finger is the meaning of life?” “No, one thing. One thing is the meaning of ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, God Brings Purpose

Game's Only Half Over! (10.04.05--Beginning ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 3, 2005

Game’s Only Half Over! (10.04.05--Beginning Again!--2 Samuel 12:20-24) Is there anyone who hasn’t felt the sting of regret and discovered just how bitter it is to live with the thought that if only we hadn’t done this or said that we’d be a whole lot happier at the moment? Beginning again is one ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:20-24

Tags: God's Provision, Regret, Remorse, God's Forgiveness, Face Your Fears, Embarrassment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

How Many Of You Know The Name Paul Aurandt? He ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

How many of you know the name Paul Aurandt? He also has an alias. You know him as Paul Harvey. He has published books about The Rest of the Story (Bantam) and More of Paul Harvey’s The Rest of the Story (Morrow). Stories built around the surprise ending format have been compiled into books that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 121:1-8

Tags: Protection, Divine Help, God's Omnipotence

The First And Last  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2002

THE FIRST AND LAST He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End! He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all! He is the Architect of the universe and The Manager of all times. He always was, He always is, and He always will be... Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone! He ...read more

Tags: Undefeated, Blind, Descriptions Of God, Creation, Confession, Guide, God The Father  (view more)  (view less)

Having A Guide  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Henes on Jun 5, 2002

HAVING A GUIDE In A Slow and Certain Light, Elizabeth Elliot tells of two adventurers who stopped by to see her, all loaded with equipment for the rain forest east of the Andes. They sought no advice, just a few phrases to converse with the Indians. She writes, "Sometimes we come to God as the two ...read more

Tags: Knowing God's Will, Obedience, Prayer How To, Surrender, Guidance, Descriptions Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Prayer And President Lincoln  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 16, 2011

PRAYER AND PRESIDENT LINCOLN A clergyman from New York, during a call on President Lincoln at the White House, said: "I have not come to ask any favors of you, Mr. President; I have only come to say that the loyal people of the North are sustaining you and will continue to do so. We are giving you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Ephesians 3:20, Romans 1:8-17, Jeremiah 23:1-6, Philippians 1:1-11, 2 Timothy 1:5-8, Luke 15:11-32, Acts 3:1-10, Romans 8:22-27, Psalm 139:1-24, Isaiah 52:2-3, Luke 11:9-10, Luke 18:1-8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Loyal, God Hears, Call Of God, Living Faith, Prayer Persistence  (view more)  (view less)

The Streams Of Mercy Are Still Flowing

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2019

Robert Robinson was a wild young man who came to repentance listening to a George Whitefield sermon. He later became a pastor and wrote a couple of hymns, particularly the famous, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing", which was written in 1757. Later in life, Robinson wandered from the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1

Tags: Promises Of God, No Condemnation, Backsliding, Mercy Of God, Come Thou Fount  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What A Pastor Is Called To Do!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 25, 2021

A biblical Pastor is not called to entertain the goats…. he is called to feed the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: The Word Of God, Preachers, God's Sheep, Church, Teaching, Preaching, Pastors  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational