In Sermon Illustrations: "One Sheep Lost"

Close Call -- For Real!

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 3, 2024

The Arms Race was on; we no longer feared atomic bombs, but the H-bomb. Bomb shelters would not protect against that greater level of destruction. At one point, we were a button away from a nuclear holocaust. According to wikipedia.com, “Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov…. was a lieutenant colonel of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 31:15, Matthew 24:6-14, Acts 4:28, Colossians 1:16, Psalm 2:1-12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: History, Wars, End Times, Sovereignty, Danger, Providence  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

We Can't Know The Day - But We Can Know The Season When Christ Returns.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 6, 2024

Jesus specifically told us that there would be signs in the sky in the sun and moon and stars (Luke 21:25), and he told us to “look up”, as our redemption draws near. Believers need to look up when the "season" of His return arrives.   The apostle Paul had this to say about the ...read more

Tags: Rapture, Day Of The Lord, Return Of Christ, Seasons, Times  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Cannot Swim To Hawaii

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Sep 20, 2024

If you put three swimmers on the coast of California and ask them to swim to Hawaii, the Olympic swimmer might swim 500 miles before she dies. The second swimmer might be a good swimmer and swim 25 miles before he dies. The last swimmer does not know how to swim very well and swims only one mile ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 29:29, John 8:58, Matthew 25:31-33

Tags: Jesus Is The Way, Other Religions

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Are The Five Solas Of The Reformation?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 11, 2024

What are the 5 Solas of the Reformation? The 5 “Solas” of the Reformation (“solas,” meaning, “alones”) are five principles that are foundational to the doctrine of salvation that were the focus of the Protestant Reformation. These five "solas" led to the rejection of the false teachings ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, Romans 5:1-8

Tags: Faith, Grace, Scripture, Sin, Salvation, Theology, Glory Of God, Reformation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Is God Like? This Is A Question, Which Has ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

What is God like? This is a question, which has exercised the minds of mankind. It reminds me of the story of the little girl who was in deep concentration over her drawing. Her mother asked her what she was drawing and received the curt reply, “God.” Her mother ...read more

Tags: God The Father

Denomination: Baptist

The Banner Headline Across The Top ...  PRO

Contributed by Larry Sarver on Apr 30, 2001

Illustration: The banner headline across the top of one Chicago Tribune read, "Guilty Plea Sets Inmate Free." The picture showed the freed man embracing his sister, and the article told how a man imprisoned for eight years cut a deal with the state’s ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, God's Provision

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Two Of Our Greatest Presidents Said Some Pretty ...  PRO

Contributed by Lynn Floyd on May 29, 2001

Two of our greatest presidents said some pretty important statements about the Bible. George Washington said, “It is impossible to righteously govern the world without God and the Bible.” President Ronald Reagan said, “Within the covers of one single book, the Bible, are all ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:10-17

Tags: Bible Study, Bible Influence, Independence Day

Denomination: Baptist

Patrick Henry Quote  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on Sep 17, 2001

ILLUSTRATION… Patrick Henry Quote "I have now disposed of all my property to my family. There is one thing more I wish I could give them and that is faith in Jesus Christ. If they had that and I had not given them a single shilling, they would have been rich; ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Examples Of Faith, Parenting

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Greg Slayton Is The Ceo Of Clickaction.com. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Oct 12, 2001

Greg Slayton is the CEO of ClickAction.com. He says, in the busy dot.com world in which he now succeeds, he is exhausted by the frantic pace. This is how he describes where it has left him in relationship with others: "The sense of isolation is a curse. It is ...read more

Tags: Disappointment, Church Small Groups, Friendship New Friends

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Teacher Gave Her Class Of Second Graders A ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Steve on Mar 8, 2002

A teacher gave her class of second graders a lesson on the magnet and what it does. The next day in a written test, she included this question: “My full name has six letters. The first one is M, and I pick up things. What am I?” When the grades were all ...read more

Tags: Children, Name, Mother's Day

Denomination: Church Of God

Ultimate Love, Complete Humility  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2002

ULTIMATE LOVE, COMPLETE HUMILITY Only one act of pure love, unsullied by any taint of ulterior motive, has ever been performed in the history of the world, namely the self-giving of God in Christ on the cross for undeserving sinners. That is why, if we are looking for a definition of love, we ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-8

Tags: Christian Love, Forgiveness In Jesus

Love Them  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 5, 2002

LOVE THEM Before becoming a mother I had a hundred theories on how to bring up children. Now I have seven children and only one theory: love them, especially when they least deserve to be loved. Kate Samperi, author SOURCE: Celebrating Mothers: A Book ...read more

Tags: Mother's Day, Parenting, Unconditional Love

Finger Of God  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 23, 2002

[Finger of God] An old deacon was leading in prayer using one of his stereotypical phrases, which was “Oh Lord, touch the unsaved with Thy finger.” As he intoned this phrase in this particular prayer, he stopped short. Other members came to his side and asked if ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38, Matthew 9:35-38

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, Great Commission, Sharing Your Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Real Problem In This Country Is That We Are ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 7, 2002

The real problem in this country is that we are not good followers. Problem in all facets of our society. George Barna- "Even though less that 1/5th of the population describe themselves as leaders, few people are willing to follow the vision, the plans, the methods, or the exhortations of ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Leadership General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Is God Like? This Is A Question, Which Has ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Oct 25, 2002

What is God like? This is a question, which has exercised the minds of mankind. It reminds me of the story of the little girl who was in deep concentration over her drawing. Her mother asked her what she was drawing and received the curt reply, “God.” Her mother ...read more

Tags: God The Father, Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Mennonite

Alan Redpath Once Formed A "Mutual Encouragement" ...  PRO

Contributed by Bobby Mcdaniel on Sep 21, 2003

Alan Redpath once formed a "mutual encouragement" fellowship at a time of stress in one of his pastorates. The members subscribed to a simple formula applied before speaking of any person or subject that was perhaps controversial. · T - Is it true? · H - Is it helpful? · I - Is it inspiring? · N - ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 25:11-12, Philippians 4:8

Tags: Christian Values, Christian Love, Faith

There Was A Daughter Of Wealthy Parents Who Got ...

Contributed by Melvin Shelton on Jan 10, 2004

There was a daughter of wealthy parents who got saved in one of Billy Graham’s crusade. The mother was so embarrassed by her daughter’s actions. Her mother said you are a sweet girl you don’t need this. The daughter looked her mother in the ...read more

Tags: Confession Of Sin

Denomination: Baptist

Myths Are Easily Accepted As Truth It They Have ...

Contributed by Ovidiu Radulescu on Apr 9, 2004

Myths are easily accepted as truth it they have been around a long time. Take the case of the spider. About 350 B.C., the Greek philosopher Aristotle classified the spider as having six legs. And for the next 20 centuries everyone believed the spider had six legs. No one even bothered to count and ...read more

Tags: Misconceptions

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

According To Charles Haddon Spurgeon, God ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 27, 2004

According to Charles Haddon Spurgeon, God delights in impossibilities: "One man says, I will do as much as I can. Any fool can do that. He that believes in Christ does what he cannot do, attempts the impossible, and performs it. And of course it was Jesus ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Is An Old Story About A Pastor Leaving A ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 23, 2005

There is an old story about a pastor leaving a church. At his farewell dinner, he tried to encourage one of the pillar members, “Don’t be so sad. The next pastor might be better than me.” She replied, “That’s what they said last time, but it ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Independent/Bible