In Sermon Illustrations: "Paying Tax To Caesar"

Faith Without Works

Contributed by Chris Surber on Sep 4, 2009

FAITH WITHOUT WORKS As a Marine Sergeant, there were many times when I helped out the young troops in my charge with various sorts of favors. Sometimes I was the local financial aid officer, assisting a young Marine in between pay days with the money necessary for a car insurance payment. ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Christian Church

The Conflict Of Character

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

THE CONFLICT OF CHARACTER “You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.” - James D. Miles As she poured hot coffee into his mug early that morning, she noticed the guard’s countenance was more contemplative than usual. He was a man with ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:9

Tags: Truth, Integrity, Honesty, Christlike Character

Denomination: Charismatic

The Sad Story Of Norma Jean

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 13, 2023

Years ago Father John Powell told the sad story of a young woman named Norma Jean. "Norma Jean Mortenson. Remember that name? Norma Jean's mother, Mrs. Gladys Baker, was periodically committed to a mental institution and Norma Jean spent much of her childhood in foster homes. In one of ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Love, Peace, Fame, Hollywood, Fortune, Emptiness, Deception, Compassion, Satan, Sex, Lost, Loneliness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[007]. A Message From A Poem - A Shepherd Left His Comfort Zone

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 1, 2024

[007]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - A SHEPHERD LEFT HIS COMFORT ZONE Shepherds and sheep feature quite often in the biblical record and Jesus used parables and illustrations involving sheep. This poem was developed from a comment a Convention speaker made when teaching on the Lost Sheep. The ...read more

Scripture: John 10:9, John 10:10-11, John 10:14-15, Luke 15:4-6

Tags: Jesus Died For The Sheep, 100 Sheep, Night, Sheep, Lost Sheep, Crucified, The Good Shepherd, Jesus Our Shepherd, Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[206]. A Message From A Poem – Opposition Is Here So Be Committed

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 20, 2025

[206]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – OPPOSITION IS HERE SO BE COMMITTED There are two things I say over and over, that are expected from a Christian in these last days. One is FAITHFULNESS, and the other is COMMITMENT. In this poem the emphasis is on both. Too many Christians are “fair weather ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:10, Matthew 16:24

Tags: Commitment, Faithful, Faithfulness, Opposition, Dark Days, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[288]. A Message From A Poem – The Xxxxxx Public Service

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 15, 2026

[288]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE XXXXXX PUBLIC SERVICE Maybe some might think this is a harsh poem but we live now in harsh times and sometimes bluntness is needed to wake up the offenders. I have deliberately omitted the identification from the title, so what is said could apply to just so ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-4, 2 Timothy 3:12-13

Tags: Arrogance, Manipulators, Bureaucrats, The Public Service, Christian Poems, Government Officials, Civil Service  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

William

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 10, 2010

William "Fighting Mac" McKenzie, WWI Chaplain Hero and Salvation Army Commander Heroes from WWI, William “Fighting Mac” McKenzie (12/1869-26/7/1947) Pstor Col Stringer reveiled the Australian Heros to us by his research, today I share it with you. Who are your personal heroes? Who do you look up ...read more

Scripture: John 15:12-17

Tags: Holidays Civic

The Red Neck Wedding

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Feb 22, 2003

The Red Neck Wedding In the Summer of 2000 a couple came to me and explained that they wanted me to perform their Wedding ceremony. The man was a farmer and the woman had grown up on a farm. They explained to me that this was both of their 2nd marriage and neither one of them had a Church ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 126:2

Tags: Wedding, Humorous Weddings

Denomination: Baptist

Aunt Bessie's Pickled Beets!" 2 Corinthians ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 19, 2005

“Aunt Bessie’s Pickled Beets!” 2 Corinthians 7:2-13 Key verse(s): 10:“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” The worst part of doing wrong is being found out. We’ve all been caught doing wrong in life; especially when we ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:2-13, Luke 17:5-10

Tags: Crucifixion

Denomination: Lutheran

A Baby's Hug  PRO

Contributed by Warren Lamb on Nov 11, 2006

A Baby’s Hug We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a highchair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed glee and said, "Hi." He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Busted Knuckles

Contributed by Jack Kale on May 10, 2016

Busted Knuckles The blades needed replacement on the old red Murray riding mower we use at the camp. I purchased two 21” blades from Lowes and got around to replacing them this past weekend for the first mow of the year. I hoisted the front end of that insanely heavy grass cutter and secured ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:28

Tags: Work, Scars, Pain And Suffering, Hurting

Denomination: *other

Blueprints For Your Children’s Character

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 15, 2020

There is a Minister who received an urgent note that said that a man in his congregation wanted to get a hold of him. The man’s problems have been 10 years in the making but have become urgent when the consequences of neglect suddenly materialized. The minister met the man at his office. He was a ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6, Deuteronomy 7:9

Tags: Children, Parenting, Blueprints

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Spurgeon Quote

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on Aug 17, 2022

I want to read something to you. It’s from a sermon preached by Charles Spurgeon… listen to what he says here… it’s kind of a long quote, but man it’s good. “Everybody admires Luther! Yes, yes, but you do not want anyone else to do the same today. When you go to the Zoological Gardens you all ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Perseverance, Faithfulness

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Was Scammed!

Contributed by Paul Robinson on Mar 7, 2023

It was the summer after my freshman year of Bible college. On this particular day, I was lounging at home, when all of a sudden, my cell phone rang. I didn't recognize the number, but I answered anyway. The man on the other end said, "Congratulations! You've won the Dreams Come True ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:10

Tags: Scams, Wasted Life, The Devil's Tricks

Denomination: Baptist

Handel's Messiah-The Back Story

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 9, 2023

George Frideric Handel's Messiah is one of the most beautiful musical renditions of Scripture ever created. What we don’t often hear about is the troubled back story during the writing of the Messiah. It was at this time that Handel was struggling financially because there was a shift in music, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-7, Isaiah 53:3, 1 Timothy 6:15-16

Tags: Christmas, King Of Kings, Handel's Messiah, Rejected, Despised  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

[197]. A Message From A Poem – O Choir, Praise The Lord With Joy

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 12, 2025

[197]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – O CHOIR, PRAISE THE LORD WITH JOY People speak about the heavenly choir, though most of the time they are referring to angles. However there is not one record of angels singing, but many records about angles “saying”. I don’t think angels sing. No evidence. The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 47:6-7, Psalm 47:1-9, Psalm 33:1-3, Psalm 13:5-6, Revelation 5:9  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Sin, Angels, Worthy, Choir, Christian Poem, Male Voices, Female Voices, Soprano, Contralto, Mezzo Soprano, Singing, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Sing To The Lord, Sing Praises  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[309]. A Message From A Poem - This World Is In Deception’s Hand

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 13, 2026

[309]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THIS WORLD IS IN DECEPTION’S HAND I believed deception is so common that people live with it and do not realise they are deceived. We come to accept circumstances as normal but they are not normal in Christian teaching. They are normal for the deluded ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:18-19, 2 Timothy 3:13, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4

Tags: Deception, Christians, Delusion, Hatred, Deceived, Satanic Deception, Delusions, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

May Your Saturday Mornings Be Special  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Nov 11, 2002

May your Saturday mornings be special. The author is unknown. The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it’s the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it’s the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:10-12, Ephesians 5:15-17, Colossians 4:5

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Giving Yourself, Priorities

Denomination: Lutheran

The Presence Of His Love Send By ...  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jan 2, 2003

THE PRESENCE OF HIS LOVE Send by [email protected] The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the attractive young woman with the white cane made her way carefully up the steps. She paid the driver and, using her hands to feel the location of the seats, walked down the aisle and found ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, God's Love

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Search Committee Report  PRO

Contributed by David Gant on Feb 14, 2004

SEARCH COMMITTEE REPORT We do not have a happy report to give. We have not been able to find a suitable candidate for this church, though we have one promising prospect. Thank you for your suggestions. We have followed up on each one with interviews or by calling at least three references. The ...read more

Tags: Church General, Church Practices

Denomination: Baptist