In Sermon Illustrations: "Persecuted Church"

The Bible And The Bounty

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2011

THE BIBLE AND THE BOUNTY The English ship Bounty, commanded by Lt. William Bligh, journeyed to the South Pacific in 1787. Many signed on considering the voyage a trip to paradise. Bligh appointed a young friend, Fletcher Christian, to the post of second in command. The Bounty stayed in Tahiti for ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-11

Tags: Bible Influence

Fervent Prayer  PRO

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Aug 29, 2011

FERVENT PRAYER George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, future US Presidents, were among the delegates meeting at St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia, on March 23, 1775, considering a resolution sending Virginia troops to the Revolutionary War. The Virginia House of Burgesses was unconvinced. ...read more

Scripture: James 5:17-18

Tags: Prayer, Fervent, Effectual, Earnest, Prayer How To  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Rubbing Shoulders With God

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Sep 5, 2011

RUBBING SHOULDERS WITH GOD We visited Our Lady of Quebec, the Cathedral Basilica in old Quebec City. I had a plethora of emotions upon entering this bastion of structures, dating back 365 years, having been built in 1647. It continues its stately gaze as the oldest parish church in North America. ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence

Denomination: Salvation Army

Peace And The Chicken

Contributed by David Simpson on Jan 15, 2013

PEACE AND THE CHICKEN As you and I well know, there are so many times when the circumstances around us are not peaceful. There is tension and turmoil that is so unsettling. It reminds me of the chicken that fell out of the chicken truck a few years ago. I pulled into the church driveway one ...read more

Tags: Peace

Denomination: Christian Church

Trust God He Knows The Future!

Contributed by Roger Whipp on Dec 29, 2014

Testimony: When I was in the Police one of my note books containing vital evidence went missing. I started to panic as in the UK any verbal evidence written down must be shown, if requested in it’s original form at court. The small voice of God prompted me to look in the confidential waste sack. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:1-10

Tags: Trust God, God Knows The Future

Denomination: *other

No One Is A Lost Cause

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 11, 2015

Ron Smith was in law enforcement for 20 years. After he retired, he was asked to join a prison ministry of his church. He scoffed at the idea, knowing he had put a lot of those guys in prison and he, above all, knew what types of peoplethey were. But eventually he broke down and joined and God ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-43

Tags: Forgiveness, Compassion, Hope, Reconciliation

Denomination: Methodist

Consecration To God--Making A Personal Stand For Jesus

Contributed by Richard Tow on Dec 14, 2017

I read the story of a young woman who out of curiosity entered a little Presbyterian church one evening. She heard the gospel for the first time and was converted. Later she heard God’s call on her life to go to China as a missionary. She was the only daughter of a multi-millionaire. She was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:1-50

Tags: Sacrifice, Missions, Consecrated Life

Denomination: Charismatic

The Gossipping Preacher

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 5, 2021

Three preachers from the same small town in Texas were out fishing together, just getting away from the busy pace of a minister's schedule. All alone in a boat together, they began to open up and confess things in their lives. The first preacher said, "Well, I hate to admit it, but I ...read more

Tags: Tale Bearing, Gossip, Critical Spirit, Rumors, Preachers, Backbiting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If You Could Visit Hell For Just Ten Seconds

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 19, 2022

Charles Spurgeon, the famous evangelist and theologian, was teaching young men in seminary how to preach. He told them, “Gentlemen, when you speak of Heaven, let your face be all aglow and smiling and lifted up and brilliant and let it be unashamed when you speak of Heaven. But when you speak of ...read more

Tags: Lost, Unbelievers, Preachers, Hell, Death, Satan, Truth, Judgment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fishing With A Net

Contributed by John Bright on May 12, 2023

Dr. Daniel B. Wallace has taught Greek and New Testament courses on a graduate school level since 1979. He wrote about this idea based on Matthew 4 “19 He said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.” 20 They left their nets immediately and followed him.” “It’s strange ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:19

Tags: Fishing, Evangelism, Hell

Denomination: Methodist

Giving

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Nov 22, 2023

I was raised in the church. My dad pastored 65 years. I graduated college and was married. We returned home for Christmas. We all gathered around the tree. I remembered my speedometer and God’s goodness. My wife and mom handed out the presents. Each family member had several gifts. In the ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Jesus, Giiving

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Jewish Weddings And The Return Of Christ

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 30, 2023

An understanding of the Rapture can be gained from understanding the Jewish Wedding Tradition. IN THE JEWISH WEDDING TRADITION, • As the young man becomes of age to marry, • He builds a room onto his father’s house, • So there will be a place • For him and his bride to live. WHEN THE YOUNG ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, John 14:1-6

Tags: Return Of Christ, Jewish Weddings, Revelation, Israel, Second Coming, Armageddon  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Significance Of The Manger

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 9, 2023

If you try to point out something to a dog, the dog will often look at your finger instead of the object you’re trying to point to. This is frustrating, but it illustrates a natural mistake we all make from time to time. It’s the mistake many people make when reading the Christmas story in Luke’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Tags: Messiah, Christmas, Manger, Shepherds, Sign  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Eric Liddell

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

Isaiah 40:31 says But those who hope in the Lord, Will renew their strength They shall soar on wings like eagles They will run and not grow weary They will walk and not be faint This Scripture is best illustrated up by the true story of Eric Liddell You may recall his life story was told in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:20

Tags: Obedience, Principle, Eric Liddell

Denomination: Anglican

If Jesus Was Born Today...

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jan 12, 2026

If Jesus was born today based on Steve Turner’s poem If Jesus was born today, it would be in a bed and breakfast A traffic warden, working late, would be the first on the scene. Later a TV network would arrive with their good wishes. The whole Occasion would be filmed as part of *Is this the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Tags: 21st Century, Jesus, Birth

Denomination: Anglican

Story Of Apostle John - His Hobby

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 25, 2026

There are times ... when our lives move... so fast, ... that we need to slow down ... and let our souls catch up ... with our bodies. According to Early Church tradition ... when the Apostle John was Bishop at Ephesus, ... he had a hobby ... of raising pigeons. On one occasion... we are ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:10, Matthew 11:28, Psalm 37:7, Exodus 34:21, Ephesians 2:8-9, Hebrews 4:9-10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Mind, Still, Hobby, Rest

Denomination: Anglican

The Higher You Climb

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

In college I was certified in belaying at Texas Tech's rock climbing wall, and we would go and climb there many times a week. Many of the routes, when you're at the bottom looking up, you might think, "That doesn't look so bad. I bet I could climb that pretty easily." But as ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-15

Tags: Humility, Spiritual Growth

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Love Of Christ: "We Don't Believe"  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 21, 2008

LOVE OF CHRIST: "WE DON’T BELIEVE" Fred Craddock once told the story of Oswald Goltar. He was a missionary sent to preach the gospel in India near the end of World War II. After many months the time came for a trip back home. His church wired him the money to book passage on a steamer, but when he ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Voices From The ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Voices from the Past “It is the duty of nations, as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures, and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.” --Abraham ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:7

Tags: Patriotism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Vigilant ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

A Vigilant Nation The Foundation of a Nation That Truly Says “In God We Trust” * * * * * * * * Vigilance has never come easy, and America has always had her share of enemies. Many today still remember the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and every day in some way we are reminded of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:12-22

Tags: Patriotism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational