In Sermon Illustrations: "Personal Sacrifice"

Gun Laws

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Mar 18, 2018

Gun Laws Laws - "are sent by Him to punish those who do wrong and commend those who do right." 2 Peter 2:14 - Keeping this truth in the context of guns. Nothing wrong with making sure there are laws which make it hard for wicked or mentally ill people from getting guns. Those (mentally ill or ...read more

Tags: Laws, Gun Laws, Guns

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Humility

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jun 27, 2021

The Western meaning of humility derives from the usage of the Hebrew speaking Jews, Latin speaking Romans and the Greeks, in particular Greek speaking Christians of the first century. In all three languages the word used to describe humility means "low", as in low to the ground: the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Service, Humility, Power

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Bad And Good Decision

Contributed by Sourav Dasgupta on Dec 30, 2021

Decision (Good & Bad Consequences) Esther 1: King Ahsereus & Queen Vasti) Errors of King 1.Wine Temptation 2.Queen Display 3.Anger Demonstration Errors of Queen 1.Husband's Disobedience 2.No Ungodly Guidance (Job Money Security Deposit) Proverbs 12:15 3.No 3rd Person in H-W ...read more

Tags: Godly Counsel, Obedience To Seniors

Seizing Opportunity

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 16, 2024

The ancient allegory of 'Occasio' or 'Opportunity' is represented by a unique statue. This figure is often depicted as a youth with a peculiar hairstyle: lush and long in the front but completely bald at the back. The imagery is profound in its symbolism. The long lock of hair at ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:10

Tags: Moment, Opprotunity, Seize, Decisive, Consequence, Commitment, Action, Hesitation, Fleeing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

A Contentious Spirit - Speaking Strife

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 11, 2025

Here’s a fun fact: You don’t actually have to correct someone when they’re wrong. Shocking, I know! There’s no official appointment letter naming you Earth’s Guardian of Truth and Accuracy. (If there is, it probably got lost in the mail.) Sometimes, it’s okay to just let it go—yes, even if they ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:9, Proverbs 26:21

Tags: Strife, Contentious, Contentious Spirit

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How Should A Christian Walk?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jul 29, 2025

Have you ever noticed how novelists or movie directors make use of the way a person walks to highlight his or her character? Proud man walks erect, their heads held high. Beautiful women glide or float. Villains slouch, sneak, creep, or swagger. The need to describe different ways of walking has ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1, Isaiah 57:2, 1 John 1:7, Micah 6:8, Psalm 119:106  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Light, Humble, Worthy, Word, Walk  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Boxes Of Chocalates

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

A young man went into a Pharmacy to buy 3 boxes of chocolate: small, medium, and large. When the pharmacist asked him about the three boxes, he said, ... "Well, I'm going over to my new girlfriend's house for supper. Then we are going out for the evening. If she only lets me hold ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 16:12

Tags: Pharmacist, Chocolates

Denomination: Anglican

Light Of The W.orld Holman Hunt

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Dec 23, 2025

A verse that means a lot to me is Rev 3:20 where Jesus says 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. The famous painting known as the Light of the World, was begun in 1849 and completed in ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:20

Tags: Jesus, Free Will

Denomination: Anglican

A Sword And A Tear!" 2 Timothy 2: 22-26: Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 24, 2004

“A Sword and a Tear!” 2 Timothy 2: 22-26: Key verse(s): 24-25a “And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:22-26

Tags: Christian Love, Compassion

Denomination: Lutheran

Filled To The Brim! (07.05.05--Joy Every ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 4, 2005

Filled To The Brim! (07.05.05--Joy Every Day--Ecclesiastes 5:1-9) When I was younger I remember being moved on more than one occasion, either by laziness or a predisposition to want to do something more “rewarding” on a Sunday morning, to prompt my dad with this question: “Why do we have to go to ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:1-9

Tags: Worship Benefits, Worship Purpose

Denomination: Lutheran

Third, Are We Willing To Tell Others About Jesus ...

Contributed by Don Jones on Mar 29, 2008

Third, are we willing to tell others about Jesus no matter what the cost? A recent statistic said 3 out of 4 people had not heard the gospel. Are you committed enough to tell others about what Jesus has done for you? If not, why? Is it shame or are you focused on other things in life. Jesus ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Example Of Hospitality

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jun 29, 2010

EXAMPLE OF HOSPITALITY Jan and Darryl have always been openly generous people. They make you feel as if they are honoured to have you in their home and nothing is too much trouble for them. Which is just as well because they are our connect group leaders. Every fortnight people in our Connect ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 13:5-15

Tags: Hospitality

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Man Of God Who Preached At Bethel (1 Kings 13)

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 24, 2020

Text: [1Ki 13:1, KJV:] 1 And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. 2 And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 13:1-10

Tags: Man Of God, Bethel, Northern Kingdom

Denomination: Baptist

[185]. Poem Message – Mouths That Sham Rejoicing

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 5, 2025

[185]. POEM MESSAGE – MOUTHS THAT SHAM REJOICING When I was young we generally could trust what people said to us. There was a great deal of honesty back then (1950s) but that has evaporated. People tell us barefaced lies and that is now the way of the world. That makes the Christian life ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:8-9, Jeremiah 7:9-10

Tags: Worship, Dishonesty, False, Rejoice, Pretence, Pretend, Praise, Sing, No Commitment, Lies  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[231]. A Message From A Poem - Reflections In Older Life

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 18, 2025

[231]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - REFLECTIONS IN OLDER LIFE This poem was completed in 2020 when I was 77 years old. I don’t think I am unique in any way. I believe as people get older and know that most of their life has already gone, there comes a time for reflection on one’s life. That is what ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:31, Psalm 71:17-18, Isaiah 46:4

Tags: The Shepherd, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Grey Head, Old Age, Old, Reflections  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Comments About Muhammad Originate In Key Islamic ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 14, 2002

Comments About Muhammad Originate in Key Islamic Source Two former Muslims responded June 12 to complaints from Islamic groups that a speaker’s comments at the Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference in St. Louis were "bigoted" and "hateful." National media have widely reported that Jerry Vines, ...read more

Tags: World Religions

Whoever Gets The Son Gets It All  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

WHOEVER GETS THE SON GETS IT ALL The story is told about a wealthy man and his only son - both of whom loved to collect rare works of art! They had everything - from the late great Andalusian-Spanish painter, draughtsman, and sculptor, Pablo Picasso (1881 - 1973) to the late great Italian painter ...read more

Tags: Atonement, Jesus, Salvation, Cross, Becoming A Christian  (view more)  (view less)

George Floyd

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jun 11, 2020

God can use you to make a difference in our broken world no matter your past. Just commit your way to the Lord like Jephthah did and depend on His Holy Spirit. When I think about Jephthah, I think about George Floyd, who was recently murdered in Minneapolis. George was a towering 6-foot by 6-inch ...read more

Scripture: Judges 11:1-3, Judges 11:29, 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Tags: Transformation, Grace Of God, George Floyd

Denomination: Evangelical Free

[058]. A Message From A Poem – Delusionalism Contradicts What’s Truth

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 13, 2025

[058]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DELUSIONALISM CONTRADICTS WHAT’S TRUTH I believe Christians who ignore what is happening in the world are living in a bubble. We must understand current events and especially as they line up with the last days and biblical prophecy. We live in the days of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:28, Colossians 2:4, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

Tags: Deluding Influence, Delusion, Deception, Current Events, Redemption, Strong Delusion, Truth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[213]. A Message From A Poem – Parable Of The Fence Sitter

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 26, 2025

[213]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – PARABLE OF THE FENCE SITTER Uncommitted, disinterested, neutral, indecisive, impartial, indifferent, apathetic – just some English words that describe a person who does not take sides and has no real opinion about anything. When it comes to matters in the world ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:2, 1 Kings 18:21

Tags: Uncommitted, A Fence Sitter, Apathetic, Christian Poems, Decide For God, Conversion, Decision, Disinterested, Salvation, Sitting On The Fence, Neutral, Impartial, Indifferent, Indecision, Indecisive  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational