In Sermon Illustrations: "Picture Of Christ"

The Fellowship Of His Suffering

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Sep 13, 2011

THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERING "Paul Marshall of the Hudson Institute estimates that at least 600 million -- and maybe closer to 700 million -- Christians world-wide are experiencing some level of persecution. That means roughly one in every three people who profess the name of Christ is ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

We Will Remain Christians

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 27, 2011

"WE WILL REMAIN CHRISTIANS" An American journalist in 1993 interviewed a group of children from a Sunday school in southern Sudan where Arab Muslims regularly raided their village and slaughtered Christians. Many of their relatives had already been killed. The journalist asked, "Would you turn to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:51-60

Tags: Persecution

Wishing For Pascal's Brain  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Feb 17, 2013

WISHING FOR PASCAL'S BRAIN Biblical Education is the process by which Godly character is formed, strength of clear conscious and sound mind is amplified, and understanding is sharpened, as a result of which one can walk in divine wisdom. Someone once approached Blaise Pascal, the famous French ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-14

Tags: Attitude General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Few Who Bear His Cross  PRO

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jul 18, 2013

FEW WHO BEAR HIS CROSS In Thomas á Kempis' book, The Imitation of Christ he says, Jesus has many who love his kingdom in heaven, but few who bear his cross. He has many who desire comfort, but few who desire suffering. He finds many to share his feast, but few his fasting. All desire to rejoice ...read more

Scripture: John 12:24-26, Galatians 2:20, Luke 12:32-40, Mark 11:1

Tags: Lordship, Following Jesus

Denomination: Nazarene

Resurrection Reveille

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Apr 6, 2018

Before his death Winston Churchill became a follower of Jesus Christ. He made his own funeral arrangements. When they said the benediction, he had arranged for a bugler high in the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral to play “Taps,” the universal signal of the day is over. After he finished there was a ...read more

Tags: Resurrection, Hope After Grave

Denomination: Baptist

Intercessory Prayer

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 19, 2018

Richard Foster in his book "Prayer: Finding the Hearts True Home", says that intercession is a way of loving others. Intercessory prayer is selfless prayer, even self-giving prayer. "Intercessory prayer is priestly ministry, and one of the most challenging teachings in the New Testament is the ...read more

Tags: Prayer, Pray For One Another, Prayer And Obedience

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Funeral Illustration

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

I love that scene in The Pilgrim's Progress where Christian and Hopeful come to the final river of death. They are fearful that the water will be over their heads. But Hopeful goes first and calls back to Christian, “Be of good cheer, my brother; I feel the bottom, and it is good.” For every ...read more

Tags: Death, Heaven, Promises Of God, Valley Of The Shadow Of Death

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Church Is Called To Minister In The Marketplace.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 4, 2022

Return the Cross to Golgotha I simply argue that the cross be raised again at the center of the marketplace as well as on the steeple of the church. I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles; But on a cross between two thieves: on a town garbage ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Church, Gospel, Cross, Great Commission, Marketplace, Wintessing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer For New Year

Contributed by Samuel M on Jan 4, 2025

Let you find Christ in greater measure this year satisfying your needs, nourishing your heart, guiding and leading you through still and dark waters. Let not a day pass by without seeing the face of Jesus. Let Jesus become real to you and everything else fade away. Let his face be the first thing ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:7

Tags: Faith, Hope

The Weak Will Shame The Wise

Contributed by Paul Dietz on Jun 19, 2008

THE WEAK WILL SHAME THE WISE We have to come to the realization that life is much more than brokenness. According to God’s word, we are vessels of honor which contain the power and glory of the Christ. I, too, have had a problem with such thinking throughout the years. How can I, a vessel of honor ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:21

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: *other

History Of Calvinism

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

HISTORY OF CALVINISM In 1610, just one year after the death of James Arminius (a Dutch Seminary professor) five articles of faith based on his teachings were drawn up by his followers. The Arminians, as his followers came to be called, presented these five doctrines to the State of Holland in the ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:24-25, Ephesians 1:3-5

Tags: Warning, Calvinism

Saved People Have Two Birthdays!

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jul 4, 2019

Born Again - John 1:12-13 (Also see John 3:1-16) 12. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the (power or authority or) right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: 13. who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12-13, John 3:1-16

Tags: Born Again, Family Of God

Denomination: Baptist

[188]. A Message From A Poem – My Jesus Is My Mighty Rock

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 6, 2025

[188]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – MY JESUS IS MY MIGHTY ROCK In the Old Testament the “ROCK” featured a lot. The first incident was when Moses struck the Rock at the Lord’s command {{Exodus 17:5-6 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:8, Psalm 31:2-3, Psalm 18:1-2, Exodus 17:5-6, 1 Corinthians 10:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Moses Struck The Rock, Rock, Security, Rock Of Offense, Mighty Fortress, Mighty Rock, Christian Poems, Jesus, Moses, Safety, Salvation, Temptation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[347]. Poem Message - Wisdom Of This World Is Foolishness With God

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 12, 2026

[347]. POEM MESSAGE - WISDOM OF THIS WORLD IS FOOLISHNESS WITH GOD There is a huge line of division between God and man; between God’s wisdom and man’s wisdom. Man is dominated by a sinful, fallen nature and his associated human wisdom is absolutely flawed. It is flawed so much that it ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:21-22, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Tags: Wisdom, Foolishness, Humanism, Wisdom Of God, Fools, Wisdom Of The World, Christian Poems, The Wisdom Of Men  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In Other Words, We Begin Our Christian Life In ...  PRO

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Jul 11, 2001

In other words, we begin our Christian life in God’s grace, and then quickly abandon grace, and try to live our life, and almost to continue to earn our salvation, - by what we do, by our works. Author Jerry Bridges puts it like this: "We tend to give an unbeliever just enough of the gospel to get ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Character, Faith Vs. Works, Sowing, Tares, Weeds, Judgment, Grace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Those Of You Who Are Sports Fans Probably ...  PRO

Contributed by Edward Frey on Aug 8, 2001

Those of you who are sports fans probably remember the opening monologue to the TV sports broadcast, “Wide, Wide, World of Sports.” The opening shots depicted athletes from all kinds of sports. As the footage rolled on, so came those immortal words: “The thrill of victory and the agony of ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Lutheran

When Jesus First Sent Peter And The Others Out ...  PRO

Contributed by Tom Mccrossan on Mar 1, 2005

When Jesus first sent Peter and the others out to heal the sick, He gave them the necessary power to do it (see Matt. 10:1). The Greek word for this power is exousia, which carries with it the meaning that the power is not inherent but delegated by a higher authority. It is similar to the power an ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

E. M. Bounds Writes In "The Possibilities Of ...

Contributed by John Quigley on Mar 1, 2005

E. M. Bounds writes in "The Possibilities of Prayer" : "THE ministry of prayer has been the peculiar distinction of all of God’s saints. This has been the secret of their power. The energy and the soul of their work has been the closet. The need of help outside of man being so great, man’s natural ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Prayer Persistence, Prayer Supplication

Denomination: Baptist

I Have Been A Pastor For Nearly Twenty-Five ...

Contributed by Byron Maynard on Apr 22, 2005

I have been a pastor for nearly twenty-five years. During those years, one thing I have noticed in counseling with people, for many, their minds have become garbage dumps. It is the place where they dump past failures, bad information, broken down relationship experiences, etc. It is the place ...read more

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

After The Battle Of The Bulge During World War ...

Contributed by Allan Quak on Dec 6, 2005

After the Battle of the Bulge during World War II, one German officer described the capture of an American unit early in the fighting. Among the booty was a box that contained a cake. What was remarkable about the cake is that it had been sent to an American soldier from Boston and it was still ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:9, Matthew 5:9-10

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Baptist