In Sermon Illustrations: "Poems About America"

Six Misunderstandings About Temptation

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 8, 2024

Misunderstandings regarding temptation: 1) Temptation itself is sin. 2) We fall into temptation. 3) God is disappointed and displeased when we are tempted. 4) To be strongly tempted means we are as guilty as if we had actually committed sin. 5) We overcome all temptation by separation ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Satan, Temptation, Failure, Tests, Trials, Sin, Lust  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Observation About A Certain Bird:

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 31, 2024

Our church’s parking lot is mostly gravel except for a small paved section. Ordinarily that’s not a problem but recently, we’ve discovered a very small problem. Would you believe, it’s a bird? Birds of various types are mentioned often in the Bible. All were unclean, according to the dietary laws ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:37

Tags: Protection, Birds, Nests

Denomination: Baptist

A Word About Bread And Stones:

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jul 18, 2024

Text: Luke 4:1-4, KJV: 1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 3 And the devil said unto him, If thou ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-4

Tags: Bread, Jesus Christ, Temptations, Stones, The Devil  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

An Observation About A Billboard Worker

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 24, 2024

Text: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, KJV: 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. How many of you have seen anybody changing the ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, John 15:5

Tags: Assistance, Billboards, Clergy Appreciation Month

Denomination: Baptist

Jewish Understanding About Divorce

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

“The school of Shammai say: A man may not divorce his wife unless he finds in her a matter of lewdness, as it says, "If he finds in her an unseemly thing" (Deuteronomy 24:1), but the school of Hillel say: Even if she burnt his food, as it says, "If he finds in her an unseemly ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:31-32, Matthew 19:3-9, Mark 10:1-12, Luke 16:18, 1 Corinthians 7:11-13, Deuteronomy 24:21  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Remarriage, Background, Jewish, Divorce

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Whole Story About You

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 28, 2009

THE WHOLE STORY ABOUT YOU During a practice session for the Green Bay Packers, things were not going well for Vince Lombardi’s team. Lombardi singled out one big guard for his failure to "put out." It was a hot, muggy day when the coach called his guard aside and leveled his awesome vocal guns on ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Tags: Born Again

This Is Not Going To Be A Debate About Creation ...

Contributed by Sean Harder on Jun 24, 2009

This is not going to be a debate about creation or evolution, but I do want to share a quote from a well known pastor named Randy Croft: Astrophysicists have found that there are over 60 criteria that are necessary for life on earth. For you and me to live. Life could not exist or form if any one ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General

The Difference Between Knowing About And ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 9, 2009

The difference between knowing about and knowing: I’ve read several books about Winston Churchill … but of course, I never met the man. I admire him and appreciate him, but can’t say that I know him in the way that I know my own father. The difference lies in the fact that I have been around my ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Intriguing Thing About Contrasts Is Their ...

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Dec 15, 2009

The intriguing thing about contrasts is their similarities. For example, Bill Crowder (RBC Ministries) illustrates this with the two top rock bands in the 1960’s, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Both bands were from England, and both bands were revolutionary in their music, but the ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Baptist

The Book Of Daniel Is About Teenagers.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 1, 2022

HOW MANY MISS THE POINT THAT THESE ARE TEENAGERS! The Book of Daniel is about a young man and his teenage friends who grew up in a time when his country, Judah, southern tribes of Israel, was judged by God for their idolatry. God allowed the most ungodly leader and nation in the world, King ...read more

Tags: Mothers, Fasting, Fathers, Teenagers, Daniel, Family, Prayer, Revival  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Skepticism About The Virgin Birth  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2009

SKEPTICISM ABOUT THE VIRGIN BIRTH A group of Bible scholars have unanimously agreed that Jesus had a human father, but they are uncertain who it was. Thus, according to these scholars, Jesus was not born of a virgin, was not conceived by the Holy Spirit, was and is not literally the Son of God, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Tags: Birth Of Jesus

There Is Something Convenient About Being A ...

Contributed by Thomas Cash on Mar 9, 2010

There is something convenient about being a fence-straddler. We think we can have the best of both worlds. But in order to make a real commitment to Jesus Christ, we have to weigh our options. Anyone who has ever struggled with their faith will come out stronger. One of my biggest personal ...read more

Tags: Prayer Of Faith

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Hudson Taylor Learns About ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 10, 2010

Hudson Taylor Learns About Giving One wonderful testimony of faith from church history is that of Hudson Taylor, the first missionary to the interior of China (in the mid-1800s). He was a great evangelist because he learn “to move man, through God, by prayer alone.” To prepare for the loneliness ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16

Tags: Giving Yourself

What To Do About The Bloopers

Contributed by Ricki Lee Brooks on Jun 28, 2010

WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE BLOOPERS Leon Lett. Nice name. It has a bit of a ring to it. However, unless you are a true NFL football fan, it’s probably not a name that rings a bell for you. So let me fill you in on Leon. Leon played in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys from 1991 to 2000 and the Denver ...read more

Tags: Attitude General

Boat Builder Learns About ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 12, 2010

Boat Builder Learns about Humility Skip looked at the group of suspicious stockholders and wondered what he could do to convince them to follow his leadership. He was 35, looked 13 and was third generation rich. He could tell they thought they were headed for a disaster. He told them a story. His ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:18

Tags: Humility

Our Thoughts About God

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 4, 2011

OUR THOUGHTS ABOUT GOD A.W. Tozer said this, "Whatever comes to our mind when we think of God is the most important thing about us." We are all theologians, because theology is really simply the study of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 48:9-10

Tags: Thought

Bible Is All About Jesus

Contributed by Gordon Curley on May 7, 2011

BIBLE IS ALL ABOUT JESUS The university library in Kansas is home to a very unusual Bible. At first it looks very ordinary, but when the gilt edges are slightly parted, it reveals a picture of Christ with his disciples in the upper room. Underneath the picture are the words; "It is myself, handle ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Brethren

He Knows About Me

Contributed by Tim White on Apr 2, 2012

HE KNOWS ABOUT ME When I was talking with another counselor once, he asked if he could take me through an exercise that he uses to help people struggling with assurance or attaining victory, and/or were stalled in Christian growth. He had me close my eyes and imagine that Jesus Christ walks into ...read more

Tags: Guilt

Denomination: Baptist

3 Truths About Trials

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 16, 2014

THREE TRUTHS ABOUT TRIALS There is a difference between TEMPTATIONS and TRIALS. Temptations come from the Enemy on the outside to make us weaker. Trials come from the Father to make us stronger. Scripture reminds us of three truths we must remember when we face a trial: 1. Trials come to ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-4

Tags: Faith, Temptation, Patience, Trial, Testing Faith  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Five Facts About Valleys

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 17, 2017

God designs valleys for His sheep to grow and sometimes He has to "make us lie down" there to teach us how to trust Him. Here are 5 facts about valleys we need to remember: 1. Valleys are INEVITABLE. Jesus promised valleys would come in this world (John 16:33). 2. Valleys are UNPREDICTABLE. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-4

Tags: Character, Tests, Trials, Valleys Of Life

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational