In Sermon Illustrations: "Prayer How To"

Kyle Idleman On Going Where Jesus Goes

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 18, 2013

The most literal way to define a follower of Jesus is "Someone who goes where Jesus goes." I'm not sure how you can call yourself a follower of Jesus if you refuse to go where Jesus went. If you're following Jesus "wherever," he will take you towards a sinner that others wouldn't want to be seen ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:57-58

Tags: Surrender, Jesus Christ, Commitment To Christ, Call To Discipleship

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Transformed Versus Conformed -- The Case Of The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 5, 2013

TRANSFORMED VERSUS CONFORMED -- THE CASE OF THE JAPANESE WATERMELON Farmers in Zentsuji, Japan, are preparing full-grown watermelons for shipment -- only these are no ordinary melons: they're square! They were placed in tempered-glass cubes while they were still growing. Why would anyone want a ...read more

Scripture: James 12:1-2

Tags: Sanctification

Just In Case

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 7, 2013

JUST IN CASE A Louisiana game warden had been tracking Boudreaux, the infamous Cajun poacher, Late one night he stumbled upon the criminal’s cabin. Climbing upon the roof, the game warden waited for the dawn, hoping to jump the poacher as he emerged. The game warden after a fitful night of trying ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-51

Tags: Second Coming

Someone The Shepherd Brought Home  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 22, 2013

Someone the Shepherd Brought Home Carl Ketcherside served with and was instrumental in a strict branch of the Restoration Movement. However, the Lord made a lot of changes in his life. In his later years he moved to St. Louis and ministered among the down and out. At this time, Ketcherside ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 34:1-31

Tags: Good Shepherd, False Shepherds, Great Shepherd

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Too Wicked For Ministry

Contributed by Keith Foskey on Apr 16, 2014

Paul Washer is a powerful preacher and evangelist. He once had a seminary student send him a message. He was afraid that he was too bad to enter the ministry. He sent him a message that simply said, "I think I am too wicked to be in the ministry." And Paul Washer wrote him back and said, "You are ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:19-26

Tags: Assurance, Confidence, Reliance On God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dan Kimball: Passionate About Hell

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

Dan Kimball writes, "I am passionate about hell. That sounds odd -- but I am not passionate about hell itself, but passionate about studying what it is because of the seriousness of what it is. I am passionate about it as I don't want anyone to experience it. Sort of like when you study cancer, you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Tags: Hell, Doctrine Of Hell

Denomination: Methodist

Mothers

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Feb 29, 2016

To Mama and Jesus, You and He, You gave me life and He extended it. You saved me from the cold and He from sin. You taught me hope and He defended it. From you I once was born . . . from Him again. You let me skip in fields that He had made. He bid me bless the loaves you baked for me. You ordered ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-6

Tags: Death, A Mother's Heart

Denomination: Baptist

Godly Counsel

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 7, 2016

GODLY COUNSEL Proverbs 11:14 is a timely verse for the United States of America. It declares, “A nation falls through a lack of guidance, but victory comes through the counsel of many.” God has placed godly men and women around you in the Body of Christ. Use their wisdom, experience and ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 11:1-14

Tags: Wisdom, God's Will, Hearing God, Counselors

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Romans Road To Salvation

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 24, 2019

The Romans Road to Salvation 1. I consider myself a good person. All have sinned & fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 2. Is sin that big of a deal? The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 3. Why would Jesus die in my ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23, Romans 10:9

Tags: Salvation, Gospel, The Cross

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Romans 1:22

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 23, 2019

Romans 1:22 Life is so much vanity. We live on the brink of insanity. This is so very, very odd For creation is in the image of God. We plod along in our sin Knowing that we cannot win. Our souls so easily we sell To that pawnbroker of Hell. Instead of singing, "How Great Thou ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:22

Tags: Sin, Vanity, Hypocrisy, Religion, Traditions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Helping People Help Themselves

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 24, 2019

From Parade magazine comes the story of self-made millionaire Eugene Land, who greatly changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in East Harlem. Mr. Lang had been asked to speak to a class of 59 sixth-graders. What could he say to inspire these students, most of whom would drop out of school? He ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:4-8, Revelation 1:17-18

Tags: Help, Success, Wise Generosity, Benevolance

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Quotes On Suffering For Christ

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

There is a certain kind of maturity that can be attained only through the discipline of suffering. - D. A. Carson Do not kick against suffering, for in so doing you may be fighting against God. - Spurgeon Life without struggle and difficulty is thin and tasteless. How can a noble life be ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:10-12

Tags: Pain, Spiritual Warfare, Discipleship, Suffering, Take Up Your Cross  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don't Go Back

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Feb 20, 2021

Several years ago, Karen and I was up in the Ruidoso area; and I decided to try a short cut that I thought I knew about. The problem was, the road turned into a very rough dirt road; and the further we went, the worse the road became. We came upon a farmer’s house and land; and there was a ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:8-9

Tags: Freedom, Forward

Denomination: Baptist

The Wrong Target

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 31, 2021

Emmons loses gold medal after aiming at wrong target! 2004 Washington Post: Matt Emmons of the United States shoots at wrong target, finishes eighth. (Douglas C. Pizac -- AP) Matthew Emmons is an elite athlete ! He was an accounting major from Browns Mill, New Jersey. He was a four-year ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:26-30, 1 Corinthians 9:24, 2 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Purpose, Priorities, Idolatry

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Is Your Struggle

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Aug 25, 2021

As a group of frogs was traveling through the woods, two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs crowded around the pit and saw how deep it was, they told the two frogs that there was no hope left for them. However, the two frogs decided to ignore what the others were saying and they ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20

Tags: Faith, Believe In Yourself

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Being Persecuted

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 13, 2023

As we live our Christian lives there are a lot of questions that are related to the Christian Life that don't really fall into life and death categories. Questions like: what's your favorite version of the bible? How can I be a better group member? Or the BIG ALL-IMPORTANT QUESTION: if a ...read more

Scripture: John 15:18-25

Tags: Persecution, Suffering

Denomination: Baptist

Meekness: Personal Restraint For The Sake Of Others

Contributed by Richard Tow on Mar 20, 2023

Years ago, a young man named George Atley was serving in the Central African Mission. He was attacked by a group of natives. He had with him a Winchester repeating rifle with ten loaded chambers. The group was completely at his mercy. He could have killed every one of them. But as he assessed the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:15, Psalm 37:11

Tags: Evangelism, Love, Missions, Meekness, Restraint  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

I Aint The One Who Is Lost!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 12, 2023

A businessman was traveling through the country and stopped to ask a young boy for directions. "Son, I seem to be lost. Do you know how to get to next town?" The boy was eating an ice cream cone and slowly replied, "Nope." "Do you know far it is to the next ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, 1 John 5:1-13

Tags: Children, Salvation, Humor, Lost, Eternal Life, Saved, Plan Of Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The God Who Is Three In One

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 17, 2023

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are mentioned by Jesus in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). The Trinity is seen clearly at the Baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3. The Father speaks from Heaven. The Son is baptized by John. The Spirit descends upon Jesus to anoint His ministry. The Father is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Tags: Holy Spirit, Son, Trinity, Godhead, Triune, Father  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Budding Of The Fig Tree

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 16, 2023

Luke 21 records the parable of the Budding of the Fig Tree by Jesus. This parable is interpreted by many evangelical writers as a reference to the Regathering of Israel as prophesied by Ezekiel 38. It happened in 1948 as the nation was re-born miraculously as we prepare for the return of ...read more

Tags: Prophecy, Second Coming, Parables, Rapture, Return Of Christ, Regathering, Israel, End Times  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational