In Sermon Illustrations: "Psalm 103 1 7 8 13"

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

The Blood Of Jesus Christ Cleanses All Sin

Contributed by Raymond Petzholt on Oct 17, 2005

How is it possible that the blood of Jesus Christ has such power to redeem and cleanse us from all sin? This is possible because of who Jesus is and what He did when He died on the Cross. First, Jesus was, is and always will be, absolutely sinless in thought word and deed. Secondly, Jesus ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:7

Tags: Redemption, Forgiveness, Blood Of Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

Outward Pressure And Inward Pleasure

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Sep 12, 2025

Outward Pressure and Inward Pleasure Cross bearing is an indispensable part of a Christian’s life (Luke 9:23), so that work of molding a person into a Christ-like image which begins at the point of re-generation is completed in all respects (2 Cor 3:18) by the time of Rapture or one’s departure ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:7-8

Tags: Outward Pressure, Inward Pleasure

Denomination: *other

Joe Bayly, A Christian Author And Leader, Had A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 2, 2012

Joe Bayly, a Christian author and leader, had a son named Tim who was not following the Lord. This caused great tension in the home until one day Joe told his son he had to move out. Taking Tim aside, he said, "Tim, you're not living for God and you need to leave our home." Tim left, but his ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:4-5

Tags: Parenting

Prophecies Of The Messiah

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 21, 2020

The Bible Passes The Prophecy Test! There are literally thousands of prophetic predictions made in the Bible. Some of these prophecies are quite dramatic in nature. For instance, Isaiah mentions Cyrus the Persian King, by name, 125 years before he was born. Not a single one prophecy made in the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Inspiration, Inerrancy, Bible, Messiah, Christmas, Jesus, Prophecy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The V-Formation (Geese)

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 31, 2020

V-SHAPED FORMATION… GEESE ARE STRONG AS A SKEIN. The V-formation is called a skein. Do we understand how wonderful God’s creation is? Study has revealed that GEESE fly in a V-shaped formation when they are migrating. This serves several purposes. The V-formation improves the ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3, 1 Samuel 30:8

Tags: Unity, Geese

Denomination: Assembly Of God

A Preacher Once Wrote About An Incident In His ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 19, 2002

A preacher once wrote about an incident in his life: “I’d received a notice from my 13 year old son’s school announcing a meeting to preview the new course in sexuality. Parents could examine the curriculum and take part in an actual lesson presented exactly as it would be given to the students. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:3

Tags: Marriage Faithfulness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Depression: "I Need ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2009

DEPRESSION: "I NEED HELP." Dear Sir, Hi. My name is Carole. I am seventeen years old and a senior in high school. And I want to die. My name is Brandy. I’m 13 years old and I’ve tried to kill myself six times. I had some problems with my mom and I felt I couldn’t live anymore. I don’t know what ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-21

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

How Much Does The Bible Talk About The Second Coming?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 28, 2023

Biblical prophecy provides some of the greatest encouragement and hope available to us today. Just as the Old Testament is saturated with prophecies concerning Christ's first advent, so both testaments are filled with references to the second coming of Christ. One scholar has estimated that ...read more

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

Tags: End Times, Prophecy, Second Coming, Last Days, Rapture, Day Of The Lord, Return Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Church Is Expanding. 12 Disciple Grew To 120 ...  PRO

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on Nov 28, 2006

The Church is expanding. 12 disciple grew to 120 in a upper room followed by Peters sermon 3000 believed, shortly after 5000 were add then came persecution till AD 313 Edict of toleration around 10 million Christians at this time. By the year 1000 this had grown to 50 million. By the end of the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Hope For When Christ Comes

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jun 27, 2021

This two-part story can frame a message on heaven, hope or the resurrection. The 1989 Armenian earthquake needed only 4 minutes to flatten the nation and kill 30,000 people. Moments after the deadly tremor ceased, a father raced to an elementary school to save his son. When he arrived, he saw that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:14, 1 Corinthians 15:17, 1 Corinthians 15:23, Romans 6:5-9

Tags: Resurrection, Heaven, Hope

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Adoption: We Want This Child!

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Jan 11, 2018

A young couple visited a boarding care home which housed children for adoption. The care taker brought out all the children who were clean (recently bathed), well dressed, properly schooled in manners; for this couple’s inspection and selection. As they passed down the line and spoke to each child, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:15-17, Galatians 4:4-7, 1 Peter 1:3-5

Tags: Blessings Of God, Adoption, Eternal Life, Children Of God, Heirs In Christ, Love And Hope  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Be Prepared

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 15, 2019

BE PREPARED A few minutes before 8 AM on Sunday, December 7, 1941, Japanese carrier-based airplanes struck Pearl Harbor. In a raid lasting less than two hours, they sank or seriously damaged eight battleships and 13 other naval vessels. Almost 200 American aircraft were destroyed, and approximately ...read more

Scripture: Amos 4:12

Tags: Complacency, Be Prepared

Denomination: Pentecostal

Rules Of Male-Female Relationships  PRO

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Apr 25, 2001

"Rules of Male-Female Relationships" 1. The Female always makes the Rules. 2. The Rules are subject to change at any time without prior notification. 3. No Male can possibly know all the Rules. 4. If the Female suspects the Male knows all the Rules, she must immediately change some or all of the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12-13, Hebrews 4:1-15, Hebrews 4:14-16, Hebrews 5:1-10

Tags: Romantic Love, Marriage Obligations

Denomination: Baptist

How Jesus Trained The Disciples

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

Robert E. Coleman wrote the book, The Master's Plan of Evangelism, and gave us the principles that Jesus used to spread the Gospel around the world until He returns. Here is the list: 1. SELECTION:   “He chose from the twelve.” (Luke 6:13)  2. ASSOCIATION: The principle of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8

Tags: Evangelism, Outreach, Discipleship, Missions, Witnessing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

James Uses Paradoxes To Convey Stabilizing ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 1, 2001

James uses paradoxes to convey stabilizing wisdom. Paradoxes are like literary oxymorons. Top Ten List of Oxymorons. 10. Computer security 9. Political science 8. Tight slacks 7. Definite maybe 6. Pretty ugly 5. Twelve-ounce pound ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-18

Tags: Workplace, Descriptions Of God, God's Omniscience

Blue Collar 34.9% Of U.s. Blue Collar Workers Are ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 20, 2007

Blue Collar 34.9% of U.S. blue collar workers are female vs. 31.6% in ’00. Hispanics make up 22.5%, up from 19%. Caucasians declined from 59.1% to 52.8%. Blacks fell from 17.6% to 15.9%. ...read more

Tags: Workplace

The Clarence Principle

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 7, 2011

THE CLARENCE PRINCIPLE That's what spiritual maturity is--It's not just being a Christian for a little while. It's being able to discern the difference between right and wrong, because you have practiced applying the principles of God's Word in your every-day life. It's being able to discern the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-4

Tags: Leadership General

Firestorms

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 10, 2011

FIRESTORMS I was at Boy Scout Camp when I discovered the terrible damage a fire storm could do to my life. It was a lazy afternoon very hot and dry. John and I were sent back to camp to start dinner for the guys. When I got back to camp, I discovered that the camp fire looked as if it had gone ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-22, 1 Samuel 11:3-7

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Publicly ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Publicly Sing Praises to God A Necessity in Corporate Worship Corporate worship services offer Christians the opportunity to publicly sing the greatness of God, proclaim His truths and better yet, as a congregation sing unto the Lord. Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:19

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational