In Sermon Illustrations: "Psalm 23:1-8"

Why We Hide

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 12, 2025

Think about a little boy who breaks a lamp in the living room. What does he do? He hides under the bed. Mom still knows. The lamp is still broken. But shame ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:8, Psalm 32:3

Tags: Shame, Hiding

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Big Hands

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 13, 2025

A boy and his mother walked into the corner drug store to buy a few things. And right there on the counter was a big glass candy jar—one of those old-fashioned ones, filled to the brim with all the colors a child’s imagination could want. The boy froze. You know how kids get—locked in, mesmerized, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20, Psalm 81:10

Tags: Trust, Provision

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Rose?

Contributed by David Dunn on Dec 10, 2025

John had always been famously forgetful. Everyone knew it—birthdays, appointments, even his own anniversary once. So when he ran into his friend Bill at the grocery store, he could hardly wait to share the news. “Bill!” he said, grinning. “You’re not going to believe this. My memory problem? I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:14, Isaiah 49:15-16

Tags: Identity, Memory

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Your Last Meal?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 14, 2026

WHAT MEAL WOULD YOU ORDER IF YOU KNEW IT WAS YOUR LAST? WHAT TALE ARE YOU TELLING? SEVERAL YEARS AGO I WAS WITH A 38 YEAR OLD MAN ON DEATH ROW. At midnight we would take a walk to the death chamber. He was given his last request what to eat. He had ordered 2 REUBEN SANDWICHES AND CURLY FRIES. He ...read more

Scripture: James 4:14-15, Psalm 90:9-10

Tags: Death, Last Meal

Denomination: Assembly Of God

What Waiting Actually Feels Like

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

When I was home in Texas, my dad was taken into the ER suddenly because his left hand stopped working like it should. The ends of his fingers were numb, and he couldn’t tell if he was grabbing objects even when he was. I met him at the hospital right before he went back, and when we walked into ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:36-38, Psalm 130:5-6

Tags: Suffering, Waiting

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Navigtionally Challenged

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

When I was 16, I went to pick up my girlfriend to drive and meet my parents and grandparents for a hockey game downtown. Downtown was north of my house in Amarillo. You get on I-27, head north, fifteen minutes, done. We drove for a while. And a little while more. And nothing was looking familiar. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 5:22-24, Psalm 119:105

Tags: Guidance, God's Word

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Was Building Someone I Didn't Have In Mind

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 18, 2026

I've got an idea of the kind of person that I want to be. Anyone else? In fact, that's probably one of the reasons that I'm so hard on myself sometimes. One of the reasons that I may not like me, at times, maybe as much as I should, is because I want to be the kind of person that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 16:11, Proverbs 16:9

Tags: God's Plan, Calling

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[348]. A Message From A Poem - Without Christ The Life Is Wasted

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 12, 2026

[348]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WITHOUT CHRIST THE LIFE IS WASTED This poem covers the two states of mankind. One of those is lost and one is found. One is salvation and one is destruction. This is an examination of life and the two destinies. Both are considered. We live in a sinful world ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14, Psalm 1:5-6

Tags: Wasted Life, Two Ways, The Broad Way, The Righteous, The Wicked, The Narrow Way, Wasted, Two Destinies, Christian Poems, Two Eternal States  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Old American Indian Tale Recounts The Story Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Jones on Nov 3, 2000

An old American Indian tale recounts the story of a chief who was telling a gathering of young braves about the struggle within. "It is like two dogs fighting inside of us," the chief told them. "There is one good dog who wants to do the right and the other dog always wants to do the wrong. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:38-50, Psalm 139:13-16, Proverbs 4:1-27, Isaiah 6:1-5, Psalm 139:1-14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Seek, Steadfast, Stumbling Block, Service, Willingness, Worship, Turn, Commitment, Experience, Discipleship, Encounter, Pray, Obedience, Growth In Christ, Humble, Holiness, Hero  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

I Used The Famous Gene Kelly Scene From Singing ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 24, 2001

I used the famous Gene Kelly scene from Singing in the Rain as an illustration of Romans 5:17. The Sermon title was Singing in the Reign. Kelly’s dance was full of the child-like love we can feel and experience in knowing that God has freely given us His abundance of grace and the free gift of ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-8, Romans 5:17, Psalm 51:1-21, Galatians 2:15-21, Psalm 51:1-10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faith Vs. Works, Grace

Bamboo  PRO

Contributed by Danny Thomas on May 21, 2001

Bamboo Once upon a time, in the heart of the Western Kingdom, lay a beautiful garden. And there, in the cool of the day, the Master of the garden was wont to walk. Of all the denizens of the garden, the most beautiful and most beloved was gracious and noble bamboo. Year after year, bamboo grew yet ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-33, Psalm 34:18, Psalm 51:17, Luke 9:1-6, Daniel 1:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Doing God's Will, Destiny, Discipleship, Evangelism, Christian Disciplines, Harvest, Humility, Persistence, Welcome, Witness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Law Of The Pendulum  PRO

Contributed by Steven Dow on Jul 17, 2002

THE LAW OF THE PENDULUM In college a student was asked to prepare a lesson to teach his speech class. He was to be graded on creativity and ability to drive home a point in a memorable way. The title of his talk was, “The Law of the Pendulum.” He spent twenty minutes carefully teaching the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 9:10, Psalm 37:3, Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 26:4, Matthew 8:19  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Trust, Risk, Provision, Faith, Doubt, Belief  (view more)  (view less)

A Wrist Watch And A Big Bang

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Mar 24, 2019

Shake it together! If we placed the parts of a wrist watch in a bag and began to shake it; how long do you think it would be, before it came together, and function properly? Both the world and the watch had a creator, designer, and maker. The world did not begin as a result of a big bang. God ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1, Hebrews 1:10, John 1:1-3, Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Evolution Theory, Wrist Watch Created, Creation, God Created, Big Bang, Darwins Theory  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Parable Of The French Fry

Contributed by Doug Fannon on Sep 23, 2019

Once upon a time, last week, I picked up my son after football and he was hungry. So he and I stop at Burger King to pick up a snack. Well I bought for my son two of his basic food groups, Chicken Nuggets and French Fries. After going through the drive through, tossing in the bag of food in front ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 24:1, Psalm 50:10-15, 2 Corinthians 9:7, Malachi 3:8-10

Tags: Giving, Stewardship, Tithing

Denomination: Baptist

Close Call -- For Real!

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 3, 2024

The Arms Race was on; we no longer feared atomic bombs, but the H-bomb. Bomb shelters would not protect against that greater level of destruction. At one point, we were a button away from a nuclear holocaust. According to wikipedia.com, “Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov…. was a lieutenant colonel of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 31:15, Matthew 24:6-14, Acts 4:28, Colossians 1:16, Psalm 2:1-12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: History, Wars, End Times, Sovereignty, Danger, Providence  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

[031] A Message From A Poem – Before Him Lay The Cross

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 19, 2025

[031] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BEFORE HIM LAY THE CROSS We have a retrospective view of the cross in a very limited understanding, but the Lord’s view in the Garden of gethsemane was a forward one. The anticipation of that ordeal was a dreadful one. That comes out in the description and this ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2, John 3:16-17, Psalm 69:1-3, Psalm 22:13-16, Matthew 26:38-39  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Love, The Cross, Anticipation, Endurance, Cross, Suffering, Gethsemane, Endure, Calvary  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[041] A Message From A Poem – Christ - Our Support In Hurt

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 1, 2025

[041] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHRIST - OUR SUPPORT IN HURT We can pass through stormy seas and feel like those disciples in the boat when calm gave way to anxiety, but Jesus was in the boat resting in peace. The disciples focussed on the conditions and not on the Lord. Is that like us as ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 56:3-4, Psalm 56:11, Matthew 28:20, John 14:16, Mark 4:37-40  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Hurt, Afraid, Support, Alone, Anxious, Always With You  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[322]. A Message From A Poem - Untethered Wickedness Has Spawned Itself

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 27, 2026

[322]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - UNTETHERED WICKEDNESS HAS SPAWNED ITSELF We know we live in a wicked world. We know our old fallen nature is wicked. It is just the way we are and confirmed by David – {{Psalm 51:5 “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.”}} ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-16, Romans 1:28-31, Psalm 51:5, Genesis 6:5, Psalm 7:14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Satan, Abortion, Judgment, Wickedness, Armor Of God, Evil Heart, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Is An Old Story About A Man In China Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 9, 2001

There is an old story about a man in China who was walking on a rain slick road. He lost his footing & fell into a ditch filled with mud. He kept sinking deeper & deeper in the mud. The more he struggled to get out of the ditch, the deeper he sank. As he was sinking in the mud Buddha came ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, 2 Corinthians 12:7-11, Psalm 103:4, Psalm 40:1-3

Tags: World Religions, Humanity Of Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Do Not Hinder Prayer

Contributed by James Dina on Jul 19, 2020

Do not hinder prayer. Those that live without prayer in the world, live without God in their lives. “Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the peoples who do not call on your name.” (Jeremiah 10:25). To restrain prayer is worse than not to pray. The latter indicate only ...read more

Scripture: Job 15:4-5, Psalm 60:11, Psalm 51:15, Matthew 12:37, Isaiah 50:4, James 3:8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faith, Prayer, Words, Tongue, Hypocrite, Hinder  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal