In Sermon Illustrations: "Psalm Of Lament"

How Much Sleep Is Too Much?

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 19, 2025

I have noticed recently that sleeping has become a very important part of my life. This just snuck up on me overnight. When I was young and living at home, I tried to come up with excuses and reasons for not going to bed at night. My parents had an early bedtime schedule that they enforced rather ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 127:2

Tags: Sleep, Energy

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Music Is Major Influence For "Mosaic" Generation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2002

Music is major influence for "mosaic" generation On a recent edition of the radio program "For Faith and Family", pollster George Barna discussed the significant cultural influence music exerts on the Mosaic generation (those born between 1984 and 2002): "Music is really interesting because ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:49-50, Luke 2:11, Psalm 23:1

Tags: Worship Benefits, Skill, Worship Purpose, Know God, Play  (view more)  (view less)

After A Forest Fire In Yellowstone National Park, ...  PRO

Contributed by James Botts on Sep 10, 2002

After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Startled by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 17:8, Isaiah 53:1, Psalm 91:4

Tags: God's Provision, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Baptist

On Top Of The Fencepost  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 12, 2002

ON TOP OF THE FENCEPOST Alex Haley, the author of "Roots," had an unusual picture hanging on his office wall. It was a picture of a turtle on top of a fence post. When asked, "Why is that there?" Alex Haley answered, "Every time I write something significant, every time I read my words & think ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:2-12, Psalm 8:1, Psalm 8:1

Tags: Joy, Help, Gratitude, Thanksgiving Holiday, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, God's Provision  (view more)  (view less)

Refining Sap To Maple Syrup  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2011

REFINING SAP TO MAPLE SYRUP Dr. David Osborn at Denver Seminary says, "Too often we try to use God to change our circumstances, while He is using our circumstances to change us." (Compass, April 2003) You see, God is right now in the process of making us like Christ. Think of the process of ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4, Psalm 13:1-6, Psalm 34:15-16

Tags: Sanctification

[029] A Message From A Poem – Be Still And Know That I Am God

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 15, 2025

[029] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD This is a very special poem because in a time of great difficulty, the Lord woke me from irregular sleep to give me this poem at 3 o’clock in the morning. Of course the poem flowed along because it came from God. It was a message I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 4:4, Luke 10:39-40, Psalm 46:10

Tags: Mary, Rest In The Lord, Be Still, Wait On The Lord, I Am God, Cease Striving, Seated At His Feet  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[030] A Message From A Poem – Beauty From Ashes

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 18, 2025

[030] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BEAUTY FROM ASHES One of the deepest emotions we have is shame. Shame happens when sin has caused havoc in a person’s life, and the realisation of it bursts like a cloud over the person. Shame brings guilt and guilt can affect a person greatly, even causing ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:10, Psalm 51:1-2, Psalm 51:12, 1 John 1:7-9

Tags: David, Forgiveness, Beauty, Holy Spirit, Repentance, Guilt, Shame, Bathsheba, Conviction, Poetry, Ashes, Sinning  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Some Years Ago At A Drawing-Room Function, One Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 24, 2002

Some years ago at a drawing-room function, one of England’s leading actors was asked to recite for the pleasure of his fellow guests. He consented and asked if there was anything special that his audience would like to hear. After a moment’s pause, an old clergyman present said: "Could you, sir, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1, John 10:27-30, Luke 2:8-20, Psalm 23:1-6

Tags: Shepherd

Dragging My Sin  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 6, 2005

DRAGGING MY SIN In this award winning film called “The Mission,” Robert DeNiro plays a mercenary who has taken asylum in the local church after killing his brother in a fit of jealous rage. He eventually leaves the church and heads to a mission post located above the waterfalls in a South American ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-11, Psalm 32:1-11, Mark 5:1-19, Mark 5:1-19

Tags: Forgiveness General, Forgiveness For Others, Character

[085]. A Message From A Poem – For All Christians - The Three Ps

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 21, 2025

[085]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR ALL CHRISTIANS - THE THREE Ps There are 9 poems in this Trilogy series. This poem is part of a Trilogy - three sets of three. The first set is addressed to MEN, the second to ALL CHRISTIANS and the third is SPECIFIC. This is the first one in the second set ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 47:5-7, Galatians 5:22-23, Romans 12:11-12, Psalm 57:7-9

Tags: Praise, Prayer, Patience, Poetry, Poems, Vital Links  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Grief

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 17, 2022

On Death and Loss… He was 50 years old. The cancer was aggressive and relentless. The pain was unmanageable and agonizing. In two months he was gone. I didn't have the opportunity to say good-bye and if I did, what would I say? Could I get the words out? Our last communication, me in Port ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25, Psalm 90:1-12, 2 Corinthians 1:1-7

Tags: Grief, Death, Sickness

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Optimist Says, The Cup Is Half Full. The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 16, 2001

The optimist says, the cup is half full. The pessimist says, the cup is half empty. The child ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1, Nehemiah 1:11

Tags: Parable General, Joy, Thanksgiving Holiday

In An Earlier Century, There Lay A Large Boulder ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Warren on May 1, 2001

In an earlier century, there lay a large boulder in the middle of the roadway. Traveler after traveler walked past the boulder, veering off the side of the road to get around it. All the while, they were shaking their head and muttering, "Can you believe that? Someone should get that big thing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Psalm 61:1-8

Tags: Doing God's Will, Evangelism, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Reaching The End Of A Job Interview, The Human ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 4, 2001

Reaching the end of a job interview, the human resources person asked a young engineer fresh out of MIT what kind of a salary he was looking for. "In the neighborhood of $140,000 a year, depending on the benefits package." "Well, what would you say to a package of 5-weeks vacation, 14 paid ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3, Luke 17:7-10

Tags: Servant, Workplace, Christian Disciplines

He Could Have Turned Around  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2001

He could have turned around A 20-year-old man was arrested by the Omaha Police on the “suspicion of robbery and giving police false information,” which was one of many wrong turns for this young man. His first wrong turn was the desire to make some quick, easy money for whatever reason. His ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:14, Proverbs 29:6

Tags: Sin Deceptive, Sin Wages Of, Repentance

Today In Sunday School The Teacher Told Us A ...

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jul 13, 2001

Today in Sunday School the teacher told us a story about Gaylord and his old dog that wouldn’t bite anybody. Seems that the dog liked to run alongside when Gaylord rode his bike. Gaylord either did not have a chain guard on the bike or this was in the days when they did not use them. Anyway, one ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 36:7, Revelation 21:4

Tags: Trust, Pain, Distrust

Denomination: Baptist

The One True God  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 18, 2002

THE ONE TRUE GOD "Back in my Bible college days I struck up a friendship with a man from the Far East. Before his conversion to Christianity, the worship of man-made wooden images and human-like deities was a way of life. As a little boy, the question came to his mind one day, 'Why do I worship ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:12-121, Leviticus 26:1

Prayer's Best Position  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on May 20, 2002

PRAYER'S BEST POSITION Three ministers were talking about prayer in general and the appropriate and effective positions for prayer. As they were talking, a telephone repairman was working on the phone system in the background. One minister shared that he felt the key was in the hands. He always ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 5:1-8, John 17:1-26

Tags: Prayer How To, Prayer General, Strength

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

But Before That...  PRO

Contributed by Gregg Strawbridge on Jul 7, 2002

BUT BEFORE THAT... In 1992, when our own Govenor, Kirk Fordice stated unreservedly “America is a Christian nation” the response bordered on hysteria. But before that -- Congress, declared 1983 to be the “Year of the Bible” — stating that the Bible, the Word of God, has made a unique contribution ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:18, Psalm 33:12

Tags: Kingdom Of God, July, Heritage, History, Independence Day, Independence, America, Freedom  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Tony Evans Says, "If You Limit Worship To Where ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Hamilton on Apr 29, 2003

Tony Evans says, “If you limit worship to where you are, the minute you leave that place of worship you will leave your attitude of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 113:1-3, Matthew 2:1-18

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Baptist