In Sermon Illustrations: "Psalms 1 1 30 20"

The Use Of Wine

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Dec 22, 2018

An aged brother told me jokingly one time regarding the difference between the elders and deacon’s use of wine, in 1 Timothy 3:3. He said Brother Freeman: “It’s simple. The deacon can drink, ‘a little wine’; however, the elder can only sip it, swish it around in his mouth, and then spit it out.” He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-4

Tags: Deacon, Member, Wine, Elder, Preacher, Drink  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Floating Pumpkins

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 8, 2020

Satan will use the same type of tactics that hunters use in Africa. The story is told of a certain African tribe that learned an easy way to capture ducks in a river. Catching their agile and wary dinner would be a feat indeed, so these hunters formulated a plan. The tribesmen learned to go ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 Peter 5:6-9

Tags: Sin, Deception, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, Sexual Sins  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Perfect Church

Contributed by David Parks on Sep 19, 2022

If you should find the perfect church Without one spot or sore For goodness sake! Don’t join that church! For it won’t be perfect anymore. If you should find the perfect church Where all anxieties cease. Then pass it by, lest you join it, And mar the masterpiece. But since no perfect church ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:7, Matthew 16:18, 1 Corinthians 13:1-10

Tags: Faith, Love, Church, Hope

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Bring The Tithe To The Storehouse

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 13, 2023

When I was a young boy, I started mowing yards to make money so I could buy hundreds and hundreds of baseball cards! When I made my first money, my mother reminded me of what God says in the Bible about tithing. "Now, son, the word tithe means one-tenth. God asks us to bring 1 out of every ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10, Proverbs 3:9-10, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Tags: Storehouse, Priests, Old Testament, Church, Giving, Stewardship, Tithing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Honesty Or Dishonest Gain

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jan 23, 2024

1 Peter 5:1-3 warns against dishonest gain - "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care...not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve." In January 2024 a USA pastor and his wife were charged after hundreds of Christians invested in their cryptocurrency scheme. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-3, 1 Timothy 3:1-10, Titus 1:5-9

Tags: Money, Deception, Greed, Pastor, Integrity, Service  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Illustration – The Coffee Cup

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 18, 2024

AN ILLUSTRATION – THE COFFEE CUP I don’t prefer strong coffee for it has a couple of effects on me. My wife bought these coffee bags that had “intense” on the packets. I know I might horrify some people but I found I could use these coffee bags 4 times. They only need to be in hot water for a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1, 1 John 2:16-17, 1 John 1:8-10

Tags: Coffee Mug, Adulterated, Sin Is Subtle, Sin, Deceived, Coffee  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[013] A Message From A Poem - Academic Christianity

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 14, 2024

[013] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - ACADEMIC CHRISTIANITY If you did a survey in universities and places of higher learning, and in liberal theological colleges in our days, you would find very few Christians. The mind of man today is bent on humanism and the search for rationalism in an existential ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:3, 1 Corinthians 1:18-19, 1 Corinthians 1:23-25

Tags: Humanism, Academic Christianity, Professing Christians, Faith, Salvation, Foolishness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Obedience Matters To God

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 2, 2025

So many churches in our day have been captivated by church growth techniques and have made attendance the measure of success. I have got bad news for these folks – God’s measure of success is the ...read more

Scripture: John 14:15, 1 John 5:2-3, 1 Samuel 15:22

Tags: Obedience, God's Will

Denomination: Methodist

[082]. A Message From A Poem – For Men - The Three Gs

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 14, 2025

[082]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR MEN - THE THREE Gs There are 9 poems in this 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 first set - FOR MEN. ALL ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:9-10, 1 John 2:16, Philippians 2:3

Tags: Glory, Gold, Strength, Poetry, Poem, Girls, Ensnare, For Men  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[210]. A Message From A Poem – Our Pilgrim Journey

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 23, 2025

[210]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – OUR PILGRIM JOURNEY When I was to do the Introduction for this poem I noticed that it had only 3 stanzas. I don’t write poems that short, so back there in 2021, I may have intended coming back to it to add more. I can not remember now. Anyway I did add all the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-4, 1 Peter 2:11, Hebrews 11:13

Tags: Home, Pilgrim, Pilgrim Journey, Christian Poems, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Judgement

Contributed by John Bright on Sep 23, 2025

I don’t believe that God’s Judgement should be our main focus, but I also believe it’s wrong to never mention the Judgement of God. Remember, God must judge humanity because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Our God is a Holy God who also wants us to be holy. (1 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:5, Romans 3:23, 1 Peter 1:16

Tags: Grace, Holy Spirit, Judgment, Holiness

Denomination: Methodist

That Little Khaki-Covered Book  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2012

THAT LITTLE KHAKI-COVERED BOOK We Thought We Heard The Angels Sing, written by Lieutenant James Whittaker who was one of seven men whose plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean on October 21, 1942. Their leader was the famous Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, and these seven men found themselves stranded ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:6-7

Tags: Bible Influence

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

What The Church Can Learn From The Carolina P...

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Feb 6, 2016

What the Church can learn from the Carolina Panthers: by Burt Williams 1. Leadership matters: The leadership on Offence and Defense this year is stellar and it begins with the primary leaders Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly, they lead the team on the field and have the responsibility to adjust the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 99:1-9

Tags: Disciples, Football, Church Leadership

Denomination: United Methodist

In A Recent Survey In Discipleship Journal ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Simms on Dec 7, 2003

In a recent survey in Discipleship Journal Magazine, readers reported that their greatest spiritual challenges came from 1. Materialism 2. Pride 3. Self-centeredness 4. Laziness 5. Anger/Bitterness (Tie) 6. Sexual Lust (Tie) 7. Envy 8. Gluttony 9. Lying Survey respondents noted that temptations ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 11:4-35, Psalm 73:1-28

Tags: Temptation General, Temptation Resisting

Denomination: Baptist

Cocoon  PRO

Contributed by Michael Demastus on Oct 22, 2001

ILLUSTRATION: “Cocoon” The cocoon of the Emperor moth is flask like in shape. To develop into a perfect insect, it must force its way through the neck of the cocoon by hours of intense struggle. Entomologists explain that this pressure to which the moth is subjected is nature’s way of forcing a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:1-2, Psalm 51:1-19, Psalm 27:14

Tags: Process, God In The Hardships

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Day The Groaning Creation Will Become A ...

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Nov 17, 2002

“One day the groaning creation will become a glorious ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 8:1-9, Psalm 8:1-9, Psalm 8:1-9

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: Congregational

A Better World In The New Year  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 22, 2004

A BETTER WORLD IN THE NEW YEAR There was an article a few years ago in which a man gave his idea of a perfect world. He said, "In a perfect world you would feel as good at 60 as you did at 17. And you would be as smart at 60 as you thought you were at 17." "In a perfect world professional ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3, Psalm 1:1-3, Psalm 1:1-3

Tags: New Year's Day, Kingdom Of God

A Shortcut Is Not Always That Short

Contributed by James Snyder on May 1, 2021

I have always appreciated shortcuts in life. If I can find a shortcut, I will take it because time is valuable to me. I take pride in coming up with a shortcut that actually saves me time. However, not all of my shortcuts have really been that short and I have paid the price. Last week, for ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:8

Tags: Humor, Shortcut, Wrong Way

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Ten Things To Know About The Love Of God - Devotional

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 12, 2023

There are 10 key points about the Love of God in I John 4:7-21: 1. LOVE IS OF GOD (4:7) - not that God is love only. He is not limited or bound by anything. So, what is love? Study I Corinthians 13...... There are 3 Greek words (agape, phileo, eros). This love is agape, unconditional, ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21, Romans 5:8, John 3:16

Tags: Agape, God's Love, Hate, Unforgiveness, False Prophets, Unbelievers, Evangelism, Love, Christ, Holy Spirit, Missions, Cross  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational