In Sermon Illustrations: "Ransom From Sin"

I Came Upon My 3rd Grade Report Card From A Small ...

Contributed by Brad Henry on Dec 9, 2011

I came upon my 3rd grade report card from a small school in Western Pennsylvania. The teacher wrote, "I feel Bradley could do so much better. Inattentive." Well not much has changed. ADD started early. But I was not inattentive when it came time for sports. Why the disconnect? It is because I was ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

[061]. A Message From A Poem – Do You Love Me More Than These?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

[061]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE? How sound is our love? How enduring is it? How sturdy is it – does it flicker on and off like some lights? Is your love for the Lord, your Saviour, prepared to go to a martyr’s death? The inspiration for this poem came from that ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:4-5, 1 John 4:19, John 21:15-17

Tags: Love, Friendship, Poetry, Poem, First Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[109]. A Message From A Poem – Groaning Takes Its Toll On Me (Psalm 6)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 18, 2025

[109]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GROANING TAKES ITS TOLL ON ME (Psalm 6) This poem is a retelling in poetic form of Psalm 6. We can gather from the Psalm that David was having a dreadful time. This is the beauty of the Psalms, for they cover the whole range of human emotions and failures, and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 6:2-3, Psalm 6:6-8, Psalm 6:9-10

Tags: Christian Poems, Despair, Upset, Weeping, Christian Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[283]. A Message From A Poem – The Lord, Our Hope, Our Joy, Our End

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 31, 2026

[283]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE LORD, OUR HOPE, OUR JOY, OUR END This is another of my earliest poems. This poem is a personal testimony to a time when I was walking in the valley of the shadow. STANZA 1 – All dark nights break forth into sunshine and my dark night looks forward to the Lord ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:2, Psalm 23:4-5, 2 Corinthians 12:2-4

Tags: Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Joy, Sorrow, Dark Night, Blessings, Burdens, Valley Of The Shadow, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[336]. A Message From A Poem - What My Saviour’s Done (Version 1)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 17, 2026

[336]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WHAT MY SAVIOUR’S DONE (Version 1) This short poem is constructed on the first word in each line rhyming. Not only that but the end of each line has an AABB etc. rhyme. The title is simple. {{Mark 5:19-20 and He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:19-20

Tags: Jesus, Salvation, Great Things, Christian Poems

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[337]. A Message From A Poem - What My Saviour’s Done (Version 2)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 18, 2026

[337]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WHAT MY SAVIOUR’S DONE (Version 2) This is short poem. The end of each line has an AABB etc. rhyme. The title is simple. {{Mark 5:19-20 and He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them WHAT GREAT THINGS THE LORD HAS DONE ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:19-20

Tags: Salvation, Great Things, Christian Poems

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Truly Amazing Grace

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Timothy Paul Jones in his book, Proof writes about his middle daughter who had been previously adopted by another family. He was sure this couple had the best of intentions, but they never quite integrated the adopted child into their family of biological children. For one reason or another, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:1-8

Tags: Grace, Sin, Chosen, Rebellion, Adoption  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Paid In Full, Finally

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 10, 2020

It’s always a happy day when you make the final payment on a car loan or any other kind of loan! The money you’ve been sending somewhere else you can now send to another bill—oops—or savings account or wherever you feel led to put it. I know, there are some folks who are greatly excited if you ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Salvation, Payment For Sin, Blood Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

[130]. A Message From A Poem – How Can I Give You Up, O My Son?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 12, 2025

[130]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HOW CAN I GIVE YOU UP, O MY SON? This is a serious poem because it is based on a serious verse, one that has strong application to the cross. Here is the passage – {{Hosea 11:7-8 “My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call them to the One on high, ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 11:7-8, Acts 2:23

Tags: Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Easter, Heart, Compassion, Calvary, The Cross, Another Way, Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Flesh Is A Built-In Law Of Failure, Making It ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jul 16, 2002

The flesh is a built-in law of failure, making it impossible for the natural man to please or serve God. It is a compulsive inner force inherited from man’s fall, which expresses itself in general and specific rebellion against God and His righteousness. The flesh can never be reformed or improved. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:6

Tags: Faith, Born Again, Disciplines, Dead To Sin, Renewal, Salvation, Sanctification, Rebellion, Temptation Resisting, Sin, Sin Bondage To, New Life, Love Of The Disciples  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thinkers Down The Ages Have Puzzled Over The ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

Thinkers down the ages have puzzled over the place of mankind in this immense universe in which we find ourselves. Perhaps you, like me, in a quiet moment have wondered, "What am I? Who am I?" G K Chesterton summarized it rather ...read more

Tags: Sin Fall Of Man, Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Baptist

The Biggest Idol We Have Can Be Ourselves. ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 28, 2000

The biggest idol we have can be ourselves. George Bernard Shaw put it rather neatly when he described a person in one of his plays as ...read more

Tags: Humility, Emotions, Sin Fall Of Man

Denomination: Baptist

In The Fifties The Major Discipline Problems In ...  PRO

Contributed by Harold White on Jan 5, 2001

In the fifties the major discipline problems in our public schools were cigarette smoking,skipping class, running in the halls, spit balls, chewing gum, and whispering in class. Today - the major problems are deadly weapons - kids carrying guns, knifes, and even assault weapons. This is followed by ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General, Holiness, Sin Exposed

Denomination: Baptist

Little Johnny’s Father Caught Him In ...  PRO

Contributed by Rich Young on Jan 17, 2001

Little Johnny’s father caught him in telling a lie. Dad said, “Don’t you know the difference between right & wrong?” Johnny told him that he did. His dad said, “But you always choose the wrong!” Johnny ...read more

Tags: Faith, Sin General, Temptation Resisting

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Willie Nelson Apparently At One Time Owned A Golf ...  PRO

Contributed by Rich Young on Jan 17, 2001

Willie Nelson apparently at one time owned a golf course. He said the great thing about owning a golf course was that he could decide what par for each hole was. He pointed at one hole and said, ...read more

Tags: Faith, Forgiveness General, Sin Deceptive

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Peter Marshall Said "We Are Too Christian Really ...  PRO

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Oct 31, 2000

Peter Marshall said “We are too Christian really to enjoy sinning, and too fond of sinning really to enjoy Christianity. Most of us know perfectly well what we ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will, Holiness, Sin General

Denomination: Wesleyan

Martin Luther Put It This Way In The First Of ...  PRO

Contributed by William Jewett on Nov 2, 2000

Martin Luther put it this way in the first of the 95 theses he nailed to the door of the Wittenberg church: "When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said ’repent,’ He ...read more

Tags: Confession Of Sin, Forgiveness For Others, Repentance

Denomination: *other

A Pastor Was Visiting A Family One Day. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Feb 27, 2001

A pastor was visiting a family one day. He knocked on the door but no one answered it. He knocked again and again, but still no answer. He thought he heard someone inside but they just wouldn’t answer the door. Finally he wrote a note and slipped it under the door. It was Rev.3:20: “Behold I ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13, Revelation 3:20

Tags: Argue, Fight, Dealing With Conflicts, Sin

Denomination: Wesleyan

Notice Satan’s Version Of Grace - It Had An ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Mar 1, 2001

notice Satan’s version of grace - it had an IF clause attached to it. [[This reminds me of the many ploys out there today - get 400 dollars of free merchandise - IF you sign up for MSN for three years. No money down - no interest for 12 months - you can own a new car NOW! But all you have to do ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:12-15, Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 4:26-34

Tags: Money, Sin Deceptive, Temptation Of Christ

Denomination: Lutheran

Many Years Ago Charles G. Finney Was Preaching In ...  PRO

Contributed by John Dobbs on Mar 2, 2001

Many years ago Charles G. Finney was preaching in Rochester, New York. Far up in the balcony was a brilliant and able lawyer. He was chief justice of the court of New York. As he listened to the minister, he became convicted of his need to follow Christ. "That man is speaking the truth," he said ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-26, John 15:1-11

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Confession Of Sin, Emotions

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ