In Sermon Illustrations: "Satanic Altars"

Head-Up And Head-On! (11.10.05--Christian ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 8, 2005

Head-Up and Head-On! (11.10.05--Christian Soldiers!--James4:7) When you are afraid to take an action, it’s the first step that’s the hardest one to take. Our little dachshund Webley is a living example of that. Webley has always been afraid of stairs. It doesn’t matter if he is going up or coming ...read more

Scripture: James 4:7

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Lutheran

Sins Are Habits  PRO

Contributed by John Sattler on Feb 18, 2013

SINS ARE HABITS I’m reading a book right now called "The Power of Habit" (http://charlesduhigg.com/the-power-of-habit/) about how so much of our daily life is lived by habit. We have to. Our brain needs habits in order for us to be able to function. Just about everything we do is habitual. How ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:28, Romans 12:2

Tags: Temptation General

Denomination: Lutheran

Sifted Like Wheat

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Dec 15, 2016

A rooster’s crow announced the dawn. This dawn was not the sunrise, still hours away, but the dawn of Peter’s realization of what he had done. Like the first rays of the sun slicing through the night’s darkness, Peter awakened to his sin and its gravity. It cut him to the core of his being, and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:31-32

Tags: Peter, Betrayal Of Christ, Sifted, Rehabilitation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Outwit, Outplay, Outlast

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Nov 18, 2020

Over the pandemic I reunited with an old friend – Survivor. That’s right, the father of all reality shows and I had been apart for several years when the shutdown brought us back together. I had faithfully watched the first few seasons, but, as it is with many relationships, we drifted away over ...read more

Tags: Faith, Endurance, Wait, Parousia, Patience, Coming, Second, Waiting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Eskimo's Are Among The Greatest Hunter's Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The Eskimo’s are among the greatest hunter’s of the world, but there is one animal that is the most difficult for them to catch. This animal has the greatest intellect, keenest smell, and the sharpest eyesight. And yet for the Eskimo’s to survive they must trap and kill this animal before it ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 140:5, Genesis 19:1-26

Tags: Sin Bondage To, Sword Of The Spirit

God Still Has One More Move

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Sep 22, 2023

This is a story about a painting in a famous art gallery in France. The painting depicts two chess players, one of whom is Satan, who appears arrogantly confident, and the other is a man who looks forlorn. If Satan wins, he wins the man's soul. (The painting is now popularly known as ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:4, 1 Corinthians 10:13, James 4:7, Ephesians 6:11, 1 Peter 5:8-9  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Painting, Control, Player, Chess

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[078]. A Message From A Poem – Failure Leads To Hurt And Sorrow

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 12, 2025

[078]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FAILURE LEADS TO HURT AND SORROW This poem was written one Sunday morning while waiting for a church service to start. It flowed quickly. It was around the time I was speaking on a series in the life of Peter. Identify yourselves if you have never failed the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:7-10

Tags: Hurt, Forgiveness, Sin, Failure, Sorrow  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[114]. A Message From A Poem – Have You Studied A Fish’s Head?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 22, 2025

[114]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HAVE YOU STUDIED A FISH’S HEAD? Perhaps the title of this poem seems strange but the fact of it is not strange. God has put His stamp on all creation. All is so intricately designed and interlocked. Man can not create even a flea yet alone some godless evolution ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 14:1-2, Genesis 1:20-21

Tags: Symmetry, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, God Is The Creator, Fish Head, Evolution, Design, Perfection, Darwin, After Their Kind  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[247]. A Message From A Poem – Spiralling Downwards

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 2, 2026

[247]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – SPIRALLING DOWNWARDS There is nothing sadder than to see a light plane on fire and spiralling downwards to the ground. We know that is a tragedy that ends in death. Any spiralling downwards will be a disaster and death. This poem looks at the state of the world ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-3, Zechariah 14:16-17, Zechariah 14:9

Tags: Immorality, Deep, Spiral, Gross, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, World, Night, Evil, Darkness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[291]. A Message From A Poem – The Stamp On Our Lives As Christians

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 18, 2026

[291]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE STAMP ON OUR LIVES AS CHRISTIANS This poem is set out with three sets of three making 9 stanzas. The final line in the stanza marks what set it is in. The title means the ownership of our lives by God, similar to the wax seal that used to be applied in days ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:7-9, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

Tags: Belong, Holy Spirit, Sealed, Own, Stamp, Christian Poems, Lord  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[302]. A Message From A Poem - They All Forsook Him And Fled

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 3, 2026

[302]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THEY ALL FORSOOK HIM AND FLED Did the disciples really forsake the Lord, or was it a natural, human action of fear? The Gospels are clear on this. Their peace and happiness of three years was shattered when their Lord was taken by the vile religious leaders to be ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:26-29, Zechariah 13:7, Mark 14:49-50, Matthew 26:56

Tags: Betrayal, Scattered, Christian Poetry, Fled, Christian Poems, Fear, Disciples, Sheep  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[058]. A Message From A Poem – Delusionalism Contradicts What’s Truth

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 13, 2025

[058]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DELUSIONALISM CONTRADICTS WHAT’S TRUTH I believe Christians who ignore what is happening in the world are living in a bubble. We must understand current events and especially as they line up with the last days and biblical prophecy. We live in the days of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:28, Colossians 2:4, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

Tags: Deception, Truth, Redemption, Delusion, Current Events, Strong Delusion, Deluding Influence  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In His Book The Renew Mind (Bethany House, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In his book The Renew Mind (Bethany House, 1981), Larry Christiansen tells a story that is a perfect illustration for our sermon text for today. I’d like for you to imagine that you live in a run down apartment. As I describe this, I actually picture in my mind my apartment in St. Paul I shared ...read more

Tags: Jesus Temptation

Let Me Tell You A Story About A Christian Just ...  PRO

Contributed by Thomas Black on Feb 2, 2005

Let me tell you a story about a Christian just like you and I. Let’s call him George for no good reason. George woke up Monday morning after a remarkable Weekend. Family time was well spent and The church services were excellent. He’d had testimonies of answered prayer in his own life and the ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Was In A Christian Bookstore In St. Louis Not ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 2, 2004

I was in a Christian bookstore in St. Louis not that long ago. I was walking around looking at the different books on the shelves and trinkets that you could buy. I really didn’t see much that I thought was worth my attention, so I started heading to the door. Before I got to the door, however, ...read more

Scripture: John 19:28-30

Tags: Misconceptions

It Is Safe To Die In Jesus

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 12, 2010

IT IS SAFE TO DIE IN JESUS Max Lucado in his book Fearless, says, "There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you." We Westerners might miss the wedding images, but you can bet your sweet chuppah that Jesus' listener's didn't. This was a groom-to-bride ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:5-6

Tags: Death

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Trust The Prayer

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 2, 2021

A TRUSTING PRAYER Did you hear about the young preacher that graduated Bible School? He accepted a small country church to be the pastor. It was the only church that would have him. He was the only candidate that would go to the small church. So they were matched up pretty well. His first ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:7, Isaiah 40:28-31

Tags: Trust, Prayer

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Parallels Between Jesus And Melchizedek

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 13, 2023

Jesus Compared to Melchizedek (Hebrews 7) 11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:10-11

Tags: Melchizedek, Types, Shadows, Jesus, Giving, Stewardship, Abraham, Priesthood, Tithing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There’s A New "Reality" Tv Show On Fox ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Olson on Mar 14, 2001

There’s a new "reality" TV show on Fox Network called "Temptation Island" that is the subject of discussion these days. Many people are very upset about it and various groups are fighting against it. Temptation Island is a short-order unscripted series in which four unmarried couples travel to ...read more

Tags: Marriage Commitment, Faith, Temptation Sex

"Theology In The Pew"  PRO

Contributed by Ronald Keller on Oct 15, 2002

“THEOLOGY IN THE PEW” “A large share of people who attend Protestant or Catholic churches have adopted beliefs that conflict with the teachings of the Bible and their church, according to the latest release from the Barna Research Group (www.barna.org). There are some fundamental Christian precepts ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity, Bible Influence, Faith General

Denomination: Nazarene