In Sermon Illustrations: "Saying Grace"

Why Palm Sunday Is Important

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Mar 26, 2024

In 1997 I traveled to Pittsburgh to attend a Promise Keepers Meeting at Three Rivers Stadium. Men from the Ashland Area Churches rented a bus and traveled there together. Promise Keepers was created to issue a calling to men to live up to their biblical responsibilities to be good Husbands, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11, Isaiah 50:5-7

Tags: Faith, Palm Sunday

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Unintentionally Humorous Texts: "Uh, Don’t Forget The Teacher!”

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 24, 2024

Introduction: In Elisha’s day, just after Elijah was taken to Heaven, much of Israel was still deeply committed to Baal-worship, courtesy of Ahab and Jezebel. A large number of Israelites also worshiped the golden calves which Jeroboam I had installed soon after becoming king. In spite of that, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:1-4

Tags: Elisha, Prophets

Denomination: Baptist

[003] Message From A Poem – A Simple Farmer’s Ditty

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 13, 2024

[003] MESSAGE FROM A POEM – A SIMPLE FARMER’S DITTY You will note that each line of the poem ends with the “ay” rhyme. The following poem is simple in structure but an attempt to relate to the simplicity of the land. I used to spend my holidays as an early teenager on the land with a farming ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 26:23-25, Ezekiel 14:13

Tags: God Keeps Us, Agrarian Society, Nature, Poem, Farming, Farmers, A Ditty  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[017] A Message From A Poem - Altogether Lovely One

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 21, 2024

[017] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - ALTOGETHER LOVELY ONE There are times when we feel our hearts going out in worship to our Lord. What is the difference between praise and worship? This is not a sermon so I won’t be answering that question here, but I hope you think on it and that it might warm ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:11, Isaiah 53:3-4, Psalm 150:1-3

Tags: Worship, Praise, Gold, Magi, Sorrow, Frankincense, Myrrh, Lovely One  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Warm Hands And Hot Pants

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Aug 8, 2024

Warm Hands and Hot Pants A Lesson Learned the Hot Way As a kid, I was always up for new adventures—especially if they involved tagging along with my dad to the country store on a brisk fall morning. The place smelled like fresh coffee, worn leather, and sweet pipe tobacco, and old-timers ...read more

Scripture: John 16:4, James 3:5, Ecclesiastes 7:25, 2 Timothy 3:7, Proverbs 13:16, Proverbs 12:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Father's Day, Wisdom, Wise, Experience, Fire, Nostalgia, Stupid, Lessons Of Life, Coutry Living, Country Boy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Leaving The City Of Regret

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 1, 2025

Leaving the City of Regret by Larry Harp I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet I found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip was going to be unpleasant, and I knew in advance that no real good would come of it. I'm talking about my annual "Guilt ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-16

Tags: Freedom, Regret

Denomination: Methodist

[035] A Message From A Poem – Beware The Fowler

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 25, 2025

[035] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BEWARE THE FOWLER GOTCHA! We hear that in children’s play and in some games. In fact I think there may have even been a board game in the 1950s with that title. Have you ever watched a spider on its web sitting there silently and an insect becomes ensnared in ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 124:7-8, Psalm 91:3

Tags: Pitcher Plant, Spider Web, God Delivers Us, Caught, Fowler, Trapper, Ensnared, Gotcha  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[040] A Message From A Poem – Chaotic Times Are Meant To Be

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 1, 2025

[040] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHAOTIC TIMES ARE MEANT TO BE This world is in chaos and your understanding of that depends on your assessment in the scriptures. Right now in the United States there is a new presidency under Trump, and the sick state of American society is being revealed with ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-4, 2 Timothy 3:12-13

Tags: Last Days, Chaos, Leaven, Poetry, United States, President Trump, Evil  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[050]. A Message From A Poem – Come Aside And Rest Awhile

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 7, 2025

[050]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – COME ASIDE AND REST AWHILE Burnout is just as real among some Christian workers as it is in the working world. Those who are faithful and go the extra mile in service for their Lord can feel the strain and stress of ministry. Don’t forget either, that the evil ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-32, Mark 6:33-34, Mark 6:43-46

Tags: Burnout, Retreat, Rest, Come Aside

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[056]. A Message From A Poem – Death Is Not A Mystery

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 12, 2025

[056]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DEATH IS NOT A MYSTERY We just had a poem on Death for the Christian, and in this one now, the concept is continued, though the poems are separated by over 20 years. Each stanza deals with a different aspect of life. For me the poem is a testimony of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:54-55, 1 Corinthians 2:9, Acts 2:27

Tags: Death, Mystery, Poetry, Poem, Sheol  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Exceeding Expectations

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Jun 25, 2025

Last Sunday I preached about heaven. I love preaching about heaven but I always feel like any description I give falls so far short of what it will actually be like. And I must admit, I have many questions. What exactly will it be like? What will we be doing? Will the bonds we've formed here ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Tags: Heaven, Expectations

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[151]. A Message From A Poem – Jeremiah’s Description – Prophets Of Wind

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 1, 2025

[151]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JEREMIAH’S DESCRIPTION – PROPHETS OF WIND The catalyst for this poem was one verse in Jeremiah. It is Jeremiah 5:13. The prophet always had awful opposition from false prophets, and the people preferred the false ones. Josiah’s sons did of course. Jeremiah did ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 4:9, Jeremiah 2:26, Jeremiah 5:12-13

Tags: Christian Poems, Prophets Of Wind, Jeremiah, Persecution, Judgment, Wind, False Prophets, Liars  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[159]. A Message From A Poem – Good Seed In The Thorny Ground

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 9, 2025

[159]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GOOD SEED IN THE THORNY GROUND This poem was written for a recent message in a series I am currently doing on the Parables of the Kingdom from Matthew 13. It relates to the third soil type in the parable known as The Sower, {{Matthew 13:22 “The one on whom seed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:31-34, Ephesians 5:11, Matthew 13:22

Tags: Riches, Priorities, Choked, Good Seed, Parable Of The Sower, Worries, Thorny Ground, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[185]. Poem Message – Mouths That Sham Rejoicing

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 5, 2025

[185]. POEM MESSAGE – MOUTHS THAT SHAM REJOICING When I was young we generally could trust what people said to us. There was a great deal of honesty back then (1950s) but that has evaporated. People tell us barefaced lies and that is now the way of the world. That makes the Christian life ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:8-9, Jeremiah 7:9-10

Tags: Pretend, Pretence, No Commitment, Praise, False, Sing, Rejoice, Lies, Dishonesty, Worship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[207]. A Message From A Poem – Our Behaviour Is Not Of The World

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 21, 2025

[207]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – OUR BEHAVIOUR IS NOT OF THE WORLD If I am a fool I will act like a fool. If I care for no one, you will probably find me at parties drinking and smoking pot. You see our behaviour flows from what we are inside. James had something to say about this – {{James ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:10, Romans 12:2, Acts 4:13, James 3:11-12

Tags: Christian Poems, Grandstanding, Ambition, Definitions, Worldly Standards, Good Soldiers, The World System, Conformed To The World, Behavior, Jesus, Truth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[308]. A Message From A Poem - This Sinful World Faces Reality

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 11, 2026

[308]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THIS SINFUL WORLD FACES REALITY The opening line sets the theme of this poem – “The differential is greater now than ever it was,” and becomes a contrast of what is righteous and what is wicked. The gap is widening and wickedness is growing. The 6 stanzas - each ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:3, Revelation 21:1-2

Tags: World, Judgment, Reality, Decline, Coming Judgment, Sin In The World, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Visited Planet,

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 14, 2009

“The Visited Planet,” by J.B. Phillips Once upon a time a very young angel was being shown round the splendours and glories of the universes by a senior and experienced angel. To tell the truth, the little angel was beginning to be tired and a little bored. He had been shown whirling galaxies and ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-18

Tags: Christmas

Patriotic Testimony - Sgt. York, Christian Soldier

Contributed by Garris Hudson on May 23, 2016

SERGEANT YORK the Christian Soldier If someone remembers the name Sergeant York, they remark by saying, “That’s the movie starring Gary Cooper, right?” Who is this hillbilly from Tennessee? This is where our story begins. In December 1887, in the hills of Pall Mall, Tennessee, Alvin York was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16

Tags: Testimony, Christian Soldiers, War Heroes, July 4th

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Understanding

Contributed by Larry Grant on Jan 21, 2025

In 1988 at the Democratic National Convention the Reverend Jesse Jackson gave a speech called “Common Ground” in which he challenged us to never give in to demagoguery. He said, Don't you surrender and don't you give up. Don't surrender and don't give up! Why cannot I challenge you ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:7

Tags: Ronald Reagan, Martin Luther King, Barack Obama, Jesse Jackson

Denomination: Baptist

[180]. A Poem Message – Lost Three Things - One Son – The Prodigal Son

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 29, 2025

[180]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – LOST ONE SON – THE PRODIGAL SON The third of the lost parables is the son. It is the best know. Gospel preaching has made use of this parable over and over and that is fair enough. However its greater meaning is a wayward son of the family, who entered into a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:18, Luke 15:11-12, Luke 15:11-32

Tags: Repentance, Lost, Love Of The Father, The Prodigal Son, Parable Of The Lost Son  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational