In Sermon Illustrations: "Serving The Lord"

Nizhizaka Hill Is The Place In Nagasaki, Japan ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

Nizhizaka Hill is the place in Nagasaki, Japan where the 26 martyrs were executed on 15 February 1597, 400 years ago. They went to their deaths singing Psalm 113. Paul Miki was preaching. Contrary to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the ruler of Japan’s expectation the Christians’ faith was strengthened. ...read more

Tags: Persecution

He Knows What Can't Be Seen

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

HE KNOWS WHAT CAN’T BE SEEN There is no way to grasp, even remotely, what God knows about me, my life, and anything to do with me. There is a story of a photographer who went to the docks to take a picture of the "The Great Eastern". Its hull was black, having been coated with tar. That same day ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience

Light In Dark Places

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 11, 2008

Light in Dark Places A young girl once consulted with her minister. "I cannot stick it out any longer. I am the only Christian in the factory where I work. I get nothing but taunts and sneers. It is more than I can stand. I am going to resign." "Will you tell me," asked the minister, "where ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Evangelism How To

How Can We Be A Friend To The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2008

How Can We Be A Friend To The Suffering? 1. We can be there for them. 2. We can feel their pain. 3. We can encourage them. 4. We can listen more than we talk. 5. We can be honest: I don’t know… don’t try to explain everything. 6. We can look beyond their faults and look to their needs. 7. We can ...read more

Tags: Ot Characters

Soft-Iron Magnets

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2009

SOFT-IRON MAGNETS There are two kinds of magnets, steel magnets and soft iron magnets. The steel magnet receives its magnetism from the load stone, and has it permanently; it can get along very well alone in a small way; it can pick up needles and do many other little things to amuse children. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 9:30-33

Tags: Faith Vs. Works

Joseph Parker Said That The Thief On The Cross ...

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 17, 2009

Joseph Parker said that the thief on the cross proved to be one of the greatest men who ever lived. On the cross there was no outward indication of His Lordship; there was no insignia of royalty. Jesus was a captive, condemned, insulted, and crucified; yet the dying thief saw Him as a King and as ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

A Preacher Once Met A Man Named Worral. He Had ...

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 21, 2009

A preacher once met a man named Worral. He had been stricken with rheumatoid arthritis at age 15, years went by before he met him again. 30 years later they crossed paths only to find Worral now totally paralyzed except for 1 finger. He could barely speak and was totally blind. But he had a ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Baptist

A Funnnnnnnnny Thanksgiving Story!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 15, 2023

Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an angry old bull who wanted them out of his pasture. Instantly, they darted toward the nearest fence. The storming bull followed in hot pursuit and it was soon apparent that they wouldn't make it. Terrified, one man shouted to ...read more

Tags: Fear, Thanksgiving, Prayer, Humor, Gratitude  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Are You Weeping?

Contributed by Samuel M on Feb 29, 2024

Note: – This a small dialogue between God and you. Why are you weeping? Dear ______, Is my grace not sufficient for you? Is my hand is not strong enough to lift you out of your valleys? Is my blanket of love not large enough to envelop you and your family? Are my feathers not enough to keep ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1

Tags: Sorrow, Weeping

Be Found Faithful

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Mar 31, 2025

Remember the movie, Ben Hur? It came out in 1959. The movie won 11 Oscars and was over three and a half hours long. The most memorable scene in the film is the chariot race. Charlton Heston was trained for five weeks before the shooting of that scene. Heston was grateful for the trainer's ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

Tags: Chariot Race, Charles Heston, Faithfulness, Ben Hur

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Busyness - Work Without Rest

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 25, 2026

The New Testament speaks to work: if a man will not work, he should not eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:10) But too much work ... without rest ... is not a good thing. We should build into our lives ... a rhythm of working ... and resting. When God created the world, ... He wasn't giving us a law ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Exodus 34:21, Matthew 11:28

Tags: Quiet, Busyness, Busy, Time, Rest, Resting, Sabbath  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

What A Friend We Have In Jesus  PRO

Contributed by Jonathan Campbell on Jun 24, 2008

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS Only the Lord and the man in question really know what burdens of sorrow and affliction were heaped upon the writer of this great hymn. One thing we do know, however, is that this beautiful and blessed hymn would never have been penned if the author had not known ...read more

Scripture: John 15:15

Tags: Music

[028] A Message From A Poem – Be Not Conformed To The World

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 15, 2025

[028] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BE NOT CONFORMED TO THE WORLD “If you don’t agree with us, you are not included.” “We will finance your new building but only if you add a night club.” This world is absolutely full of compromise. It happens in relationships (sexual pressure on a woman), in ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10, 1 Peter 1:14, Romans 12:1-2, Romans 10:17

Tags: Compromise, Poetry, Conform, Conformity, Conformed To His Death, Conformed To The World  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[206]. A Message From A Poem – Opposition Is Here So Be Committed

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 20, 2025

[206]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – OPPOSITION IS HERE SO BE COMMITTED There are two things I say over and over, that are expected from a Christian in these last days. One is FAITHFULNESS, and the other is COMMITMENT. In this poem the emphasis is on both. Too many Christians are “fair weather ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:10, Matthew 16:24

Tags: Commitment, Faithful, Faithfulness, Opposition, Dark Days, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[225]. A Message From A Poem - Psalm 68 Selections

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 11, 2025

[225]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - PSALM 68 SELECTIONS This poem is a breakdown in Psalm 68, and 12 of the verses have been selected. The heading in the Psalm says “A Psalm of David. A Song,” and is directed to the Choir Director. It would seem this Psalm resulted from a victory David ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:7-10, Psalm 68:18, Psalm 68:14, Luke 16:19-31

Tags: Christian Poems, A Song, A Happy Psalm, Paradise, Victory, Ascension, Psalm Of David, Lazarus In Paradise, Jesus Ascended  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Today I Am A Horse, Dear God, Did You Have To ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Dec 12, 2000

"Today I am a horse, Dear God, did you have to make my poor old horse lose his shoe just before the Sabbath? That wasn't nice. It's enough you pick on me, Tevye, bless me with 5 daughters, a life of poverty. What have You got against my horse? Sometimes I think when things are too quiet up there, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:19

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Human Body, Peace

Denomination: Lutheran

Bruce Wilkinson Has Written An Excellent Little ...  PRO

Contributed by Tony Miano on Mar 10, 2001

Bruce Wilkinson has written an excellent little book called The Prayer of Jabez. In the book, Wilkinson explains the reluctance believers have toward having a greater influence for Christ in their world. He explains this reluctance by using two mathematic equations. The first equation ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of, Prayer How To, God's Omnipotence, Tongue

Denomination: *other

A Young Couple Began Attending A Midwest Church. ...  PRO

Contributed by Doug Johnston on Apr 23, 2001

A young couple began attending a midwest church. They had been saved ony about 8 months when they announced that they needed prayer; they had experienced several miscarriages and had just discovered they were with child again. The congregation responded; they had the most prayed for baby in the ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, God Brings Hope, Death

Denomination: Baptist

One Of The Most Moving Passages In English ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on May 17, 2001

One of the most moving passages in English literature comes toward the end of Charles Dickens’ "Tale of Two Cities", a story of the French revolution. Each day there was a grim procession through the streets of Paris of prisoners on their way to the guillotine. In one of the processions was ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, God's Provision, Promises Of God

Denomination: Baptist

Bible Statistics: Kjv  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Jun 6, 2001

BIBLE STATISTICS: KJV Number of books in the Bible: 66 Chapters: 1,189 Verses: 31,101 Words: 783,137 Letters: 3,566,480 Number of promises given in the Bible: 1,260 Commands: 6,468 Predictions: over 8,000 Fulfilled prophecy: 3,268 verses Unfulfilled prophecy: 3,140 Number of questions: ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Bible Influence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational