In Sermon Illustrations: "Serving"

The Message Of The Straight Jacket

Contributed by Christopher Roberts (Barrister) on Jan 22, 2013

THE MESSAGE OF THE STRAIGHT JACKET Satan employs a number of tactics against us, which most often God uses for our greater good. One of those tactics is to place a straight jacket of circumstance upon us, something that we are unable to deal with ourselves. Such a straight jacket might relate to a ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Christian Church

Ears To Hear

Contributed by Todd Catteau on May 27, 2015

I’ve done a lot of funerals in my twenty plus years of ministry, far more than I thought I would ever do. Every service touches me in a unique way and with each funeral I seem to come away with a life-lesson I needed to hear. Recently I was taught a valuable lesson as I eulogized a certain man. ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-25

Tags: Communication, Listen, Ears, Hearing

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Walking With God

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Oct 1, 2016

“Walking with God” Sermon Opener (Humorous) Micah 6: 1-8 Years ago, in the small town of Catlettsburg Kentucky, there lived several town-drunks. These men where classic characters, each unique in his own way, and from time to time they found themselves arrested ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:1-8

Tags: Indictment, God's Requirements

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Euodia And Syntyche - Conflict At Philippi

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Dec 24, 2016

EUODIA AND SYNTYCHE We can’t help wondering what caused disharmony between two women in the church at Philippi, but we will not find the answer--only that Paul urged these women to live in harmony. That’s all we know. Yet until the Lord shall return, Bible-readers everywhere will know there was ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:2-3

Tags: Disagreement, Agree, Argument, Conflict

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[076]. A Message From A Poem – Expectations, Testimony And Pleading

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 11, 2025

[076]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – EXPECTATIONS, TESTIMONY AND PLEADING The three words in the title are what the poem is about. Firstly there is expectation of our heavenly home when we are transported from the physical life. Then there is testimony and that is about the way God looks after us, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9, Psalm 119:143, Psalm 119:77, Psalm 119:47

Tags: Great Things, Pleading, Expectations, Turn To The Lord, Scripture, Testimony, Poetry, New Home, Delight, Poem  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[125]. A Message From A Poem – He’s Risen – Easter Poem For Resurrection

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 8, 2025

[125]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HE’S RISEN – EASTER POEM FOR RESURRECTION This poem is an Easter poem featuring the Resurrection. There are 7 stanzas and the first line in each gives the theme of the stanza. The first one is, “He is risen from the dead.” That must be first for all the other ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:20, 1 Corinthians 15:17-19, Luke 24:5-6

Tags: Risen From The Dead, Christ Is Risen, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Easter Poem, Resurrection, He Is Risen  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[246]. A Message From A Poem – Soon The Lord Will Come For Me

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 2, 2026

[246]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – SOON THE LORD WILL COME FOR ME Lines here can be reversed to make 9-7-9-7. (Change “Soon” Line 3 to “When”) The chosen metre for this poem in a more unusual one 7-9-7-9 as it does not follow the usual convention of having the first line longer than the second line. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2, Titus 2:13, Revelation 4:1, 1 Corinthians 15:52-53

Tags: The Coming Of The Lord, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Rapture, Blessed Hope  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[287]. A Message From A Poem – The Prophets Made Careful Inquiry

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 7, 2026

[287]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE PROPHETS MADE CAREFUL INQUIRY The whole reason for this poem is this passage – {{1 Peter 1:9-12 “obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 9:1-3, Isaiah 53:4-5, 1 Peter 1:9-12

Tags: Christian Poems, The Prophetic Writings, Daniel, Isaiah, Truth, Inquiry, Searching, Old Testament Prophets  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The First Ascent Of The Matterhornmin Switzerland

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on May 18, 2026

This is taken from a sermon I gave in Skillington near Grantham in Lincolnshire in England Charles Hudson was the Vicar of Skillington when he died on 14th July 1865 My interest comes from a former vicar here - Revd Charles Hudson (4th October 1828-14 July 1865). Charles was born in Park Street ...read more

Tags: Matterhorn, Charles Hudson

Denomination: Anglican

An Observation About Immanence

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 12, 2020

One of my favorite pastimes is playing some computer games, especially the ones where you make money—okay, run a business, simulation, or that kind of thing. In one of these you, as manager of a transportation company, have the opportunity to choose how best to serve the industries and communities ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Immanence, Return Of Christ, Rewards For Believers

Denomination: Baptist

Failed Love

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Sep 15, 2020

Thomas Carlyle lived from 1795 to 1881. He was a Scot essayist and historian. During his lifetime, he became one of the world’s greatest writers. However, he was human, and humans make mistakes. On October 17, 1825, Carlyle married his secretary Jane Welsh. She was an intelligent, attractive, ...read more

Scripture: Song of Songs 7:1

Tags: Love, Marriage

Denomination: Baptist

Unsung Heroes—jonathan’s Armor Bearer

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 4, 2020

Unsung heroes—Jonathan’s armor bearer Introduction: some of the unsung heroes of the Bible never had their names revealed. The people they served with knew, and clearly their parents knew, but in His Wisdom, our Lord has chosen for these people to remain secret. Their deeds were well known, even ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 14:6-7

Tags: Philistines, Jonathan, Armor Bearers

Denomination: Baptist

[175]. A Message From A Poem – Bema – The Judgement Seat Of Christ

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 22, 2025

[175]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BEMA – THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST What do Christians think of the judgement that is coming for Christians that is outlined in these very telling verses? – {{1 Corinthians 3:11-15 “for no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 John 2:28, Revelation 4:10-11, Matthew 10:42, Revelation 22:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Heaven, Judgment, Cup Of Cold Water, Bema, Judgment Seat Of Christ, Judged, Shame, Penalty, Judge, Rewards, Ashamed, Reward  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[358]. A Message From A Poem – Zebra Matters

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 31, 2026

[358]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – ZEBRA MATTERS This poem is blank verse. True blank verse has no rhyme scheme but does have proper metre. In this poem the metre is 11-8-11-8 right through the poem. Modern poetry is nothing more than narrative broken up into various length lines. What ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:15-16

Tags: Compromise, False Teachers, False Doctrine, Laodicea, Hot, Cold, Confusion, Conformity, Black And White, Christian Poems, Zebras, Blank Verse  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Read A Recent Magazine Article About A Pastor ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Apr 10, 2005

I read a recent magazine article about a pastor and his encounter with some unbelievers while having breakfast. Here is how he tells the story: “My wife and I were vacationing in Estes Park, Colorado, and had breakfast in a coffee shop. It was empty except for four men at another table. One was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:17-31, John 13:34-35, Jude 1:3-16, Galatians 5:6, Luke 16:1-15, Acts 2:1-4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faith, Determination, Surrender, Truth Of Christ

Denomination: Methodist

Swallowed Alive? (08.22.05--Under ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 18, 2005

Swallowed Alive? (08.22.05--Under Pressure!--Genesis 25:32-33) When you are captive to pressure, there are only two ways to go. You can either lose you temper and flail against the wind or you can wait it out and eventually overpower it. I lost the chock to my power drill the other day. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 25:32-33

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: Lutheran

Indescribable Christ  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2002

INDESCRIBABLE CHRIST Dr. S.M. Lockridge was the Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, San Diego CA from 1953 - 1993. He entered heaven in 2000. He is well-known for a passage out of his sermon titled “He’s My King”: “He’s enduringly strong, He’s entirely sincere, He’s eternally steadfast. He’s ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 25:1

Tags: Miracles Of Jesus, Peace, Jesus Christ, Trinity

A New ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

A New Commandment In the Book of John 13:34-35, Jesus makes a powerful statement, “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” (emphasis ours) Often people have ...read more

Scripture: John 13:34-35

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Heaven, A Real Place

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Heaven, A Real Place Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Brad Hightower Shares The Following Thoughts On ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Sep 9, 2008

Brad Hightower shares the following thoughts on proper worship from http://21stcenturyreformation.blogspot.com/2004/12/jesus-clear-theology-of-worship-part-1.html In John 4 where Jesus articulates a “Clear Theology of Worship”. In fact, Jesus as the great prophet, the one who proclaims the final ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational