In Sermon Illustrations: "Slaves To Sin"

Staring Down The Critic's Barrel!" Proverbs 9: ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 17, 2005

“Staring Down the Critic’s Barrel!” Proverbs 9: 7-10 Key verse(s): 8b:“. . . rebuke a wise man and he will love you.” The Bible tells us that “rebuke a wise man and he will love you.” Love? What happened to getting the emotional revenge that is so satisfying? There doesn’t seem to be a lot of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:7-10, Psalm 82:3-4, Philippians 2:13-14

Tags: Grace, Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

The Greatest Love Of All  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

The Greatest Love of All "For this reason I kneel before the Father... that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power... to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love surpasses ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-19

Tags: Hardship, God's Love, Endure

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[014] A Message From A Poem - Against The Christian

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 18, 2024

[014] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - AGAINST THE CHRISTIAN The origin of this poem goes right back to a time of considerable difficulty when I was going through tough times and some people were very nasty. Christians do face real difficulties and you will have persecution and unfairness just because ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:12, Hebrews 2:17, John 14:16-17

Tags: Persecution, Comfort, Difficulties, Trials, Suffer  (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

Embracing God's Grace

Contributed by Rev. Randy Barker on Apr 2, 2025

Title: Embracing God's Grace: A Message of Hope from the Churches of Christ in Christian Union Introduction: Dear Friend, We are delighted to share with you the message of God's grace and the transformative power of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In this gospel tract, we will ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8

Tags: Grace, Mercy

Denomination: *other

[165]. A Message From A Poem – Kindness In The Christian’s Pain

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 15, 2025

[165]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – KINDNESS IN THE CHRISTIAN’S PAIN We all need kindness, but not everyone can give kindness. Some find it too hard because of their backgrounds, and some are just so selfish they are incapable of it. Kindness is a special gift when it is given in a sacrificial way, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12, Ephesians 2:7, Galatians 5:22

Tags: Pain, Compassion, Kindness, Great High Priest, Christian Poems, God Is Kind  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Peter V. Deison, In His Book The Priority Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Lewis Petrie on Jan 3, 2001

Peter V. Deison, in his book The Priority of Knowing God, tells about Ramad, a man of India who was a member of a gang of robbers. On one occasion, while burglarizing a house, Ramad noticed a small black book containing very thin pages just right for making cigarettes. So he took it. Each ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, Becoming A Christian

Denomination: Baptist

Too Many Times I Have Played The Part Of Humpty ...  PRO

Contributed by James May on Jul 11, 2001

Too many times I have played the part of Humpty Dumpty as I stayed on the wall, walked the fence between serving God and the Devil. Just like old “Humpty”, I fell off of the wall too. All my “king’s horses” of personal accomplishments, education, abilities and reasoning could not repair the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-22

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, God's Provision

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Can't Remember  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 1, 2002

I Can’t Remember A few years ago, rumors spread that a certain Catholic woman was having visions of Jesus. The archbishop decided to check her out. ’Is it true, m’am, that you have visions of Jesus?’ asked the cleric. ’Yes,’ the woman replied. ’Well, the next time you have a vision, I want you ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-26

Tags: God The Father, Forgiveness For Others

In His Book Entitled "A Gentle Thunder" Max ...  PRO

Contributed by Danny Presswood on May 7, 2002

In his book entitled "A Gentle Thunder" Max Lucado says, "Once there was a man who dared God to speak; Burn the bush like You did for Moses, God. And I will follow. Collapse the walls like you did for Joshua, God. And I will fight. Still the waves like you did on Galilee, God. And I will ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Baptist

Isaac Watts Penned A Beautiful Hymn Based On The ...  PRO

Contributed by Gregg Strawbridge on Jul 8, 2002

Isaac Watts penned a beautiful hymn based on the parable of the feast in Luke 14: HOW SWEET AND AWFUL IS THE PLACE WITH CHRIST WITHIN THE DOORS, WHILE EVERLASTING LOVE DISPLAYS THE CHOICEST OF HER STORES. WHILE ALL OUR HEARTS AND ALL OUR SONGS JOIN TO ADMIRE THE FEAST, EACH OF US CRY, WITH ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?, Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Billy Graham, The Great Evangelist, Tells Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Aaron Burgess on Oct 7, 2002

Billy Graham, the great evangelist, tells of driving through a small southern town and being stopped by a policeman and being charged with speeding. Graham admitted his quilt, but was told by the officer that he would have to appear in court. The judge asked, "Guilty, or not guilty?" When Graham ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Almost Fifteen Years Ago, My Family And I Visited ...  PRO

Contributed by Dana Chau on Dec 30, 2002

Almost fifteen years ago, my family and I visited China. We had a relative in Canton, who was responsible for distribution of food. When we visited him, we were treated to the best in everyway. In China, whether you think it is fair or not, relationship, or guanxi, is everything. People are not ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: *other

Listen To This News Clipping. "Gambling, ...  PRO

Contributed by Douglas Vincent on May 28, 2004

Listen to this news clipping. “Gambling, robbery, sexual immorality, and violence is prevalent. Half of all children are born out of wedlock; purity and fidelity to the marriage vow are sneered out of fashion. Corruption in politics is rampant. The world is broken.” This clipping is from 1694. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:13

Tags: Brokenness, Church Small Groups

Denomination: Methodist

Coach Tom Izzo Of The Michigan State Spartans ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 14, 2005

Coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans basketball team, came up with a great bit of theater to get his players’ attention on Selection Sunday, just before the field was announced. He put two game tapes on a table, then smashed them with a sledgehammer. "One tape is the end of the regular ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

One Day A Young Minister Was Being Escorted ...  PRO

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Jun 4, 2005

“One day a young minister was being escorted through a coal mine. At the entrance of one of the dim passageways, he spied a beautiful white flower growing out of the black earth. ‘How can it blossom in such purity and radiance in this dirty mine?’ the preached asked. ‘Throw some coal dust on it ...read more

Tags: Holiness, Forgiveness General, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Methodist

Dorothea Day's Poem "My Captain" Is The Christian ...  PRO

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Jun 30, 2005

Dorothea Day’s poem “My Captain” is the Christian response to Henley: Out of the light that dazzles me, Bright as the sun from pole to pole, I thank the God I know to be For Christ the conqueror of my Soul. Since His, the way of circumstance I would not wince nor cry aloud. Under that rule, ...read more

Tags: Humanity Of Christ, Lordship Of Christ, Divinity Of Christ

Denomination: Methodist

My 5 Year Old Son Evan And I Were Driving In ...  PRO

Contributed by Ronnie Brown on Nov 9, 2005

My 5 year old son Evan and I were driving in Atlanta. He saw some spotlights moving the clouds. He asked me what they were and what they were for. I told him that they were called spot lights and people used them to draw attention to a certain place. It’s like they are say "Come over here and see ...read more

Tags: Children

Denomination: Baptist

Many Years Ago In A Moscow Theater, Matinee Idol ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2005

Many years ago in a Moscow theater, matinee idol Alexander Rostovzev was converted while playing the role of Jesus in a sacrilegious play entitled Christ in a Tuxedo. He was supposed to read two verses from the Sermon on the Mount, remove his gown, and cry out, “Give me my tuxedo and top hat!” But ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

Born Again Beliefs: The Number Of People Born ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 16, 2006

Born Again Beliefs: The number of people born again varies widely by denomination. Using this definition, “they have made a personal commitment to Christ that is important in their life today and say that when they die they know they will go to Heaven solely because they have confessed their sins ...read more

Tags: Christian Values