In Sermon Illustrations: "Slow Down"

The Philosophy For Dog Obedience Training Has ...  PRO

Contributed by Peter Schmidt on Nov 20, 2003

The philosophy for dog obedience training has changed quite a bit in the last few decades. It used to be that many dog obedience schools operated by teaching the dog, “you better obey me, because I’m your master. And if you don’t obey me, bad things will happen.” And plenty of dogs were trained ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 5:7-9

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Lutheran

Sexuality Teens And Sex / Research Review

Contributed by David Kim on Jan 23, 2005

SEXUALITY TEENS AND SEX / RESEARCH REVIEW Pauley, J. (1995). Sex, teens, and public schools. NBC. One million U.S. teenagers become pregnant each year. U.S. has highest rates for teenage pregnancies, abortions, and child bearing in the industrialized world. In 1970, 70% of U.S. teenage ...read more

Tags: Sexuality, Abortion

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Living The Full Christian Life

Contributed by Chris Surber on Oct 24, 2008

Living the Full Christian Life As believers, we have received a great inheritance and legacy. In Acts 17:11, Luke writes, "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Christian Church

Goodbye Ginger!" 1 Corinthians13: 8-13: Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 13, 2004

“Goodbye Ginger!” 1 Corinthians13: 8-13: Key verse(s): 12: “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” Yesterday, on a bright and sunny autumn day, Ginger died. Ginger was one of my ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

Tags: Death Nearness, Death

Denomination: Lutheran

The Key … After 29 Floors

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Apr 12, 2008

5411 The Key … After 29 Floors Three men, John Newton, Louis Weatherford, and Samuel Preston, were out to find the best that this life had to offer. Willing to try anything, they were now on their way to New York City to “to the Ambassador Hotel, a twenty-nine floor building. Upon entering the ...read more

Denomination: Other

And Then It’s Monday… Again

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 26, 2025

I'm not sure if it's just me getting old or something altogether different. Time seems to go by fast. My father used to say, "The older you get the faster time goes." I'm finally beginning to understand what he meant by that. At the time, I laughed at him and didn't ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-15

Tags: Time, Monday

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

[112]. A Message From A Poem – Has Warmth Of Nearness Changed To Coolness?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 18, 2025

[112]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HAS WARMTH OF NEARNESS CHANGED TO COOLNESS? INTRODUCING THE POEM: Our walk with the Lord is not always one on a smooth, sinless road. There is joy; there are times of peace, times of praise, times of contentment, but there are also times of hardship, times of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:1-4, Psalm 42:5-8, Psalm 42:9-11

Tags: Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Waning, Failure, Forgotten, Despair, Cold, Backsliding, Cast Down, Faith  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Grape Juice Equation!" Matthew 26:47-56 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 15, 2005

“The Grape Juice Equation!” Matthew 26:47-56 Key verse(s): 53-54:“‘Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way’.” I get a certain satisfaction ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:47-56

Tags: Fulfillment

Denomination: Lutheran

Unwanted Items-Fresh Meat On The Street?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 2, 2025

Introduction: This illustration is the first in a series about things that either aren’t wanted, left behind, or otherwise abandoned. Here’s hoping some of these illustrations will be useful! Text: 2 Kings 7:7, KJV: 7 Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 7:7

Tags: Caution, Meat, Unwanted, Abandoned Things

Denomination: Baptist

The Runaway Elephant

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 23, 2025

When I was about five years old, my family lived in a far-away country called Burma—a warm, green land filled with rice fields, parrots, and elephants that helped people pull heavy logs out of the forest. Burma even has towns with funny names like Maymyo and Meowmya—names that sound as if cats ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:11-12, Psalm 121:7-8, Isaiah 41:10, Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Protection, Trust, Angels, Courage

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Give The Keys To Jesus

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Feb 14, 2007

1. Give the keys to Jesus. Letting anyone drive our vehicle is tough. I admit that at times I’m not the best passenger, especially when it’s my vehicle. Just ask my wife. And just for the record, I think my wife’s a great driver. If I didn’t think so, I wouldn’t let her take my kids ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Denomination: Wesleyan

[092]. A Message From A Poem – For We Are Flesh And Blood

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 30, 2025

[092]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR WE ARE FLESH AND BLOOD We are emotional people and emotions often influence our feelings and life and behaviour. Emotions do need controlling e.g. a person might be “in a bad mood” but must not let that become bad attitudes to others. Sometimes we can be down ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:15, Romans 8:26, Revelation 21:4-5

Tags: Bad Mood, Weakness, Depressed, Human Nature, Flesh And Blood, Feeling Down, Mood Swings, Emotions, Joy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Holy Sway Bars! (08.02.05--Boldness Too!--2 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 31, 2005

Holy Sway Bars! (08.02.05--Boldness Too!--2 Samuel 4:1) Have you ever followed behind one of those pick-up trucks pulling a hay wagon? Around these parts that can be an every day experience especially during hay baling time. You’re driving along the highway and then, as you come over the crest of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 4:1

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Lutheran

Choose Your Color!" 2 Samuel 1:17-27 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 4, 2005

“Choose Your Color!” 2 Samuel 1:17-27 Key verse(s) 27a:“How the mighty have fallen!” What is the color of your life? It is interesting that when asked this question most people choose some neutral or dark shade. Very few people actually choose a bright color. That’s because, on the whole, it is ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 1:17-27

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: Lutheran

..  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jan 12, 2006

ILLUSTRATION... http://www.cbn.com/entertainment/sports/ChristianAthletes/billy_blanks.asp The words, "Not by sight but by faith" adorn the walls of Billy Blanks training center -- a testament to his faith in Christ to overcome many obstacles. "Faith without works is dead" -- is another ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[023] A Message From A Poem - At His Feet Encompassing

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 3, 2024

[023] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - AT HIS FEET ENCOMPASSING I hope this poem credits the Lord with all the devotion that is His. You will see the poem is in three sections. Also it has a distinctive rhyming scheme with internal rhymes. Additionally, you have many words rhyming with “feet” through ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:9, 1 Corinthians 12:14-15, Revelation 1:17

Tags: Feet, Bow At His Feet, The Feet Of Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[346]. A Message From A Poem - Willy Willy Wagtail, You Sweet Bird

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 11, 2026

[346]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WILLY WILLY WAGTAIL, YOU SWEET BIRD This may seem an unusual poem. It is about an Australian bird that belongs to the Wagtail or Fantail family. The identification for this bird is “Rhipidura leucophrys” and you may hear its call on this site - ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:41-44, James 5:12

Tags: Praise, Bird, Joyful, David And Goliath, Black And White, Singing, Cast Down, Christian Poems, Downcast Christians, Wagtail  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

To Touch A Scorpion!" Matthew 5: 43-48 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 9, 2004

“To Touch a Scorpion!” Matthew 5: 43-48 Key verse(s): 44 “‘But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’” Is it in our nature to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute us? Getting even or, in the very least, shunning confrontation with those who would ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Unconditional Love

Denomination: Lutheran

Where Did That Come From?

Contributed by Rick Palmer on Oct 21, 2018

As a Police Officer we were required to use radar to influence drivers to slow down and obey the laws. One evening I parked at a T-intersection where Main Street intersected a major highway.This intersection was very well lite up because of the businesses located there, a restaurant with a gas ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:23, Matthew 28:14, 2 Peter 2:12-15, 1 John 2:15-16, John 15:19, Galatians 3:23-24, 1 Corinthians 2:14, John 16:8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Reprove The World, Gospel Of Jesus Christ, Evangelism, Gospel, Jesus On The Cross, Preach The Gospel, Go Into All The World  (view more)  (view less)

Seventeen Years Ago I Was Keenly Interested In A ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Mar 27, 2007

Seventeen years ago I was keenly interested in a widow in our church. Renfro laughed at me for saying she and I had a conversation in which we negotiated whether we could date or not. Listen, if there are things on which you do not agree, either negotiate a lasting change or else keep on ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal