In Sermon Illustrations: "Songs Of Heaven"

Sow Indiscriminately

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 15, 2017

In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13) Jesus spoke of the kingdom of heaven being like an indiscriminate sower. This contradicts theories surrounding church growth of targeting certain statistically measurable demographics. There is no such target audience in this parable. The seed of the kingdom ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Tags: Sower, Church Growth

Denomination: Baptist

Eight Lies About Hell

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 6, 2022

HERE ARE 8 LIES OF THE DEVIL CONCERNING HELL. Unfortunately, many of these lies are found in pulpits, churches, seminaries or college campuses. 1.Hell is not a place, it is a state of mind (16:22 – “he died”). 2. Hell is annhiliation. When you die, you no longer exist! 3. Hell is ...read more

Tags: Hell, Death, Eternity, Deception, Satan, Lake Of Fire, Judgment, False Teachers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Church Is A Battleship, Not A Cruise Ship!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 2, 2023

Adrian Rogers said "We are in a spiritual war! And the Church is not a cruise ship with the Senior Pastor as the Master of Ceremonies! Indeed, the Church is not a showboat…...it is a battleship. We, in the Body of Christ, are called to see Satan's strongholds crumble under the ...read more

Tags: Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Prayer, Revival, Victory, Demons, Strongholds  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Does The Worm Get Inside An Apple?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 12, 2023

How does a worm get inside an apple? Perhaps you think the worm burrows in from the outside. No, scientists have discovered that the worm comes from inside. But how does he get in there? Simple! An insect lays an egg in the apple blossom. Sometime later, the worm hatches in the heart of the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Sin, Salvation, Temptation, Adam, Sinful Nature, Sinners, Death  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Standing By The Bedside Of The Sick Child Of God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 11, 2024

Rick Renner suggests that "by praying in Jesus' name, a believer actually stands in the physical place of Jesus who is in Heaven, acting on His behalf and operating in the authority He has vested to that believer as His official representative." Thus, this prayer of the elders in ...read more

Tags: Faith, Healing, Prayer, Confession, Miracles, Health, Sickness, Power Of God, Authority, Elders  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rach And I Have A Friend Who Is A Source Of Grief ...  PRO

Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Feb 17, 2005

Rach and I have a friend who is a source of grief for us. It is not that he has done anything to us – he is quite dear to us actually. Rather it is what he has done to himself, what he has chosen to believe. About ten years ago, this friend began absenting himself from church. He was getting ...read more

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Cups Of The ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Cups of the Lord Cup of Salvation Psalms 116:13 says, “I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.” The opening verse of psalm 116 says, “I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.” (Psalm 116:1) Dewight Jones tells us that there are some 32 ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 116:13

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[004]. Message From A Poem - A Memorial To Kent Harrison

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 19, 2024

[004]. MESSAGE FROM A POEM - A MEMORIAL TO KENT HARRISON This was written after Kent’s death in Townsville maybe in April 2005. We had known him since early Mt Isa days, then later when he moved to Charters Towers and then to Townsville. Kent suffered a few massive strokes but battled on after ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1, 2 Samuel 1:17, 2 Samuel 1:26

Tags: Death, Compassion, Friend, Memorial, Tribute, Prayer Warrior, A Christian Death  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Refuse To Be Discouraged  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Sep 1, 2001

To Think About:   I Refuse to be Discouraged. I refuse to be discouraged, To be sad, or to cry; I refuse to be downhearted, and here’s the reason why . . . I have a God who’s mighty, Who’s sovereign and supreme; I have a God who loves me, and I am on His team. He is all wise and powerful, Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:11-30

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Bought Our House From John And Donna Jackson. ...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 24, 2005

We bought our house from John and Donna Jackson. The Jackson’s have a son named Ben. Ben is mentally and physically challenged. In Ben’s room, he wrote in ink into the drywall, "Ben has the best daddy in the world." There were also wrestling pictures in permanent marker on the same wall. When ...read more

Tags: Sin Exposed, Sin General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Wall Separating Church And Economics Is Being ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2006

The Wall Separating Church And Economics is being breached. “More and more scholars have been using conventional economic methods to understand the way in which religion relates to the rest of society, and to the economy in particular,” says George Mason University professor Laurence R. Iannaccone. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:15-16

Tags: Christian Values

This Past Week I Saw An Interview On Tv With Ted ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Jan 16, 2007

This past week I saw an interview on TV with Ted Turner. Turner is about a good an example as you could find of someone who has gained the whole world. As the founder of CNN and many other enterprises, he’s a billionaire with about as much power and influence as any individual can attain in one ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

On Self-Control  PRO

Contributed by Bret Toman on Jan 2, 2010

ON SELF-CONTROL When I’m at the pizza buffet and I’ve already had more than enough to eat, and I know there’s a good chance another slice will make me miserable for the next 3-4 hours and I eat it anyway .... I lack self control. When I decide to stay up late and play video games or surf the ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Baptist

Occasionally I Meet Christians Who Say

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 8, 2010

Occasionally I meet Christians who say “God is telling me to go and do this or that” and then the next minute God seems to have changed His mind. I remember one guy who made God look like He didn’t know how to make up His mind at all! One day it was “God wants me to do this.” and the next day it ...read more

Tags: Words, Oath

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Others

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 3, 2010

Contrasting Poems on Servanthood Matthew 20:28 "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." If He came to serve, what must we do? ILL.- “I gave a little party this afternoon at three— ’Twas very small Three guests in all Just I, Myself, and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:28

Tags: Servanthood

Because The Prince Had Come  PRO

Contributed by J.d. Tutell on Jan 13, 2012

BECAUSE THE PRINCE HAD COME A man named Phillip Keller was born in Kenya and then moved to the United States. To describe this principle he tells the story of the growing up there. The majority of people did not really think of themselves as subjects of the King of England. After all they ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Baptist

Evil Has Arrived

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 7, 2021

I am afraid that if Paul Revere rode through our towns crying, "The evil is coming! The evil is coming" Church folks would go back to sleep instead of rising to arms and in the morning have him arrested for disturbing the peace. The same works for revival. The call may come and God ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:5, Romans 13:11, Ezekiel 33:6-7

Tags: Candlestick, Awake, Hell, Soul, Sleep, Watchman  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

I Sent You Two Boats And A Helicopter!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 21, 2023

A man of faith is on top of a roof during a great flood in the South. Another man comes by in a boat and says, "Get in, get in, the water is rising!" The man of faith replied, "No, sir. I have faith in God and I know that He will answer my prayer and give me a miracle." So, ...read more

Tags: Miracles Of Jesus, Faith, Fear, Protection, Prayer, Angels, Miracles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

John Newton, The Writer Of The Most Popular Hymn ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 30, 2001

John Newton, the writer of the most popular hymn in history, "Amazing Grace" said: "… if two angels in heaven were given assignments by God at the same time, one of them to go and rule over the greatest nation on earth and the other to go sweep the streets of the dirtiest village, each angel would ...read more

I Recall A Story About A Man Who Had To Cross A ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Wood on May 29, 2002

I recall a story about a man who had to cross a wide river on the ice. He was afraid it might be too thin, so he began to crawl on his hand and knees in great terror. He thought he might fall through at any moment. Just as he neared the opposite shore, all exhausted, another man glided past him ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:12-13, Galatians 5:10-11

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Baptist