In Sermon Illustrations: "Soul"

Pastor Prays Honestly After Loss Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 30, 2009

Pastor Prays Honestly After Loss of Son O The Beauty of Honest prayer (I think God prefers angry honesty vs. flowery fakeness) Heard a story this week of a pastor who lost his precious little son in a tragic accident. Told how he drove the freeways of Los Angeles in the grief of that loss. Said… ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Death

My Wife Carolyn And I Were Walking In A Park One ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 11, 2010

My wife Carolyn and I were walking in a park one morning when we spotted a mother squirrel scurrying along a power line with her baby in her mouth. She delivered the little squirrel to a new nest she had built in a tree. Then she ran back across the wire to fetch another baby from the old nest and ...read more

Tags: Mothers

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Thunderclap In The Debate

Contributed by Michael Walther on Jul 11, 2011

A THUNDERCLAP IN THE DEBATE A group of college students were debating this issue one day. Some said a mother has the right to do what she wants with her own body. Others pointed out the scientific fact that an unborn child is not part of the mother's body and has its own distinct DNA, blood type, ...read more

Tags: Abortion

Denomination: Lutheran

Harry Potter: Temptation

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Jul 30, 2011

HARRY POTTER: TEMPTATION Every great story has great characters. And in truly great stories, the characters go through significant change. This change is called a character arc. For example, if you’re familiar with the Harry Potter series, you know that Harry starts off in the story as an ...read more

Tags: Temptation General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Preach The Whole Gospel

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2011

PREACH THE WHOLE GOSPEL John Nelson preaching about the influence of John Wesley’s preaching and its effects upon him, said: "This man can tell the secrets of my heart, but he hath not left me there, he hath showed me the remedy, even the blood of Christ. Then was my soul filled with ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Tags: Preaching

The Grizzly And The Skunk

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Dec 31, 2011

THE GRIZZLY AND THE SKUNK Dale Carnegie once noted that there was only animal that the grizzly bear would allow to eat with him. That animal is the skunk. Grizzly bears in Yellowstone Park often come to eat at the place where garbage is dumped. This huge bear can fight and beat almost any animal ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

Denomination: Brethren

For Blessings Already Received

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Feb 23, 2012

FOR BLESSINGS ALREADY RECEIVED "Returning thanks for blessings already received increases our faith and enables us to approach God with new boldness and new assurance. Doubtless the reason so many have so little faith when they pray is because they take so little time to meditate upon and thank ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6

Tags: Thanksgiving, Gratitude

Denomination: Baptist

The Exxon Valdez Is An Oil Tanker That Was On Its ...

Contributed by Gaylon Clark on Nov 14, 2012

The Exxon Valdez is an oil tanker that was on its way to Long Beach, California. Instead, it crashed into a reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska. The crash resulted in the second largest oil spill in US History. Between 25-32 million gallons of oil spilled into the Ocean. Over 250,000 members of ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-10

Tags: Good Deeds, God's Purposes, Fatigue, Rest, Commandments Sabbath  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Grace And Matthew

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 12, 2013

GRACE AND MATTHEW These days people don't know Matthew as a failure and embarrassment who sold his soul to the Romans for a job. We know Matthew as a follower of Jesus who wrote the first book of the New Testament. It's important to understand that the grace of God doesn't simply invite us to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:27-31

Tags: Grace, Jesus Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The King Has One More Move  PRO

Contributed by Dwayne Brown, Phd on Apr 9, 2015

This story has been told by Christian speakers as far back as 1955 when Billy Graham told a variation of it early in his ministry. Two men are standing in front of a painting called Checkmate in an art gallery. In the painting, a man is playing chess with the devil. The devil is grinning ...read more

Tags: Don't Quit, God Is In Control

Denomination: Baptist

Approved Workers

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

In II Timothy 2:14-20, the Apostle Paul gives five characteristics of those in the Body of Christ who are "approved workers". When believers stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ, there will be only two types of people there: workers who are approved and workers who are not approved. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:14-20

Tags: Rewards, Bema, Judgment Seat Of Christ, Approved Workers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Would He Say?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

WHAT WOULD HE SAY? If He should come today And find my hands so full Of future plans, however fair, In which my Savior has no share, What would He say? If He should come today And find my love so cold, My faith so very weak and dim I had not even looked for Him. What would He say? If He should ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Return Of Christ, Judgment Seat Of Christ, Rapture Of The Church, Evangelism, Second Coming, Last Days  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do You Really Believe What You Are Preaching?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 7, 2022

When Charles Peace (a convicted thief and murderer) was being escorted to the gallows, he was accompanied by a clergyman reading from The Consolations of Religion about the “flames never quenched.” Peace was a known criminal for whom the public had no sympathy; no one can say with confidence the ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Death, Scripture, Gospel, Truth, Preaching, Witnessing, Last Words, Unbelievers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is Your Ministry Making Any Difference?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 12, 2023

Sometimes we think that God is not using us if we are not preaching to thousands every weekend. If you think that, remember this story about the value of one soul! I recently read about an old man, walking the beach at dawn, who noticed a young man ahead of him picking up starfish and flinging ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Ministry, Holy Spirit, Faithfulness, Success, Fruit Of The Spirit, Spirit Filled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Rules Can’t Save

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 27, 2025

The great Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy inherited vast wealth and hundreds of serfs. Though he freed them and gave away his book royalties, he was tormented by guilt and could not find peace. He invented endless rules —rise early, eat little, conquer lust —to perfect himself, but slid deeper into ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:18-25, Galatians 2:16

Tags: Grace, Freedom, Justification, Sanctification

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

[190]. A Message From A Poem – My Prayer (Parts From Psalm 119)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 6, 2025

[190]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – MY PRAYER (PARTS FROM PSALM 119) Christians regard the bible as the inspired word of God and as the sole rule for faith and doctrine. That makes the bible the most important resource available to us. It is a most treasured possession. There are many references ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:103, Psalm 119:89, Psalm 119:9, Psalm 119:18, 2 Peter 1:21, 2 Timothy 3:16-17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Word, The Word Of God, The Bible, Statutes, Ordinances, Your Word, Law, Prayer, Treasure, Precepts, Testimonies  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Foreward Of His Book, Inside Out, Larry ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeffery Lindsay on Aug 11, 2001

In the foreward of his book, Inside Out, Larry Crabb writes this: “Modern Christianity, in dramatic reversal of its biblical form, promises to relieve the pain of living in a fallen world. The message, whether it’s from fundamentalists requiring us to live by a favored set of rules or from ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-24, 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Tags: Emotions, Blessed, Blessing, Hardship Of Life, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Truths To Victorious Living Are:  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Truths to victorious living are: One, recognize the need to be filled with the Holy Spirit so you can live a life that reflects being led of the Holy Ghost. The apostle exhorts you "...to be filled with the [Holy] Spirit." Two, begin mortifying the flesh by confessing sins and claim Christ's ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:8-9

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Heart Of Mary: Submission To The Lord  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

The Heart of Mary: Submission to the Lord "I am the Lord's servant... May it be to me as you have said." (Luke 1:38) The first desire in the child of God who wants to enjoy the favor of God in his life is to die to self and surrender to the will of God in his life. The key word here "servant" ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:38

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dr. Clarence Macartney Illustrates This Point By ...

Contributed by Brian Harvison on Sep 12, 2008

Dr. Clarence Macartney illustrates this point by this story Dr. Macartney claims he had a vision were he Saw the King seated upon His throne On either side of the throne, I saw the great angels Uriel, Raphael, Michael, Gabriel Before the throne stood another angel The angel of the Book And by his ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Baptist