In Sermon Illustrations: "Speak Positively"

[267]. A Message From A Poem – The God Of Circumstances

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 17, 2026

[267]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE GOD OF CIRCUMSTANCES Among my favourite sayings, there are two that are special to me. One is, “What God desires from us is Faithfulness and Commitment.” The other one is, “Our God is a God of Circumstances.” It is this second one that the poem is built ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 121:7-8, Romans 8:28, Philippians 4:11-13

Tags: All The Way, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Fortunate, Led By God, Circumstances, Leading, Lucky, Chances, Savior  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Of The Most Touching Moment In The Sydney ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Emmert on May 29, 2001

One of the most touching moment in the Sydney Olympics was when Eric "The Swimmer" Moussambani of Equatorial Guinea swam in the 100-meter free style qualifying heat. The 22-year-old African had only learned to swim last January, had only practiced in a 20-meter pool without lane markers, and had ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1, Ephesians 4:24-29

Tags: Friendship New Friends, Church Small Groups, Church Body Of Christ, Spirit Led, Transformation, Renewal  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

Everything I Need  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Jan 21, 2002

EVERYTHING I NEED “I have everything I need for joy!” Robert Reed said. His hands are twisted and his feet are useless. He can’t bathe himself. He can’t feed himself. He can’t brush his teeth, comb his hair, or put on his underwear. Strips of Velcro hold his shirts together. His speech drags ...read more

Tags: Joy, God Brings Hope

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

1 Corinthians 13 — Church Version  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Jan 28, 2003

1 Corinthians 13 - church version “If our church could hold services in five languages or our members could speak three, but we didn’t love others, we would be all talk and no action. If our church really expressed it’s spiritual gifts with wholehearted service and we became spiritual giants, but ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1

Tags: Church General, Christian Love

Denomination: Church Of God

The Risen Jesus Will Fill You With His Life And ...  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jun 15, 2003

The risen Jesus will fill you with His life and give you, like Mary Magdalene, a life of fulfillment, a life of faith, and a life of favor with Him. Canadian Celine Dion sang these words in her song, “Because You Loved Me”, and they seem to fit what Jesus did in Mary Magdalene’s life. Maybe even in ...read more

Tags: God's Love, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

I Am A 52 Year Old Adoptee. I Was Born On ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 11, 2003

I am a 52 year old adoptee. I was born on February 1, 1951 in a Lynchburg, VA hospital. My first two years of life must have been traumatic as my birth mother gave me up when it became apparent that she could not take care of me. She was unmarried at the time and the birth father was a married ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7

Tags: Abortion, Children

In Our Greatest Gift, Henri Nouwen Tells A ...  PRO

Contributed by Corey Arnold on Nov 10, 2003

In Our Greatest Gift, Henri Nouwen tells a parable of faith and hope. He imagines twins–a brother and a sister–talking to each other in their mother’s womb: The sister said to the brother, "I believe there is life after birth." Her brother protested vehemently, "No, no, this is all there is. This ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It's Sunday. Sundays Are Always Busy Days For Me. ...

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Feb 12, 2004

It’s Sunday. Sundays are always busy days for me. Sundays are always early days for me. Today promised to be no exception. With a full slate of activities planned, I got up early and drove to church. There was not much traffic at 6:00 A.M. I had the roads to myself. The orange of dawn had yet to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1, James 1:3

Tags: Character, Peace

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Number Of Years Ago, Dr. Waltke, A Seminary ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Richards on Sep 23, 2004

A number of years ago, Dr. Waltke, a seminary professor, & three pastors, one of which was Charles Swindol toured the mother church of the First Church of Christ Scientist in downtown Boston. The four were unknown to the elderly lady who was going to give them a tour. They didn’t tell her who they ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:1-16, Proverbs 3:27

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Baptist

Do It For Them!" Ephesians 4: 25-32 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 6, 2004

“Do It For Them!” Ephesians 4: 25-32 Key verse(s): 29: “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Motivation to do or not do something is a curious thing. There are many factors that influence motivation. We can be motivated by the fear of injury or ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-32

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts, Communication General

Denomination: Lutheran

Story: One Man I Admire Greatly Is Maximilian ...

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Aug 23, 2005

Story: One man I admire greatly is Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941). Maximilian Kolbe was a Catholic priest, who was put in a Nazi concentration camp for his faith. On May 28, 1941, he was transferred to the concentration camp at Auschwitz. One day a man in Kolbe’s block escaped. All of the men ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Anglican

In Our Greatest Gift, Henri Nouwen Tells A ...  PRO

Contributed by David Ward on Aug 26, 2006

In Our Greatest Gift, Henri Nouwen tells a parable of faith and hope. He imagines twins–a brother and a sister–talking to each other in their mother’s womb: The sister said to the brother, "I believe there is life after birth." Her brother protested vehemently, "No, no, this is all there is. This ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Man Was Watching A Little Tv On Sunday Instead ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 26, 2007

A man was watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, He was watch a Church service in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years...... The retired minister was 92 at that time and he wondered why the Church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to ...read more

Jonah Jones - From Cocaine Trafficker To Christian Counselor

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Mar 27, 2009

*The closer we get to Jesus, the more we will see a change in our lives. *Jonah Jones had a terrible childhood. Jonah’s parents were drug traffickers who introduced him to cocaine when he was 8-years-old. Unbelievable! -- but true. Worse than that, Jonah’s stepfather raped him. His mother abused ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 16:20-25

Tags: Testimonies About Jesus, Testimonies, Changed By Christ

Denomination: Baptist

A Forever Family

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 10, 2009

A FOREVER FAMILY Author Keith Miller tells of an outgoing 40-year-old woman who was part of a sharing group he led. Here is her story: "When I was a tiny little girl, my parents died and I was put in an orphanage. I was not pretty at all and no one seemed to want me. But I longed to be adopted ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Tags: Adoption

Persecution In Uganda, Story Of Kefa ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 2, 2009

Persecution in Uganda, Story of Kefa Sempangi Kefa Sempangi (whose story is told in the book A Distant Grief, Regal Books) was a national pastor in Africa and barely escaped with his family from brutal oppression and terror in his home country of Uganda. They made their way to Philadelphia, where ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:16-24

Tags: Persecution

Neil Armstrong And Buzz Aldrin Were The First Men ...

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Nov 2, 2009

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first men to walk on the moon in the Apollo 11 space mission. Michael Collins third member of the group, was in charge of the command module, essential for their return to earth, which circled the moon while Armstrong and Aldrin landed. The moon lander ...read more

Tags: Lord's Supper

Denomination: Baptist

¿como Debo Hablar? (Translation Below)

Contributed by Major Gerardo Balmori on Mar 22, 2010

¿Como debo hablar? (Translation below) ¿Ha hablado alguna vez con alguien, teniendo el sentimiento en su corazón que realmente no le escuchaban? Este es un lamento común entre los cristianos que predicamos los consejos de la palabra de Dios a otros. Sabemos que hablamos verdad, que proclamamos ...read more

Tags: Communication Speech

Denomination: Salvation Army

Graduates From Christian College Heading For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 31, 2010

Graduates from Christian College Heading for Mission Field Receive Unexpected Gifts Just last May (2009), John Ortberg, pastor of the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, California, found himself and his family in Azusa, California, because one of his kids was graduating from Azusa ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Missions

Hudson Taylor And True Friendship

Contributed by Rolando Delgado on Sep 22, 2010

HUDSON TAYLOR AND TRUE FRIENDSHIP (Translation follows) Hay una breve reflexión sobre esto en la vida de Hudson Taylor. Después de haber estado largo tiempo en China, lejos de su país y de su esposa, él vino a casa y su esposa lo fue a recibir al barco. Tomaron un transporte juntos, y, desde ...read more

Tags: Friendship General

Denomination: Pentecostal