In Sermon Illustrations: "Suffering Christians"

Growth In Persecution  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 19, 2011

GROWTH IN PERSECUTION I remember feeling torn and confused when Simon Guillebaud in Burundi, Central Africa reported violence against him and Christians there. In his email he said we are not asking for protection. We know that violence and threats will come. What we ask for is boldness to preach ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:19-24

Tags: Church Growth

I Prefer To Have Too Much Confidence, And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"I prefer to have too much confidence, and thereby be deceived, than to be always mistrustful. For, in the first case, I suffer for a moment at being ...read more

Tags: Faith

Forgiveness For Everyone?

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 11, 2015

Lloyd Prator writes, “Take Adolph Hitler or better Joseph Stalin because he killed more people. What if, at the last minute, as Stalin lay dying, he turned his heart to Jesus and confessed his sins? Suppose he repented at the last minute, repented of the 14 million Russians Stalin killed… Would he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-43

Tags: Forgiveness, Repentance

Denomination: Methodist

I've Been Reading A Very Powerful Book, Tortured ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jun 2, 2009

I’ve been reading a very powerful book, Tortured for Christ, which is a testimony from a follower of Jesus who suffered immensely in Romania after the communist takeover. Originally published 30 years ago, it is still very powerful. Richard Wurmbrand was a faithful servant of Christ in the ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Church Of God

Joy

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Joy In Galatians 5: 22 we read that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is joy. The Greek word means an inner gladness, a deep pleasure which comes from an inner assurance and confidence that God does all things for His good purposes. This joy is not the same as the joy found in ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22, Matthew 2:1-23

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Wings Like Eagles  PRO

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Mar 20, 2003

Story: The eagles is an interesting bird. It makes its nest from briars and thorns and then inlays the nest with animal skin, to stop the thorns and briars hurting the newly hatched eaglets. For the eaglets, this is the life. Mum brings the food and the eaglets hangs around the nest getting fat. ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Anglican

[135]. A Message From A Poem – I Will Still Praise God My Saviour

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 17, 2025

[135]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – I WILL STILL PRAISE GOD MY SAVIOUR Some people find it hard to be joyous a lot of the time and get despondent over various setbacks and trying circumstances in life. In fact I do not know a Christian who at some time has not been through this. Honesty will admit ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13, Habakkuk 3:17-19

Tags: Praise, Setbacks, Christian Poems, Crops Fail, I Will Praise God, Exalt The Lord, No Fruit, Vine, Faithfulness, Fail, Fig Tree, Olive, Despondent  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[211]. A Message From A Poem – Panoramic View From The Pinnacle (Part 2)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 24, 2025

[211]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – PANORAMIC VIEW FROM THE PINNACLE (PART 2) NOTE: When I went to post this it could not be sent because it said the whole thing was too long. Therefore I had to split it into two Parts.. This is Part 2, the final part. This is a longer poem. Some might find it ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 16:9, Hebrews 4:13

Tags: Pinnacle Of A Rock, Tech Companies, Degradation, Way, Images, Reprobates, Lovers Of Money, Christian Poems, Sports, Wickedness, Delusion, Reprobate, Humanism, Allegory, Faith  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[213]. A Message From A Poem – Parable Of The Fence Sitter

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 26, 2025

[213]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – PARABLE OF THE FENCE SITTER Uncommitted, disinterested, neutral, indecisive, impartial, indifferent, apathetic – just some English words that describe a person who does not take sides and has no real opinion about anything. When it comes to matters in the world ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:2, 1 Kings 18:21

Tags: Impartial, Indecisive, Christian Poems, Sitting On The Fence, Decide For God, A Fence Sitter, Indecision, Indifferent, Uncommitted, Neutral, Apathetic, Disinterested, Decision, Salvation, Conversion  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Old ...

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on Aug 22, 2008

Old Habits The French Revolution was tough on nobility. For years the people with money and power in France ignored and humiliated the common people, forcing them to suffer and starve while the noblemen lived in luxury. With the revolution came payback. The guillotine was the method of choice ...read more

Tags: Lies

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Technology ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

TECHNOLOGY ANXIETY Disconnect Anxiety Solutions Research Group claims 27% of the population suffers increased levels of anxiety when separated from their cell phones or the Internet, and that a further 41% suffer ...read more

Tags: Technology

Sacrifice

Contributed by David Simpson on Jan 15, 2013

I will never forget being at church one Sunday playing "king of the hill" with my buddies, before church started. But our play stopped when a car pulled up to the sidewalk and, with help, out came a soldier, who had returned from Vietnam a few weeks earlier. But he came on crutches and he ...read more

Scripture: John 15:13-18

Tags: Sacrifices, Wounded, Soldier Of The Cross

Denomination: Christian Church

Although I Do Not Know Why…  PRO

Contributed by Greg Buchner on Mar 8, 2005

A quote from Cliffe Knechtle… “Although I do not know why God allowed evil, I do know that he wants to destroy it. That is why there is hell. Although I do not know why God allowed pain, I do know he wants to wipe every tear from our eyes and give us joy for eternity in his presence. That is why ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General

Denomination: Methodist

I Was Watching A Movie The Other Day Called ...

Contributed by Cameron Smith on Aug 4, 2007

I was watching a movie the other day called Blood Diamond, a film about the terrible loss and suffering caused by internal conflict in Sierra Leone. The main character turns to his friend and says “Sometimes I wonder if God will ever forgive us for what we’ve done to each other. Then I look around ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Larry Crabb, In His Book "Shattered Dreams," ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Sep 9, 2004

Larry Crabb, in his book “Shattered Dreams,” (another way of saying letdowns) “Our shattered dreams are never random. They are always a piece in a larger puzzle, a chapter in a larger story. Pain is a tragedy. But it’s never only a tragedy. For the Christian it’s always a necessary mile on the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:1-15, John 10:10

Tags: God In The Hardships, Endurance

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One By One

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 21, 2006

Taking today’s problems one by one, instead of diving into the things in this life that concern us tomorrow, is the best way of avoiding have all the troubles in life collapsing on us at the same time. In 480 B.C. the outmanned army of Sparta’s King Leonidas held off the Persian troops of Xerxes by ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:24

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Lutheran

Kelly Willard Was The Solo Voice In Many ...

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Nov 21, 2007

Kelly Willard was the solo voice in many Maranatha Music Songs in the 80’s. She recorded 10 solo albums for her Lord. But in 2004 her world fell apart. Her marriage of 29 years ended in divorce, her parents died, and her 18 year old daughter Haylie committed suicide after battling severe ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

Legend Of A King And A Heavy Stone

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 12, 2010

LEGEND OF A KING AND A HEAVY STONE There are certain lessons of grace that can be learned only in the valley of pain and distress. Show me a Christian who has suffered much and deepened his dependence on God, and I will show you a sensitive soul full of compassion for others, and with a deep ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: *other

The Cost Of Christmas

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 4, 2011

THE COST OF CHRISTMAS One person observed that the message of Christmas was not one of convenience but "cost": * It cost Mary and Joseph the comforts of home to take a long journey to Bethlehem while she was "very" pregnant with her new child. * It cost the shepherds their comfort by the campfire ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Overcoming Fear

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

From A Caterpillar To A Butterfly

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Nov 6, 2015

From a Caterpillar to a Butterfly And say Christian are you presently in a God-designed “cocoon” of suffering? Unaware to others, are you in wise God’s “simulated” (He can create em’) conditions resembling a stifling cocoon? Remember, He is transforming you from an ugly Caterpillar into a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-4

Tags: Ruler, Saviour, Butterfly, Caterpillar, Prime Minister  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: *other