In Sermon Illustrations: "Sun of Righteousness"

What Alcoholics Can Teach Us

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 31, 2014

Philip Yancey interviewed a young alcoholic who had formerly been an active church member, but had allowed Alcoholics Anonymous to replace the church. When questioned why, the young man responded, "Mainly I'm trying to survive, and AA helps me in that struggle far better than any church." ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:5

Tags: Accountability, Authenticity, Dependency, Self-Righteousness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It's Too Late To Do Anything!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 8, 2020

Here is an illustration of these two basic approaches to righteousness: SAVIOR or SELF? An Englishman by the name of Ebenezer Wooten had just concluded a preaching service in the village square. The crowd had dispersed, and he was busily engaged in loading the equipment. A young man approached ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:5, Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Salvation, Righteousness, Witnessing, Works, Grace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Alex Navalny - Russian Dissident

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 19, 2024

Russian opposition leader and outspoken Christian, Alexei Navalny. Navalny voluntarily returned to Russia - knowing he would be arrested and imprisoned. Navalny, 47, dies while serving a 19-year sentence in a penal colony north of the Arctic Circle. In Navalny’s closing statement during his 2021 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Tags: Integrity, Righteousness, Sermon On The Mount, Sacrifice

Denomination: Pentecostal

Late Bloomers! (09.22.05--Grace Walks!--Psalm ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 20, 2005

Late Bloomers! (09.22.05--Grace Walks!--Psalm 93:5) Fairness is a doctrine that we have gone hog-wild with. We seem as a people possessed by a sense of “all things being equal.” Unfortunately, we are so captivated by a sense of justice at all costs, we often lose sight of the fact that a doctrine ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 93:5

Tags: Beauty, Righteousness, Walk, Holiness, God's Omniscience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Faking It

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 8, 2021

One of my wife’s third graders was wearing a Fitbit watch, which prompted my wife to ask, “Are you tracking your steps?” “No,” said the little girl. “I wear this for Mommy so ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:1-13

Tags: Deception, Torah, Works Righteousness, Religious But Lost

Denomination: Independent/Bible

You Can Change

Contributed by Richard Tow on Mar 27, 2023

Colin Smith tells the story of a friend who had a severe heart attack. The man said it felt like an elephant on his chest. He survived, but the doctor told him he would have to change his diet. Colin asked the man what he ate before the heart attack. The man said he loved cheeseburgers, fries, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6, 2 Timothy 2:22, Luke 6:21

Tags: Habits, Hunger, Addiction, Righteousness, Health, Eating  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Appetite Killers

Contributed by Richard Tow on Mar 27, 2023

If we want our appetite for righteousness to grow, we must avoid appetite killers. This is true in the natural. Every parent knows that kids who eat too much candy will not have an appetite for the healthy food at dinner time. The same is true with our spiritual appetite. If we snack on the things ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6, Colossians 3:2, Ephesians 4:24, Psalm 81:10, Psalm 42:1-2, Luke 6:21  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Worldliness, Entertainment, Seek, Hunger, Desire, Righteousness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Desiring More Of God

Contributed by Richard Tow on Mar 27, 2023

A. W. Tozer prayed a prayer that I can identify with. Perhaps it resonates with you as well. Here is the first part of his prayer. “O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6, Luke 6:21, Proverbs 4:23

Tags: Zeal, Hunger, Revival, Desire, Righteousness, Passion  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

A Good Man Wants To Get Into Heaven

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jul 21, 2024

I was recently at the gym having a conversation with someone I just met. Within a matter of 10 minutes, I realized that this man was a better man than me. He had volunteered in more countries than I could count in 10 minutes of our conversation. He was a teacher, he served the poor in many ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16, Romans 3:23

Tags: Grace, Justification, Good Works, Works Righteousness

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Made America Great, Donald Trump?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 23, 2016

WHAT MADE AMERICA GREAT, DONALD TRUMP? Donald Trump says that he wants to make America great again. If he does, he should listen to the words of French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, who visited America in 1831, said, "I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:34

Tags: America, Memorial Day, Righteousness, July 4th

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Your Two Dirty Pennies Are An Insult

Contributed by David Goering on Aug 14, 2018

Suppose somebody befriended you in your town and offered to buy you a big beautiful house, and told you that you could choose the house you wanted. Then when he was handing you the title deed you reached in your pocket and pulled out two pennys, and when you did they accidentally fell out of your ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Free Gift, It Is Finished, Salvation, Righteousness, Good Works  (view more)  (view less)

The Container Is Defiled

Contributed by David Goering on Aug 24, 2018

Your family and one of your best friends families has decided to go camping, but you forgot to bring a container for water, on your way to the campsite your friend sees a container in the ditch he stops and picks it up, it has a skull and crossbones on the outside of the container, it says poison ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:6, Romans 10:3-4

Tags: Deceitful Heart, Wicked Heart, Righteousness, Jesus Christ, Filthy Rags, Self Righteousness, Evil Heart, Defiled Heart  (view more)  (view less)

Some Time Ago I Read About An Instant Cake Mix ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 4, 2004

Some time ago I read about an instant cake mix that was a big flop. The instructions said that all you had to do was add water and bake and you had your cake. The company couldn’t understand why it didn’t sell -- until their research discovered that the buying public felt uneasy about a mix that ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:5, Ephesians 2:8-9, Matthew 25:31-46

Tags: Work, Surrender, Commitment To Christ, Faith, Salvation, Righteousness, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Mr. Schemer On The Broad Road

Contributed by David Goering on Sep 21, 2018

There was a man named Mr. Evangelist who grabbed a handful of pamphlets containing scripture verses and the good news that had transformed his very own life. off he went into the highways and byways and as he went he began to share these pamphlets with everyone that providence would put in his ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 36:2, Matthew 7:13-14

Tags: Self Righteousness, The Broad Road, Self Flattery, Self Justification

Mad Mike Hughes

Contributed by Roberta Karchner on Feb 26, 2020

Mad Mike Hughes had a mission, to launch himself into outer space. He believed the earth was flat, and the only way to prove it was to go up into space and take a photo of the flat earth. He did not trust others to document the truth, he would only believe it if he saw it with his own eyes. In ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:11-13

Tags: Sin, Foolish, Self Importance, Self Righteousness, Flat Earth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Tragedy Of What Happened At Port Royal

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 13, 2024

Port Royal once situated on the island of Jamaica has been called “the richest and wickedest city in the world." It was the natural rendezvous for most of the pirates of the Caribbean. Liquor, women prostitutes, homosexual rendezvous, gambling, dope – every vice thrived in Port Royal “in ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:7

Tags: Wrath, Sin, Judgment, Repentance, Righteousness, Homosexuality, Lot, Sodom, Gomorrah  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Are Not A Political Kingdom

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2020

Various groups of people expected the Messiah to come, but they did not anticipate His coming humbly and meekly. Yet those were the very attitudes that Jesus, the one whom John the Baptist had announced as the Messiah, was both teaching and practicing. The idea of a meek Messiah leading meek people ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Humility, Prayer, Politics, Meekness, Righteousness, Beatitudes, Government, Brokenness, Sovereignty Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is The Solar Eclipse A Sign Of The Last Days?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 6, 2024

“The Bible says a number of times that there’s going to be lots of signs in the heavens before Jesus Christ returns to Earth. What about the Solar Eclipse that is coming on April 8? We see this as possibly one of those." “However, my number one encouragement to people would be to just ...read more

Tags: Revelation, Salvation, Hope, End Times, Prophecy, Last Days, Son Of God, Sun, Return Of Christ, Solar Eclipse  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Lights Along The Shore

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Jul 9, 2017

The Lights Along the Shore To me, lighthouses are among the most charming of man-made structures. Their unique and essential purpose makes each one a thing of exquisite beauty. Seafarers seeking a haven on a stormy night find a beam from the shore as precious as life itself. Perhaps Philip ...read more

Scripture: John 1:3-7, John 8:12, Matthew 5:14-16, 2 Peter 1:19, Revelation 22:5, John 3:19-21, Malachi 4:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Harbor, Light And Darkness, Navigation, Light, Sea  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It Is The Duty Of Nations As Well As Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Daniel Becker on Sep 15, 2001

“It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy ...read more

Tags: God, Fountain, Independence Day, Humility, Sin, Redeemer, Righteousness, Leadership General, Emotions, Cleansing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed