In Sermon Illustrations: "Tear Down"

Ben Hooper

Contributed by David Swanger on Jan 19, 2024

In Rising Above the Crowd, Brian Habour tells the story of Ben Hooper. When Ben was born in the foothills of East Tennessee, little boys and girls like Ben who were born to unwed mothers were ostracized and treated terribly. By the time he was three years old, the other children would scarcely play ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9

Tags: Christian, Encouragement

Stirring Up A Mess!

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 21, 2024

HOW EASY IS IT TO STIR UP A MESS? THERE IS A HIDDEN AGENDA AND MOTIVE WITHIN. There was a cowboy who road into town to visit a saloon on the edge of town. The cowboy tied his horse to the hitching post in front of the bar. He then went inside to drink. The devil came by and saw the cowboy ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:18, Jeremiah 17:9-10

Tags: Anger, Hidden Agenda

Denomination: Assembly Of God

[014] A Message From A Poem - Against The Christian

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 18, 2024

[014] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - AGAINST THE CHRISTIAN The origin of this poem goes right back to a time of considerable difficulty when I was going through tough times and some people were very nasty. Christians do face real difficulties and you will have persecution and unfairness just because ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:12, Hebrews 2:17, John 14:16-17

Tags: Persecution, Comfort, Difficulties, Trials, Suffer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[017] A Message From A Poem - Altogether Lovely One

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 21, 2024

[017] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - ALTOGETHER LOVELY ONE There are times when we feel our hearts going out in worship to our Lord. What is the difference between praise and worship? This is not a sermon so I won’t be answering that question here, but I hope you think on it and that it might warm ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:11, Isaiah 53:3-4, Psalm 150:1-3

Tags: Worship, Praise, Gold, Magi, Sorrow, Frankincense, Myrrh, Lovely One  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[019] A Message From A Poem - An Atheist’s Lament

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 22, 2024

[019] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - AN ATHEIST’S LAMENT I do not know how many nations know what the 1st of April is. In western society it is known as April Fools’ Day and is a time when some play tricks on others. The Day is also known as “All Fools’ Day.” The following is taken from The Editors ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53:1-2, Ecclesiastes 2:14

Tags: April Fools Day, Fools, Atheists, There Is No God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Leaving The City Of Regret

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 1, 2025

Leaving the City of Regret by Larry Harp I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet I found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip was going to be unpleasant, and I knew in advance that no real good would come of it. I'm talking about my annual "Guilt ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-16

Tags: Freedom, Regret

Denomination: Methodist

[050]. A Message From A Poem – Come Aside And Rest Awhile

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 7, 2025

[050]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – COME ASIDE AND REST AWHILE Burnout is just as real among some Christian workers as it is in the working world. Those who are faithful and go the extra mile in service for their Lord can feel the strain and stress of ministry. Don’t forget either, that the evil ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-32, Mark 6:33-34, Mark 6:43-46

Tags: Burnout, Retreat, Rest, Come Aside

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[084]. A Message From A Poem – For Men - The Three "fs"

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 16, 2025

[084]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR MEN - THE THREE Fs There are 9 poems in this Trilogy series. This poem is part of a Trilogy - three sets of three. The first set is addressed to MEN, the second to ALL CHRISTIANS and the third is SPECIFIC. This is the third one in the first set - FOR ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:14, James 4:4, 1 Corinthians 1:9, Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Friendliness, Fellowship, Faithfulness, Poetry, Poem  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[142]. A Message From A Poem – In Our Weakness He Gives Strength

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 25, 2025

[142]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – IN OUR WEAKNESS HE GIVES STRENGTH Creatures of dust we are and weak and frail in human strength. Many are the battles we can have and many are the storms that assail us. I do think Christians have a greater measure of these that people in the world because it is ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 12:2, Genesis 2:7, Genesis 3:19, Psalm 34:4, Psalm 27:3, 2 Corinthians 12:10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: A Christian Poem, Weakness, I Am Weak, Dust Of The Ground, Christian Poetry, Dust Made From Dust, We Are Frail, Strength  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[236]. A Message From A Poem - Romans 5 Exploration

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 30, 2025

[236]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - ROMANS 5 EXPLORATION The book of Romans is considered to be The Gospel According to Paul, and is the most theological book in the New Testament. Chapter 5 is one some find difficult in the arguments the Holy Spirit makes through the Apostle. I based my poem on ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8, Romans 5:9, Romans 5:17, Romans 5:19

Tags: Transgression, Justified, Gift Of Righteousness, Second Man Adam, Christian Poems, Death, Life, Reconciliation, Redemption, Adam  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[241]. A Message From A Poem – Some Thoughts From Ephesians 1

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Dec 21, 2025

[241]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – SOME THOUGHTS FROM EPHESIANS 1 Ephesians is the most doctrinal book in the New Testament along with Romans. There is so much in Ephesians that it is a gold mine with more and more veins the further down you go. In this poem I took some of the marvellous teaching ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-7

Tags: Kind Intention, Adoption, Predestined, Inheritance, Heavenly Places, Spiritual Blessings, Christian Poems, Grace, Glory, Salvation, Redemption  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[248]. A Message From A Poem – Starlight Is Always There

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 2, 2026

[248]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – STARLIGHT IS ALWAYS THERE This is a short poem, one just came straightaway to me. I could expand it more but I decided I will not do that. Although the poem was written in 2020, the original thought for this came to me one evening when I was walking home. Here ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 John 1:12

Tags: Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Unveiled Face, Obscured, Love, Barriers, Stars, Shining, Starlight  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[257]. A Message From A Poem – The Bridegroom Prepared His Bride

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 8, 2026

[257]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE BRIDEGROOM PREPARED HIS BRIDE The fact of Christ and His Church is a remarkable story of love. It is the pursuit of a Bride for God the Son. That Bride was purchased from the slavery of sin by the highest price and that was the death of the Lord Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:26-27, Revelation 19:7-9

Tags: The Bride, The Bridegroom, Christ Prepared His Bride, Bride For Isaac, Bride For Boaz, The Bride Is The Church, Ruth, Marriage Supper Of The Lamb  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Patriotic Testimony - Sgt. York, Christian Soldier

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 23, 2016

SERGEANT YORK the Christian Soldier If someone remembers the name Sergeant York, they remark by saying, “That’s the movie starring Gary Cooper, right?” Who is this hillbilly from Tennessee? This is where our story begins. In December 1887, in the hills of Pall Mall, Tennessee, Alvin York was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16

Tags: July 4th, Testimony, Christian Soldiers, War Heroes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The High Cost Of Low Living

Contributed by Larry Grant on Nov 8, 2025

Judges 16:15 "THE HIGH COST OF LOW LIVING" November 9, 2025 There is an old preacher story of a large carnival that came into a country town every two years. And people from miles around would bring their children to see all the colors and sights and sounds. But there was a particular ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:15

Tags: Lifestyle, Lessons, Losses

Denomination: Baptist

Even Back Then I Was Searching For Hard Evidence ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 14, 2001

Even back then I was searching for hard evidence of God as an alternative to faith. And one day found it-on television, of all places. While randomly flipping a dial, I came across a mass healing service being conducted by Kathryn Kuhlman. I watched for a few minutes as she brought various people ...read more

Giving It All Away—communion Mediation  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Aug 3, 2002

GIVING IT ALL AWAY-- Communion Mediation "In Ernest Gordon’s true account of life in a World War II Japanese prison camp, "Through the Valley of the Kwai," there is a story that never fails to move me. It is about a man who through giving it all away literally transformed a whole camp of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Ruth Axsom Is A Dear Friend Of Ours And She ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Oct 12, 2002

Ruth Axsom is a dear friend of ours and she relates this true story of her father that I think it illustrates so well what we’ve been discussing this morning. Ruth’s father, Robert Eason was 8 years old when he lost his father, John Eason. It is hard to lose your father at any time but Robert ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God, God's Forgiveness, God's Provision

Denomination: Christian Church

Chuck Had Been Perhaps The Most Hard-Working ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 17, 2004

Chuck had been perhaps the most hard-working salesman in his company’s history – at least in recent memory. He usually spent sixty-five to seventy-five hours a week at the office when he wasn’t traveling. And when he was on the road, his weekly work hours could run as high as ninety. Of course, ...read more

My First Assignment 35 Years Ago Was To An Inner ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 16, 2004

My first assignment 35 years ago was to an inner city parish in Wshington,D.C. Money was stolen from my room; the garage mechanic said my gas tank may have been sabotaged, destroying my engine; one weekend we had 34 windows broken in the school. When a new pastor was sent,the parish held a party ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Forgiveness In Jesus, God's Love