In Sermon Illustrations: "The Lord Goes Before"

There Are Advantages To Being Able To See. For ...  PRO

Contributed by Howard Flynn on May 17, 2001

There are advantages to being able to see. For example, when I was a seminary student, I went to apply for a driver license. The clerk at the Department of Motor Vehicles asked me to read a line on the eye chart. I responded by reading a series of what I thought the correct letters were. To this, ...read more

Tags: Display, Honor, Holy Spirit Attributes, Kingdom Of God, Lord, Love Of The Disciples, Relationships  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Adventist

Strength To Forgive

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2024

Some of life's hurts are so deep and painful that to forgive the people who caused them seems impossible. Yet Jesus says that we can't experience His forgiveness if we have an unforgiving spirit. In World War II, Corrie Ten Boom and her sister Betsie were arrested for concealing Jews and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15

Tags: Forgiveness, Lord's Prayer, God's Strength, Forgiving Others, Corrie Ten Boom, Enemies  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Word Pictures Of Biblical Forgiveness

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2024

The importance of forgiveness is a constant theme of Scripture. There are no less than seventy-five different word pictures about forgiveness in the Bible. They help us grasp the importance, the nature, and the effects of forgiveness. • To Forgive Is to Turn The Key, Open the cell door, and let ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15

Tags: Forgiveness, Philemon, Lord's Prayer, Root Of Bitterness, Forgive Us Our Debts, Unforgivenes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[241]. A Message From A Poem – Christmas Glory

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Dec 22, 2025

[241]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHRISTMAS GLORY This little poem was written for a short Christmas Meditation that is on SermonCentral. As you can see it is an acrostic. I have always been thrilled with this verse from Luke – {{Luke 2:9 “An angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them and THE ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:9, Matthew 17:1-3, Acts 9:3, Philippians 3:21

Tags: Christian Poems, Moses On Sinai, An Acrostic Poem, Christmas, Meditation, Glory Of The Lord, Shepherds, Mount Of Transfiguration  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thine Is The Glory!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2024

If you seek your own glory you will lose that, and His. But, if you seek His, you will get yours directly from Him. We are all tempted, like the youth Narcissus in the Greek fable, to bend over the brook and fall in love with ourselves, and we get changed into flowers, and fade in an hour. But he ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15

Tags: Ministry, Glory, Worship, Praise, Power, Kingdom, Lord's Prayer, Glory Of God, Judgment Seat Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Cross Made The Difference

Contributed by David Simpson on Apr 20, 2020

I (David Simpson) grew up as part of the spiritual family of Hardwick Christian Church. Along with my parents and sisters, I learned about Jesus and Bible there. I don’t ever remember a Sunday throughout my childhood and into my teen years when I was not in that church building and doing life with ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:5, John 3:16

Tags: Good Friday, Cross, Lord's Supper, Blood Of Jesus, Cross Of Jesus, Sacrifice Of Jesus, Communion  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Church

How Much Does The Bible Talk About The Second Coming?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 28, 2023

Biblical prophecy provides some of the greatest encouragement and hope available to us today. Just as the Old Testament is saturated with prophecies concerning Christ's first advent, so both testaments are filled with references to the second coming of Christ. One scholar has estimated that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, John 14:1-6

Tags: End Times, Prophecy, Second Coming, Last Days, Rapture, Day Of The Lord, Return Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[146]. A Message From A Poem – In Union With Christ

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 29, 2025

[146]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – IN UNION WITH CHRIST It is a great joy and a mark of praise that we are in Christ. Do Christians use that phrase “in Christ” and not think into the depth of it? In union with Christ examines that subject, and it is too great to write well on it in a poem with ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:4-6, Ephesians 4:1-3, Philippians 2:2, Romans 6:5

Tags: Forever, Love One Another, Risen Lord, Union With Chris, Grace, Savior, Unity, Bond  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[264]. A Message From A Poem – The Facts Of Life

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 14, 2026

[264]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE FACTS OF LIFE This is a simple enough poem but it contains important information. I have called it “The Facts of Life,” not the normally understood application of that term, but the facts pertinent to the Christian life lived here on earth. The poem is in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:31, Romans 15:7

Tags: Living For Jesus, The Glory Of God, Walking With The Lord, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, The Facts Of Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[272]. A Poem Message – The Infant Christ Has Come (Christmas) (Version 1)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 23, 2026

[272]. A POEM MESSAGE – THE INFANT CHRIST HAS COME (Christmas) (Version 1) Most Christians think of the Nativity at Christmas time but it ought not be like that. In one way the birth of Christ; His ministry; His death, burial and resurrection; and His ascension, are all equal in importance for ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:6-7, Philippians 2:10-11

Tags: Christmas, Jesus Christ Is Lord, Manger Scene, The Nativity, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, The Infant Christ, Babe In The Manger  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[273]. Poem Message – The Infant Christ Has Come (Christmas) (Version 2)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 23, 2026

[273]. A POEM MESSAGE – THE INFANT CHRIST HAS COME (Christmas) (Version 2) Most Christians think of the Nativity at Christmas time but it ought not be like that. In one way the birth of Christ; His ministry; His death, burial and resurrection; and His ascension, are all equal in importance ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:6-7, Philippians 2:10-11

Tags: Christmas, Jesus Christ Is Lord, Manger Scene, The Nativity, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, The Infant Christ, Babe In The Manger  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Great Background On Psalm 37 - Having God's Peace In Horrible Times

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 27, 2025

Background on Psalm 37 - How to Have God's Peace in Horrible Times Anyone who has read a good portion of God's Word knows that there are a lot of prayers provided for us in the Bible. The Dake Annotated Reference Bible lists 222 different prayers in the Bible: 176 prayers in the Old ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:1-11

Tags: Receive God's Righteousness, Cast Your Cares On The Lord, God's Righteousness, God's Rest, Hardships, Cares, God's Shelter, Horrible Times, Pain, Evil, Suffering, Trusting God, God's Peace, Rejoice In The Lord  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Declarations For Divine Protection By Pastor Joseph Ondu

Contributed by Joseph Ondu on Nov 17, 2025

PRAYER DECLARATIONS FOR DIVINE PROTECTION Introduction Divine protection is the inheritance of every child of God. In a world filled with visible and invisible dangers, unpredictable circumstances, and spiritual attacks designed to steal, kill, and destroy, God has given His children a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:1

Tags: Divine Protection, Prayer Declaration

Denomination: Pentecostal

[076]. A Message From A Poem – Expectations, Testimony And Pleading

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 11, 2025

[076]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – EXPECTATIONS, TESTIMONY AND PLEADING The three words in the title are what the poem is about. Firstly there is expectation of our heavenly home when we are transported from the physical life. Then there is testimony and that is about the way God looks after us, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9, Psalm 119:143, Psalm 119:77, Psalm 119:47

Tags: Turn To The Lord, New Home, Delight, Poem, Great Things, Pleading, Expectations, Scripture, Testimony, Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[123]. A Message From A Poem – He Will Receive Us To Himself

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 8, 2025

[123]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HE WILL RECEIVE US TO HIMSELF Time for confession. It is no secret that the theme that occurs in a few of my poems (sometimes only a brief mention) is that of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in Person for all His disciples. That coming is soon and is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Tags: Jesus Receives Us, Received To Him, Caught Up, The Coming Of The Lord, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tony Evans On Getting Un-Stuck  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 28, 2008

TONY EVANS ON GETTING UN-STUCK Tony Evans, a popular black preacher from down in Texas, spoke of being on an elevator in a high-rise building. He said he’d never been particularly comfortable on such elevators. There was something about riding up and down in a little box several hundred feet off ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-21, Matthew 11:28-30, Acts 9:1-16, Proverbs 3:5, Acts 20:17-24, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Daniel 5:1-25, Matthew 1:21-25, Genesis 37:1-14, Hebrews 12:1-2, 2 Samuel 21:1-20, 2 Samuel 21:1-10, Proverbs 3:5-6, 1 Corinthians 15:57-58, Psalm 116:1-19  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Peace, Blood, Endurance, Tithes, Disciplines, Self-Control, Blood Of Jesus, Strain, Prayer Supplication, Trust In The Lord  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[163]. A Message From A Poem – Joy For Sorrow - Care In Hurt

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 14, 2025

[163]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JOY FOR SORROW - CARE IN HURT The title of this poem has two contrasts – sorrow turning to joy, and hurt adopting care. This poem was written 27 years ago and since that time much has changed in the world for the followers of the Lord. Persecution has increased ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5-6, 2 Corinthians 6:4-5

Tags: Hurting One, South Africa, The Holy Spirit, Martyred, Suffering Christians, World Press, Comforr, Joy, Africa, Sorrow, Iran, Sudan, Nigeria, Lord, Persecution, Evil, Comfort  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[218]. A Message From A Poem - Poem Of Contrasts

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 3, 2025

[218]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - POEM OF CONTRASTS This poem came to me when I was thinking about the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb of God” This is the One, strong, royal, who is the Overcomer. {Revelation 5:5 One of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping. Behold, THE LION THAT IS FROM ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:5, John 1:29, 2 Corinthians 12:10

Tags: Victim, Man Of Sorrows, Subject, Contrasts, Christian Poems, Poem Of Contrasts, Lamb, Advocate, Lion, King, Judge, Victor, Lord, Servant, Shepherd  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[278]. A Message From A Poem – The Light Of The World

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 25, 2026

[278]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD This was a poem written before I really started writing poems seriously. Part of the idea was to write a hymn and some tunes will fit its 8-8-8-8 metre. The title, “The Light of the World” was to cover several aspects suggested to me by ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 4:3, Matthew 17:1-3, Luke 24:47, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Tags: Light, Shining Face, The Rapture, Forgiveness Of Sins, The Light Of The World, Pure Light, Hubble Telescope, Christian Poetry, The Transfiguration, Brilliance Of The Lord, The Brightest Star, Nasa Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[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