In Sermon Illustrations: "The Lord Is At Our Side"

What Does It Mean To Have Joy?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 2, 2023

Joy is God’s gift to believers. Paul speaks of more than just a mood. This is a deep confidence that was rooted in God’s sovereign control of the universe, His on unchanging divine promises and eternal spiritual realities including the assurance of ultimate victory for those in ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-22, Philippians 4:4

Tags: Spirit Filled Life, Happiness, Joy, Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Compassion In An Inner-City ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2009

Compassion in an Inner-City Church Feed the dogs. Touch the dumb, and find faith in places where you least expect it. This is what truly brings pleasure to our Lord, much more than any outward show of self-righteousness. There is church in the inner-city of Chicago that for me demonstrates this ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-15

Tags: Compassion

It's Very Bright In The Middle Of The Day, But No ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Davis on Jan 15, 2003

It’s very bright in the middle of the day, but no matter how bright the day is, night eventually comes and the light fades away. However, it is possible - in theory at least - to live our entire lives in the light of the sun, if we were simply to keep journeying westward fast enough to keep up with ...read more

Tags: Examples Of Faith

Denomination: Methodist

Imagine What A Person, Who Has Been Smoking For ...

Contributed by Eric Bland on Jun 20, 2003

Imagine what a person, who has been smoking for fifty years, what their lungs would look like. That's what we would look like to God. All black and chard, stinky and crusty. When you're a smoker it?s not apparent to those that do not actually see a cigarette in your hand but the destruction ...read more

Tags: Sin General, Sin Exposed

Denomination: Baptist

Fellow Pastor And Friend Denn Guptill Wrote These ...  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Nov 10, 2003

Fellow pastor and friend Denn Guptill wrote these words: “How many people here have ever taken their kid’s to MacDonald’s. Ok you’ve taken the fruit of your loins to the golden arches, you’ve forked over some of your hard earned wealth, received your dinner and now you have retired to one of the ...read more

Tags: Gifts Giving, Giving Yourself

Denomination: Baptist

Humorous Hospital Charts

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 23, 2013

HUMOROUS HOSPITAL CHARTS I came across some notes supposedly found on hospital charts, and I thought you might enjoy them as I did: • The patient refused autopsy. • Note: Patient recovering from forehead cut. Patient became very angry when given an enema by mistake. • Patient has chest pain if she ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 18:1-27

Tags: Leadership General

If We Could Only See From God's Perspective

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 7, 2022

A man was walking along a railroad track on a very dark night when he came to a bridge.  He had gotten halfway across when he heard a train whistle up ahead.  He quickened his pace, but soon could see the light of the oncoming locomotive approaching.   With nowhere ...read more

Tags: Faith, Fear, Jesus, Obedience, Peter, Miracles, Sovereignty Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[187]. A Message From A Poem – My Final Destination

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 5, 2025

[187]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – MY FINAL DESTINATION What is your final destination? “Well,” say some, “death is the end of it all. There is nothing after death. Evolution placed us here and will see our end recycled.” Those who deny an eternal spirit in man just ignore the bible’s message – ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-15, John 12:32, Ephesians 4:30, Ephesians 2:8-9, Hebrews 9:27, Psalm 1:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Glory In Heaven, Christian Poems, Heaven, Journey, Destination, Final, Seal  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Drastic Decline Among Americans Who Live With A Biblical Worldview

Contributed by Timothy Lueking on Mar 30, 2023

The year was 1999 and George Barna just wrapped up his latest study on the status of the Worldview of American adults. He was shocked to discover that only 12% of American adults were living their life with a Biblical worldview. He knew that if this trend did not change then it would mean a rapid ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:6, Matthew 9:37-38

Tags: Evangelism, Harvest, Statistics, Biblical Worldview, American Adults  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

She Was Not Made From His Head To Top ...

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Jul 19, 2009

She was not made from his head to top him, Nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, But out of his side to be equal with him, Under his arm to be ...read more

Tags: Marriage, Weddings

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Excellence Of Giving With Joy

Contributed by Saumiman Saud on Feb 19, 2025

THE EXCELLENCE OF GIVING WITH JOY Heavenly Father, You are so good to me, You gave Your Life to redeem my sins. Oh Lord, give me the opportunity to give to others as well. Sometimes I think about giving, but my faith is so weak, I'm still afraid that if I give, I will be in want. Forgive me, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7

Tags: Joy, Excellence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

America's Spiritual Heritage With The Bill Of ...

Contributed by Tony Abram on Jan 28, 2007

America’s Spiritual Heritage with the Bill of Rights. A century and a half before the Bills of Rights was framed, the early colonist adopted the Constitution of the New England Confederation. The document declared its framers’ devout faith and steadfast purpose. The proclamation read: "Whereas, we ...read more

Sphere Of Influence

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Feb 15, 2010

SPHERE OF INFLUENCE There's another interesting definition I want to look at -- it relates to astrodynamics A sphere of influence (SOI) in astrodynamics and astronomy is the spherical region around a celestial body where the primary gravitational influence on an orbiting object is that body. ...read more

Tags: Worldliness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Beginning Again  PRO

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Dec 29, 2016

BEGINNING AGAIN The opening lines of a poem by Louisa Fletcher express this plaintive wish: I wish that there were some wonderful place Called the "Land of Beginning Again," Where all our mistakes, and all our heartaches, And all of our poor selfish grief Could be dropped like a shabby old coat ...read more

Scripture: John 3:3-8

Tags: Resolution, Born Again, New Year, New Start

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

My Daughter Served As A Camp Counselor This ...  PRO

Contributed by Sheila Crowe on Aug 26, 2003

My daughter served as a camp counselor this summer. It is a camp in which there are several camps contained in one location. She was a gap counselor and therefore served in several different ones. One camp is called Camp Sparrowood. It is a camp for the mentally challenged ages 8-99. She was ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Discipleship

Denomination: United Methodist

The Bible According To Kids

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 23, 2006

The Bible according to kids: IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, GUINESSIS. GOD GOT TIRED OF CREATING THE WORLD SO HE TOOK THE SABBATH OFF. ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE. NOAH’S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AND ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS. SAMSON SLAYED THE PHILISTINES ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

There Was A Single Mother Who Had Heard A ...  PRO

Contributed by Morris Mott on Sep 27, 2001

There was a single mother who had heard a Biblical financial teacher say, “Quit looking at your job as the source of your income. Look at your job as only one avenue, one channel the Source, El Shaddai, uses to bring finances into your life. Begin to teach your children to look to their heavenly ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33

Tags: God's Provision, Prayer Answered, Promises Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Were In Spain A Few Weeks Ago And We Went To A ...  PRO

Contributed by Simon Mattholie on Sep 10, 2007

We were in Spain a few weeks ago and we went to a water park to keep the kids happy. Now I don’t mind swimming, but I don’t do heights – really. Anyway, Dom my youngest decides that he and I are going to go down some of the water shoots - there was one called the black hole, and actually it was ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Trust Feelings  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

DON'T TRUST FEELINGS I read of a helicopter pilot who flew from an aircraft carrier in the Pacific told this story. He said, "I was flying the helicopter back to the ship when a blinding fog rolled in. Flying at a low altitude, I knew that a single mistake would plunge my crew and me into the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-36, Matthew 9:14-18

Tags: Faith, Guidance, Feelings, Hardship Of Life, Facts  (view more)  (view less)

Warfield's Faithfulness  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 28, 2011

WARFIELD'S FAITHFULNESS There’s an old story about Dr. Benjamin Warfield. He was a theology professor at Princeton Seminary. While he was still at the height of his academic powers, his wife got sick. And she became an invalid. He took care of her for ten years. During that ten year period, he ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:25-33

Tags: Marriage Faithfulness