In Sermon Illustrations: "The Lost Son"

How Important Is The Virgin Birth Of Christ?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 6, 2022

Several years ago, Redbook Magazine took a poll of students in Protestant seminaries. They found that 56% of the students in Protestant seminaries studying for the ministry rejected the idea of the virgin birth. The Survey Research Center of the University of California at Berkeley polled the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14

Tags: Mary, Christmas, Bethlehem, Jesus, Incarnation, Virgin Birth, Deity Of Christ, Humanity Of Christ, Liberalism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Be Like The Llama And Face Your Enemy!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 8, 2024

Reports the DENVER POST: "Like many sheep ranchers in the West, Lexy Fowler has tried just about everything to stop crafty coyotes from killing her sheep. She has used odor sprays, electric fences, and 'scare-coyotes.' She has slept with her lambs during the summer and has placed ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Word, Battles, Temptation, Victory, Defeat, Stand, Running, Spiritual Armor, Fear, Lust, Satan, Spiritual Warfare  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Reason To Give Thanks

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Nov 24, 2024

Do you remember Erma Bombeck, the homemaker who spun humorous anecdotes about suburban family life into a column syndicated to about 700 newspapers, television commentary, speeches across the country and books with titles such as “The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank,” “Just Wait Till ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Thankfulness, Assurance, Erma Bombeck

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why We Celebrate The 4th  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 24, 2009

WHY WE CELEBRATE THE 4TH But there is a reason why we celebrate on the 4th and we can’t forget that! It was the day the day the colonies declared their independence from England. Freedom was declared in some famous words of the Declaration of Independence, which starts: We hold these truths to be ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-40

Tags: 4th Of July, Independence Day

What Are You Doing, Lord? Amazing Grace

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 31, 2011

WHAT ARE YOU DOING, LORD? AMAZING GRACE A couple days ago I was commuting to the church from Boissevain where we were camping this week, and heard an interview with a young woman named Kristen James Anderson, ironically on the last day of our free satellite radio. She came from a great family, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:5

Tags: Grace

Howard Hughes Vs. Jim Elliot

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

HOWARD HUGHES VS. JIM ELLIOT Howard Hughes' last years were spent in isolation, hidden on the top floor of the Xanadu Hotel in the Bahamas. One biographer wrote about Hughes' appearance before he died: "He was emaciated, practically skeletal, with only 120 pounds stretched over his six-foot, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-28

Tags: Discipleship

Handicapped But Complete

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 26, 2007

Handicapped But Complete About two years ago my wife Kay was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease, mainly characterized by inflammation of the lining of the joints. It can lead to long-term joint damage, resulting in chronic pain, loss of function and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

This Last Week I Started Reading The Book, ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 2, 2008

This last week I started reading the book, “Pivotal Praying,” - Connecting with God in times of great need. The book is written by John Hull and Tim Elmore. The book has been enlightening to say the least but in chapter 5 Tim shares about how important it is to run to God in prayer when we find ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Saving A ...

Contributed by James Steen on Jul 14, 2008

Saving a Sheep I had an unusual experience last week as I was driving into church. Down the road and at the bottom of the hill from my house lies a sheep farm. As I was driving by, I noticed a lone sheep in the pasture, just standing there with a plastic feed bag over his head and down around his ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Baptist

Longsuffering  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Longsuffering Galatians 5:22 tells us that longsuffering is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Greek word for longsuffering means, "patience, forbearing, perseverance, being constant, steadfast, and enduring." The practical application of this fruit is that God's Holy Spirit gives obedient ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22

Tags: Longsuffering, Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Diverse Disciples

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Apr 25, 2010

THE DIVERSE DISCIPLES I have always been a bit of a loner. I was not the sort of person you wanted in your team. I didn't fit. If Jesus hadn't come into my life, I am sure I would have ended up as a starving artist or at least a hermit - a recluse with a long beard, black jeans, T-shirt and ...read more

Tags: Disciples

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Marbles Of Love ...

Contributed by Joe Fain on Apr 6, 2009

Marbles of love ministry (As presented to Bible Baptist Church of Mt. Vernon, KY 40456) 1151 s. dogwood drive berea, KY 40403 859-302-2622 cjf3309@windstream.net Greetings in Christ Name: We would like to introduce you to a ministry that we feel God has laid upon our hearts to ...read more

Tags: Outreach

Denomination: Baptist

Firmes En La Fe Y Mansedumbre En Predicación ...

Contributed by Major Gerardo Balmori on Mar 22, 2010

Firmes en la fe y mansedumbre en PREDICACIÓN (Translation follows) ¿Cómo actúa usted cuando alguien no le escucha? ¿Cómo le responde cuando creen tener la razón por encima de Dios y su Palabra? ¿Se pelea y discute con la persona? Si usted hace eso, ya tiene perdida la batalla. B. Aunque no ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

Wherever They Are I Will Find Them

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 12, 2022

Recently, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and her spouse took a short vacation that was long overdue. Vacations are very hard to organize and schedule when you have a busy life. But, thanks to the ingenuity of my wife, we were able to plan out a vacation. The motel we stay in is owned by ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:22

Tags: Thriftstore, Bargin

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Dr. Barnhouse Used This Illustration To Portray ...  PRO

Contributed by Lynell Friesen on May 24, 2001

Dr. Barnhouse used this illustration to portray this simple truth to his congregation and I would like to share it with you. A young man, suffering from amnesia, lived a new life amid his old surroundings; he could remember nothing that had happened before he fell off a haywagon. As he fell, ...read more

Tags: Sin Fall Of Man, Assurance Of Salvation

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

88 Reasons  PRO

Contributed by Bradford Robinson on Jun 16, 2001

88 REASONS You might remember a man by the name of Edgar Whisenant. He was a NASA engineer who used his mathematical skills to set a date for the return of Jesus. He wrote a book called, "88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Take Place in 1988" The book caused a real buzz in the Christian ...read more

Tags: Jesus Teachings, Second Coming, Parable Ten Virgins

Denomination: Methodist

Some Time Ago An 18-Year-Old Girl From Washington ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian Archer on Aug 16, 2001

Some time ago an 18-year-old girl from Washington state attended a worship service. For the first time in her life she heard the gospel message. The following Tuesday the members of the church received a letter from her. It read: Dear Church members: Last Sunday I attended your church, and I heard ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 24:11-12

Tags: Sharing Your Faith, Great Commission, Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Baptist

Many Years Ago A Small Jewish Boy Asked His ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Nov 28, 2001

Many years ago a small Jewish boy asked his father, "Why must we surrender our Jewish faith and start to attend Lutheran services here in Germany? The father replied, "Son, we must abandon our faith so that people will accept us and support our business adventures!" The young lad never got over his ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Leadership General, Truth Absolute

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Many Years Ago There Was A Lonely Woman Walking ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Nov 28, 2001

Many years ago there was a lonely woman walking home in a cold snow storm. The storm became so intense that the woman decided to lay down in the hollow of a rock. There she covered her tiny baby boy with every ounce of clothing she had on. When the rescuers found the mother she had died from ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8

Tags: Compassion, Christian Disciplines, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Near Haifa, Rescue Workers Picked Up The Pieces ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Apr 23, 2002

Near Haifa, rescue workers picked up the pieces of eight Israelis slaughtered on a bus. And at the Nablus camp, frightened Palestinian mothers comforted their children and watched their husbands and sons led away by Israeli soldiers in a mass arrest. Both sides grieved, as they have for the past 18 ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Evangelical Free