In Sermon Illustrations: "The Name Of The Lord In Vain"

[062a]. A Message From A Poem – Does Suffering Cancel Out A God Of Love?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

[062A]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DOES SUFFERING CANCEL OUT A GOD OF LOVE? THE POEM AS IT IS WILL NOT FIT IN THE ILLUSTRATION SPACE AVAILABLE. I HAVE HAD TO SPLIT IT INTO THREE PARTS. THIS IS THE FIRST PART PART 1 INTRODUCTION TO THIS POEM This is my most serious poem because it addresses ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:6-7, John 3:16, Exodus 34:6-7

Tags: Comfort, Suffering, Tragedy, God Of Comfort, God Of Love, Hurt, Pain, Love, Compassion  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[182]. A Message From A Poem – Marys At The Cross (An Easter Poem)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 3, 2025

[182]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – MARYS AT THE CROSS (An Easter Poem) This is an Easter poem about 4 women, precious ones in the life of the Lord during His time on earth. Some people find it confusing to work the Marys out, especially at Easter time. What the Marys speak of is total devotion and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:55-56, John 19:25, Mark 15:40-41

Tags: The Virgin Mary, Christian Poems, Easter Poem, Mary Wife Of Clopas, Easter, Cross, Devotion, Mary Magdalene, Salome, Jesus Crucified  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[345]. A Message From A Poem - Wickedness Increases In The Last Days

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 2, 2026

[345]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WICKEDNESS INCREASES IN THE LAST DAYS ( May 2026). This poem was written 5 years ago but conditions then were almost as bad as they are today. I think the difference is that they are more intense now and progress at a much greater rate. It is the misled ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:5-7, Titus 2:13, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 2 Timothy 3:13, Genesis 12:3  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: World, Evil, Hope, Antichrist, Last Days, Rapture, Wickedness, Wicked, Christian Poetry, Christian Poem, Increasing Wickedness, Hatred Of Israel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Byron Deel, Grew Up With An Alcoholic And Abusive ...  PRO

Contributed by Ian Biss on Oct 1, 2001

Byron Deel, grew up with an alcoholic and abusive father. Byron had two brothers and three sisters, a large family, but his dad spent the family income on alcohol, and he drank and ranted and raved and hit them. When Byron was twelve, his father walked away from the family, and did absolutely ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:6

Tags: God The Father, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Grace Brethren

Heaven, An Inheritance  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Heaven, an Inheritance Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6, Romans 10:9

Tags: Heaven, New Creature

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Guidance From A Fortune Cookie?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 21, 2020

My wife and I occasionally balance our diets with some good old Chinese food! Besides, every cook deserves at least one day off and I plan on doing this for my favorite gal as often as I can! One of the best things about these restaurants is wondering what kind of "fortune" we'll ...read more

Scripture: John 7:17

Tags: Bible, Guidance, Word, Fortune Cookies

Denomination: Baptist

Misapplied Scriptures: The "Mizpah” Moment

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Sep 17, 2023

Full disclosure: Sermon Central has accepted and posted a complete message on this text and context called “Jacob-His Mizpah Moment”. This illustration is not an abbreviated form of that message, only a brief attempt to post some highlights. In addition, this verse/passage was featured back in the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 31:49

Tags: Jacob, Mizpah, Laban

Denomination: Baptist

[008] Message From A Poem - A Tale Of The Fish’s Tails

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 1, 2024

[008] MESSAGE FROM A POEM - A TALE OF THE FISH’S TAILS “Take the line of least resistance; go with the flow; jellyfish that drift; leave me out of it; I see both sides; don’t involve me; I don’t want to know!” The world is full of compromise and it gets worse. We can expect no less from this ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 16:13, Galatians 5:1, Ephesians 6:11, Ephesians 6:13-14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Stand Firm, Fish Tails, Opposing, Compromise, Resist, Fish  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[087]. A Message From A Poem – For All Christians - The Three Os

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 25, 2025

[087]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR ALL CHRISTIANS - THE THREE Os 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 second set ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:45, James 4:6, 1 Samuel 15:22, Hebrews 5:8-9

Tags: Obedience, Oppose, For All Christians, Wrong, Obey, Opposition, Poetry, Open, Poem  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[210]. A Message From A Poem – Our Pilgrim Journey

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 23, 2025

[210]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – OUR PILGRIM JOURNEY When I was to do the Introduction for this poem I noticed that it had only 3 stanzas. I don’t write poems that short, so back there in 2021, I may have intended coming back to it to add more. I can not remember now. Anyway I did add all the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-4, 1 Peter 2:11, Hebrews 11:13

Tags: Home, Pilgrim, Pilgrim Journey, Christian Poems, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[262]. A Poem Message – The Election Will Spell Even More Wickedness

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 13, 2026

[262]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE ELECTION WILL SPELL EVEN MORE WICKEDNESS In democratic societies people elect their national rulers, but what do you do when these rulers are all corrupt? How can you vote for them? I know some Christians have a battle with this. Some just refuse to vote. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:28, 2 Timothy 3:13, Genesis 12:3

Tags: Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, The United States, National Election, Evil, Politics, Wickedness, Elections, Betrayed, Bad To Worse  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

At First I Saw God As My Observer, My Judge, ...  PRO

Contributed by Keith Broyles on Jun 9, 2001

At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like a president. I recognized his picture when I saw it, but I really didn’t know Him. But later on, when I met Christ, It ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will, Commitment To Christ, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Methodist

A Preacher Recalls One Such Instance During ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Oct 11, 2001

ILL. A preacher recalls one such instance during the Sunday evening service. When he finished speaking, he asked, "Is there anyone else who would like to say something?" At that, a rather dignified visitor stood up & said, "Yes, sir, I’d like to say something. This is the first time I’ve been ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Tags: Repentance, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Cross Has Been Saved—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 24, 2002

THE CROSS HAS BEEN SAVED--Communion Meditation Art Toalston in The Baptist Press - Nov. 15, 2001 reported from New York and he wrote: “The cross has been saved. That’s the cross of steel beams uncovered as workers in New York cleared away debris at the World Trade Center. Recovery worker Frank ...read more

Tags: Books And Literature, Memorial, Sacrifice, Police, Veterans  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Faithful For A Sign  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Oct 2, 2002

FAITHFUL FOR A SIGN Tracy Harp of Lynnwood, Washington is 34 years of age and has been a diabetic for 21 years. She sent me the following letter. “On Monday, August 19, 2002 I was running late for work. I had missed my carpool, which meant I had to drive myself into work. I work at 4:00pm to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-13

Tags: Faith General, God's Provision

Denomination: Pentecostal

One Of The Most Terrific Mothers Of All Time Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 8, 2003

One of the most terrific mothers of all time was Susannah Wesley. Susannah’s father was a minister and she was born in England in 1669 as the youngest of twenty-five children! Susannah was married at 19 to Samuel Wesley, also a minister and, not to be outdone, she had nineteen children herself. Her ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6, Proverbs 22:15

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Road Of Life  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Jan 20, 2003

The Road of Life At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like a president. I recognized his picture when I saw it, but I really didn’t know Him. But later on, when I ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Patsy Clairmont In Her Book "Under His Wings" ...  PRO

Contributed by John Hamby on Aug 11, 2003

Patsy Clairmont in her book “Under His Wings” tells a moving story of the reality of dealing with grief. “We buried my friend’s 26 year old son last week. An accidental gunshot took Jeff’s life. We have more questions than answers. We are offended at people who have all the answers and no ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Baptist

A Stranger Came By The Other Day With An Offer ...  PRO

Contributed by Larry Brincefield on Aug 21, 2003

A stranger came by the other day with an offer that set me to thinking. He wanted to buy the old barn that sits out by the highway. I told him right off that he was crazy. He was a city type. You could tell by his clothes, his car, his hands, and the way he talked. He said he was driving by and saw ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment, God In The Hardships

Denomination: Nazarene

Napoleon—when He Conquered Europe Took His Family ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 2, 2005

Napoleon—when he conquered Europe took his family and he sat them every one in great places over the many kingdoms and states and nations of Europe that he’d conquered. Whenever he’d conquered a country, he’d put his relative over it to be ruler. He took his entire family and spread them around ...read more

Tags: Temptation Power, Temptation Resisting

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ