In Sermon Illustrations: "The Word Made Flesh"

Open Rebuke Is Better Than Secret Love.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 25, 2021

The Scripture tells us that "Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful" (Proverbs 27:5-6).   Rebuke means sin is not only pointed out, it is condemned. The church really doesn’t do this ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Sin, Preaching, Repentance, Rebuke, Pastors, The Word Of God, Preachers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

John Stott Wrote, "I Could Never Believe In God, ...  PRO

Contributed by Hansel Young on Nov 15, 2007

John Stott wrote, “I could never believe in God, if it were not for the cross… In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it? I have entered many Buddhist temples in different Asian countries and stood respectfully before the statue of Buddha, his legs crossed, arms ...read more

Scripture: John 19:16-37

Tags: Worship, Persecution, Violence, Suffering, Unity, Friend, Flesh, Priorities, Martyrdom, Apathy, Hatred, Mortify  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Holiness

Patience Makes It Happen

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 12, 2023

"The history books are full of stories of gifted persons whose talents were overlooked by a procession of people until someone believed in them. To name a few ... "Einstein was four years old before he could speak and seven before he could read". Einstein became one of the greatest ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Long Suffering, Flesh Vs Spirit, Endurance, Patience, Fruit Of The Spirit, Spirit Filled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Incredible Value Of One Child

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 12, 2023

An elderly preacher was rebuked by one of his deacons one Sunday morning before the service. "Pastor," said the man, "something must be wrong with your preaching and your work. There's been only one person added to the church in a whole year, and he's just a boy." The ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Success, Spiritual Fruit, Flesh, Fruit Of The Spirit, Souls, Evangelism, Children, Holy Spirit, Faithfulness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Amazing Accuracy Of Scripture

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 28, 2020

Professor Emeritus of Science at Westmon College, Peter Stoner, has calculated the probability of one man fulfilling the major prophecies made concerning the Messiah. The estimates were worked out by twelve different classes of 600 college students. The students carefully weighed all the factors, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Word Of God, Inerrancy, Prophecies Fulfilled, Inspiration Of The Bible, Bible, Messiah  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What's The Use  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 20, 2002

WHAT'S THE USE There was an old man that lived in the mountains of eastern Kentucky. The old man had a big family. One day one of the old man’s grandsons approached him with a problem. The Grandson said, "Pap, I read the Bible and I don’t understand it, and what I understand I forget as soon as I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:28, Hebrews 4:12, 1 Timothy 3:16-18

Tags: Scripture, Word Of God, Family, Disciplines, Bible, Bible Study  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Do You Know How To Use The Sword Of The Spirit?

Contributed by Doug Fannon on Oct 26, 2020

Many years ago when I was in Army basic training, I spent many hours on the rifle range. Not just an afternoon on the range like many of you who experience Air Force Basic Training. I spent quite literally two-thirds of my training time on the rifle range. I was issued an M-16 assault rifle for ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:17, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Bible, Scripture, Word Of God, Armor Of God, Sword Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Searching For Truth

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

“God has hidden every precious thing in such a way that it is a reward to the diligent, a prize to the earnest, but a disappointment to the slothful soul. The nut is hidden in its thorny case; the pearl is buried beneath the ocean waves; the gold is imprisoned in the rocky bosom of the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Bible, Truth, Bible Study, Word Of God, Seeking Truth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Four Things The Bible Does For Us

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for: 1. Doctrine—what is right 2. Reproof—what is not right 3. Correction—how to get ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:21, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Teaching The Word, Bible, Scripture, Doctrine, Inerrancy, Sword Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Hard Do You Prepare For Sermons?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

Howard Hendricks shares this insight about the value of preparing and study for sermons... " When I was a college student—I worked in the college dining hall, and on my way to work at 5:30 am. every morning I walked past the home of one of my professors. Through a window I could see the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Sermons, Shepherding, Feeding The Flock, Sermon Preparation, Studying The Word  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is The Bible Literally True In America?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 25, 2021

A recent survey shows that fewer than one in four Americans (24%) now believe the Bible is "the actual word of God, and is to be taken literally, word for word," and 26% who view it as "a book of fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by man." This is the first ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Preaching, Pastors, Churches, The Word Of God, Preachers, The Bible, America  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Gandhi Wanted To Be A Christian...

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2021

Gandhi, wrote in his autobiography that in his student days he was truly interested in the Bible. Deeply touched by reading the Gospels, he seriously considered becoming a convert, since Christianity seemed to offer the real solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India. One ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Tags: Lost, Last Words, Evangelism, Death, Church, Missions, Witnessing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Putting God First

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Mar 18, 2022

I woke up this one morning recently around 7am which is fairly late for me, still very tired, and about 10 minutes into reading the Word trying to drink my coffee to wake up, I knew I would not be able to stay awake through all my prayers at that level of fatigue. But I was trying to make sure in ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:16, Psalm 63:1

Tags: God First, Seek God Early, Word Of God, Priorities

Denomination: Charismatic

The Greatest Building Disaster In History

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 2, 2022

In 1174, the Italian architect Bonnano Pisano began work on what would become his most famous project: a separately standing eight-story bell tower in the city of Pisa. There was just one “little” problem: builders quickly discovered that the soil was much softer than they had anticipated, and the ...read more

Tags: Foundations, Eternity, Obedience, Rock, Sand, Word Of God, Parables  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Last Sermon D.l. Moody Preached

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 4, 2022

D.L. Moody was one of the greatest preachers in American history. On November 23, 1899 in the Civic Auditorium in Kansas City, Moody became very sick as he preached. “I must have souls in Kansas City,” he had told the students at his school in Chicago. “Never have I wanted so much to lead men and ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Faithfulness, Parables, Moody, Preach The Word, Great Supper  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Put Downs Never Lift Up A Marriage

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 17, 2023

When psychologists Cliff Nortarius and Howard Markman studied newlyweds over the first decade of marriage, they discovered that couples who stayed together uttered 5 or fewer put-downs in every 100 comments to each other. But couples who inflicted twice as many verbal wounds -- 10 or more putdowns ...read more

Tags: Home, Talk, Marriage, Family, Conversation, Divorce, Words, Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You All Ears For God?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2024

A missionary translator was endeavoring to find a word for “obedience” in the native language. This was a virtue seldom practiced among the people into whose language he wanted to translate the New Testament. As he returned home from the village one day, he whistled for his dog and it came ...read more

Tags: Obedience, Voice Of God, Hearing God, Listening, Hearers Of The Word  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thank God For The Delusion!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

Someone told a reformed alcoholic that his experience wasn't valid; that his religion was a delusion. He said, "Thank God for the delusion; it has put clothes on my children and shoes on their feet and bread in their mouths. It has made a man of me and it has put joy and peace in my ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3:1-7

Tags: Changed Life, Forgiveness, Salvation, Word Of God, New Life, New Birth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Can You Conquer Yourself?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

GREAT QUOTES ON SELF-CONTROL Edmund Hilary the first man who conquered Mount Everest was asked by an interviewer about his passions for climbing mountains. He gave this reply: "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves." Peter the Great of Russia is quoted as saying, "I have ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Works Of The Flesh, Self Control, Holy Spirit, Self, Self Denial, Crucified With Christ, Fruit Of The Spirit, Discipline  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[284]. A Message From A Poem – The Natural And The Supernatural

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 5, 2026

[284]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE NATURAL AND THE SUPERNATURAL The Natural is what the world is. The Supernatural is what the Christian is in the world. This poem had its start in 1970 with the first three stanzas, but later on I added the balance, and that was the last three stanzas. If the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12, Titus 3:7, Isaiah 48:22

Tags: Evolution, Peace, Hope, The Word Of God, Atheists, The Supernatural, Christian Poems, The Natural  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational