In Sermon Illustrations: "True Religion"

Proud People Vs Broken People

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 20, 2022

Proud people focus on the failures of others. Broken people are overwhelmed with a sense of their own spiritual need. Proud people have a critical, fault-finding spirit; they look at everyone else’s faults with a microscope but their own with a telescope. Broken people are compassionate; they can ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23, Galatians 2:20

Tags: Brokenness, Humility, Revival, Repentance, Pride  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Parallels Between The Passover Lamb And Christ

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 1, 2023

Passover begins this year on April 8th, at sundown. What many do not know is that Passover illustrates the sacrifice of The Passover Lamb–the crucifixion of Jesus. The first Passover lamb was slain during the dark times in Egypt marked. This event marked the beginning of The Exodus, which ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8, Romans 10:9-13

Tags: Sacrifice, Cross, Lamb, Passover, Calvary, Forgiveness, Easter, Blood, Israel, Egypt, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Misapplied Scriptures: Amos 3:7

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 2, 2023

Introduction: Like many believers, I didn’t spend too much time reading the Bible, let alone doing serious study, for many of my years as a believer. It seems some religious leaders or devout followers know this and use verses such as this one to prove a point. If true believers don’t have a ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:7

Tags: False Prophets, Prophets, Misapplied Scriptures

Denomination: Baptist

[037] A Message From A Poem – Calvary – Golgotha’s Skull

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 26, 2025

[037] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CALVARY – GOLGOTHA’S SKULL What does Calvary mean to you? To most people it means nothing except a casual thought at Easter perhaps. May we ask what does Calvary mean to a Christian? Here the answers are many and most of them would be simplistic which is fine. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:17-18, Luke 23:33

Tags: Calvary, The Cross, Golgotha, Sins, Place Of The Skull, Atonement, Easter, Crucifixion, Salvation, Redemption, Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[039] A Message From A Poem – Can We Understand His Goodness?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 28, 2025

[039] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CAN WE UNDERSTAND HIS GOODNESS? This poem is one of my absolute top favourites. It just flowed and I attribute it to the Lord’s presence when I wrote it. I think it came to me late one night as a happy rhythm and flowed quite well so that it was written quicker ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:9-10, 2 Corinthians 6:2, Malachi 3:2-4

Tags: Love, Salvation, Goodness, Poetry, Understand  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

[062B]. 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 SPLIT IT INTO THREE PARTS. THIS IS THE SECOND PART THE INTRODUCTION FOR THE POEM IS IN PART 1. PART 2 SECTION B - PART 1 (THE CHRISTIAN ...read more

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

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

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[105]. A Message From A Poem – Godliness With Contentment Is Great Gain

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 8, 2025

[105]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN This is a one off for me in this particular style. I had in mind to write a song and got this far. The lyrics are not a problem, just the tunes. This poem would be a song for more than one singer as I see the parts in the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:5-7, 1 Timothy 6:11, Hebrews 13:5, 2 Corinthians 12:10

Tags: Christian Poems, Godliness, Contentment, Gain, Materialism, Difficulty, Christian Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[172]. A Poem Message – Living With Denial And Rejection (Evolution)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 21, 2025

[172]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – LIVING WITH DENIAL AND REJECTION (Evolution) This poem takes up the challenge against evolution. The main thought here is that the whole theory (more an hypothesis) is based on absurdity. When in desperate situations people clasp onto something to hold them up, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:7, Genesis 1:20-22, 1 Corinthians 1:19-20

Tags: Theistic Evolution, Deniers, Christian Poems, Theory Of Evolution, Denial Of God, Creation, Evolution, Satan, Denial, Absurdity, Darwin  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[183]. A Poem Message – Millennial Reign Of Christ Described - Isaiah 11

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 4, 2025

[183]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST DESCRIBED - ISAIAH 11 I know there are some who don’t believe in the literalness of scripture and therefore reject the biblical concept of a Millennium. This poem is not an exegesis on any of that, but the content of a biblical passage I ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:14, Isaiah 11:1-16, Revelation 20:4, Isaiah 11:9

Tags: Knowledge, 1000 Years, The Millennium, The Millennial Reign Of Christ, Messiah Reigns, Peace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[211]. A Message From A Poem – Panoramic View From The Pinnacle (Part 2)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 24, 2025

[211]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – PANORAMIC VIEW FROM THE PINNACLE (PART 2) NOTE: When I went to post this it could not be sent because it said the whole thing was too long. Therefore I had to split it into two Parts.. This is Part 2, the final part. This is a longer poem. Some might find it ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 16:9, Hebrews 4:13

Tags: Pinnacle Of A Rock, Tech Companies, Degradation, Way, Images, Reprobates, Lovers Of Money, Christian Poems, Sports, Wickedness, Delusion, Reprobate, Humanism, Allegory, Faith  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rush To The Lord For Refuge.

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 28, 2025

RUSH TO THE LORD FOR REFUGE. This is David's message to us in Psalm 37:1-3, where the KJV says: 1. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 3. Trust in the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:1-11

Tags: Pain, Peace, Evil, Suffering, Trusting God, Righteousness, Horrible Times, Rejoice, Shelter, Rest, Hardships, Cares, Cast Your Cares  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

[237 D] [4]. A Message From A Poem - Scenes From The Gospels - Part 4

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Nov 17, 2025

[237 D] [4]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - SCENES FROM THE GOSPELS - PART 4 They are here to enjoy! Scenes from the Gospels are very special to me. I love them. They have taken a lot of effort, and many, many months revision to get them as correct as possible with the difficult word limitations. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:1-4, Matthew 13:10-13, Luke 17:19, John 11:38-44, Luke 16:19, Matthew 9:1-8, Matthew 15:12-14, Matthew 23:15-26  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Forgiveness, Resurrection, Paralytic, Blind Guides, Blind Pharisees, Christian Poems, Ten Lepers Cleansed, Hades, Rich Man, Bethany, Poor Man, Sins, Stories  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Patriotic Testimony - Sgt. York, Christian Soldier

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 23, 2016

SERGEANT YORK the Christian Soldier If someone remembers the name Sergeant York, they remark by saying, “That’s the movie starring Gary Cooper, right?” Who is this hillbilly from Tennessee? This is where our story begins. In December 1887, in the hills of Pall Mall, Tennessee, Alvin York was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16

Tags: July 4th, Testimony, Christian Soldiers, War Heroes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The False Foundations In The Kinsey Report  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 7, 2002

THE FALSE FOUNDATIONS IN THE KINSEY REPORT Almost 50 years ago, Alfred Kinsey, a quiet Midwestern Zoology professor, published the 1st of 2 volumes that would shake American culture to its foundations. His 1948 book, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male - like its 1953 sequel, Sexual Behavior in ...read more

Tags: Fornication, Addiction, Sexuality, Population, Temptation Sex  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Was Fortunate To Grow Up In A Home Where My ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 22, 2004

I was fortunate to grow up in a home where my father was both a loving and disciplining presence. I guess I would have to say that if there is anything I really remember about my dad is this, he possessed a presence unlike any other person in my life. To me he was always larger than life. He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 16:1-12

Tags: Father's Day, Parenting

Denomination: Lutheran

Artesian Forgiveness!" Matthew 5: 43-48 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 30, 2004

“Artesian Forgiveness!” Matthew 5: 43-48 Key verse(s): 46 “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” Here at Beech Springs one of the things that sets these few acres apart is the artesian well that highlights our front yard. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Kindness

Denomination: Lutheran

In Spite Of The Fun And Laughter, 13 Yr. Old ...  PRO

Contributed by John Gerald on Sep 11, 2004

In spite of the fun and laughter, 13 yr. old Frank Wilson was not happy. It was true, he had received all the presents he wanted, and he enjoyed the traditional Christmas Eve reunions with relatives for the purpose of exchanging gifts and good wishes..........but Frank was not happy because this ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Methodist

Farmall Hospitality!" 3 John 1-8 Key Verse(S): ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 17, 2004

“Farmall Hospitality!” 3 John 1-8 Key verse(s): 5: “Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you.” I’m a Corvair man! That means that I drive old, forty years or more, cars with air-cooled engines and no shoulder harnesses. Since I’ve ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:1-8

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Christian Love, Prosperous

Denomination: Lutheran

Thank You Sir! May I Do Another?" Matthew 4:1-11 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 3, 2005

“Thank You Sir! May I Do Another?” Matthew 4:1-11 Key verse(s): 9-10:“Then the devil left him and angels came and attended him.” “Thank you sir! May I do another?” Crouching on the ground, the recruit seemed barely touched by the sergeant’s rough treatment. He was doing push-ups; and a lot of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Lutheran

Tiger Breath!" Matthew 6:9-13 Key Verse(S): ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 6, 2005

“Tiger Breath!” Matthew 6:9-13 Key verse(s): 13:“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” It has been foreordained that life is a temptation! Now that is a depressing thought if I ever heard one. Foreordained? That means that no matter what I do or how I do it, ultimately I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13, Matthew 4:1-11

Tags: Sin Exposed, Risk Of Sin, Release, Sin Separates From God

Denomination: Lutheran