In Sermon Illustrations: "Truth In Love"

What We Really Need To Be Told  PRO

Contributed by Perry Greene on Nov 26, 2012

WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE TOLD C.S. Lewis: "We don’t need to be told new ideas as much as we ...read more

Tags: Witness, Salvation, Truth, Good News, Evangelise  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Forget The Gps!

Contributed by Robert Harmon on Oct 4, 2014

My brother Curtis had come home from Italy to visit us, and attended worship at the congregation where I served. Afterword, he wanted to go to Mammoth Cave and show his wife and son one of the natural wonders of the US. We tagged along, and I told him I knew the way. He said, “Naw, we’ll use the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:11-12

Tags: Direction, Apologetics, Bible Study, Bible Truth

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Jesus Believed About The Scripture

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2020

WHAT DID JESUS BELIEVE ABOUT THE SCRIPTURE? The Scripture is without error (John 17:17). The Scripture is historically reliable (Jonah – Matthew 12:40). The Scripture is God’s authority over Satan (Matt. 4:1-11). The Scripture is accurate according to Creation (Matt. 19:4). The Scripture is ...read more

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

Tags: Bible, Scripture, Apologetics, Truth, Inspiration, Inerrancy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Is The Bible?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

What is the Bible? "THIS BOOK contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be ...read more

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

Tags: Bible, Truth, Word Of God, Memorize The Scripture

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

10 Reasons To Study The Scriptures

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

TEN REASONS TO STUDY THE SCRIPTURES 1. Will strengthen your personal life (1 John 2:14). 2. Will strengthen your assurance of salvation (1 John 5:13). 3. Will strengthen your confidence in your relationship with God (1 John 5:14). 4. Will undergird the effectiveness of your prayers (John 15:7). 5. ...read more

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

Tags: Scripture, Truth, Bible Study, Word Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Inerrant Word Of God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 21, 2020

"Divine Inspiration is not asserted of the authors of Scripture but of the writings themselves. But inspiration was not mechanical. The Holy Spirit did not destroy the personality and individual characteristics of the individual writers but rather so worked through the entire being of the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Bible, Truth, Inspiration, Word Of God, Inerrancy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We’re Not Always Headed In The Direction We Think We Are

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on May 30, 2022

Once while living in Dallas, I witnessed to someone I worked with who proceeded to tell me they believed they just needed to be a good person to go to Heaven. Though I explained what the Bible says about being saved, they rejected my witness and went on with their life. It was clear to me they were ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:17, Proverbs 3:6

Tags: Deception, Truth, Right Path, Wrong Doctrine

Denomination: Charismatic

Keys To Understanding The Parables

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 13, 2022

KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING THE PARABLES Parables provide insight into the nature, coming, growth and of the Kingdom of God. Parables are by design intended to be surprising. They often sneak up on us. Parables are used to simulate thinking and cause the hearer to carefully contemplate what they ...read more

Tags: Teaching, Truth, Preaching, Parables, Kingdom Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Baptist Kittens

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 5, 2023

A Church of Christ minister walked past a street corner stand that was full of kittens for sale by a little boy in his neighborhood. The sign over the kittens read, "Church of Christ kittens for sale, one week old.....$5.00 each". The minister smiled and said, "My son, you are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Tags: Baptists, Church, Truth, Humor, Church Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Today's Most Common Lie

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 3, 2024

What is the most common lie in the modern world? It is when we click a box on a computer screen acknowledging that, “I have read and agree to the Terms ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:19, Proverbs 12:22, Acts 5:3-4, Colossians 3:9, Psalm 63:11, Revelation 21:8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Untruthful, Lies, Liar, Truthful, Lying, Lie  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

W.e. Vines Defines True Saving Faith

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 13, 2024

W E Vines defines genuine saving faith as consisting of the following: (1) A firm conviction which produces full acknowledgment of God's revelation of Truth - (2 Thess. 2:11 -"in order that they all may be judged who did not believe [pisteuo] the truth, but took pleasure in ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:11

Tags: Works, Believing, Faith, Salvation, Truth, Assurance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Talking Dog For Sale!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 13, 2024

A guy sees a sign in front of a house: "Talking Dog for Sale." He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard. The guy goes into the backyard and sees an old black mutt just sitting there. "You talk?" he asks. "Yep," the mutt replies. "So, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:22, Colossians 3:9, Exodus 20:16

Tags: Sermon Introductions, Truth, Lies, Deceit, Dogs  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In 1864, One Of America’s Great Poets, ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Haines on Dec 8, 2000

In 1864, one of America’s great poets, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, wrote the poem which became the well-known carol, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. When I first heard this song, I wondered, “Why does he suddenly shift from joy at hearing the Christmas bells into such deep despair?” It starts ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20, Habakkuk 1:2

Tags: Peace, Love Of Christ, Christmas

Denomination: Wesleyan

A Man Was Walking On The Beach One Afternoon ...  PRO

Contributed by Ivan Robinson on Dec 21, 2000

A man was walking on the beach one afternoon kicking up the sand, discussed with certain things. There on the beach was a bottle and as he walked he kicked the bottle into the surf. POP Out of the bottle came a mysterious being... a Jeannie. “Because you have freed me you are granted three ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Marriage General

Denomination: Adventist

I Read Of A Student Who Made A Mistake Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Nov 18, 2000

I read of a student who made a mistake of identification. He was in the college chapel and, looking at the order of service, groaned aloud. The middle-aged lady next to him asked what was the matter. The student replied, "It’s the preacher. He’s my director of studies. I have to go to his ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 5:1

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Christian Love

Denomination: Baptist

Mark Twain Once Said, "The Church Is A Place ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Nov 20, 2000

Mark Twain once said, "The church is a place where a nice, respectable person stands in front of other nice, respectable people and ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Apologetics General

Denomination: Baptist

What Will Your Heritage Be?  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 23, 2001

WHAT WILL YOUR HERITAGE BE? An investigation into the famed 18th century revival preacher Jonathan Edwards (1703-58) showed that, of the 1,394 known descendants of Jonathan Edwards, 100 became preachers and missionaries, 100 lawyers, 80 public officials, 75 army and navy officers, 65 ...read more

Tags: Children, Parenting, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Independent/Bible

During The Conflict In Sarajevo A Reporter Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 29, 2001

During the conflict in Sarajevo a reporter who was covering the conflict in the middle of Sarajevo saw a little girl shot by a sniper. The reporter threw down his pad and pencil, and stopped being a reporter for a few minutes. He rushed to the man who was holding the child, and helped them both ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Children, Christian Love

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Bob Keeshan, You And I Know Him As "Captain ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Oct 18, 2000

Bob Keeshan, you and I know him as "Captain Kangaroo" once said: "Attention is ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Children, Parenting

Denomination: Baptist

In The December 4, 1989 Issue Of Newsweek ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Beaird on Nov 3, 2000

In the December 4, 1989 issue of Newsweek magazine, there was an article about a little known mental disorder called erotomania. It is a mental illness in which a person has the delusion that he or she is the object of someone’s love. Some imagine love affairs that continue for years, yet it all ...read more

Tags: Romantic Love, Promises Of God

Denomination: Pentecostal