In Sermon Illustrations: "Understanding God" showing 4,401-4,420 of 17,847

Chuck Swindoll On The Book Of Esther

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 21, 2023

Chuck Swindoll writes, "Though God may at times seem distant, and though He is invisible to us, He is always invincible. This is the main lesson of the Book of Esther. Though absent by name from the pages of this particular book of Jewish history, God is present in every scene and in the ...read more

Tags: Israel, God's Providence, God's Will, Esther, Romans 8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Simeon The Pillar Hermit

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Aug 28, 2024

Simeon was probably like most boys his age in A.D. 403. The 13-year-old spent much of his time caring for his father's flocks on the hillside of Cilicia. But one day, while listening to a sermon on the beatitudes, stirred and changed he left his home and family and began a lifelong pursuit of ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:20

Tags: Separation, Holiness, Finding God, Monks, Intimacy With God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

It Felt Like Abuse...but, Lesson Learned

Contributed by Pastor Randall Timblin on Jan 18, 2017

So there I am. I’m sitting on the couch...with my eyes closed...attempting to nap. I hadn’t felt good all day. Because my wife is out of town visiting her elderly parents, our dog, who is lovesick for her, spends his entire day and night in our bedroom, in some doggie blankets, placed on the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 73:28

Tags: Relationship To God, Great Expectations

Denomination: *other

Credit And Savings ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 10, 2009

CREDIT AND SAVINGS CRISIS A man decides he’s going to pay off his credit card. He owes $7,500 and believes God does not want him to be in debt, so he decides he’ll cut up the card and pay off the $7,500 by making the minimum monthly payment until it’s gone. Your question -- how long do you think ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 2:7

Tags: Money, Love Of God Or Money

Wrong Righteousness  PRO

Contributed by Tylor Cates on Jan 24, 2004

Wrong Righteousness Quote: "If you don’t know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else." - Yogi Berra Text: Romans 10:1-4 Prop: a new US $20 bill (or adapt for local currency) Summary: Some people try to get to heaven on their own by being a good person. The only righteousness that ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:1-4

Tags: Apologetics General, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Baptist

You Are The One On Trial

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 17, 2017

Some people come to the Bible or to any work of great literature without the capacity to understand what is in it. They are like a person who comes to a well for a drink of water, only to find that there is no bucket to draw the water out of the well. When people say, "I don’t get anything out ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Bible, Scripture, Unbelief, Mocking God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Are Many Mysteries

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Aug 25, 2021

There are 12 or 13 diseases that Doctors know nothing about or very little. They are Mystery's. One such mystery disease is “the sleeping sickness”. From 1917 to 1928, half a million people were afflicted with a ghastly condition that could be part of the plot-line of a horror film. The ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Tags: Mysteries, Mystery Of God Can Be Found

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Game . . . Set . . . Match? (06.15.05--The Tie ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 13, 2005

Game . . . Set . . . Match? (06.15.05--The Tie That Binds--1 John 4:16) “What more can I do? I’ve given you the best that I have, everything that is mine to give is yours. I simply don’t know what more I can do?” If you’ve never uttered these words yet in your life, it is likely that someday you ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:16, Isaiah 40:28-29

Tags: God's Love, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Lutheran

Defining Moments Of Faith  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Dec 23, 2002

DEFINING MOMENTS OF FAITH Several years ago Jeff Strueker was a US Army Ranger posted in Mogadishu, Somalia. Today he is a master of divinity student at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. For him Oct 3-4, 1993 were the defining moments of his life. He was one of the ...read more

Tags: Examples Of Faith, Faith General, Peace, Rest, Sovereignty  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Defining Moments Of Faith

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 11, 2010

DEFINING MOMENTS OF FAITH Several years ago Jeff Strueker was a US Army Ranger posted in Mogadishu, Somalia. Today he is a master of divinity student at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. For him Oct 3-4, 1993 were the defining moments of his life. He was one of the ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Divine Perspective—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

A DIVINE PERSPECTIVE- COMMUNION MEDITATION Jim Cymbala, the author of "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" has said "The cross, as poignant as it is, is understandable from a human perspective: an innocent man was murdered by crooked politicians and religious leaders. But the empty tomb-- what can you say? ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence, Easter Resurrection, Death

Two Men Are Seated In A Plane. The First Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Two men are seated in a plane. The first is given a parachute and told to put is on as it would improve his flight. He’s a little skeptical at first because he can’t see how wearing a parachute in a plane could possibly improve the flight. After a time he decides to experiment and see if the claim ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:1-23, Psalm 66:10

Tags: Temptation, Tempt, God's Provision

Prayer

Contributed by Tim Smith on Sep 25, 2016

Chris Jeffries tells the story of Roy who was feeling frustrated that he was not able to do what he felt he was born to do. So he prayed for Our Father to change something. Then there was a knock at the door and they met two strangers, a married couple. They invited them in and sat them down at ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:5-8

Tags: Prayer, God's Will, Confidence In Prayer

Denomination: Methodist

Have You Noticed That The More Mature Believers ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Nov 29, 2001

Have you noticed that the more mature believers have a greater capacity to see hidden blessings in hardships and difficult subjects? Norm Cousins, a teacher at the Univeristy of Calif. Medical School in Los Angeles, noticed an amazing irony in his younger students’ perceptions. It seems that ...read more

Tags: Discipleship, Kingdom Of God, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On April 20th Of This Year ...  PRO

Contributed by Larry Sarver on May 10, 2001

Illustration: On April 20th of this year Missionary Veronica ``Roni’’ Bowers, 35, and her 7-month-old daughter, Charity, seated in her lap, were killed by a single bullet when the jet fired on the Cessna plane they were riding in. The Peruvian Air-force had shot at the plane because it mistakenly ...read more

Tags: God's Sovereign Will, Human Body, Emotions

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don Richardson Was A Missionary To The ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Feb 11, 2002

: Don Richardson was a missionary to the cannibalistic, headhunting Sawi tribe of Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Try as he would, he could not find a way to make the people understand the gospel message, especially the significance of Christ’s atoning death on the cross. Sawi villages were constantly ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, Genesis 37:1-36

Tags: God Brings Hope, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Macedonian Vision Sent The Gospel Westward!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 4, 2022

Perhaps Paul found it somewhat difficult at first to understand the reason for the blocking of his way in Acts 16. However, he was not long in doubt. For Paul had a vision in the night, and there stood before him a "man of Macedonia" beseeching him, and saying, "Come over into ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Will Of God, Evangelism, Gospel, Global Outreach, America, England, Sovereignty Of God, Missions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Was A Certain Professor Of Religion Named ...  PRO

Contributed by Rick Pendleton on Nov 9, 2004

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the Western United States. Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his or ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:5, John 3:16-17

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Promises Of God

Denomination: Baptist

Robes Of Righteousness

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Feb 28, 2015

Dr Ravi Zacharias came up with a true witty story of a New Zealand Shepherd who was happy on a Christmas morning, sad in the afternoon but once again happy in the evening. What exactly contributed to his mood swings? Here goes…in the morning two of his ewes’ “A” and “B” gave birth to two lambs “a” ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:10

Tags: Grace, Gratitude, God's Righteousness, Grimy

Denomination: *other

The Pearl Of Greatest Price  PRO

Contributed by Jesse Roncales on Mar 12, 2010

THE PEARL OF GREATEST PRICE A Christian missionary in India had befriended a devoted Hindu, and had explained that salvation is a gift. Then one day the Hindu told the missionary he was going to crawl many miles on his knees to Delhi as a means of earning salvation. But before he leaves he gave ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:10-14, Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Assembly Of God