In Sermon Illustrations: "Useful To The Lord"

Forgiveness: No Ugly Pictures

Contributed by John Petty on Jan 18, 2008

FORGIVENESS: NO UGLY PICTURES I was approached by the station manager of a local television station in Pensacola, Fl to contribute a 50-second devotional for his program transition period. I was reluctant to agree, since I struggled to limit my sermons to even 30 minutes. But feeling impressed by ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Church Of God

Gratitude - Dorothy Day

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 31, 2018

I try to think back. I try to remember this life that the Lord gave me ... I just sat there and thought of our Lord and his visit to us all those centuries ago and I said to myself that my great luck was to have had him on my ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:8

Tags: Thanksgiving, Gratitude

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[036] A Message From A Poem – Blessed Lamb Of God In Adoration

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 25, 2025

[036] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BLESSED LAMB OF GOD IN ADORATION This was written as a hymn that can be sung. The emphasis is on the Lord Jesus Christ not so much on us. I hate these modern songs where it is all about “me”. Let us get back to glorifying the Lord for who He is and for what He ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 4:11, 1 Corinthians 1:18, Ephesians 4:8-10

Tags: Compassion, Adoration, Lamb, Second Coming, Poetry, The Cross, Lamb Of God, Poem  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Read The Story Of A Man Who Got Saved Years Ago ...  PRO

Contributed by Evie Megginson on May 22, 2001

I read the story of a man who got saved years ago in South Georgia. But as he grew up and moved away, he got away from the Lord. Later on in his life, he went back to his home and visited the old county Church that he used to attend. As he went into the Church alone, memories flowed his mind and ...read more

Tags: Faith, Repentance, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Baptist

God Will Make A Way In A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 30, 2009

God Will Make A Way in a Tragedy 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. (NIV) In other words, as we depend on the Lord, then we persevere in loving each other like Christ did. As we depend on the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Beseeching – True Spiritual ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Beseeching – True Spiritual Awakening Unlike the spiritual and political leaders of Israel, a nation that is vigilant has Christians and leaders who are not blinded by their sin. People who have a Biblical understanding about the heart of mankind find joy in what the prophet Joel wrote, “Even ...read more

Scripture: Joel 1:12-13

Tags: Patriotism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Children’s Prayers

Contributed by David Dunn on Feb 24, 2026

A mother was teaching her three-year-old the Lord’s Prayer. Night after night they practiced, and one evening the little girl said, “Mommy, I can do it myself.” So she folded her tiny hands and prayed, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us some e-mail.” Another Sunday a family’s little boy ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:15-25, Matthew 6:9-13

Tags: Sanctification, Temptation

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

If You Feel Down, Just Praise The ...

Contributed by Tony Abram on Aug 20, 2009

If you feel down, Just praise the Lord! If you feel down, And all alone If your world is all but gone Just look up to the sky above And know you have a friend If you feel down and feel betrayed And your friends have left you cold Just pray to ...read more

Tags: Worship God, Christian Values

[001] Message From A Poem - 20 Snippets Of Living

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 30, 2024

[001] MESSAGE FROM A POEM - 20 SNIPPETS OF LIVING Sometimes we all like to put our thoughts to paper and this is what I have done here with this poem. I think we are quite familiar with the Proverbs and the wisdom contained there. I am at the latter end of my life and looking forward to the ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:3

Tags: Poem, Ways To Live, Living, Advice

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[078]. A Message From A Poem – Failure Leads To Hurt And Sorrow

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 12, 2025

[078]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FAILURE LEADS TO HURT AND SORROW This poem was written one Sunday morning while waiting for a church service to start. It flowed quickly. It was around the time I was speaking on a series in the life of Peter. Identify yourselves if you have never failed the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:7-10

Tags: Hurt, Forgiveness, Sin, Failure, Sorrow  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Still Waters

Contributed by Sterling Franklin on Jun 25, 2010

STILL WATERS "Still waters" as in Psalm 23 -- Sheep were not good swimmers, and it would be easy for sheep to be carried away with the current in a tumultuous river. The LORD brings us to drink from rivers ...read more

Tags: Animals

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In Goa India I Felt I Was Somehow Missing The ...

Contributed by Ian Johnson on Jan 30, 2004

In Goa India I felt I was somehow missing the mark.. I had witnessed to people on a one on one basis but had been unable to find the local church.. Lord I don’t understand why you sent me here! Then came the bus trip to end all bus trips...to Bangalore 13 hours on a bus with no suspension.. Passing ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To, Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Pentecostal

[233]. A Message From A Poem - Remember Me Until I Come

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 21, 2025

[233]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - REMEMBER ME UNTIL I COME This poem was written as a Communion meditation with the view of being a Communion hymn. It uses a Metre 12 in the four lines. I adapted this for another poem based on this one using a Metre 10 that can be sung to various tunes. At the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20, 1 Corinthians 11:24-26

Tags: Passover, Cup, Remember Me, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Until I Come, Communion, Bread, Remember  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Warren Wiersbe Tells A Story Of When He Was A ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

Warren Wiersbe tells a story of when he was a young man preaching on the last days with all the events of prophecy clearly laid out and perfectly planned. At the end of the service an older gentleman came up to him and whispered in his ear, “I used to have the Lord’s return planned out ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

True ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

True Thanksgiving Psalm 100 “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; We are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 100:1-6

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Wants You To Rejoice In Your Relationship!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 8, 2008

God wants you to rejoice in your relationship! *God wants our churches and our marriages to be alive and overflowing with joy. So the Old Testament tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength; the New Testament tells us to “rejoice in the Lord always.” Then in Proverbs 5 in words too vivid ...read more

What Prayer Is…  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jun 6, 2002

What Prayer Is… Prayer is coming into the presence of God… Prayer is entering the throne room of the KING of kings and LORD of lords… Prayer is taking our concerns to the one who cares for me Prayer is to stand on holy ground… Prayer is communicating with the creator of the world…(the one spoke ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Romans Road To Salvation

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 24, 2019

The Romans Road to Salvation 1. I consider myself a good person. All have sinned & fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 2. Is sin that big of a deal? The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 3. Why would Jesus die in my ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23, Romans 10:9

Tags: Salvation, Gospel, The Cross

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Keepers Of The Aquarium

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 4, 2022

The late Sam Shoemaker, an Episcopalian bishop, summed up the situation this way with the way churches are not fulfilling the Great Commission of Christ to share the Gospel with the world: "In the Great Commission the Lord has called us to be -- like Peter -- fishers of men. We've turned ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Great Commission, Great Supper, Evangelism, Outreach, Gospel, Witnessing, Churches  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Fisherman Who Was Out Of Fellowship With The ...

Contributed by Dave Kinney on Nov 1, 2008

A fisherman who was out of fellowship with the Lord was at sea with his heathen buddies when a huge storm came out of nowhere and was close to destroying their small ship. His friends begged him to do anything, even pray, but he said to his buddies, “It’s been a long time since I’ve done that or ...read more

Tags: Prayer Hardship

Denomination: Baptist