In Sermon Illustrations: "Useful To The Lord"

The Choice Of Sheep And Goats

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Nov 27, 2012

THE CHOICE OF SHEEP AND GOATS I tried and tried to think of a common example that could be used to illustrate this separation of the sheep from the goats but was unable to do so because this situation is so unique and the reason it is so unique is because the sheep and the goats have chosen their ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Tags: Judgement, Salvation, Free Will, Sheep And Goats, Free Moral Agency  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

Don't Blame The Judge

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

God has done everything He possibly can to keep you out of Hell and still leave you as a person with free will. Now some Christians argue otherwise that it is in fact God who sends people to hell. Peculiar Pilgrim blog writes, "No one would choose to go into hell ... Not one person would decide to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:8-13

Tags: Hell, Judgement

Denomination: Methodist

Enticed By A False Prophet

Contributed by Richard Tow on Apr 26, 2021

Shortly after Jeanie and I were married, we were fresh out of Bible College and I was doing some teaching. The associate pastor of our church approached us in private with a very flattering word. He said that God had told him to gather an elite circle of you couples for him and his wife to mentor. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:29, 1 John 2:27

Tags: Prophecy, False Prophets, Deception

Denomination: Charismatic

Hearing God  PRO

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on May 19, 2009

HEARING GOD In his devotional book, "My Utmost For His Highest" Oswald Chambers writes, "Get into the habit of saying, 'Speak, Lord,' and life will become a romance. Every time circumstances press in on you say, 'Speak, Lord,' and make time to listen. Chastening is more than a means of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:9, 1 Samuel 3:1-21

Tags: Disciplines Silence

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Prayer Offered By Rev. Jacob Douche At The ...

Contributed by Francis Balla on Aug 24, 2012

A prayer offered by Rev. Jacob Douche at the commencement of First Continental Congress meeting on Sept 7, 1774. “O Lord our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings, and Lord of lords, who from your throne behold all the dwellers on earth and reigns with power supreme and uncontrolled over ...read more

Tags: Prayer Confession

Denomination: Baptist

[165]. A Message From A Poem – Kindness In The Christian’s Pain

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 15, 2025

[165]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – KINDNESS IN THE CHRISTIAN’S PAIN We all need kindness, but not everyone can give kindness. Some find it too hard because of their backgrounds, and some are just so selfish they are incapable of it. Kindness is a special gift when it is given in a sacrificial way, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12, Ephesians 2:7, Galatians 5:22

Tags: Pain, Compassion, Kindness, Great High Priest, Christian Poems, God Is Kind  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Right Prayer For The Wrong Reason  PRO

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Nov 18, 2011

RIGHT PRAYER FOR THE WRONG REASON I began teaching during the Wednesday night prayer meetings seven months ago. Suppose I prayed every day for all those months for God to make us into a praying church. Suppose I prayed morning, noon, and night for God to make us a praying church. Suppose I prayed ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-3

Tags: Prayer, Selfishness, Prayer How To, Motives

Denomination: Baptist

My 18 Month Old Son Sebastian Is A Hard Worker! ...

Contributed by Chris Surber on May 3, 2007

My 18 month old son Sebastian is a hard worker! Now, he doesn’t usually get much accomplished in a constructive way, but boy is he busy! A couple of days ago Christina and I were outside raking the yard in front of the parsonage and cleaning up the area. The whole time Sebastian was hard at work ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Metamorphosis

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Mar 1, 2025

I thought of a book I read years ago in German class. We were assigned the task of reading the Famous Novel by Franz Kafka entitled “The Metamorphosis”. It was about a young man who woke up one day and realized he had been transformed into, of all things, a large Roach. The story line of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9

Tags: Transfiguration, God's Presence

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Faith

Contributed by John Hardwick on Aug 1, 2015

Faith, as a mustard seed, is when it’s raining enough to need the windshield wipers once a minute, but not enough to set it on auto. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Faith, Amazing Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Xmas Or Christmas?

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Dec 15, 2008

Xmas or CHRISTmas ? I used to get annoyed when I saw the word 'Xmas' as an abbreviation for 'Christmas' as it seemed to take something of the wonder out of the story of Jesus coming to our world as a baby in order to become the Saviour of the World. It was all part of the commercialising this ...read more

Tags: Birth Of Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

We Have A Famous Poem On Our Kitchen Wall. Let Me ...  PRO

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jul 9, 2001

We have a famous poem on our kitchen wall. Let me read it to you: One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonged to him, and the other to ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Anglican

Easter: Freed By Grace

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Easter: Freed By Grace A life connected to the "Ever-Flowing Life of Easter" is a meaningful life and it is a life "Freed by Grace." Romans 11:6 says, "And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace." Ephesians 2:8-10 says, "For it is by grace you have ...read more

Scripture: Romans 11:6

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Facts About Fasting

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 31, 2022

BASIC REMINDERS --- to those who are fasting or considering a fast: (1) This is not about FOOD. It is about spending more time alone with God. It is about showing Him that there are no other gods before him. He is Lord of all areas of our life. (2) Do not become PROUD and brag to others about ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:23

Tags: Holy Spirit, Revival, Repentance, Fasting

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[315]. A Message From A Poem - Thoughts Prompted By Romans Chapter 1

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 19, 2026

[315]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THOUGHTS PROMPTED BY ROMANS CHAPTER 1 This is not taking the bible’s verses for Romans 1 and refashioning them for a poem as I do sometimes. The poem is based on thoughts from the reading of the chapter, not on exposition of the chapter. The opening chapter of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:15-16, Romans 1:18

Tags: Salvation, Gospel, Righteousness, The Wrath Of God, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Long Ago A Story Was Told About A Proud Fishing ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Long ago a story was told about a proud fishing pond and a fish. Across the land, fishermen would come and exclaim how clear the water was in this pond. Upon hearing yet another positive accolade, the pond’s level of pride began to reach flood stage. "I must be the best and clearest pond in the ...read more

Tags: Paul

Joseph Was Despised Because Of His Birth. (Cf. V. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2008

Joseph was despised because of his Birth. (cf. V. 3) He was born a favored son when he was born to Rachel. It also was not Joseph’s fault that he was being despised because of who he was born to, and also when he was born. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: We are only born once, physically and all have the ...read more

Tags: Ot Characters

Though There Are No Scripture References ...

Contributed by Thomas Cash on Dec 10, 2009

Though there are no scripture references specifically telling us, please understand that Satan, the arch enemy of the Lord God and of all humanity, must have been screaming in rage over the events transpiring in Bethlehem that night. Did you know that the first prediction of God sending a Savior ...read more

Tags: Satan

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

At The Bottom Of Many Of His Musical Manuscripts, ...

Contributed by Bobby Mcdaniel on Apr 17, 2010

At the bottom of many of his musical manuscripts, the great organist and composer Johann Sebastian Bach often wrote the letters "INDNJC." Those letters stood for "In Nomine Domini Nostri Jesu Christi" — in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. INDNJC. They did not appear on Bach's manuscripts by ...read more

Tags: Music

Hit By A Rock

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 28, 2011

HIT BY A ROCK Corrective suffering is tribulation or affliction God allows in our lives to chasten us for unforsaken sin in order to turn us back to Him. In the city of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, the broken end of a high voltage wire was lying on the pavement, along which the engineer was walking, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-12

Tags: Trials And Difficulties