In Sermon Illustrations: "Walk By Faith"

[136]. A Message From A Poem – I’m Just Changing Residence

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 17, 2025

[136]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – I’M JUST CHANGING RESIDENCE I have lived in my current home for 45 years. Before that we lived in a home for 10 years. I have only ever owned two homes. Some people change homes like they change clothes. When a Christian dies some say, “He has gone home to be ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-3, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Tags: Point Of Death, New Address, Homes, Absent From The Body, Dwelling Places, Residence, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Heaven, Dying  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If We Could Only See From God's Perspective

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 7, 2022

A man was walking along a railroad track on a very dark night when he came to a bridge.  He had gotten halfway across when he heard a train whistle up ahead.  He quickened his pace, but soon could see the light of the oncoming locomotive approaching.   With nowhere ...read more

Tags: Faith, Fear, Jesus, Obedience, Peter, Miracles, Sovereignty Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Sweet Attraction  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 13, 2002

A SWEET ATTRACTION In 1994, when Rick and Maureen Barker lost their little 5 year-old Rickey to a long term illness, a rare disorder of his digestive tract, they needed hope. They needed a picture of the eternal perspective we have in Christ. And the hope they needed came in a most unusual ...read more

Tags: Funeral, Funerals Non-Christian, Heaven, Faith, Child, Death  (view more)  (view less)

What Must We Do To Get Married?

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Jan 12, 2019

A couple once asked me: "What must we do to get married?" I answered: "All you have to do is say, I do." But, I ask you, was this all? What about the ring, the marriage license, the blood test and the wedding ceremony? Are these also parts of getting married? In marriage, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:30-31, Hebrews 11:1

Tags: I Do, Faith In 3d, Commitment, Salvation, Obedience, Confession, Purpose, Foundation, Faith, Love, Marriage  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Greatest Commandment

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 22, 2025

From the Talmud: Rabbi Simlai taught "Six hundred and thirteen commandments were given to Moses; then David came and reduced them to eleven in Psalm 15.; Isaiah (33:15), to six; Micah (6:8), to three; Isaiah again (56:1), to two; and Habakkuk ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17, Mark 12:28-34, Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 5:1, Matthew 22:36-40  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Greatest Commandment, Law Keeping, Justification By Faith, Two Great Commands, Torah, Faith And Works, Ten Commandments  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

[304]. A Message From A Poem - They Have Gone To Be With Jesus

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 4, 2026

[304]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THEY HAVE GONE TO BE WITH JESUS Right at the outset I want to say I LOVE THIS POEM. IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME. I love it because the Lord gave it freely to me and the truth of it now for 27 years has been part of the way I address the loss of a Christian loved one. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:27, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Tags: Present With The Lord, Absent From The Body, Christian Poems, Christian, Jesus, Heaven, Home, Gone, In Christ, Death  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[126]. A Message From A Poem – Heaven Opens To Us

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 11, 2025

[126]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HEAVEN OPENS TO US From a quick recollection heaven will open at least three times in the future (written by one who is still living). One of those will be the Rapture. One will be the Second Coming. The other one is when a saint passes from this life and into ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Tags: Heaven, Open, Absent From The Body, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[163]. A Message From A Poem – Joy For Sorrow - Care In Hurt

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 14, 2025

[163]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JOY FOR SORROW - CARE IN HURT The title of this poem has two contrasts – sorrow turning to joy, and hurt adopting care. This poem was written 27 years ago and since that time much has changed in the world for the followers of the Lord. Persecution has increased ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5-6, 2 Corinthians 6:4-5

Tags: Hurting One, South Africa, The Holy Spirit, Martyred, Suffering Christians, World Press, Comforr, Joy, Africa, Sorrow, Iran, Sudan, Nigeria, Lord, Persecution, Evil, Comfort  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[251]. A Message From A Poem – That Coffin Is Not Me

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 2, 2026

[251]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THAT COFFIN IS NOT ME This is a special poem and unusual for my style. It is full of meaning, very serious meaning. It is me telling my story (as if I had died). Some may find the subject strange; others may not want to think about such things. The point is, we ...read more

Scripture: John 10:9-10, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, Hebrews 9:27, Genesis 2:17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Funeral Service, Absent From The Body, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Repent And Be Saved, Christian Burial, Death, Heaven, Alive, Dead, Coffin, Christian Funeral, Hell  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Outwit, Outplay, Outlast

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Nov 18, 2020

Over the pandemic I reunited with an old friend – Survivor. That’s right, the father of all reality shows and I had been apart for several years when the shutdown brought us back together. I had faithfully watched the first few seasons, but, as it is with many relationships, we drifted away over ...read more

Tags: Faith, Endurance, Wait, Parousia, Patience, Coming, Second, Waiting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Ww2 Story Tells Of How Some Soldiers Brought ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on May 25, 2001

A WW2 story tells of how some soldiers brought the body of a dead friend to a French Cemetary. The priest asked if the dead man had been a catholic, but they did not know. The priest said that the man could not be buried in the graveyard. They men took their friend and buried him outside the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 55:1-8

Tags: Compassion, Faith, Funerals Non-Christian, Friendship General

Requires A Can Of Coca-Cola) Coca-Cola Is One ...  PRO

Contributed by R. Darrel Davis on Jun 2, 2001

(Requires a can of Coca-cola) Coca-cola is one product that has far outgrown its humble beginnings. In 1886, Dr. John Pemberton first introduced Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia. The pharmacist concocted a caramel-colored syrup in a three-legged brass kettle in his backyard. He first "distributed" ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Sharing Your Faith, What Is Evangelism?, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Baptist

In 1996, Andrew Meekens, An Elder In The ...  PRO

Contributed by R. Darrel Davis on Jun 2, 2001

In 1996, Andrew Meekens, an elder in the international evangelical church of Addis Ababa was onboard a hijacked Ethiopian airliner which was running out of fuel. It eventually made an emergency crash landing near the Comoros Islands. According to some of those who survived the crash landing, ...read more

Tags: Great Commission, Sharing Your Faith, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Baptist

Paul Little In His Book "How To Give Away Your ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 20, 2001

Paul Little in his book "How to Give Away Your Faith" defines witnessing: "Witnessing is that deep-seated conviction that the greatest favor I can ...read more

Tags: Sharing Your Faith, Workplace Evangelism, Evangelism How To

Two Ladies Were Sharing Lunch Together When One ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian Archer on Aug 16, 2001

Two Ladies were sharing lunch together when one said to the other: "I don’t know many Christians, but somehow I can’t help regarding them as hypocrites." Said the other, "But your sister-in-law, she lives in the same house with you; surely you must acknowledge that she is a devoted ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of, Great Commission, Sharing Your Faith

Denomination: Baptist

Some Time Ago An 18-Year-Old Girl From Washington ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian Archer on Aug 16, 2001

Some time ago an 18-year-old girl from Washington state attended a worship service. For the first time in her life she heard the gospel message. The following Tuesday the members of the church received a letter from her. It read: Dear Church members: Last Sunday I attended your church, and I heard ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 24:11-12

Tags: Sharing Your Faith, Great Commission, Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Baptist

The Hitchhiker  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Aug 28, 2001

Illus.:The Hitchhiker Roger Simms, hitchhiking his way home, would never forget the date—May 7. His heavy suitcase made Roger tired. He was anxious to take off his army uniform once and for all. Flashing the hitchhiking sigh to the oncoming car, he lost hope when he saw it was a black, sleek, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 26:13, Psalm 139:1-24, Jonah 3:1-15, 2 Peter 3:9

Tags: God's Provision, One God, Prayer Answered, Faith

Denomination: Wesleyan

Howard Hendricks Said, "In The Midst Of A ...  PRO

Contributed by R. Darrel Davis on Oct 27, 2001

Howard Hendricks said, “In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General, Evangelism Fear Of, Sharing Your Faith

Denomination: Baptist

You Cannot Go On Being A Good Egg Forever. You ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 10, 2001

You cannot go on being a good egg forever. You must either hatch or ...read more

Tags: Faith Vs. Works, Apologetics General, Commitment To Christ

Life Is No Brief Candle To Me. It Is A Sort Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Dru Ashwell on Dec 16, 2001

"Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Sharing Your Faith, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ