In Sermon Illustrations: "Yes Lord"

A Peek At The Universe  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 11, 2012

A PEEK AT THE UNIVERSE In 2004, scientists pointed the Hubble telescope at a blank-looking patch of sky near the Orion Constellation. The Hubble stayed focused on that spot for 400 orbits over 11 days. The patch of sky they were looking at is no bigger than a grain of sand held out at arm’s ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:21-31

Tags: Creation

Lucille Ball On What's Wrong With Families

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 29, 2012

LUCILLE BALL ON WHAT’S WRONG WITH FAMILIES Lucille Ball, shortly before her death, did a remarkable TV interview with Merv Griffin. He asked her a very serious and pointed question: "Lucille, you’ve lived a long time on this earth and you are a wise person. What’s happened to our country? What’s ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:21

Tags: Father's Day

Daddy Has All Of Me

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 29, 2014

DADDY HAS ALL OF ME! Alan Redpath had two daughters who loved to swarm him as soon as he came home at night. As he came in the door one evening, his little girls ran to be the first to hug Daddy. One grabbed his leg and hugged him with all of her might. He snatched the other daughter up in his ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:20-23

Tags: Worship, Commitment, Surrender, Consecration

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Give Into God

Contributed by Bruce Lee on Jun 15, 2015

Psalm 66:18 "If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear." Have you ever felt an unfamiliar and strange feeling like you should be talking to God? That is simply soul searching. It is actually God reaching out to you. But sin blocks that connection. When you "regard" or "cherish" ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 66:18

Tags: Hearing, Listening To God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Atheism To Ben Hur

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 19, 2016

FROM ATHEISM TO BEN HUR "After six years given to the impartial investigation of Christianity as to its truth or falsity, I have come to the deliberate conclusion that Jesus Christ was the Messiah of the Jews, the Savior of the world and my own personal Redeemer." -- General Lew Wallace, one-time ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 18:1

Tags: Conversion, Testimony, Jesus Christ, Atheism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Preachers Who Make You Throw Up!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2019

A Pastor was doing his Children's Church sermon where all the kids come down to the front & hear a story. The Pastor was discussing the story of Jonah. He quoted the Scripture from Jonah: "The Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah upon the dry land." When the Pastor ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 2:1-7

Tags: Jonah, Bad Preaching, Children's Church, Embarrassing Moments

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Propitiation And Jewish Roots

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 30, 2019

Modern Jews, like Jews centuries before Christ, believed their suffering atoned for sing.Faithful Jews even today are encouraged to offer a prayer when seriously ill or near death called the Viduy (or Vidui) prayer: "I acknowledge before You, Lord my G-d and the G-d of my fathers, that my ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-31

Tags: Atonement, Propitiation, Calvary, Death Of Christ, Penal Atonement  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Four Levels Of Spiritual Maturity

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 15, 2019

There are 4 levels of spiritual maturity for believers in Christ. I have created the names of each phase to add to this great quote from John Maxwell: #1 - REBELLION: I'm going to do what I want regardless of what God says. #2 - CONDITIONAL LOVE: If God gives me what I want, I will give Him ...read more

Tags: Spiritual Maturity, Growing In Grace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Called

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 15, 2019

The Called are those who have been summoned by God. Called to salvation (Rom. 8:30) Called both Jews and Gentiles (1 Cor. 1:24) Called "with a holy calling" (2 Timothy 1:9) Called with a heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1) Called out of darkness into His marvelous light (1Pet. 2:9) Called to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:30

Tags: Election, Calling, God's Sovreignty

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Need Revival When.....

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 30, 2020

1. You are entertained by things that once grieved you. 2. You are silent where you once spoke. 3. Your prayer closet has cobwebs and your Bible is dusty. 4. You have ceased to grieve over your own sin. 5. You have stopped sharing your faith. 6. You are more excited about your personal agenda ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Revival, Beatitudes, Thirsting For God, Hungering For God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Billy Graham's Great Regret

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

Billy Graham was once asked, "If you had to live your life over again, what would you do differently?" He answered: “One of my great regrets is that I have not studied enough, I wish I had studied more and preached less. People have pressured me into speaking to groups when I should ...read more

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

Tags: Bible, Scripture, Bible Study, Word Of God, Pastors, Sermon Preparation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He Is Our Strength

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Oct 12, 2021

My beautiful mama was always so strong, a tower of strength, courage and faith that stood like a beacon for our family. Psalm 46:1 says God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. As I meditated on this, I remembered a time when I was about 3 years old or so. I saw myself ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1, Psalm 28:8, Psalm 37:39, Exodus 15:2

Tags: Fear, Protection, Strength, God Is Our Strength

Denomination: Charismatic

Thank God For Blessed Subtractions!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 10, 2023

Three local pastors were discussing their Easter Sunday results with one another on the Monday after Easter. The Methodist minister said, "Easter services worked out great for us! We gained four new additions at First Methodist!" Praise God! The Baptist preacher grinned ...read more

Tags: Arrogance, Bragging, Preachers, Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, Easter, Revival, Church Growth, Pride, Pastors  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Empowered To Serve

Contributed by John Bright on Nov 9, 2023

In every war there are stories of courage, bravery, and acts of heroism that go beyond all human limitations. Do you know the name Desmond Doss? He was a soldier in WW2 that came from Lynchburg, Virginia. Because of his faith tradition that prevented him from carrying a weapon, he enlisted as a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:59-60

Tags: Courage, Heroism, Bravery, World War 2

Denomination: Methodist

Do You Believe Things About Christ Or Do You Believe On Christ?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 22, 2024

Herschel Ford once wrote, “There is a difference between believing something ABOUT Jesus and believing ON Him. We can believe that He is the Virgin-born Son of God, that He lived a sinless life, that He died on the cross, that He rose from the grave, that He is coming again—we can believe all ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25-34

Tags: Assurance, Works, Faith, Grace, Believe, Trust, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Letter To Santa  PRO

Contributed by Darren Ethier on May 21, 2002

A LETTER TO SANTA: Dear Santa Claus: You’ll probably be surprised to receive this letter from an adult. You may be even more surprised as you read it to find that the writer is neither a maiden aunt nor a disgruntled bachelor. I’m a young mother. It isn’t my intention, Santa, to hurt your ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Denomination: Pentecostal

Wait...god Did Come

Contributed by Soon-Hock Lim on Dec 23, 2010

WAIT...GOD DID COME Philip Yancey tells the story of a migrant farmhand in his book "Where is God When It Hurts": Last year we went to a little church in New Jersey.... We had all our children there, the baby included. The Reverend Jackson was there, I can't forget his name, and he told us to be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:23

Tags: Christmas, Incarnation

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Make This Muddled World A Better Place

Contributed by David Simpson on Feb 5, 2018

Make This Muddled World A Better Place January 24, 2018 Lanier Christian Church David Simpson The Academy Award Nominations came out yesterday. Of the movies nominated, one of them is about famous British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, entitled: Darkest Hour. Churchill left us with many ...read more

Tags: Bless Others, Give Of Self, Be A Blessing To Oth, Service, Compassion, Winston Churchill  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Church

Hope For When Christ Comes

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jun 27, 2021

This two-part story can frame a message on heaven, hope or the resurrection. The 1989 Armenian earthquake needed only 4 minutes to flatten the nation and kill 30,000 people. Moments after the deadly tremor ceased, a father raced to an elementary school to save his son. When he arrived, he saw that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:14, 1 Corinthians 15:17, 1 Corinthians 15:23, Romans 6:5-9

Tags: Resurrection, Heaven, Hope

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus Our (Lawyer) Advocate

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Jun 10, 2024

I would like for you to picture a scene. There is a court room. The judge is seated behind the bench. The jury is in place. There are people watching the proceedings. There is someone on trial sitting before the judge. And that person is you! The charge against you is that you are a ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:1-2

Tags: Forgiveness, Advocate, Judgment Seat, Lawyer, Court Room  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ