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Saturday, August 16, 2025

Preaching Illustrations



Good Preaching Helps Us Take God Seriously with Billy Wilson
Mar 12, 2025  Radically Christian Podcast = What would we be like if we really took God seriously? Today's discussion centers around a profound statement Billy Wilson made at a preacher's retreat: "It's a good thing none of us take God seriously. If we did, we would never stop laughing." He explains that understanding God and seeing the world through Jesus' eyes reveals the joke of human striving—how so much of what we chase after is futile in light of God's kingdom. Through biblical examples, Billy illustrates how Jesus infused his ministry with humor and deeper theological meaning, helping believers grasp the true nature of reality.
The conversation shifts to preaching, where Billy critiques modern sermons that focus more on behavior modification than on revealing the magnificence of God. He argues that if preachers truly immersed themselves in knowing and proclaiming God, congregations would be drawn to the Lord, not just to self-improvement strategies. He recounts personal experiences, including a pivotal moment with Jim McGuigan, who helped redirect his faith simply by talking about God's greatness.
The episode concludes with a reflection on John 17:3—"This is eternal life, that they know you." Billy emphasizes that eternal life isn't just about knowledge about God, but about truly knowing Him in a relational sense. If believers took this seriously, it would reshape their lives, anchoring them in joy, meaning, and unwavering trust in God’s sovereignty.
In this episode, Wes McAdams welcomes Billy Wilson, a preacher with a rich history of ministry in Scotland, Australia, and the United States. Billy shares his personal journey, including his experiences with adoption, fostering, and his unexpected return to full-time preaching after swearing it off for years. His story highlights God's providence and the unique congregation in Mineral Wells that drew him back into pulpit ministry.


Sunday, August 10, 2025

Race Illustrations

How Ethnicity and Race Affect the Way We Read the Bible with Marcus Stenson
Mar 19, 2025  Radically Christian Podcast
In this episode of the Radically Christian Bible Study Podcast, Wes McAdams engages in a thoughtful conversation with Marcus Stenson about the complex topics of race, ethnicity, and how these factors influence the way we read and interpret Scripture. They explore the historical and societal constructs of race, emphasizing how the idea of race as a biological reality has been debunked, and how ethnicity relates more to shared cultural experiences. The conversation highlights how societal perceptions shape our understanding of Scripture and why it's essential to acknowledge and embrace diverse perspectives.
Marcus shares his personal experiences, detailing how his ethnic identity has shaped his worldview and his approach to Scripture. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing biases and cultural influences when engaging with biblical texts. Both Wes and Marcus discuss the concept of reading Scripture through one's ethnic lens and argue that understanding these perspectives can enrich and deepen biblical interpretation. They also emphasize the importance of diversity within the church, asserting that unity doesn't mean uniformity but rather a celebration of varied experiences within the body of Christ.
Marcus Stenson serves as the preaching minister at the Leander Church of Christ. Beyond his local ministry, he is actively involved in kingdom-focused nonprofits, including initiatives in Kenya and leadership development programs in the United States. His passion lies in fostering disciple-making cultures and advancing conversations about biblical understanding and unity within the church.









Wednesday, January 01, 2025

Happy New Year Illustrations

New Year




Happy New Year! 2025
Feb 28, 2025 = A sermon by Preaching Minister Randy Johns on preparing for a new year, and what to expect from the pulpit in 2025!

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Sin Illustrations

Devotional Thoughts and Teaching Illustrations About Sin


Devotional Thoughts






Search these Links to Sermons on YouTube about Sin


Questions:
What is Sin?
Sin will always be an offensive word. We can talk openly and impersonally about crimes like rape and murder; we can make statistics out of our adulteries, unwed pregnancies, and divorces; we can trivialize greed, selfishness, and lust or elevate them to the level of cultural values-but to call anything sin makes us uncomfortable. The word sin implies violating an objective and absolute standard or code of behavior established by God. We almost instinctively feel this to be an infringement on our rights. Yet such an attitude displays a terrible misunderstanding of sin and an underestimation of God. When a doctor correctly diagnoses a disease in our body, we do not accuse her of impinging on our freedom; rather, we are grateful because we know diseases can destroy our lives. The Bible teaches that God is concerned about sin-not because he wants to limit our freedom and enjoyment of life but because sin is a disease of the soul that destroys our lives and leads to spiritual death if we do not treat it.



Links to more resources about Sin
You Think About It!
Kevin Rayner


Monday, October 21, 2024

Virtues Illustrations

Devotional Thoughts and Teaching Illustrations About Virtues

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Devotional Thoughts


*Clickable Quick Links Are Below:
You Think About It!
Kevin Rayner


Monday, August 05, 2024

Loneliness Illustrations

Devotional Thoughts and Teaching Illustrations About Loneliness

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Devotional Thoughts

In the lonely hours of the night, do you sometimes wrestle with God and your emotions, feeling desperately alone, rejected? Perhaps a best friend deserted you. Or the one you hoped to marry wants someone else. Or the one you did marry wants out. Maybe your child has turned against you, or your parents don’t seem to care. Ironically, you can feel equally lonely on a crowded city street, in a busy airport, or in a stadium filled with people. Have you ever sensed the loneliness of being in a crowd? There are so many people, but no one you know or truly care about is there. Everybody is there but no one is with you—truly with you—except for God, who is always with you. If you develop a relationship with him, you can disperse your loneliness. He is always there for you. You never need to feel lonely when the creator of the universe is by your side.

*Clickable Quick Links Are Below:

#Loneliness

Psalm 25:16 NIV - 16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
Psalm 68:6 NIV - 6 God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
Mark 1:45 NIV - 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
Luke 5:16 NIV - 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Psalm 23:4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley . . . you are close beside me.
Hebrews 13:5 For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

Logos Dictionary Themes

Loneliness
    God is concerned about our loneliness (Genesis 2:18)
    God encourages the lonely (1 Kings 19:14–18)
    God takes care of lonely people (Psalm 68:6)
    Friends help in times of loneliness (Ecclesiastes 4:10–11)
    God remains with us (Matthew 28:20)

You Think About It!
Kevin Rayner