In Sermon Illustrations: "Answers Prayers"

Music To Raise The Dead

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on May 10, 2010

"MUSIC TO RAISE THE DEAD", an album from a Christian Rock group called Resurrection startled the Christian world with it's intensity in the 1970's. They did this in a day when many conservative pastors and evangelists actively thundered their warnings from the pulpit against the evils of rock music ...read more

Tags: Gifts Healing

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Wesley: A Heart Strangely Warmed  PRO

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on Nov 28, 2011

WESLEY: A HEART STRANGELY WARMED At the first half of the 18th century, England was also in a mess. Gin and gambling were destroying the lives of poor and rich alike. This was the age of Dick Turpin - crime figures were so high, there was so much danger from highway men and footpads that Horace ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:34

Tags: Revival

Denomination: Anglican

Even If Its Dark

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 18, 2017

A young man’s wife became very ill and died, leaving him alone with his four-year old daughter. The funeral service was simple and heavy with grief. After the burial, his neighbors gathered around him and invited them to bring his little girl and stay at one of their homes this first night. They ...read more

Scripture: James 5:13, Psalm 23:1-6

Tags: Death, Comfort, Trust, Sorrow, Trial  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

What Waiting Actually Feels Like

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

When I was home in Texas, my dad was taken into the ER suddenly because his left hand stopped working like it should. The ends of his fingers were numb, and he couldn’t tell if he was grabbing objects even when he was. I met him at the hospital right before he went back, and when we walked into ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:36-38, Psalm 130:5-6

Tags: Suffering, Waiting

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dr. W. A. Criswell, The Beloved Pastor Of First ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

Dr. W. A. Criswell, the beloved pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, was once asked, "Will we know each other when we get to heaven?" His answer, "We won’t really know each other UNTIL we get to ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Compassion, Church Small Groups

Right Or Wrong?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 3, 2002

RIGHT OR WRONG? Because of the Qur’an’s attitude toward sin, many orthodox Muslim theologians have traditionally adapted a nominalistic view of ethics. An act is not intrinsically right or wrong. It is only right when God specifically declares it to be such according to his ...read more

Faith And Works Should Travel Side-By-Side, Step ...  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jun 6, 2002

Faith and works should travel side-by-side, step answering to step, like the legs of men walking. First faith, and then works; and then faith again, and then works again—until they can scarcely distinguish which is the one and which is the other. William ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26

Tags: Faith General, Faith Vs. Works, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Baptist

For Many Years Dr. Frances Schaeffer And His Wife ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 7, 2002

For many years Dr. Frances Schaeffer and his wife Edith ran a house of Christian hospitality and study in Switzerland called L’Abri. They opened their hearts and homes to hundreds of people seeking Biblical answers to life’s challenges. In her book What is a Family? ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Christian Disciplines, Servanthood

Denomination: Congregational

An Internal Revenue Inspector Walks Into A Church ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 8, 2005

An Internal Revenue inspector walks into a church and asks to see the pastor. He is shown to the pastor’s office and is offered a seat. "Pastor, I believe a member of your church, Mr. Jones, states on his tax return that he has donated $100,000 to ...read more

Tags: Giving General

In The Mask Behind The Mask, Biographer Peter ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2005

In The Mask Behind the Mask, biographer Peter Evans says that actor Peter Sellers played so many roles he sometimes was not sure of his own identity. Approached once by a fan who asked him, “Are you Peter Sellers?” Sellers ...read more

Tags: Peace

At Least Half Of The Men And Women Entering ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 9, 2006

At least half of the men and women entering seminaries today to become pastors, priests and rabbis are over 35, reports a Parade magazine study. Seminary enrollments are up 10% and students 35 and older are up 5% since ’91. Many have left ...read more

Tags: Church General

Gadget Kids: What Electronic Gadgets Do Children ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Gadget Kids: What electronic gadgets do children ages 8-12 have in their bedrooms? The Washington Post reports the following: 64% have a TV, 43% a VCR, 42% a video game system, 22% a telephone, 13% a computer, 7% a DVD ...read more

Tags: Children

Hold Up An Empty Glass. Ask, "Do You Know How To ...  PRO

Contributed by Danny Rogers on Nov 29, 2006

Hold up an empty glass. Ask, “Do you know how to get the air out of this glass?” We cannot suck the air out. The answer is simple. Take a pitcher of water and fill the glass. Explain: Now the air is gone. The victory in the Christian life is not ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18, Romans 8:9

Denomination: Baptist

A Woman Decided The Time Had Come To Talk To Her ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Oct 22, 2008

A woman decided the time had come to talk to her bright four-year-old son, Benji, about receiving Christ. "Benji," she asked quietly, "would you like to have Jesus in your heart?" Benji rolled his blue eyes ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Pentecostal

Lucky  PRO

Contributed by Bob Marcaurelle on Jan 18, 2010

LUCKY Adrian Rogers says, "God doesn't change us in order to love us. He loves us in order to change us." He tells of the words in a paper: "Lost Dog" Small yellow dog- scarred with mange; two ears gone from ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Baptist

Curing Nail-Biting

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Oct 20, 2012

CURING NAIL-BITING Talking of bad habits I did hear the story of an elderly couple. The wife proudly boasted that "she had cured her husband of biting his nails." When someone asked her, "How did you manage ...read more

Tags: Aging

Denomination: Brethren

Peter Marshall, Before The U.s. Senate Said It ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Oct 18, 2000

Peter Marshall, before the U.S. Senate said it ever so well in a prayer many years ago. "Lord Jesus, thou who art the way, the truth, and the life; hear us as we pray for the truth that shall make all free. Teach us that liberty is not only to be loved but also to be lived. Liberty is too precious ...read more

Tags: Independence Day, Holidays Civic, Truth

Denomination: Baptist

Richard Baxter, A Great Puritan Thinker And ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 7, 2001

"Richard Baxter, a great Puritan thinker and writer, well understood the real truth. He used to write these words whenever he was asked to sign one of his books: "Lord, what Thou wilt, where Thou wilt, and when Thou wilt." In the old Puritan manner of speaking he was saying, "Lord, whatever you ...read more

Tags: Why

Watchmen On The Walls Of Freedom  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 5, 2003

WATCHMEN ON THE WALLS OF FREEDOM "We in this country, in this generation, are by destiny rather than choice the watchmen on the walls of world freedom. We ask therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility, that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we ...read more

Tags: War, Political Freedom

Years Ago The Gospel Was Preached To A Number Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Stephen Wright on Oct 10, 2004

Years ago the gospel was preached to a number of tribes in Central Africa. Many people responded to the message and received new life in Christ. Since they had no church building where they could gather for a time of prayer, they cleared a central spot in the jungle for that purpose. Soon ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: Baptist