In Sermon Illustrations: "Devoted To Prayer"

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

Scottish Minister Alexander Whyte Was Known For ...

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Jan 18, 2005

Scottish minister Alexander Whyte was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit. He always found something for which to be grateful. One Sunday morning the weather was so gloomy that one church member thought to himself, “Certainly the preacher won’t think of anything for which to thank the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Baptist

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

Sheltered

Contributed by Roger Roark on May 19, 2007

When I was a child, I was afraid of the dark. I would go get in bed with my dad, and he would tell me a story, and I knew everything was okay. As long as I was with him, I knew nothing would harm me. That is the way our heavenly Father wants us to feal about Him. He wants us to know that He is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:34

Denomination: Baptist

During The Us Civil War Abraham Lincoln Met With ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

During the US civil war Abraham Lincoln met with a group of ministers for a prayer breakfast. Lincoln was a man of deep, if at times unorthodox, faith. At one point one of the ministers said, "Mr. President, let us pray that God is on our side". Lincoln’s response showed far greater insight, "No, ...read more

Tags: Faith, Knowing God's Will

Today, More Than 200 Million Christians In Over ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 10, 2007

Today, more than 200 million Christians in over 60 countries around the word – our brothers and sisters in the faith – face brutal opposition and persecution because of their faith in Jesus. The number one request they have when asked, is always “please pray for us”. So today we bring their ...read more

Denomination: Other

Milan Ford:

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Mar 26, 2009

Milan Ford: "One of the most powerful tools you and I have to help align our faith and relationship with God is through praise. Our ability to become consumed with His character and attributes is essential to our growth in Him. Like prayer, praise and worship is not a time for us to try updating an ...read more

Tags: Worship Purpose, Worship General

Denomination: Pentecostal

When I Was First Ordained, My Mother Would Write ...

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Jan 15, 2010

When I was first ordained, my mother would write or call to tell me about someone she knew who was having a problem or who was ill. She would say, “Just write them a little note and put in a nice prayer for them.” It used to irritate me to death so I can imagine how Jesus felt when his mother ...read more

Tags: Miracles Of Jesus

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

It's Not About Repentance

Contributed by Cameron Conway on Aug 2, 2010

IT'S NOT ABOUT REPENTANCE Today it's not about repentance; it's about our feelings. It's not about prayer; it's about going out for coffee. It's not about revolution; it's about the status quo. It's not about sanctification and righteousness; it's about making money. It's not about ...read more

Tags: Discouragement, Disappointment, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Foursquare

Spiritual Arrhythmia  PRO

Contributed by Antonio Silveira on Feb 25, 2012

SPIRITUAL ARRHYTHMIA The primary function of the heart is to supply blood and nutrients to the body. The regular beating, or contraction, of the heart moves the blood throughout the body. Each heartbeat is controlled by electrical impulses traveling through the heart. In the normal heart these ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:2

Tags: Heart, Spanking Kids

Denomination: Baptist

Daniel Payne Got Angry. It Wasn't 1955, But ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 26, 2007

Daniel Payne got angry. It wasn’t 1955, but rather closer to 1835, when he was asked to get up out of his seat on the train. He was 70 years old, a distinguished bishop and professor at Gettysburg College, but he was black. Sixty years earlier, he had been there as Absalom Jones, an ordained ...read more

God's Hmo's

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 6, 2008

GOD'S HMO'S In Christian Counseling Today Magazine I discovered another article talking about "Spirituality Theology and Health." It highlighted the center for the study of Religion/Spirituality and Health at Duke University. After twenty years of study and 25 research studies they discovered the ...read more

Tags: Gifts Healing

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Facts About Fasting

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton 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: Fasting, Holy Spirit, Revival, Repentance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Power Of Forgiveness

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 10, 2025

Our sins, transgressions, and iniquities can manifest in our physical bodies. In Matthew 9:2, Jesus tells a paralyzed man, "Your sins are forgiven. Take up your bed and go." He got up! In 30+ years of ministry, I have seen plenty of folks receive healing from physical problems caused ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:2, Ephesians 4:32

Tags: Forgiveness, Healing

Denomination: Methodist

My Maternal Grandfather Who Was A Devout Hindu ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Feb 20, 2008

My maternal grandfather who was a devout Hindu by birth did his schooling at a Missionary school in the state of Haryana in the North of New Delhi, India. He had learned about Christ and been invited to accept Him as His personal Savior but shrugged the opportunity. After qualifying as a ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I ...

Contributed by Elijah Stepp on May 11, 2008

Illustration: (From Speaker’s Sourcebook II by Glenn Ven Eckeren) Perhaps you heard about the church that planned to have the “No Excuse” Sunday Service…. Their advertisement for their “No Excuse Sunday” read as follows…. Cots will be placed in the foyer for those who say "Sunday is my only day ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Ready For Resurrection Morning

Contributed by Ferdinand Funk on Sep 29, 2008

READY FOR RESURRECTION MORNING A true story is told about a distinguished man, the only white person buried in a Georgia cemetery reserved exclusively for blacks. He had lost his mother when he was just a baby. His father, who never married again, hired a black woman named Mandy to help raise his ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Mennonite

Forgiveness: No Ugly Pictures

Contributed by John Petty on Jan 18, 2008

FORGIVENESS: NO UGLY PICTURES I was approached by the station manager of a local television station in Pensacola, Fl to contribute a 50-second devotional for his program transition period. I was reluctant to agree, since I struggled to limit my sermons to even 30 minutes. But feeling impressed by ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Church Of God

The Wondrous Cross  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on May 18, 2009

THE WONDROUS CROSS Gal. 6:14 inspired Isaac Watts to compose one of modern Christendom’s favorite hymns. While preparing for a communion service in 1707, Isaac Watts wrote this deeply moving and very personal expression of gratitude for the amazing love that the death of Christ on the cross ...read more

Tags: Cross

Denomination: Other