In Sermon Illustrations: "Pray"

Serving Jesus

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Serving Jesus • A certain family in a Southern Baptist Church had been inactive for years. • The family simply never went to church any more and every effort to get them to attend had failed. • One day one of the sons, name John, was bitten by a rattlesnake. The father immediately sent for the ...read more

Tags: Hell

Shortly After Dallas Theological Seminary Was ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Shortly after Dallas Theological Seminary was founded in 1924, it almost came to the point of bankruptcy. All the creditors were going to foreclose at noon on a particular day. That morning they met in the president’s office with Dr. Chafer for prayer that God would provide. In that prayer ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence

The Church That Voted God Out!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2024

The story is told about a poor woman who lived across the tracks and wanted to join a very fashionable church. She talked to the pastor about it, but he sought to discourage her. He suggested she go home and think about it carefully for a week. At the end of the week she came back. He said, “Go ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-12

Tags: Church, Revival, Favoritism, Pastors, Membership, Partiality  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bill Hybels: Difficult Forgiveness  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 22, 2010

BILL HYBELS: DIFFICULT FORGIVENESS Everything we have seen about how to deal with difficult people when put to action will bring glory to God. We find this in an illustration from Bill Hybels: "A couple of years ago, a member of my church’s vocal team and I were invited by a Christian leader ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-36

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Miss Bettye And The Power Of Prayer

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 2, 2012

MISS BETTYE AND THE POWER OF PRAYER A 2009 article in the Chicago Tribune told the story of Bettye Tucker, a Christian cook who works the night shift at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. She has been doing her job for 43 years--28 of them on the night shift. She sees a steady ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

ON PRAYER Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer told a story on the subject of prayer. A certain minister was in the habit of profound prayers, oftentimes resorting to words beyond the understanding of his simple flock. This went on week after week, to the dismay and frustration of the congregation. At last, a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15

Tags: Prayer How To

Tony Campolo Tells About The Time He Was Asked ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jul 25, 2004

Tony Campolo tells about the time he was asked to speak at a Pentecostal college. Before the service, eight men had him kneel so they could place their hands on his head and pray. Tony was glad to have the prayer, but each of them prayed a long time, and the longer they prayed the more they ...read more

Tags: Prayer In The Spirit, Hand Of God

Denomination: Methodist

A Prayer Nag! (09.28.05--Teach Me To ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 26, 2005

A Prayer Nag! (09.28.05--Teach Me to Pray!--Colossians 1:9) Does god ever weary of hearing our prayers? I mean, it’s the same old, same old–day in and day out. Does He really need to hear the same things over and over again? Being a “broken record,” the one that just can’t get over the rut in ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:9

Tags: Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Lutheran

Not Afraid To Offend God

Contributed by Jw Worcester on Feb 8, 2021

The true “Lord’s Prayer” is John 17, also sometimes called the High Priestly Prayer. In verses 1 – 20 Jesus had already prayed for Himself and His mission. He also prayed for His disciples. Jesus prayed this prayer before Jesus and the disciples left for the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: John 17:22, John 17:24

Tags: Grieve, Knowing Jesus

The Old Judge Converted

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 27, 2009

THE OLD JUDGE CONVERTED I remember, as I was coming out of the daily prayer meeting in one of our American cities a few years ago, a lady said she wished to speak to me; her voice trembled with emotion, and I saw at once that she was heavily burdened by something or other. She said she had long ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16

Tags: Christian Witness

Serenity Isnt Gray Resignation. Its A Golden, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Serenity isnt gray resignation. Its a golden, smiling quality.I pray daily, not to be resigned to old age, not to yield supinely to its limitations, but to accept with a cheerful ...read more

Tags: Peace

The Tragedy Of Many Lives Is Not That Our ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"The tragedy of many lives is not that our talents are few, but that too frequently we do not use the ones entrusted to us. We pray for bigger opportunities but do ...read more

Tags: Opportunity

Chuck Swindoll Stated In Laugh Again, "Worry ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 30, 2009

Chuck Swindoll stated in Laugh Again, "Worry about nothing…pray about everything, and rest" (page 203). He says that the three ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:31-34

Tags: Worry

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

John Stott Writes, "For It Is When We Remember ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 11, 2007

John Stott writes, "For it is when we remember people (their faces, names and needs) that we are prompted both to thank God and to pray for ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Dr. Larry Dossy, A Medical Doctor Who Has ...

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 8, 2002

Dr. Larry Dossy, a medical doctor who has written books on prayer, says that he usually prays “for the best possible outcome.” And sometimes the patient dies. ...read more

Tags: Prayer How To, Prayer Of Faith

Denomination: Congregational

Our Prayer Will Be Most Like The Prayer Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"Our prayer will be most like the prayer of Christ if we do not ask God to show us what is going to be, or to make any particular thing happen, but ...read more

Tags: Faith

I Never Work Better Than When Im Inspired By ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"I never work better than when Im inspired by anger: I can write, pray, and preach well. My whole temperament is quickened, my understanding ...read more

Tags: Anger

Lord, Bless Me

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 7, 2025

I remember once praying, “Lord, bless me so I can give more.” And I felt the Spirit whisper back, “Give more, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:38, Proverbs 11:25, Acts 20:35, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Philippians 4:19  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Stewardship, Faithfulness

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

I Like The Story Of The 72 Year Old Woman Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 24, 2010

I like the story of the 72 year old woman who went to bed one night and prayed this prayer: "Please God, give me the skin like a ...read more

Tags: Prayer Answered

Denomination: Brethren

After Attending Church One Sunday Morning, A ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

After attending church one Sunday morning, a little boy knelt at his bedside that night and prayed, "Dear God, we had a good time ...read more

Tags: Worship Benefits