In Sermon Illustrations: "Pray"

God Answers The Persistent Prayers Of A Father ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2010

God Answers the Persistent Prayers of a Father and a Congregation for a Wayward Daughter You never know what effect your prayers are having or what catastrophe you are preventing in the lives you are accountable for. In his book, “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire”, Jim Cymbala tells the story of his wayward ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Tags: Prayer Persistence

A Preacher Recalls One Such Instance During ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Oct 11, 2001

ILL. A preacher recalls one such instance during the Sunday evening service. When he finished speaking, he asked, "Is there anyone else who would like to say something?" At that, a rather dignified visitor stood up & said, "Yes, sir, I’d like to say something. This is the first time I’ve been ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Tags: Repentance, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Got Carried Away  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 21, 2002

I GOT CARRIED AWAY The late Danny Thomas lost his life savings of $600.00 at a time when he was out of work. He and his wife, Rosie, had a baby on the way, and they needed money. Danny worked at part-time jobs so Rosie could buy groceries. He also borrowed money from friends. It was a tough time ...read more

Tags: Giving General, God's Provision

The Lewis Awakening 1949-53  PRO

Contributed by Scott Malone on Mar 1, 2005

THE LEWIS AWAKENING 1949-53 1. In 1949, on Lewis, one of the Hebrides Islands off the coast of Scotland, two sisters became burdened with the spiritual coldness of their land. One sister was 82. The other was 84 and blind. 2. They devoted themselves to prayer and “waiting on God”. One ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 84:1

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Mercy, Wait, Vision

Denomination: Baptist

A Missionary On Furlough Told This True Story ...

Contributed by Johnny Creasong on May 27, 2005

A missionary on furlough told this true story while visiting his home church in Michigan..... "While serving at a small field hospital in Africa, every two weeks I traveled by bicycle through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies. This was a journey of two days and required camping overnight ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Church Of God

God And The Spider  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 28, 2007

God and the Spider During World War II, a US marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades. Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for ...read more

Tags: Protection, God Cares, Deliverer

The Condition Of Society

Contributed by Michael Mccosker on Sep 20, 2007

The Condition of Society “The fruit of the secular world view can be seen in around us. As we observe society, it is evident that not all is well. Television has degenerated into a bordello of violence, soft-pornography, anti-family sit-coms, commercials that appeal to immediate ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Famous Business Man: About A 100 Plus Years ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

ONE FAMOUS BUSINESS MAN: ABOUT A 100 PLUS YEARS AGO A YOUNG MAN HAD TO LEAVE HOME BECAUSE HIS FAMILY COULD NOT AFFORD TO FEED AND HOUSE HIM. ON HIS WAY TO HIS FUTURE HE MEET AN OLD FRIEND WHO WAS CAPTAIN OF A CANAL BOAT. THE CAPTAIN ASKED WHERE HE WAS OFF TO. HE REPLIED, “I DON’T KNOW.” HE TOLD HIM ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-10

God's Hand Upon Our President, Pt. ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

“God’s Hand Upon Our President, Pt. 1” Proverbs 21:1 says; “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases.” Proverbs 21 is a powerful truth that must be grasped so Christians may pray in faith that God is fully able to put into effect His ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:1

Tags: Patriotism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

More Like ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2010

More Like Jesus What then is it to be more like Jesus in righteousness and faithfulness. Consider the story of: William Howard Doane (who) was a wealthy nineteenth-century industrialist who entered the business world at age sixteen and was president of his own manufacturing company by age ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:24-25

Tags: Music

God Uses Tragedy To Draw Couple To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 28, 2010

God Uses Tragedy to Draw Couple To Himself Cathy’s story: A few years ago a woman and a man who were living together started coming to the church I pastor. She had gotten pregnant and was expecting. Though they weren’t saved, they were beginning to seek the Lord. I was much in prayer for them. When ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:21-22

Tags: Tragedy, God's Sovereign Will

The Most Incredible Birthday Miracle

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 20, 2022

I heard a missionary from Brazil tell an amazing story of the faithfulness of God at an Evangelism Conference in Dallas several years ago. He said that there was a woman named Maria in his country who was an unbeliever who was celebrating her 30th birthday. On that day, she looked up to Heaven ...read more

Tags: Waiting On God, Will Of God, Faithfulness Of God, Evangelism, Miracles, Missions, Prayer, Testimony, Sovereignty Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Motives For Meditation

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 25, 2024

Dietrich Bonhoeffer required his seminarians to give half an hour each morning to scripture meditation. Many of the students struggled with this task, so he wrote these instructions to help them understand the importance of meditation and to help them learn how to meditate on God’s Word. Why do I ...read more

Tags: Devotionals, Bible, Prayer, Quiet Time, Meditation, Spiritual Discipline, Word Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Use A Gospel Tract

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 20, 2025

How to use a Gospel Tract You are all receiving an envelope with a variety of gospel tracts from a ministry, Moments With The Book – www.mwtb.org You can go to their website and see all the different tracts and order any of them you like. Today, look over the ones that are in your envelope. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15, John 3:16, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Evangelism, Salvation, Prayer, Gospel Tract

Denomination: Methodist

[177]. A Message From A Poem – Lord, Open My Eyes

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 26, 2025

[177]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – LORD, OPEN MY EYES Opened eyes is truly a marvellous thing. The term “eyes opened” comes to mean understanding and awareness of what is reality or of what is happening. Only once in the whole bible are the words “open my eyes” found, and it is this verse – ...read more

Scripture: John 12:21, 2 Kings 6:17, Psalm 119:18

Tags: Open My Eyes, The Word Of God, The Bible, Eyes Opened, Christian Poems, Wonderful Things, Understanding  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Across The Pond, Dawn Gilkes, Wife Of Vicar Don ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

Across the pond, Dawn Gilkes, wife of vicar Don Gilkes, asked children at her church to pray that Osama bin Laden and other Muslims would convert to Christianity. One parent complained, "In the current climate to voice sentiments like this, particularly in front of children ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony, Great Commission, World Religions

Equal To The Opportunity  PRO

Contributed by Alan Chandler on Mar 18, 2002

EQUAL TO THE OPPORTUNITY Zig Ziglar tells the story of boy that went with his mother to the old general store. He liked to sneak away from his mother and when no one was looking he would dip his finger into the large barrel of molasses. The storekeeper caught him doing this and decided to ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Methodist

Eighteen Reasons To Praise God  PRO

Contributed by Michael Gibney on May 19, 2002

EIGHTEEN REASONS TO PRAISE GOD- 1. HE GAVE US A PRIVILEGE TO PRAY 2. HIS DEEDS AMONG MEN 3. HIS WONDROUS AND MARVELOUS WORKS 4. HIS HOLY NAME 5. HIS STRENGTH 6. HIS WONDERS 7. HIS JUDGMENTS IN THE EARTH 8. HE IS THE LORD OUR GOD 9. HIS CREATION 10. HIS SALVATION 11. HIS GLORY 12. HIS ...read more

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fulfilling My Task  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Emmert on Jul 11, 2002

FULFILLING MY TASK “[Most people] act as if they were simply dropped down in creation and have to entertain [them] selves until [they] die. But we [Christians] were sent into the world by God, just as Jesus was. Each of us has a mission in life. Jesus prays to his Father for his followers, ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Christian Disciplines, Gifts General

Denomination: United Methodist

The First American Thanksgiving Didn’t ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 10, 2001

The first American Thanksgiving didn’t occur in 1621 when a group of Pilgrims shared a feast with a group of friendly Indians. The first recorded thanksgiving took place in Virginia more than 11 years earlier, and it wasn’t a feast. The winter of 1610 at Jamestown had reduced a group of 409 ...read more

Tags: Joy, Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational