In Sermon Illustrations: "Prayer Closet"

About Muhammad  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 19, 2002

ABOUT MUHAMMAD Muhammad was born in A.D. 570 in Mecca, an important trading town in what is now Saudi Arabia. He was orphaned when he was only six and was raised by his uncle, Abu Talib, a merchant who worked along the trade routes. At the time, pagan worship dominated Arabia. An estimated ...read more

Tags: Scripture, World Religions, Prophecy

A Survey Of Hundreds Of Pastors Has Allowed Us To ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

A survey of hundreds of pastors has allowed us to compile a preliminary list of measurable quality factors in the life of a congregation in ranking order. The twelve factors are: 1. Bible knowledge. Church members are increasing in their grasp of the teachings of the Bible. They can integrate ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ, Church General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Life Is Like A Jar Of Rocks  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 31, 2002

Life Is Like A Jar Of Rocks A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about 2 inches in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ, Giving Yourself, Disciplines General

Our Salvation "Lorica"—communion Mediation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 10, 2003

OUR SALVATION “LORICA”—COMMUNION MEDIATION A lorica was an ancient piece of armor that acted like a breastplate to shield its wearer from physical danger. But to the Celts of early Ireland, a lorica was also an oral chant that the pagan Druid magicians believed invoked magical powers of ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, Lord's Supper, Cross Agony

Japanese Sword Illustration: It Is The Japanese ...  PRO

Contributed by William Yates on Nov 6, 2003

Japanese sword illustration: It is the Japanese who have created the best swords in the world. To create these fine weapons, ancient Japanese sword makers had to create a sword that was hard enough to retain a sharp edge, but at the same time soft enough not to be brittle. Sword makers who made ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: God's Provision, God In The Hardships

It Is The Japanese Who Have Created The Best ...

Contributed by Steve Rutherford on Aug 18, 2005

It is the Japanese who have created the best swords in the world. To create these fine weapons, ancient Japanese sword makers had to create a sword that was hard enough to retain a sharp edge, but at the same time soft enough not to be brittle. Sword makers who made swords by making the steel hard ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, God The Father

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Went Into The Synagogue On The Sabbath And ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

Jesus went into the synagogue on the Sabbath and saw a man with a crippled hand. He knew that the Pharisees were watching to see what he would do, and he felt angry that they were only out to put him in the wrong. They did not care a scrap for the handicapped man, nor did they want to see the power ...read more

Tags: Emotions

The Methodist Class Meeting Was Much Like The ...

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Oct 14, 2006

The Methodist Class Meeting was much like the Giant Sequoia Trees in California. Just like the Methodist Class Meeting, the Great Sequoias “hold each other up.” They may reach a height of 311 feet, an age of 3200 years. They often weigh 2.7 million pounds. Their bark on the average is 31 inches ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Methodist

Encouragement: -- There Were Four Boys, All ...  PRO

Contributed by Larry Thornton on Nov 23, 2006

Encouragement: -- There were four boys, all brothers, walking along the banks of a stream, and playing as they went. Like most boys, their idea of fun was to go as far into danger as they could, and at length one of them fell into a deep place. He could not swim, but immediately his brother who ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Someone Asked, "What In The World Is Happening ...  PRO

Contributed by Ray Searan on Feb 21, 2007

Someone asked, “What in the world is happening with our kids today?” Let us see…I think it started when Madelyn Murray O’Hare complained that she did not want any prayer in our schools, and we said “Okay.” Then someone said, “You had better not read the Bible in school” – the Bible that says, “Thou ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Story Of The Fireman

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Story of the Fireman A. Flames surrounded firefighters fighting a forest as they backed up a mountain trying to put out the fire. They had no where to go. There was fire behind them and only a home and more grass in front of them. The firefighter moved ahead into the grass in front of him struck a ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Maximilian Kolbe Was A Catholic Priest, Who Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Maximilian Kolbe was a Catholic priest, who was put in a Nazi concentration camp for his faith. On May 28, 1941, he was transferred to the concentration camp at Auschwitz. One day a man in Kolbe’s block escaped. All of the men from that block were brought out into the hot sun and made to stand ...read more

Tags: Disciples

A Well-Known Speaker Started Off His Seminar By ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of over 200 people, he asked the question, “Who would like this $20 bill? Hands started going up. He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this.” He proceeded to crumple the $20 dollar ...read more

Tags: Parable Prodigal Son

Louis Ix Of France (1215-1270)

Contributed by Gary Kins on Jun 25, 2007

Louis IX of France (1215-1270) St. Louis led an exemplary life, bearing constantly in mind his mother’s words: "I would rather see you dead at my feet than guilty of a mortal sin." His biographers have told us of the long hours he spent in prayer, fasting, and penance, without the knowledge of his ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

George Müller Told Of A Wealthy German Whose Wife ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 25, 2007

George Müller told of a wealthy German whose wife was a devout believer. This man was a heavy drinker, spending late nights in the tavern. She would send the servants to bed, stay up till he returned, receive him kindly, and never scold him or complain. At times she would even have to undress him ...read more

Denomination: Other

Martyrdom Of Zewar, Christian Taxi ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 10, 2007

ILLUSTRATION : Martyrdom of Zewar, Christian taxi driver in Northern Iraq. After hostilities ceased in the Iraq war on the 9th of April 2003, an Open Doors team went to the country two weeks later. They visited church leaders primarily to tell them that we were praying for them, and were ready to ...read more

Denomination: Other

The Story Of William Tyndale From Garlow Pages ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 13, 2007

The story of William Tyndale from Garlow pages 238-239. i. William Tyndale could have enjoyed the life of a scholar. Instead he died a martyr. Many know his name. They know he’s important. But they know little of his life of profound sacrifice. Born in 1494, Tyndale was brilliant linguist with a ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When We Had Abbey Andrews Here For The October ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 2, 2008

When we had Abbey Andrews here for the October meetings with Dr. Nichols she sang a song that she wrote called, “Saturate Me.” The song is a prayer to the Lord to have Him saturate us with His holy presence, His love and His awesome fire. This song has become a favorite of mine and Ashley has ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

George Mueller Was A Great Man Of Faith. He ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 3, 2008

George Mueller was a great man of faith. He believed in the greatness of God, and prayed accordingly. A Christian steamship captain, a contemporary of George Mueller, once told of an experience involving Mueller’s great faith. While sailing off the coast of Newfoundland in extremely heavy fog, ...read more

Stay Awake In Church

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 8, 2008

STAY AWAKE IN CHURCH Each of us should periodically make a personal spiritual assessment. If we have never truly been awake, we must ask the God of grace to help us believe. We must confess our sin, declare our faith in Christ, and ask Christ to make us brand-new — to receive him as our Savior. ...read more