In Sermon Illustrations: "Prayer General"

A Gold Mine Of Opportunity!" Genesis 41: 1-14 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Dec 30, 2004

“A Gold Mine of Opportunity!” Genesis 41: 1-14 Key verse(s): 14: “So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.” There once was an old Dutch farmer who owned a farm in a semi-arid part of South Africa ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 41:1-14, Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Leadership General, Trust

Denomination: Lutheran

Author And Lecturer Leo Buscaglia Once Told About ...  PRO

Contributed by Mitchell Skelton on Jan 1, 2005

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once told about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child; the winner was a four-year-old boy. His next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little ...read more

Tags: Disappointment, Friendship General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Staring Down The Critic's Barrel!" Proverbs 9: ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 17, 2005

“Staring Down the Critic’s Barrel!” Proverbs 9: 7-10 Key verse(s): 8b:“. . . rebuke a wise man and he will love you.” The Bible tells us that “rebuke a wise man and he will love you.” Love? What happened to getting the emotional revenge that is so satisfying? There doesn’t seem to be a lot of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:7-10, Psalm 82:3-4, Philippians 2:13-14

Tags: Grace, Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

It Was The End Of The Autumn Season, Past ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Jan 24, 2005

It was the end of the autumn season, past bulb-planting time. The greenhouse operator had gathered all the unsold tulip bulbs and, finding that these leftovers were mostly in inferior anyway, was bagging them for the trash bin. The good ones had been sold, so he wasn’t concerned about the loss of ...read more

Tags: Death, Parable General

Denomination: Lutheran

Henry P. Crowell, Affectionately Called "The ...

Contributed by Joel Santos on Jan 24, 2005

Henry P. Crowell, affectionately called “The autocrat of the Breakfast Table,” contracted tuberculosis when a boy and couldn’t go to school. After hearing a sermon by Dwight L. Moody, young Crowell prayed, “I can’t be a preacher, but I can be a good businessman. God, if you will let me make money, ...read more

Tags: Faith, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Faith Involves Resting Securely On God's ...  PRO

Contributed by Peter Chan on Feb 11, 2005

Faith Involves Resting Securely on God’s Revelation –Entering the Ark. Noah’s faith in become a verb is completed with his entrance into the Ark with his family. It inspires me to learn that Noah was so confident about God’s promise and power that he went into the Ark with his family. It is one ...read more

Tags: Faith General, Walk

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

When The Spiritual Leaders Fail To Lead People ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 18, 2005

When the spiritual leaders fail to lead people toward God and teach the people His way then people will break the faith they have with God. Breaking the faith is common in a society when the leadership breaks down and fails to do its job. Breaking the faith means the people of God walk away from ...read more

Tags: Divorce, Leadership General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In 1858, Francis Ridley Havegal Visited Germany ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 12, 2005

In 1858, Francis Ridley Havegal visited Germany with her father, who was being treated for an eye problem. While in a pastor’s home, she saw a painting of the crucifixion with words under it that said:"I did this for thee. What has thou done for me?" Quickly she took a piece of paper and wrote a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Tags: Faith General, Repentance

Denomination: Baptist

E. Stanley Jones, Reader's ...

Contributed by Troy Borst on Apr 16, 2005

ILLUSTRATION... E. Stanley Jones, Reader’s Digest, December 1981 A rattlesnake, if cornered, will sometimes become so angry it will bite itself. That is exactly what the harboring of hate and resentment against others is—a biting of oneself. We think that we are ...read more

Tags: Communication General, Anger

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Hound Of Heaven!" Nehemiah 4:1-6 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 21, 2005

“The Hound of Heaven!” Nehemiah 4:1-6 Key verse(s) 6:“So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.” It’s just too hard! The more I worked at it, the farther it seemed to slip away from me. I just couldn’t seem to stem the rapid ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-6

Tags: Leadership General, Endurance

Denomination: Lutheran

On The Other Hand?" Mark 13:9-13 Key Verse(S) ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 26, 2005

“On The Other Hand?” Mark 13:9-13 Key verse(s) 13:“‘All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.’” Often times what determines whether or not we are standing tall in this life is measured by the depth of our convictions. There was a time not so long ago ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:9-13

Tags: Faith General, Doubt

Denomination: Lutheran

A Boulder With Your Name On It!" Numbers ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 1, 2005

“A Boulder With Your Name On It!” Numbers 13:25-29 Key verse(s) 27:“They gave Moses this account: ‘We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But . . .” Sometimes the things that we are able to do surprise even ourselves. Have you ever had ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 13:25-29

Tags: Doubt, Faith General

Denomination: Lutheran

Making The Best Of The ‘best'!" 1 Thessalonians ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 11, 2005

“Making The Best of The ‘Best’!” 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 Key verse(s) 15:“According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.” “I did my best, really!” With tear-streaked face ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

Tags: Forgiveness General, Peace

Denomination: Lutheran

H. L. Gee Somewhere Tells Of A Tramp Who Came ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on May 25, 2005

H. L. Gee somewhere tells of a tramp who came begging to a good woman’s door. She went to get something to give him and found that she had no change in the house. She went to him and said, “I have not a penny of small change. I need a loaf of bread. Here is a pound note. Go and buy the loaf and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:11-18

Tags: Faith, Giving General

Denomination: Baptist

The Six-Inch Nail  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jul 5, 2005

The Six-Inch Nail At one time at the City Temple in London, there was in the congregation a wealthy restaurateur named Emil Mettler. Mettler would often do not allow a Christian worker to pay for a meal in his restaurant. Once he happened to open his cash register in the presence of a ...read more

Tags: Joy, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How Can You Be So Calm?  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jul 10, 2005

HOW CAN YOU BE SO CALM? Years ago a military officer and his wife were aboard a ship that was caught in a raging ocean storm. Seeing the frantic look in her eyes, the man tried unsuccessfully to remove her fears. Suddenly she grasped his sleeve and cried, "How can you be so calm?" He stepped ...read more

Tags: Doubt, Faith General

Denomination: Independent/Bible

James Hedley- We Need That Attitude Of The Soul ...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jul 11, 2005

James Hedley- We need that attitude of the soul called faith. It is not possible to have happiness without faith. The man who doubts, distrusts, suspects, disbelieves, is never a happy man. The cynic and the ...read more

Tags: Doubt, Faith General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Never Mourn Over Unbelief As If It Were Only A ...

Contributed by Steve Lucas on Jul 30, 2005

Never mourn over unbelief as if it were only a weakness which you cannot help. As God’s child, how ever weak you may be, you have the power to believe for the Spirit of God is in you. You have only to keep in mind this: No one apprehends anything before that he has the power to believe. He must ...read more

Tags: Doubt, Faith General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Woodland Creature Known As The Porcupine ...

Contributed by Lisa Delay on Sep 8, 2005

The woodland creature known as the porcupine weighs 15-20 pounds. This primarily nocturnal animal gets its name from the Latin word for pig and the French word for thorn. These “prickly pigs” have 30,000 quills each are a mass of tiny overlapping barbs. When threatened these rodents first try to ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General, Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fifty Dollars In The Hands Of A Fool Is Small ...

Contributed by Brian Cunningham on Sep 15, 2005

"Fifty dollars in the hands of a fool is small change, but $5 in the hands of a wise ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General, Peace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational