In Sermon Illustrations: "Prayer How To"

Watching From The Bleachers

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 21, 2009

Cymbala shares in his book, "Fresh Power": "But just as there are people who watch from the bleachers and never know the challenge of competing on the court, we have millions of churchgoers who sit in pews every week without ever entering the game. They sacrifice nothing, strain toward no ministry ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Spiritual Dryness

Contributed by Samuel M on Feb 18, 2025

When we pray prayers that are not in God's will, we by ourselves enter into seasons of spiritual dryness. We may receive answers to our prayer requests, yet we may become spiritually dry. If you are experiencing a season of spiritual dryness, do check and correct your prayers. Prayers ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:20

Tags: Hope, Faith

God Can Be Trusted  PRO

Contributed by Mark Bauer on Aug 1, 2007

God can be trusted. Our prayers will not go unheeded. It’s like a little girl who crawled up into her father’s lap while was reading the newspaper. She told him how much she wanted him to build her a doll house. She didn’t climb down till her daddy had promised to do just that, although ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Funny Church Feuds

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

Church feuds are not uncommon, especially among cliques in the congregation. But when the pastor and choir director get into it, stand aside. One week, the preacher preached on commitment, and how you should dedicate yourselves to service. The director then led the choir in singing, 'I Shall ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Unity, Hymns, Division, Church Fights

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Running With A Stopwatch

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 15, 2012

RUNNING WITH A STOPWATCH Long-distance runner Paavo Nurmi of Finland was an Olympic champion, winning twelve medals (nine of them gold) in the 1920, 1924, and 1928 Games. Nurmi was famous not only for his achievements, but also for running with a stopwatch in his hand to check his performance. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-13

Tags: Disciplines General

Max Lucado: Angels Were Silent  PRO

Contributed by Daniel Devilder on Dec 4, 2006

Max Lucado (Angels were Silent) Describes how in a similar way we cry out for something to cut through the clutter of life, turning to faith and religion to give us simplicity, instead finding things just as complicated: Enter, religion. We Christians have a solution for the confusion don’t we? ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1, Romans 11:3-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Larry Lea, Who Used To Serve As A Pastor In ...

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Mar 6, 2010

Larry Lea, who used to serve as a pastor in Rockwall, Texas, has a course on the Lord’s Prayer. When he teaches people how to pray this petition -- “Your kingdom come” -- he asks them to draw an imaginary circle around themselves and not to emerge from that circle until all their priorities are in ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Real War Room  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2002

THE REAL WAR ROOM One of the most successful ministries in the world is Campus Crusade for Christ. This ministry was begun by a layman, Bill Bright. They have laborers sharing on thousands of campuses around the world. They believe prayer accessed the source for these laborers. In the late ...read more

Not-So-Blessings  PRO

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Jul 23, 2008

NOT-SO-BLESSINGS Recently I was taking another turn teaching the children on Wednesday night. After opening with some conversation with the kids about what was going on in their lives I asked for any prayer requests. One girl asked that we pray for her because school would soon start and she was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Gratitude

Denomination: Baptist

The Blood Of Lambs

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2009

THE BLOOD OF LAMBS I just finished a very moving book called, "The Blood of Lambs" by Kamal Saleem (Howard Books, 2009). He describes his life as a terrorist and how he hated Israel and America. He also couldn't stand Christians--that is, until God brought some Christian men into his life after he ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Tags: Islam

We Are Told That In The Prairies Of South America ...  PRO

Contributed by Evie Megginson on Jul 16, 2004

We are told that in the prairies of South America there grows a flower that always inclines in the same direction. The traveler may lose his way while crossing one of those prairies, and he may have neither compass nor chart by which to steer his course; but, turning to this lovely flower, he will ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Baptist

I Heard About A Young Single Preacher Who Took ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Nov 24, 2008

I heard about a young single preacher who took his first part-time church while he was still in seminary. He preached a message one Sunday called, “10 Facts on How to Have the Perfect Marriage and raise Perfect Children.” A few years later he got married. He pulled out the old sermon to preach ...read more

Tags: Marriage Struggle

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Walking With God Can Be A Great Source Of ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 19, 2009

Walking with God can be a great source of Eustress (positive stress)… example: Some of you this week found time in your crazy schedule to listen to or read your Bible. How did you feel afterward? It’s Wednesday night, and you help with AWANA. It’s been a busy day and you’re tired. But you ...read more

Tags: Stress

Denomination: Independent/Bible

There Is A Priest In Dublin, Ireland Named Father ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Bauer on Aug 1, 2007

There is a priest in Dublin, Ireland named Father Foster He tells about the day he parked his car on a rather steep slope close to his church. His little terrier was lying on the back seat and could not be seen by anyone outside the vehicle. Father Foster got out of the car, turned to lock ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Leonard Ravenhill (While Revival Tarries, Chapter ...

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Feb 15, 2007

Leonard Ravenhill (While Revival Tarries, Chapter 2, Prayer Grasps Eternity) No man is greater than his prayer life. The pastor who is not praying is playing; the people who are not praying are straying. The pulpit can be a shop-window to display one’s talents; the prayer closet allows no ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

But When The Holy Spirit Controls Our Lives He ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Francis on Jun 23, 2007

But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’ (Galatians 5:16-17 & 23 TLB). Is living like this really possible? Yes, but you must do four things: 1) understand that ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Funny Church Feuds

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

Church feuds are not uncommon, especially among cliques in the congregation. But when the pastor and worship leader get into it, stand aside. In one church, the preacher preached one weekend on commitment, and how you should dedicate yourselves to service. The worship leader then led the choir in ...read more

Tags: Church, Unity, Hymns, Division, Church Fights  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Worship Is Showing Up

Contributed by Rob Roy on May 22, 2024

How does Jesus know we love him, what is the proof? By your witness, your gifts, your tithes, your prayers or presence. Did you know I joined twitter? I think the day I did I read several tweets, but never tweeted, and that was long before the 2020 election, and long before I came to Mt. ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-19

Tags: Worship, Showing Love

And – Do You Know What Is Really Sad – This Lack ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jun 6, 2002

AND – do you know what is really sad – this lack of prayer in the church that we see today – this putting not just on the back burner, BUT in the garage the POWERFUL weapon of prayer – has been a problem in the church for a very long time…hundreds of years… Fenelon a French writer of the late ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Man Walked Up To A Vending Machine, Put In A ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 19, 2001

A man walked up to a vending machine, put in a coin, pressed the buttons labeled, “coffee, double cream, sugar.” No cup appeared, but the nozzles went into action sending forth coffee, cream and sugar. After the proper amounts had gone down the drain, the machine turned off. “Now that’s real ...read more

Tags: Disciplines General, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ