In Sermon Illustrations: "Prayer How To"

I Know How It Works. I Built It.

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Jan 12, 2009

"I KNOW HOW IT WORKS. I BUILT IT." Years ago, the early part of the last century, a man’s car broke down on the side of the road. He was out working on the car, unsuccessfully trying to get it started, when another man stopped to help. The second gentleman looked at the engine, worked on it for ...read more

Tags: Creation

Denomination: Baptist

When Martin Luther Was Asked How He Overcame The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

When Martin Luther was asked how he overcame the devil, he replied, “Well, when he comes knocking at the door of my heart, and asks ‘Who lives here?’ the dear Lord Jesus goes to the door and says, “Martin Luther used to live here, but he ...read more

Tags: Temptation Resisting

How Many Of You Know That Life Brings Many ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

How many of you know that life brings many challenges? One person said, “Life is hard, and then you die.” In daily life we need a constant source of supply. Otherwise, we live in a fearful state with anxiety. Are you familiar with “Frank and Ernest”? One cartoon strip shows Frank sound asleep. ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence

How Do You Maintain Humility? Success Can ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

How do you maintain humility? Success can sometimes dazzle you in the achieving, but there’s usually someone around to help you keep perspective. TV anchorman Tom Brokaw has a story about that: Brokaw was wandering through Bloomingdale’s in New York one day, shortly after he was promoted to ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will

Phoebe Brown Was A Lady Who Knew How Important ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Phoebe Brown was a lady who knew how important worship is, and how beneficial it can be. Phoebe was a farmer’s wife and she and her husband had several children. So, naturally her days were full of hard work. By the end of the day her body was tired, her nerves were on edge, and her spirit was low. ...read more

Tags: Worship Benefits

How Susannah Wesley Defined Sin To Her Son

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 22, 2024

This was how Susannah Wesley defined "sin" to her young son, John Wesley: "If you would judge of the lawfulness or the unlawfulness of pleasure, then take this simple rule: Whatever weakens your reason, Whatever impairs the tenderness of your conscience, Whatever obscures your ...read more

Tags: Children, Sin, Mothers, Parenting, Disobedience, Homeschoolers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Wide And Long And High And Deep Is The Love Of Christ?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Sep 14, 2024

In the last century, Napoleon's armies opened a prison that the Spanish Inquisition had used. They found the remains of a prisoner who had been incarcerated for his faith. The dungeon was underground. The body had long since decayed. Only a chain fastened around an ankle bone cried out his ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-19, Romans 8:38-39

Tags: Hope, Suffering, Unconditional Love, Christ's Love

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How Can I Get My Sneeze Back?

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 28, 2024

I've had a lot of health issues during this past year, and now that I seem to be over them, something else has taken their place. I have had a sneezing fit for the past two weeks that I've never experienced before. Every time I sneeze, it is in triplets. I don't know why I have to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Health, Sneezing

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Sin Is Sin It Leads To Death No Matter How It Isillustrated.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Oct 25, 2024

We the Church need to be aware of the danger there is from those who prophecy falsely, there is a great push within Christian circles to accept people's immorality in the name of God’s love, and grace. Sin remains sin, those of us who have repented of our sins know the release and joy that ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:1-41, 2 Corinthians 5:15

Tags: Grace, Acceptance, Salvation, Joy, Power, Redemption, Denial, Punishment, Repentence, Recrucifying Christ, Immorality, Danger, False Teachers, Release, Sanctification, Regeneration  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

How Can We Know That We Are Truly Saved

Contributed by Hylton Davidson on Aug 13, 2025

Having assurance that one is saved is linked to the process called regeneration. Regeneration is not something a person initiates; it is a sovereign act of God. A person is born again when the Holy Spirit imparts spiritual life, enabling them to repent and believe in the gospel. This transformation ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Assurance, Saved

Denomination: Christian Church

How God Fulfils His Promises In Our Life?

Contributed by Samuel M on Sep 24, 2025

Every true promise of God passes through the stage of death before its fulfilled. The stage of death- is where we lose all hope, and the fulfilment of the promise looks impossible. The mere thought of the promise becomes burdensome. Sometimes we will forget the fact that we have such a wonderful ...read more

Tags: Faith, Hope

God Gave Her A Flying Cat!  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 1, 2014

GOD GAVE HER A FLYING CAT! Have you heard the story about the pastor who had a kitten that climbed up a tree in his backyard and then was afraid to come down. The pastor coaxed, offered warm milk, etc., but the kitty would not come down. The tree was not sturdy enough to climb, so the pastor ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3

Tags: Prayer, Miracles, Prayer Answered

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Psa 17:1 A Prayer Of David. Hear, O Lord, My ...

Contributed by Steven Cannon on Feb 13, 2007

Psa 17:1 A prayer of David. Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer-- it does not rise from deceitful lips. May my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right. Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Today Our Prayer Could Be: Lord, You Were Neither ...

Contributed by Michael West on Sep 29, 2008

Today our prayer could be: Lord, You were neither disheartened nor crushed as You lived YOUR life. The Father upheld You in Your mission. We ask today to uphold us. Grant us new strength, restore our ...read more

Tags: Prayer Hardship

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Lasting Lessons On Prayer From Elijah's Small Cloud

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 17, 2024

The passage from 1 Kings 18:41-46 offers profound lessons on persisting in prayer, as demonstrated by the prophet Elijah. Here are some key takeaways: Expectant Faith: Elijah prayed with the expectation that God would answer. He told Ahab to prepare for rain even before there was any sign of it, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:41-46

Tags: Elijah, Faith, Humility, Prayer, Miracles, Trusting God, Persistence, God's Timing, Watchfulness, Answers To Prayer, Bowing Before God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hush Puppies

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Aug 27, 2014

Are you familiar with the brush-suede shoe called Hush Puppies? It was popular when I was a kid. The brand was all but dead until late 1994. Sales were down to 30,000 pairs a year, mostly sold in backwoods outlets and small-town family stores. Wolverine, the company that makes Hush Puppies, was ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:10

Tags: Prayer Power, Importance Of Prayer

Denomination: Baptist

A Missionary And His Family Were Forced To Camp ...  PRO

Contributed by Adam Cruse on Jul 18, 2001

A missionary and his family were forced to camp outside on a hill. They were carrying money and they were fearful that thieves might rob them. After spending time in prayer, the finally fell asleep. Several months later, a man that had been injured was taken to the mission hospital. He asked ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Prayer Of Faith, Prayer General

Denomination: Baptist

The Following Incident Took Place In 1968 On An ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Cassara on Sep 8, 2001

The following incident took place in 1968 on an airliner bound for New York. It started out routine and uneventful. Descending to the destination, the pilot realized the landing gear would not engage. He worked the controls back and forth, trying again and again to make the gear lock down into ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-12

Tags: Prayer Answered, Prayer General, Prayer Supplication

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Year Was 1872. The Place Was London, ...  PRO

Contributed by James O. Davis on Dec 5, 2001

The year was 1872. The place was London, England. The evangelist was an obscure YMCA leader named D. L. Moody. People were being converted. The secret was a bed ridden lady named Mary Ann Adler. She had read a newspaper clipping about D. L. Moody in Chicago. She had prayed ...read more

Tags: Prayer General, Prayer Supplication, Prayer Of Faith

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Finally  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

FINALLY The value of persistent prayer is not that He will hear us but that we will ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Prayer In The Spirit, Prayer General