In Sermon Illustrations: "Prayer How To"

Do You Know How To Use The Sword Of The Spirit?

Contributed by Doug Fannon on Oct 26, 2020

Many years ago when I was in Army basic training, I spent many hours on the rifle range. Not just an afternoon on the range like many of you who experience Air Force Basic Training. I spent quite literally two-thirds of my training time on the rifle range. I was issued an M-16 assault rifle for ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:17, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Bible, Scripture, Word Of God, Armor Of God, Sword Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

How Can You Tell When A Church Is Dying?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

FUNNY STORY!!! Calvin Coolidge, our thirtieth president, was an extremely quiet and reserved man with very little personality. When questioned, he rarely answered in more than two or three words—a tendency which earned him the nickname, “Silent Cal.” The public saw him as a stiff and emotionless ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Renewal, Church Growth, Acts, Death Of A Vision, Church, Revival  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Do You Recognize An Idol In Your Life?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 13, 2022

Jacob was told to lay down his idols and come back home to Bethel to serve God. Is there an idol in your life that you need to forsake. How do you know if something is an idol in your life? Here are 3 ways we can we identify or recognize the idols in our lives: 1. The feeling of: If I have ...read more

Tags: Idols, Revival, Repent, Idolatry

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Often Do You Preach On The Resurrection Of Christ?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

Peter spent one verse on Jesus' life/incarnation (Acts 2:22) and one verse on His death/crucifixion (Acts 2:23), but now proceeds to spend 9 verses on His resurrection. In fact, the resurrection of Christ could well be called the main theme of the apostolic preaching in Acts. In fact, notice ...read more

Tags: Pentecost, Preaching, Word Of God, Simon Peter, Book Of Acts, Resurrection, Teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Do We Know That Jesus Is The Son Of God?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 2, 2022

As we approach the last of the last days, we see an alarming trend among many pastors to drift away from the basic truths of Scripture. We should not be surprised. Jesus promised this day would come (Matthew 24, II Timothy 3). So, how do we know for sure from Scripture that Jesus is the very ...read more

Tags: Deity, Son Of God, Apostasy, Jesus, Truth, Last Days, Heresy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

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

Working On The Wrong Side. A Young Boy Asked His ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Wood on Jun 3, 2002

WORKING ON THE WRONG SIDE. A young boy asked his mother if he could help her wash the windows. She welcomed his offer and told him to begin with the one in the kitchen because it was the dirtiest. He went outside and worked diligently until he thought it was clean. Then with a dry cloth he rubbed ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Prayer Confession, Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Baptist

E. M. Bounds Writes In "The Possibilities Of ...

Contributed by John Quigley on Mar 1, 2005

E. M. Bounds writes in "The Possibilities of Prayer" : "THE ministry of prayer has been the peculiar distinction of all of God’s saints. This has been the secret of their power. The energy and the soul of their work has been the closet. The need of help outside of man being so great, man’s natural ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Prayer Supplication, Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Baptist

During The Lunch Our, The President Of A Large ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Santos on Jan 11, 2005

During the lunch our, the president of a large factory wanted to talk to his company’s manger about an urgent matter, but the manager’s secretary said, “He can not be disturbed for he is in conference—as he is everyday at this time.” “But,” said the impatient official, “tell him the president wants ...read more

Tags: Prayer Persistence, Prayer Supplication, Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational