In Sermon Illustrations: "Praying"

Reluctant Fasting  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

RELUCTANT FASTING I ran across an article a few months back in Discipleship Journal called "Confessions of a Reluctant Faster." The author mentioned how God impressed upon her the need to pray and fast for a woman in her small group deeply involved in New Age. She didn't like the idea of fasting, ...read more

Tags: Fast

Dale Carnegie's Solution To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 26, 2009

Dale Carnegie’s Solution to Worry--Prayer We can forget about what tomorrow brings - we can quit worrying - because if we love Almighty God and have faith in Him, everything will work out for our good! Down through the centuries, many who have tried Him have found that to be true! The late great ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Tags: Worry

Miraculous Protection Of Matt And Lora Higgens ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 17, 2009

Miraculous Protection of Matt and Lora Higgens during the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya in 1960 in Answer to Prayer In 1960, the Mau Mau uprising gripped Kenya. During that time, missionaries Matt and Lora Higgens had to drive through hostile territory on their way to Nairobi, well aware that many had ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:1-16

Tags: Prayer Answered

Prayer's Powerful Results Impacts African ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2010

Prayer’s Powerful Results Impacts African Villagers Story: John Robb of World Vision’s Mission Advanced Research Center writes, "The adults of Ethiopia’s Awash River area, two hours north of Addis Ababa were suffering through famines. In their suffering the people looked to a giant tree for help. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:21-22

Tags: Idolatry, Prayer Of Faith

God's Unexpected Answer To Prayer Protects From ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

God’s Unexpected Answer to Prayer Protects from Bomb But God provides in a variety of ways. A Messianic Jewish brother relates: "I was part of a singing group once that was scheduled to do a series of "peace" concerts in war-torn Northern Ireland. As Jews, we went with the message that Catholics ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 17:6-9

Tags: Prayer General, God's Protection

Invalids' Prayers Bring Revival  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 4, 2011

INVALIDS' PRAYERS BRING REVIVAL Max Lucado told of a church in Scotland back in the 1940s that was struggling to keep the doors open. A couple of its members were two older ladies who were invalids and couldn’t get out for worship any longer. But these ladies refused to allow their infirmities to ...read more

Scripture: James 5:13-20

Tags: Prayer Persistence, Serving

Prayer For Thieves  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 4, 2011

PRAYER FOR THIEVES About 12 years ago, three men broke into our church building here. They didn't steal much, and they didn't really damage all that much (they broke a couple of doors, and stole a few small items) but we called the police and reported the incident. After the police left, our youth ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:2-6

Tags: Prayer Answered

Last Year A Former Homeless Man Was Buried At ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Last year a former homeless man was buried at the prestigious St. John’s Episcopal Church, across from the White House. St. John’s is called the “church of presidents” since nearly every U.S. leader since James Madison has worshiped there. In an unusual memorial, former members of Congress and ...read more

Tags: Jesus Teachings

A Darkened Mind

Contributed by Andy Grossman on Feb 15, 2012

A DARKENED MIND The god of this age, Satan, wants people to be blinded to the Truth. He loves a darkened mind. Sean Sellers was a willing mind. His parents were long haul truckers from Colorado. Sean filled the empty hours with the occult. He began with Dungeons and Dragons. The he began ...read more

Tags: Cults

Denomination: Holiness

Could It Happen Every Day?

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jul 1, 2012

COULD IT HAPPEN EVERY DAY? Jeff Ingle tells the story of spending four days with 75 other pastors in a Pastor's Prayer Summit in Wisconsin. He writes, "In my time I've been to many camps, conferences and retreats but never have I been to anything like this. For four days, we met together with no ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Methodist

Surrendering To God

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

Ravi Zacharias tells the amazing story of a young Christian, Hien Pham, whom he met in Vietnam who served as an interpreter with the American forces. Shortly after Vietnam fell, Hien was imprisoned on accusations of helping the Americans. His jailers tried to indoctrinate him against democratic ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-16

Tags: Grace, Persecution, Prayer, Surrender, Standing On Promises  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Inspired To Share Your Faith

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Tom Mercer writes, “Years ago, I heard an incredible story about a guy who, while walking through an intersection in a large city, noticed a police officer directing traffic in the middle of the street. As he walked by, the man sensed the Holy Spirit prompting him to go up to the officer and tell ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4

Tags: Witnessing, Sharing Your Faith, Evangelism

Denomination: Methodist

Telemarketers

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Aug 28, 2017

IRS Spam Call - I wanted to share an experience that I just had on the phone. I got that dreaded spam call from the IRS. I knew it was false but I felt like I wanted to talk to a person about it. So I called the number. A young lady answered. She gave me a name and told me I owed $4800 on my IRS ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Witness, Opportunities

Denomination: Church Of God

Eduardo Escobar's Blessed Bats

Contributed by Matt Neace on Jun 13, 2018

In 2017, Minnesota Twins All-Star third baseman Miguel Sano when down with a stress reaction to his shin. So Eduardo Escobar filled in at third. He proceeded to belt 10 of his career-high 21 home runs as a fill-in starter. Speaking of the home runs, Escobar told the Star Tribune, "The 20 home ...read more

Tags: Faith, Prayer, Opportunity

Denomination: Baptist

Sharing Love

Contributed by Rob Roy on May 22, 2024

In Irving Illinois a group purchased the old school building and made it into a long term alcohol recovery program. Some of those started coming to worship at the Irving church, two had met there, Matt and Kim, I and not using their real names. My favorite wife, Lisa and I got to know them, ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-19, Mark 12:30-31

Tags: Service, Hope, Blessings

Opening Illustration: Song And Clip From

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 12, 2010

Opening Illustration: Song and clip from "Jesus take the wheel." This little clip we just heard reveals how prayer is only a breath away. It’s really more natural to pray than not to pray. Thesis: We need to understand the importance of prayer and the impact of prayer in our lives. The song you ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Of A Famous Person Being Filled And ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 8, 2012

Illustration of a famous person being filled and empowered with the Holy Spirit from Evangelist John Rice's book called, How Great Soul Winners Were Filled with the Holy Spirit published in 1949. He wrote this book to show how its the Holy Spirit's power which empowered the great men of faith of ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Preacher Recalls One Such Instance During ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Oct 11, 2001

ILL. A preacher recalls one such instance during the Sunday evening service. When he finished speaking, he asked, "Is there anyone else who would like to say something?" At that, a rather dignified visitor stood up & said, "Yes, sir, I’d like to say something. This is the first time I’ve been ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Tags: Repentance, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Got Carried Away  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 21, 2002

I GOT CARRIED AWAY The late Danny Thomas lost his life savings of $600.00 at a time when he was out of work. He and his wife, Rosie, had a baby on the way, and they needed money. Danny worked at part-time jobs so Rosie could buy groceries. He also borrowed money from friends. It was a tough time ...read more

Tags: Giving General, God's Provision

The Lewis Awakening 1949-53  PRO

Contributed by Scott Malone on Mar 1, 2005

THE LEWIS AWAKENING 1949-53 1. In 1949, on Lewis, one of the Hebrides Islands off the coast of Scotland, two sisters became burdened with the spiritual coldness of their land. One sister was 82. The other was 84 and blind. 2. They devoted themselves to prayer and “waiting on God”. One ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 84:1

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Mercy, Vision, Wait

Denomination: Baptist