Sermons on Keys:

Prayer Keys - Introduction Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 4, 2011

Introducing a 30 part series on prayer keys. These are not incantations manipulating God to submit to our will, but guides leading us to submit to God’s will. "Lord teach us to pray."

A 30 part study of prayer keys during our Wednesday night prayer meetings? You may think it will become boringly repetitive. No, No, NOOOO! During this study, we will hear how Mary, Queen of Scots, feared the prayers of John Knox more than the combined armies of Europe. We will hear Jonathan ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Be Specific Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 13, 2011

BE SPECIFIC when praying. Specific prayers emphasize our need and God’s power. Specific prayers may even clarify our calling.

Prayer Keys - Be Specific “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Lk 18:41 Praying specifically is a key to effective prayer. The blind man’s first request is for Jesus to have mercy on him. Jesus asks him specifically, “What do ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:41

Denomination: Baptist

The Keys To Heaven And Hell Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 17, 2011

Is it only Peter who got the "keys" to the Kingdom of Heaven? And what does it mean to "loose and bind" as Jesus told them they could do?

OPEN: A husband and wife arrived at an automobile dealership to pick up their car but they were told that the keys had been accidentally locked in it. They went to the service department and found a mechanic working feverishly to unlock the driver’s side door. As the wife watched from the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Prayer Keys - Forgivenss

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Jul 14, 2011

Forgiveness enhances our prayers. Forgiveness enhances our faith. Forgiveness enhances our battle with doubt. Forgiveness enhances our fruitfulness. Forgiveness is powerful.

Prayer Keys - Forgiveness “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 11:25 In the last few days there was an item on the news about residents in a local neighborhood finding a bobcat in ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:25

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Boldness Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Jul 25, 2011

BOLDNESS, not arrogance, is blessed. God gives bold access to the throne of grace and welcomes bold prayers from humble Christians.

Prayer Keys - Boldness Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence [boldness], so that we may receive mercy & find grace to help us in our time of need. Heb. 4:16 This is another verse where I prefer the King James Bible language that says, “boldness.” Boldness is a biblical ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:16

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Not Doubting Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Jul 30, 2011

Time for a true confession. Mine won’t compete with celebrity scandals on TV or show up on papers at the checkout line. I confess that I struggle with doubt. I struggle with the thought that it is possible to not doubt. Doubting seems so natural.

Prayer Keys - Not Doubting “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” James ...read more

Scripture: James 1:6-8

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Holiness Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Aug 6, 2011

A holy life is characterized by being separated from the world to God. A holy life is characterized by godly sorrow for sin. “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer.” A holy life is characterized by effective prayer.

Discuss this sermon at http://prayerkeys.blog.com/holiness/ “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer,” 1 Timothy 2:8. A priest was building a trellis for a climbing rose beside the church. He did not think the rickety things at the local garden center were worthy of being used ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:8

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - In The Spirit Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Aug 24, 2011

We sometimes pray with the Spirit’s intercession. We should always pray as the Spirit leads.

Prayer Keys - In the Spirit “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18 Much of this verse is easy to understand. “On all occasions” refers to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Earnestness Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Aug 29, 2011

When we pray fervently, all our heart, soul, mind, and strength is focused on praying as the Spirit leads. We may fool ourselves with the other prayer keys, but not this one.

Prayer Keys - Earnestness “Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” James 5:17-18 George Washington and Thomas ...read more

Scripture: James 5:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Fasting Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 22, 2011

Legalistic fasting is not a prayer key. It is just going hungry. Spiritual awareness that prompts us to pray may also prompt us to fast. May God make us more spiritually aware. May his spirit prompt us to pray, even to the point of forgetting to eat.

Prayer Keys - Fasting by Mark Stepherson “But when you fast, put oil on you head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:17-18 Did you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Persistence Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 27, 2011

Please forgive me for stating the obvious, but persistent prayer is hard work. It drains us. It is hard, but it is eventually worth the effort.

Prayer Keys - Persistence “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Luke 18:1 Have you seen that cartoon with the pelican having a frog for dinner? His dinner is not agreeing with him. In fact, his dinner is violently ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Privacy Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Nov 3, 2011

This is the first time Jesus taught his first disciples about prayer. His first lesson was, “Spend time alone with the Father in prayer.” If we don’t follow his first lesson, we are not following the example or the command of Christ.

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:6 A little boy was saying his bedtime prayers when his mother passed by his room and stopped to listen. “Bless Mommy and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:6

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Unity Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Nov 10, 2011

When we pray as the first church prayed, God will empower us as he empowered the first church and our altar calls will look like Peter’s altar call.

“They all joined together constantly in prayer...” Acts 1:14 “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day,” Acts 2:41 When he went to the Brooklyn Tabernacle, it was a ramshackle building with only a handful attending. They were ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Alert Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Apr 23, 2012

Jesus commanded the disciples to "watch and pray." Paul encourages us to "be alert and always keep on praying." The same word is used for "watch" and "alert." Both are in the context of spiritual war. Like it or not, every time we engage in prayer, we eng

Prayer Keys - Alert Pray and ask in the Spirit all the time. Keep this in mind. Watch out. Keep praying. Pray for all the saints, Ephesians 6:18. Jayme Biendl, a 34-year-old prison guard, was strangled to death in the prison chapel. The chief suspect was serving a life sentence. Even in the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18

Denomination: Baptist

The Key To Being Great Series

Contributed by Delishia Davis on Apr 14, 2013

Christians have an example of greatness and a strategy to reach that point in life. If you want to be great, follow the words of our Lord and serve with humility.

Jesus got them together to settle things down. “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around,” he said, “and when people get a little power how quickly it goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:42-45

Denomination: United Methodist