Sermons on Understanding Prayer:

Why Praying Is Difficult

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Jan 11, 2026

Why don’t we pray? Or, if we do pray, why do we often feel guilty that we aren’t praying as frequently, or as much, or as fervently as we should? What’s holding us back? This sermon examines five reasons that we struggle with prayer, and how to overcome them.

This morning, I’d like to talk with you about a spiritual discipline which is at the core of the Christian life. This is something which everyone acknowledges is important, and valuable, and rewarding. We all agree that it’s a good thing. And yet, we may also hope that no one inquires too closely ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:15-16, Luke 18:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Why Does God Delays On Our Prayers

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Oct 20, 2014

Why do we doubt God’s ability to answer our prayers? Is there more to our prayers than we know? Is there more to us than we know? Do we know that God is already working his will through us? Are we grateful, possibly not?

This sermon was delivered to St Oswald’s in Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 6th April 2014 (a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries). Summary: Why do we doubt God’s ability to answer our prayers? Is there more to our prayers than we know? Is there ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-25

Denomination: Episcopal

The Lord's Prayer Part I Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 8, 2021

Jesus was the express image of the Father. He said, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." If we want to know what God is like, we look at Jesus, for He is the full and final revelation of God the Father.

Paul Aurandt in his book, Destiny, tells of the powerful impact a single father can have on a whole society. Norman's father was a salesman in Connecticut. He did not like people who were different from himself, and that was almost everybody. In other words, he was a bigot. He constantly ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:7-15

Are You Looking For A Prayer That Works Part 2

Contributed by Ed Pruitt on Jul 7, 2007

Because of its importance, the first kind of prayer we want to examine is the prayer of casting your cares upon the Lord.

DISCLAIMER: Since there are a large amount of sermons and topics and illustrations that are posted on Sermon Central, I feel it is necessary to place this disclaimer on all of the sermons that I submit. These sermons are original to the author and the leading of the Holy Spirit. While ideas and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:6-11

Denomination: Church Of God

What Is Prayer And Why Questions? Lesson 1 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Apr 25, 2017

Prayer is spiritual warfare against evil.

A. INTRODUCTION 1. Prayer is based on a relationship to God where you simply talk with God. 2. Prayer is communication with God. 3. Prayer is family relationship. 4. Jesus excludes praying in any other name such as Buddha, Confucius, and even Allah. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. ...read more

Scripture: John 14:3

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 1: What Is Prayer And Why Questions?

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Apr 25, 2014

Questions about Prayer Every Christian Must Answer

A. INTRODUCTION 1. Prayer is based on a relationship to God where you simply talk with God. 2. Prayer is communication with God. 3. Prayer is family relationship. 4. Jesus excludes praying in any other name such as Buddha, Confucius, and even Allah. “I am the way, the truth, and the ...read more

Scripture: John 14:13-24

Denomination: Baptist

A Room With A View: Perspectives On Prayer -- Broken But Blessed

Contributed by Jonathan Falwell on Mar 3, 2008

When it comes to prayer, a broken mirror limits our view of, and experience of Christ – and keeps us from becoming like him – which has tragic and far-reaching consequences.

Room With A View: Broken But Blessed Today, we continue our series . . . Room With A View, Perspectives on Prayer. Last week we talked about the distractions that can keep us from getting into the room. They keep us from experiencing the very presence of God. Our theme passage comes from a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:18

Denomination: Baptist

The Lord's Prayer, Part 2

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jul 1, 2020

How to use The Lord's Prayer in our own prayer time.

The Lord’s Prayer (2) We’re continuing our little series on prayer. I planned to do two talks on the Lord’s Prayer and today we have the second. Jesus doesn’t just dive straight into the Lord’s Prayer. He first gave some teaching about how we should not pray, and last week, we looked at what ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15

Denomination: Baptist

Does Prayer And Faith Complement Each Other? Series

Contributed by Billy Paul on May 12, 2020

Just praying all the time without fleshing out the answers received through prayers would tantamount to being faithless. At the same time, acting without an under girding of trust in God – which is prayer – is also tantamount to being faithless.

Three theologians sat discussing the best positions for prayer while a telephone repairman worked nearby. “Kneeling is definitely best,” claimed one. “No,” another contended, “I get the best results standing with my hands outstretched to Heaven.” “You're both wrong,” the third insisted, “the ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:6-15, James 2:14-17, Matthew 6:5-15, Isaiah 1:15, Proverbs 28:9, 1 Peter 3:12  (view more)  (view less)

It Takes More! Hunting Sermon ( A Call To Prayer)

Contributed by Brian B on Nov 4, 2004

God Gave me this one while I was hunting deer. At the end of the day, the sun was going down and still I had not harvested an animal? It takes more than you think to have a successfull harvest! hunting (physical harvest VS the church (Spiritual harvest)

Please take a moment to place your vote. If you have an idea for an improvement, I am very teachable. My e-Mail is pastorbrian@greenrivernazarene.com Mt 9:37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Mt 9:38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:37-38

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Prayer That Keeps Me And My Family Safe

Contributed by Sophia Lorena on Feb 24, 2022

This message is based on one of the prayers that I have been praying for protection ever since the pandemic began which caused fear, anxiety, and loss.

Today, I will be sharing a powerful, personal prayer with you. This is one of the prayers that I have been praying for protection ever since the pandemic began which caused fear, anxiety, and loss. This prayer is Bible based and has a strong foundational truth. It has worked for me and kept my ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Submitting To God's Will Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jan 31, 2015

Paul’s shows us how to submit to God's will by understanding the 1) Purpose (Romans 15:30a) , 2) Prayer (Romans 15:30b-32), and 3) Peace (Romans 15:33) in the will of God.

To one who asked him the secret of his service, George Mueller said: “There was a day when I died, utterly died;”—“died to George Muller, his opinions, preferences, tastes, and will—died to the world, its approval or censure—died to the approval or blame even of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:30-33

Denomination: Other

Does Not Ask For Much--Does He? Series

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Jun 27, 2009

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians serves as a terrific model for praying for each other (and our churches, in general).

Just for fun, let’s start with a trick question today. How many letters to the Ephesians are there in the New Testament? Well, I said it was a trick question. There are at least two. There is one that we’ll be looking at this morning and there is one in Revelation 2. You see, Ephesus was an ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23

Denomination: *other

Asking For Protection - Lord's Prayer Week 7 Series

Contributed by Matthew Stoll on Nov 29, 2006

There is a spiritual battle going on and we need to ask for God’s protection to equip us with armor for the battle.

Over the last five weeks, we have been in a series on prayer called “Lord, Teach Us to Pray.” We have been focusing on the Lord’s Prayer as Jesus’ primary teaching for us on how to model our prayers, not to be legalistic saying this is how you must pray, but to enhance our prayer life. Perhaps ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

Denomination: Methodist

Unanswered Prayers Part 1 - The Dead Zone Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 21, 2008

Sin can create a "dead zone" where our calls to God will not be answered. Find out what they are, and how we can move out of the zone of unanswerable prayer.

OPEN: About 3 years ago Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had an idea! He was eager to get in touch with the people of his country so he gave out his personal cell phone number during a speech and urged Indonesian people to contact him directly with any complaints about the government’s ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ