POWER PRAYER Dr. Peale tells of a person who experienced the restoration of surrendered faith. Fifteen years ago his life was despaired of and he had been given to understand he must cease work and…
Sermon Illustrations
PRAYER ON WHEELS Some people were gathered to pray for a family who were going through a time of difficulty in their finances. In other words, they were broke, out of work, and the prospects…
THE SOUND OF MY VOICE I overheard two laymen discussing the direction that my sermons for several weeks had been taking. Apparently, one of the men felt quite satisfied with himself and where he was…
THE PRAYER OF DESPERATION -- HOW SINCERE? Charlie Brown is in school and it is time to give a report. He just knows the teacher must be about to call on him. But he is…
CHANGING ATTITUDES TOWARDS PRAYER In a recent issue of the Reader's Digest there is a report on a RD/Gallup Survey on interest in religion. They detect a rising tide of interest in prayer. 87% said…
UNIVERSAL PRAYER If I am right, Thy grace impart, Still in the right to stay; If I am wrong, O teach my heart To find that better way! Alexander Pope
OLD FASHIONED PRAYER A farmer was entertaining one of his sophisticated relatives from the city. Before the meal the farmer gave thanks for the food. When he finished the visitor jeered: "This is old-fashioned; nobody…
CHILDREN'S SERMON: THE BEST KINDS OF PRAYER How many of you say your prayers each night before going to bed? That is a great way to close the day, isn't it? What are some of…
UNANSWERED PRAYER Remember St. Augustine, the wild profligate young man, and Monica, his saintly mother? They lived in North Africa when Augustine told his mother he was going to Rome where he could study rhetoric…
PRAYER POWER Once upon a time there was a man who went hunting. He was hunting bears. As he trudged through the forest looking for bears, he came upon a large and steep hill. He…
PRAYER AND PARENTS About a century ago, there died a distinguished Presbyterian minister. When he was a young man, he had attended college at Yale. An awakening broke out on the campus while he was…
A GOD WHO'S AVALIAVLE TO ALL Among the kind of stories we most welcome are those true stories that come from your own life or from the lives of your people. Many such stories come…
EXACERBATING THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD At SS. Peter and Paul our day started with prayers. We stood at attention in mass formation and began by making the sign of the cross, following the example of…
ASSUME THE SAFEST POSITION George Adam Smith tells us that he was once climbing the Weisshorn above the Zermatt Valley with two guides on a stormy day. They had made the ascent on the sheltered…
A NEW YEAR'S PRAYER Dear Lord, please give me . . . A few friends who understand me and yet remain my friends A work to do which has real value, without which the world…
OUR LARGER SPIRITUAL RESPONSIBLITY A second story from Mark Shepard is from Goforth of China by Rosalind Goforth, pp. 61-66. It was a story that was told by Dr. Goforth. The story was of a…
PERCENTAGE PRAYERS Three Indians (or Native Americans, if you prefer) -- A Navajo, a Hopi and an Apache -- were speaking about how powerful their prayers were. The Navajo said, "You know, we Navajos pray…
DON'T PUSH! Frank Goodman, Pastor of the Oasis Community Church of Twentynine Palms, California sent in the following note: Last week I heard a sermon by Dr. Paul Risser of Downey, California. He told of…
FIFTH PRIZE -- A BIT IRREVERENT I particularly liked the story our judges awarded fifth prize, in fact I have already used it myself in a sermon since it came in. It was sent in…
MAKE YOUR REQUESTS SPECIFIC Whether it is in communication in general, or prayer in particular we are often instructed to be specific in our requests. I'm not sure you can use this item I found…
