Browse Sermon Illustrations
223 illustrations available
Trisagion Prayer (Thrice-Holy)
orthodox liturgical prayer by Orthodox Tradition
Prayer to the Holy Spirit (Orthodox)
orthodox invocation prayer by Orthodox Tradition
Prayer of St. John Chrysostom — For the Morning
orthodox morning prayer by John Chrysostom
Evening Prayer: Confession
Merciful God, I don't come to You tonight with a clean slate. The ways I hurt someone with my words— I confess. The opportunities to love that I walked past— I confess. The times I chose my comfort
Evening Prayer: After Difficult Day
God who does not leave, today was hard. I'm tired in ways that sleep won't fix. I don't need You to explain why it was difficult. I just need You to be near. Meet me in this exhaustion. Speak into t
Evening Prayer: Sleepless Night
God who never slumbers, my body is tired but my mind won't stop. The thoughts keep circling, the worries keep rising, and rest feels impossible. So I invite You into this sleeplessness. If there's
Evening Prayer: After Conflict
God of reconciliation, the tension from today's conflict is still sitting heavy on my chest. I don't know if I was right or wrong. I don't know if they'll forgive me. I don't know if I can forgive th
Evening Prayer: Creation Care
Creator of all, thank You for this world You've entrusted to us— the air we breathe, the water we drink, the soil that feeds us. Forgive us for treating it carelessly, for taking more than we need, f
Evening Prayer: Digital Sabbath
God of silence, I turn off these screens and turn toward You. Forgive me for the ways technology consumed me today— endless scrolling instead of being present, comparing instead of connecting, consum
Evening Prayer: Intercession for the World
God who loves the world, tonight I pray for those I'll never meet, in places I'll never go, facing struggles I cannot imagine. For refugees seeking safety— be their shelter. For those imprisoned unj
Evening Prayer: Simply Thank You
Thank You, God. For this day—however it went. For this breath—still being given. For this moment—to stop and notice You. Thank You for loving me when I forget You're there, when I mess up, when I ta
Prayer Through Suffering (Lament)
God who does not waste our pain, I bring this suffering to You— not because I understand it, but because You are the only One who can redeem it. I will not pretend this is easy. I will not call this
Prayer for Creation
Creator God, the earth groans under the weight of our carelessness. Forests destroyed. Oceans polluted. Species extinct. Climate changing. Forgive us for treating creation as ours to exploit rather
Prayer for Church Unity
Lord of the Church, we are divided— by theology, by politics, by preference, by pride. And the world watches our disunity and wonders if we believe what we preach. Forgive us. Heal the fractures. S
Prayer for National Healing
God of all nations, our country is divided. Left vs right. Us vs them. Fear vs fear. We've forgotten we're neighbors, that we're made in Your image— all of us. Heal our brokenness. Soften our harde
Prayer for Persecuted Church
God who stands with the suffering, we remember today our brothers and sisters who follow You at great cost. Those imprisoned for faith. Those beaten for belief. Those martyred for witness. Be their
Prayer for Missionaries
God of all nations, for those who left home to share Your love— Living in foreign cultures. Learning new languages. Sacrificing comfort for calling. Sustain them. Provide for their needs. Protect t
Prayer for Creativity and Artists
Creator God, for those who create— Painters, writers, musicians, designers, all who shape beauty from chaos— bless their work. Give them inspiration when they're stuck. Give them courage when they'
Prayer for Those Waiting
God of perfect timing, for those in seasons of waiting— Waiting for healing. Waiting for answers. Waiting for breakthrough. Waiting for change. The wait is hard. The silence is loud. The delay is pa
Morning Prayer: Gratitude in Ordinary Days
God of small mercies, before I ask for anything, I want to notice what You've already given: This breath. This morning light. This body that woke up again. The coffee that tastes good. The people wh
Morning Prayer: For Parents
God who parents us all, I bring my children to You this morning. The weight of their formation feels heavy— knowing I'll get some of it wrong, knowing they're watching even when I think they're not.
Morning Prayer: For Healthcare Workers
God of compassion, I enter spaces of pain today, carrying others' suffering, trying to bring healing. Give me steady hands, clear mind, compassionate heart. Help me see each person as whole— not jus
Morning Prayer: Technology and Presence
God who is never distracted, before I pick up my phone, before I check my messages, before the notifications start pulling me in every direction— I want to be present with You first. Help me use tec
Morning Prayer: Weakness and Strength
God whose strength is perfect in weakness, I wake feeling inadequate for today. The task is too big. The challenge too hard. The need too great. And maybe that's exactly where You want me— at the en