|
|
|
Free sermons and illustration databases designed especially for Evangelical Christian workers |
|
SID mega-database is enhanced - it accepts
Rich-Text-Formatting! For those with broadband internet, it is only a 177 megabyte download. Still free, of course.. |
I am updating his webpage. Please report any problems to dholwick@gmail.com
| Inner links: | Main installation files - SID or Access2002 or Access97 |
| Illustration collections / supplements | |
| Sermon collections / supplements | |
| History of uploads and software developments | |
| Plea for help on future developments | |
| Information on updating your database (more thorough advice is here) |
Welcome to
the Kerux Sermon and Illustration Database, a collection of tens of thousands of
sermons and sermon illustrations.
(Kerux) is Greek for Preacher and these
files will be useful for those who preach the Word, though anyone can have
them. It is the same thing as the old Holwick Database - I am taking my
name off to reflect the contributions so many others have made to this material.
The records in this database contains are referenced with titles, Bible references and other searchable and sortable data. Think of it as a huge card file that can be searched in seconds. It is also useful for storing your own sermons and illustrations. The database has been compiled by Rev. David Holwick with help from pastors and programmers all around the world. It is offered free of charge and is intended to be used for the glory of God. It may not be sold, and may not be re-packaged without consent.
The easiest approach is to download the mega-database file. It is quite large but contains everything you need. After you download it, you double-click on the filename and it will install itself on your computer. When you open the program you can search for records and then copy them to your word processor the data you want. (There is also a version for those who have Microsoft Access - the same data files are contained in both.)
Filename
Description Size Date uploaded Main files - S.I.D. users only This contains the entire database in the SID format with an
important new feature - you can paste full-formatted Word documents into it.
Fonts, colors, underlining and indentations are all preserved.
This is a "beta" version - report any problems to
dholwick.gmail.com The file is
self-installing and creates a
directory on your hard-drive and puts an icon on your desktop.
It is a big file, so don't try it with a dial-up modem. The mega-database
contains over 34,000 sermon illustrations and 24,000 sermons. 177 meg New version 2.0 The current version of the SID mega-database contains all the
current supplements. For those who cannot download the mega-database above, here is a how-to guide for installing the entire database
from individual components,
step-by-step. Those with dial-up connections can use this option. Vista users should
read the note. This is a try-it-out installation version of the new RTF
database, or what programmers
call the "front-end". It is just like the mega-database except it contains
only a few sermons and illustrations
- you add the rest by downloading the
sermon and illustration sets
(and supplements), unzipping them, and then click the IMPORT icon in SID's iconbar. Be patient
because each file can take 10 to 15 minutes to
process and it may seem like the program is hung up, but it is not. Go to
http://www.jesusplusnothing.com/sermons/
for the programmers' website and helpful hints on how to use SID. 4.2 meg New version 2.0 Upgrade
for those who have already installed versions earlier than 1.1.8. Gives
your existing SID database the new RTF formatting capabilities. 0.7 meg New version 2.0 Information on how to use the SID version with
Linux open-source software.
SID installation problems? If you are running Windows
NT you need to have installed
Service Pack 6
(or, alternatively Service Pack 3 along with Internet Explorer 5 or later). The data sets (they
contain the sermons and illustrations) are improved all the time. New ones
are added and old ones are modified or even replaced. All the versions of
the Kerux database have a simple process for keeping up-to-date. For users
of SID, after you download a supplement, just open the database and click the
"Import" icon. Browse to find the supplement and select it. The
contents will be added to your existing database. Important - do
not add supplements or sets that are older than what you already have, or your
new material will be overwritten with old material. One way to check is to
sort your records by "date entered" or "date modified". The final date
shows how current you are, and you can add supplements that are more recent than
that date. Always back up
your database before updating it. (see warning below for some helpful advice)
You should only download a mega-database once. After that, use supplements
to keep current. I have been grouping each year's
changes in large annual supplements of
sermons
and
illustrations. Be careful - any changes you have made to these
illustrations or sermons will be overwritten. Read the description of each file
carefully.
Three times now I have wiped out
my database. It makes me thankful that I have put all this material
on the internet, but I have always lost several weeks of work when this happens.
The warning to backup your database should be taken seriously. In my
opinion, there is only one practical way to do this - I recommend getting an
external hard drive. For around $100 you can get one that holds over 100
gigabytes. They are fast, you can program them to do massive backups
overnight, and you can store it in a different location so a fire or other
disaster does not wipe out your backup, too. "A
prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer
for it." Proverbs 22:3
For those who are not
prudent, I now offer a
database
recovery service.
If your database becomes corrupted and you cannot open it, burn the database onto a
CD or DVD and mail it to me. For $49 I'll recover it and send it back on
another disk. If I cannot recover it, you don't pay. This service is
for those who have accumulated a fair number of their own illustrations which
they don't want to kiss away.
I need some help. Not money, just technical advice;
see my projects page.
To let me know what you think about
the database, fill out the
survey form.
(If you want me to respond, you must include your email address because the
form itself is anonymous) Go to homepage, Holwick.com Go to
sitemap for links to other files.
(Click on blue filename to begin download)
The first screen on Megaupload asks you to type in a three-letter code, then
click "Download". The next screen offers a free download in the second
column but first you have to let a clock count down about a minute or so.
After it does, the "free download" button appears and you
should click it. Choose the option "save to file" and
wait patiently while it downloads onto your hard-drive.
(A sidebar offers a faster download through a Megaupload booster file, but this
toolbar will hijack parts of your internet browser. Those with broadband
internet will find that it downloads quick enough without it.) After the
download is complete, you double-click the file on your hard drive. You
will be prompted for a password.
Only about a third of users
take the next step. But without a password, you can't
install the database!
The mega-database requires a simple registration - just send me an
email with
your denomination and state (and country if not U.S.); you can send your name
too but that is optional. I will email you back the free password within
24 hours.
Vista
users - click for important setup information.
SID help file
download - if yours is corrupted; copy this to the SID installation
directory
Those with Microsoft Access can use
these versions.
May 14, 2009
Those who have Microsoft
Access can use a version of the database that is available
here.
May 14, 2009
May 14, 2009
If you are running Windows 95 you need to have installed Internet Explorer 5 or
later (or, if only at Internet Explorer 4.1, then you must install Microsoft's
DCOM95) and in any case you will need to install Microsoft's
Jet 4
pack (there are different ones for different Windows versions; go
here for
all the files)
You can download these files here, or go to Microsoft's download page
here.
A Note on
Update Capabilities
Warning
BACKUP
BACKUP BACKUP
Improvements