Kerux
Illustration and Sermon database

I am updating his webpage.  Please report any problems to dholwick@gmail.com

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.)

 
(Click on blue filename to begin download)

Filename	Description	Size	Date uploaded
Main files - S.I.D. users only
SID mega-database	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. 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.	177 meg	New version 2.0 May 14, 2009
New supplements	The current version of the SID mega-database contains all the current supplements.
How to install a complete SID database...	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.
SID_Setup.exe	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. Those who have Microsoft Access can use a version of the database that is available here.	4.2 meg	New version 2.0 May 14, 2009
SID_Upgrade.exe	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 May 14, 2009
Linux environment	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). 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

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.

Warning    BACKUP    BACKUP    BACKUP

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.

Improvements

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)