Sermons on 13th Sunday Of The Year:

Preparing For Palm Sunday

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Mar 19, 2010

This year how have we been preparing ourselves for Christ if He would show up at our door just as He did on this day show up at the door of Jerusalem?

Opening illustration: A little boy was sick on Palm Sunday and stayed home from church with his mother. His father returned from church holding a palm branch. The little boy was curious and asked, "Why do you have that palm branch, dad?" "You see, when Jesus came into town, everyone waved Palm ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A New Year’s Examination

Contributed by Kelvin Mckisic on Jan 10, 2024

With a new year comes a time for self-examination of your life and your relationship with Jesus Christ. Have you ghosted Him? Have you friend zoned Him? Or do you have a loving relationship with Him?

It is our tradition in this church, as well as many others, to share the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper on the first Sunday of the month. Paul’s admonition to the Corinthian Christians is especially appropriate as one begins a new year: “Let a man examine himself.” Being that this is the first ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:27-32, Ephesians 5:8-16, Psalm 139:23-24, James 4:13-15, Philippians 3:13-14, Deuteronomy 11:11-12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Is For Life Not Just Christmas And Sundays Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Jan 2, 2017

This year, make following Christ the central purpose of your life. Joshua’s ancient challenge to the Israelite families is a challenge to us today as Children of the living God, a challenge to embrace a changed life.

It’s the first day and the first Sunday of 2017 so Happy New Year to you. 2017... Where did 2016 go? Does it feel like the years are getting shorter? Maybe it’s an age thing or maybe it’s because the world seems to move at a faster pace than it used to. The Post Office is now referred to as snail ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:15, Joshua 2:16-17

Denomination: Pentecostal

A New You For A New Year

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Jan 9, 2023

This is an incomplete manuscript of my first Sunday sermon of 2023. It looks at the connection between hospitality to God and others in the fulfillment of the promises God has made to us.

A New You For A New Year "A Roman god with no Greek counterpart, Janus was deeply entrenched in the psyche of Rome, born long before the Greek pantheon was adopted by the Romans. Strange and ancient, Janus was depicted with two, sometimes four faces. One face is always looking back, ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Trinity Sunday. June 4th, 2023. Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 21, 2023

1st Sunday after Pentecost, Year A.

Genesis 1:1-31, Genesis 2:1-4, Psalm 8:1-9, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Matthew 28:16-20. A). THE BEGINNING. Genesis 1:1-31, Genesis 2:1-4a. "In the beginning God" implies that God existed before the beginning of time. No mere thing existed before the beginning, but only God. There is no ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-31, Genesis 2:1-4, Psalm 8:1-9, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Matthew 28:16-20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fifteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Cycle A-- 15th Sunday, Year A --The Sower

Contributed by Paul Andrew on May 17, 2020

It is the intuitive mind alone that can penetrate the essence and heart of a parable. Then it becomes a living reality, thoroughly relevant to one’s own life.

“To throw alongside” a story with cryptic meaning is called a parable in Greek. In Zen Buddhism, a parable is like a “koan,” which is a spiritual inquiry using perplexing language intended to rouse a student’s innate wisdom-mind to apply it to their own life. As Rabbi Ibn Ezra said of parables, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9, Isaiah 55:10-11

Denomination: Catholic

Seventeenth Sunday In Ordinary Time, B- 17th Sunday Year B-- Two Fish

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jul 23, 2021

In Jewish apocalyptic circles, it was expected that fish would be the main dish at the Messianic banquet.

Jonathan Turnbough of Garner, North Carolina, talks about the time when his mother was driving him and his sisters to school and she was pulled over by a policeman and ticketed for speeding. After their little visit with the officer, they took off again, and his mother was very careful to stay ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-15

Denomination: Catholic

Thirtieth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Cycle A - 30th Sunday Year A -- Love Of God And Neighbor

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 23, 2020

He was not asked for a second-place commandment.

It is the story of the courtship of Moses Mendelssohn, the grandfather of the great German composer, Felix Mendelssohn. Moses Mendelssohn was a small man with a misshapen, humped back. One day he visited a merchant in Hamburg who had a lovely daughter. Though Mendelssohn admired her greatly, she ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 22:20-26, Matthew 22:34-40

Denomination: Catholic

Thirty-Second Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year B., 32nd Sunday--Widow Stewardship

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Nov 5, 2021

Like the widow in our Gospel today, she is our spiritual mentor standing there on the margins. Not afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.

On the first day of a Bible study at a suburban parish, the participants introduced themselves and described what ministries they participated in at the church. The group was filled with active, engaged parishioners. There were lectors, singers, pro-life volunteers, and many more. But one ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:38-44

Denomination: Catholic

Second Sunday Of Advent, Year B: The Good News Of Advent

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Dec 3, 2020

The route home is spiritualized to refer to as "the way of the Lord" and attention must be given to preparing for the coming of the Messiah.

Modern GPS devices usually have a pleasant voice that tells you when you missed a turn and how to get back on the right road. On this Second Sunday of Advent, we hear the pleasant voice of this Good News: 1.Such as the opening words of our Gospel today: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

Prodigal Stories-- Fourth Sunday Of Lent Year C Readings

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Mar 26, 2022

Now, what he had put his hopes in lay broken all over the floor.

John Claypool told a story about William Muehl of Yale Divinity School and something that happened in his family years ago when Dr. Muehl’s son was young. His five-year-old son made a clay pot for his dad one year in Vacation Bible School.? Open House night finally rolled around.? The little boy ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: Catholic

Sixteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C: Martha And Mary

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jun 1, 2022

When Martha brought her stress and complaints to Jesus, he heard her deepest need. He wanted Martha’s soul to catch up to her body.

A journalist with Bon Appetit Magazine asked readers to submit examples of their worst dinner party experiences. A woman names Bea Stein wrote about how the candles on her patio table fell over and set the whole table on fire. Another hostess had 50 guests coming over for brunch when the city ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Catholic

Perfecting Love (Fifth Sunday Of Easter, Lectionary Year B)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Apr 28, 2021

Tying the Gospel portion of the lectionary (John 15:1 - 8) to today’s text (I John 4:7 -21) we can draw the conclusion that if we are detached from the life giving vine that we are incomplete, insecure, dissatisfied and spiritually starving.

PERFECTING LOVE Text: I John 4:7 - 21 1 John 4:7-21  Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (8) Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.  (9)  God's love was revealed among us in this way: ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21

Denomination: United Methodist

First Sunday Of Lent, Year B-- Among The Wild Things

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jan 20, 2024

Jackals, “wild dogs, cheetahs, spotted hyenas and lions all of which are often "starvation driven."

He was among wild beasts. (Mark 1:3 from our First Reading) This is no Garden of Eden. Jackals, “wild dogs, cheetahs, spotted hyenas and lions all of which are often "starvation driven" must exploit every opportunity to obtain a meal, which includes humans.1 The wild beasts “likely ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:8-15, Mark 1:12-15

Denomination: Catholic

Second Sunday Of Lent, Year B- The Three Mountains: Transfiguration

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jan 22, 2024

“You aren’t going to sacrifice me, are you, Dad?”

Because of our three readings, today could be called the Sunday of the Three Mountains. "Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah.” Moriah, as a girl's name, is of Hebrew origin, meaning "the hill country." The land of Moriah was a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-18, Mark 9:2-10

Denomination: Catholic