Sermons on ash wednesday:

Is That Thunder I Hear?

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Mar 28, 2009

Do we hear the message of Christ Jesus and willingly follow? Or do we think his words are only like the thunder the people heard?

John 12: 20 – 33 / Is That Thunder I Hear? Intro: There was a family from Boston who left the crowded city for Montana. They bought a ranch to raise cattle. Friends came for a visit and wanted to know what they named the place. Bar-J, Suzy-Q, Flying-W, Lazy-Y, Last Chance, Big Kahuna Cattle ...read more

Scripture: John 12:20-33

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Validating Our Christian Identity

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 4, 2025

Lent is a time in which we engage our interior self with its brokenness, weakness and intentional wrongdoing. We are all sinners, but we are sinners endeavoring to become saints, by our faith and practice.

Friday after Ash Wednesday 2025 A priest of my acquaintance many years ago was in conversation with a Lutheran minister. He asked the minister if he believed that Martin Luther had made any big mistakes setting up a parallel Christian church. The minister candidly admitted that he thought Luther ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-9, Psalm 51:3-6, Matthew 9:14-15

Denomination: Catholic

The Patient Gardner

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Mar 21, 2022

A sermon for the third Sunday in Lent, Year C

March 20, 2022 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Luke 13:1-9; Joel 2:13 The Patient Gardner Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. So says the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9, Joel 2:13

Denomination: Lutheran

Beauty For Ashes, Joy For Mourning, Praise For Heaviness.

Contributed by Thomas Dibble on May 22, 2003

God will console those who mourn in Zion. There is enough of God to comfort all who mourn around the world. But his word specifically states those in Zion or those in God’s house are going to get God’s attention.

The Bible speaks of the Holy Ghost as being the comforter. Aren’t you glad for the spirit of the Lord? He is the comforter. In our scripture text it says that God would appoint, or as the NKJV says, God would console those who mourn in Zion. There is enough of God to comfort all who mourn ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3, Isaiah 61:1, Isaiah 61:1-6, Isaiah 61:3-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Nehemiah, The Rebuild Begins, Dealing With Rubble And Ash! Series

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Feb 7, 2010

A narrative of the first two chapters of Nehemiah, Nehemiah tells his story up to the beginning of the work of restoration.

Introduction: Thanks to the NIV Bible and Message paraphrase, both of which I’ve leaned fairly heavily upon for this attempt at a narrative of the first two chapters of Nehemiah. This is a narrative that has been Kiwified, i.e. easily understood by New Zealanders. The Narrator’s words are in ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

It's Time To Get The Ashes Off The Altar

Contributed by Bishop William Bryant Wilmore, Jr. on Jul 19, 2007

Often our lives are cluttered by the residue of past experiences, making it difficult for us to receive the full blessings of God.

Text: Numbers 4:13 "And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon..." My brothers and sisters, biblically, the origin of the altar goes clear back to Genesis when Noah built an altar to offer sacrifices after the flood. Genesis 8 & 20 says: "And Noah ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 4:13, Ezra 4:12-16

Denomination: Baptist

Section (2) Answers From An Ash Heap Series

Contributed by Luther Sexton on Feb 19, 2019

Looking for answers for reason of suffering.

IV. ANSWERS FROM AN ASH HEAP A. Suffering can be for 1. Participation -- Being Human -- Because we are a part of the human race, and the human race (thanks to Adam and Eve) is conceived and born in sin. Rom 5:12&19 Ps 51:5 Romans 8:22 "whole creation groaneth" ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12, Job 1:9

Denomination: Pentecostal

True Value Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Feb 15, 2016

A rich man is called to sell all he has and to follow Jesus

“Mark 10:17-31 “True Value” INTRODUCTION Mark continues to explain to us what Jesus meant when he said, “The time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God is here. Repent and believe.” Mark has helped us understand what Jesus meant by telling us stories and parables of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-31

Denomination: Lutheran

Prepare Series

Contributed by Scott Bradford on Feb 12, 2008

This is the 1st in a Lenten Series, and deals with ’preparation".

It was said that Martin Luther King never prepared, but always preached based on what the Holy Spirit gave him to say. One day upon walking in to a large Cathedral to preach for a crowd, he asked God what he was to preach on, the answer came "You should have prepared". John Wooden once said ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:17-19

Denomination: United Methodist

Faith Seeking Understanding

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 1, 2014

God redeemed the world through suffering, and we can understand, if not fully comprehend, the mystery.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday 2014 Lumen Fidei On this first day after the solemn beginning of Lent, as we begin our forty-day retreat, the Church gives us some stark words. Deuteronomy tells us that the choice is between life and death, between blessing and curse. Honor and obey God alone, and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:22-25

Denomination: Catholic

The Time Is Fulfilled

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 11, 2018

Isn’t it true that when humans fail, sin, even commit the most awful injustices, God’s mercy is ever present, ever able to forgive when we repent?

First Sunday of Lent 2018 We come to Mass on the First Sunday of Lent, full of energy that has not diminished since we crowded the churches on Ash Wednesday. We know that the Word of God on this special Lord’s Day reminds us of the Lord Jesus’s battle with the Enemy of mankind, the one Scripture ...read more

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

Denomination: Catholic

Yes, A Church Leader Must Have A Sense Of Humor Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 23, 2019

We are told to have salt in us. Salt was used in the ancient world, and occasionally today, to preserve meat from corruption. So if we have spiritual salt, we will be preserved against that kind of corrupt thought and behavior.

Thursday of the 7th Week in Course 2019 St. Hilarius Today we have a rare treat because of the late date of Ash Wednesday and Easter. We get the rare festival of St. Hilarius, about whom I will speak in a moment. By now, most years, we are deep into Lent, and so the saints’ days are suppressed in ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6, Mark 9:41-50

Denomination: Catholic

Easter Wisdom - April 1st

Contributed by Geoffrey Foot on Apr 2, 2018

Easter Day and April 1st doesn't coincide very often but it has a valuable lesson for us in that God's wisdom in raising Jesus from the dead corrects forever the foolishness of mankind.

EASTER Wisdom - April 1st!? 'Who says God doesn't have a sense of humour!' Twitter erupts with hilarious posts about the fact that Easter Day falls on the same day as April Fool's day - while Ash Wednesday is on Valentine's Day. But we all like a joke, a laugh - life would be very boring if we ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:23-25, 1 Peter 1:3-13

Unity Over Conflict Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 6, 2016

Christ has made all things one in himself, and we must strive for unity if we are to have peace.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday 2016 Joy of the Gospel There really is only one choice in this life. We either choose to walk in the path set down by Our Lord or we don’t. Psalm 1, which we just prayed, says it very well: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:22-25

Denomination: Catholic

Sins Against The Holy Spirit: Resisting Series

Contributed by Alvin Hathaway, Sr. on May 22, 2011

Even though the Holy Spirit may be a mystery, it does have history. Even though the Holy Spirit may seem painful, it is profitable. Even though the Holy Spirit may seem distant, it is distinctively God.

The Cross cancels Sin Sunday, March 1, 2009 Sins against the Holy Spirit: Resisting Acts 7: 51 – 60 As we move through this Lenten Season, I believe we should drop the pretense of Journeying with Jesus Christ to the Cross and thank God that the Cross cancels Sin. A preacher at the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:51-60

Denomination: Baptist