Sermons on A Merchant:

Only You Can Change Your Habits

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Jan 30, 2018

it is our responsibility to change negative habits

I ran across this story as I was working on this homily and want to share it with you: "A bazaar was held in a village in northern India. Everyone brought his wares to trade and sell. One old farmer brought in a whole covey of quail. He had tied a string around one leg of each bird. The other ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal

Take Up Your Cross, And Follow Him

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jul 27, 2017

"They just decided, 'We're going to leave the cross and take Jesus.'"

22A In August of 2003 - the Church of the Holy Cross in Midtown Manhattan, New York City was broken into twice. In the first break-in, thieves stole a moneybox that was situated near a votive candle rack. Three weeks later, the church was burglarized a second time. But this time, the thieves ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-27

Denomination: Catholic

The Firstborn Are Slain. Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Sep 4, 2022

Moreover, the deaths occurred "at midnight," in the weirdest hour, at the quietest time, and in the deepest darkness. So it had been prophesied (Exodus 11:4), but the particular night had not been announced.

The Firstborn Are Slain. Exodus 12:29-30. 29 At midnight, the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. 30 Pharaoh and all his ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:29

Denomination: Baptist

Thanksgiving -Thank You For Your Order....god The Father Asked Jesus A Hard Thing.

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Nov 16, 2021

One of the ways that Israel stimulated a sense of gratitude and fidelity was remembering the exodus from captivity to liberation: “remember that you were once slaves...remember that it was God who liberated you and brought you to a land of promise."

Simple Act of Gratitude is a book that tells the story of an inspiration, the writing of 365 Thank You Notes, and how John Kralik’s life was changed from a life full of debts and disasters, to learning to be grateful for the life he had. I decided that I would try this too, and so I did starting ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

What Does It Mean For Us To Read "where The Body Is, There Also The Vultures Will Gather"?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 9, 2025

Worshipers of false gods, to the Hebrew mind, were idiots. But that is not the whole story.

Friday of the Thirty-second Week Integral Our Introit antiphon today is a prayer that both our Hebrew forefathers and we would recognize as one we are at least tempted to use daily: Let my prayer come into your presence; incline your ear to my cry for help, O Lord. It is from psalm 88, one of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:26-37, Psalm 19:2-5, Mark 13:14-19, Matthew 24:16-21, Romans 1:18-23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

God Manages His Vineyard Well

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 18, 2025

Jesus reworks the old parable of the vineyard to fit the new barbarism. He directs the moral at the human vineyard managers, the religious and secular men who treat the Law and Temple as their personal fiefdom.

Friday of the Second Week of Lent 2025 St. Matthew’s Gospel is moving toward its climax, which is called Holy Week. Frequently we see Jesus crossing swords verbally with his adversaries. Jesus was an out-of-towner, considered a religious zealot and “hick” by the secular and religious authorities ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:22, Genesis 37:3-4, Genesis 37:12-13, Genesis 37:17-28, Psalm 105:16-21, Matthew 21:33-43, Matthew 21:45-46, Matthew 21:44, John 11:49-51  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

The Gospel Of Matthew: An Introduction

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Nov 3, 2024

Matthew's account of the life of the Lord Jesus Christ was written to show his fellow Jews that Jesus was the Promised Messiah, liberating them not from the tyranny of Rome, but from the tyranny and condemnation of sin. His death and resurrection freed all of us from this curse.

Dr. Frank Turek, the noted Christian apologist, said that the writers of the New Testament did not create the account of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, but that the resurrection created the writers of the New Testament. If Jesus had not risen from the dead, His life would have been ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-25, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 53:1-12, Romans 5:6-11

Denomination: Baptist

Genesis Chapter Thirty-Seven Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Feb 24, 2024

These are thoughts on Genesis Chapter Thirty-Seven. In his work, "What does every Bible chapter say..." John Hunt gives an overview of each chapter of the Bible. It is my intention to do the same thing here.

GENESIS CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN OVERVIEW Overall what is happening in this chapter is that Joseph tells his dreams to his brothers who sell him into slavery. Thomas Coke (1801) – Genesis 37 Joseph relates his dreams to his brethren: they envy him; and, conspiring his death, first cast him into a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-36

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Meaning Of "it Is Finished"

Contributed by Benjamin Utomo on Mar 27, 2024

Jesus has finished everything for us. He sacrificed Himself so that we don't need to face punishment and we may have eternal life. When we accept Him, He would also love to transform our lives, to make our lives meaningful.

"Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had ...read more

Scripture: John 19:28-30, John 1:1-3, Isaiah 53:10, Hebrews 10:4-10, 1 Corinthians 6:20, John 17:4, John 9:4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Beggars Before God Series

Contributed by Charles Payne on Oct 16, 2025

When you see the beggar at the corner: • Don’t think, “I am better.” • Whisper, “That’s me, O Lord — I’m the beggar, too.”

“BEGGARS BEFORE GOD” (Luke 16:19–31; Mark 10:46–52; Matthew 5:3; Revelation 3:17–18) I. PROLOGUE — THE MAN WITH NOTHING Imagine the man under the bridge. He has no bed, no shelter, no table, no name anyone remembers. He stretches out his hand not because he is lazy, but because he has nothing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3, Proverbs 19:17, Luke 16:19, Mark 10:46-52, Revelation 3:17, Deuteronomy 15:7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Becoming A House Of Prayer

Contributed by Mike Hays on Oct 18, 2000

Our churches should be powerhouses of prayer before the throne of God.

Becoming A House of Prayer John 2:13-16 I remember the early days of being here at Britton Christian Church. The very first Sunday that I ever stood in this pulpit I confessed to you that I didn't know a thing about being a pastor, but that if you would pray for me and if I would earnestly seek ...read more

Scripture: John 2:13-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Discover The Meaning Of Motherhood: It's Not Just A Job. It's An Adventur

Contributed by Michael Luke on May 16, 2008

Mother’s Day sermon

(adapted from a message by Dave Stone) SPECIAL DAY: MOTHERS’ DAY TEXT; PROVERBS 31:10-31 TITLE: “DISCOVER THE MEANING OF MOTHERHOOD: It’s Not Just a Job. It’s an Adventure!” OPEN: A. There was an AP news story written by Joy Zeman this past Friday, May 9. It was about a ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:10-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How Wise People Build Wealth Series

Contributed by Wayne Cordeiro on Nov 13, 2007

Wealth is not just the accumulation of money. That would be the wrong target. Wealth is not solely money. In fact, this is not a message of how to achieve your financial dreams. This is a message about how to live right.

Raised Poor A lot of our perception about wealth and riches comes from the way we were raised. If you were raised in poor conditions, you have a very different view of wealth and what it means than someone who was affluent. Building wealth was always a mystery to me! I grew up in the poorer part ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sexual Purity In An X-Rated Culture Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Oct 9, 2014

What the Bible says about sexual immorality and the definition of marriage.

INTRODUCTION We live in interesting times. Last fall, on November 6, 2012, voters in Washington State approved two controversial issues, same-sex marriage and personal marijuana use. It’s interesting that the Bible says in Leviticus 20:13, “If a man lies with a man; they shall be ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

God: Why Did Jesus Have To Die? Series

Contributed by Philip Martin on Apr 13, 2016

Palm Sunday sermon

God: Why did Jesus have to die? 1 Pet. 3:18 1 Pet 3:18, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” 1. Jesus Christ died when he was about thirty-three years old. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:18

Denomination: Baptist