Sermons on Absence Without Leave:

The Arrest Of Jesus - Mark 14:41-52 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 12, 2024

What's with the strange story about the young man fleeing naked at Jesus' arrest? Mark leaves out so many big aspects of that event, but he includes this. Is it a meaningless, throwaway story? Or is it Mark at his best, crafting a profound message in a vivid picture?

Jesus leads the 12 into battle even though he knows they will fail. When the hour comes, you’ll have to face the battle, ready or not. Jesus fights this battle on four fronts. Front #1: Judas (Jesus fights dis-couragement by calling out to Abba, Father). Front #2: the rogue disciple who jeopardizes ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:41-52, Matthew 26:45-56, Luke 22:46-53, John 18:2-12

Christian Excellence Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 5, 2021

What we see in this letter of Titus is that Paul was committed to excellence. The goal of God is not just to get His Son a bride, but to get Him a bride who is without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. In other words, the goal of God is always perfection.

For some unknown reason a sculptor hacked an 18 foot high piece of marble into an awkward shape, and then left it unfinished to lay in a Cathedral courtyard in Florence, Italy. For about a hundred years it laid there until Sept. of 1501. The damaged block had been offered to other sculptors, but ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:5-16

Lessons From Jeremiah – Part 20 – Teach Your Generation - And Wicked Men In Nations Lie In Wait For Evil Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 13, 2024

Have the churches been faithful in relaying the gospel, or has Christianity become something infused into the culture without being a dynamic force? Wicked men flourish. In Judah the people were spiritually blind and deaf. We need to take note ourselves.

PERSONAL STUDY AND TEACHING IN JEREMIAH – PART 20 – TEACH YOUR GENERATION - AND WICKED MEN IN NATIONS LIE IN WAIT FOR EVIL PART 20 - Jeremiah 5:18-27 CHAPTER 5 [A]. THE MESSAGE TO BE PASSED FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION {{Jeremiah 5:18 “Yet even IN THOSE DAYS,” declares the LORD, “I will not ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 5:18-19, Jeremiah 5:20-23, Psalm 115:4-8, Isaiah 43:8, Ezekiel 12:2, Isaiah 6:9-10, Matthew 13:14-16, Acts 28:25-27, Romans 11:7-8, Isaiah 35:4-6, Jeremiah 5:24-27, Psalm 111:10, Psalm 112:1, Romans 1:22-23, Amos 5:12, 2 Timothy 3:6, Psalm 124:7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fly High - Acts Part 17 Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 1, 2006

Acts chapter 19 focuses us on the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit and of making sure that we use the name of the Lord in the right manner. The truth is without the right relationship with Jesus we cannot invoke His name

“Fly High!” - Acts part 17 On the lighter side of life: Proverbs 15:13 “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.” If you need a laugh, then read through these Children’s Science Exam Answers. Q: Name the four seasons. A: Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar. Q: ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:1-41

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Innkeeper And His Guests Missed The First Advent Series

Contributed by Dr. Dave Hartson on Nov 20, 2021

It would be tragic to leave Jesus out of Christmas 2021 because I am too busy or because I am so absorbed in my own little world. That’s what happened the First Christmas, and that same time have been happening in many homes Christmas after Christmas.

INTRODUCTION CUSTOM BLOCK Advent means the arrival; the appearance and that term is usually associated with someone who is notable. So, it is fair to say that those who lived in the times of the Old Testament were looking for the Advent (the coming, the appearance) of Christ. In fact, Advent is not ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Final Word Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Aug 7, 2008

God is not a God to be trifled with. God is not a God to take for granted. Even if our observation of the world leaves us perplexed and confused, God has revealed himself to us in his word. He’s revealed his plan for the world to us. He’s told us what he’

You could be forgiven for wondering, as you read through this book, what the writers view on God is. At times he seems like a secular humanist. A little bit jaded by his experience of life; quite cynical about life on earth; almost pessimistic at times about our chances of succeeding in life with ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:1-14

Denomination: Anglican

The Risen Christ Is With You

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Jan 13, 2026

In the midst of tears, fear, confusion and discouragement, the Risen Lord Jesus was right there beside his distraught disciples and followers to empower them and encourage them. No matter what we are going through let’s never forget our living Savior will never leave us nor forsake us.

Today’s meditation is based on John 20:14-15, Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him ...read more

Scripture: John 20:14-15, Jeremiah 31:16, Luke 24:13-16, Luke 24:19-21, Proverbs 23:17-18, Luke 24:32-33, John 21:3-4, 2 Timothy 2:13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

In The Darkness Shines The Greatest Light Of All

Contributed by Jane Willis on Oct 18, 2004

Recently I drove into the mountains near Colorado Springs to see the last of the autumn color. The aspen trees were past their prime, and the setting was much quieter than it had been a few weeks earlier. Many leaves had already falled. I felt a hint of w

I am going to start by talking about hibernation! I have been fascinated with the process of hibernation since moving to Colorado. My first year here, a bear came into my yard every evening during the fall. I loved watching this bear. Having just moved from Florida, a bear seemed very exotic. I ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-5

Denomination: Congregational

Just Like Jesus Pt 2 Series

Contributed by Richard White on Jul 9, 2003

Max Lucado wrote a very good book by this title which gave me the idea for this series. God loves us the way we are, yet he loves us too much to leave us that way. The heart of Jesus is a listening heart and is lead by the hand of God

Just like Jesus part 2: Ears to hear Jesus tells a story about a seed scatterer and soil. MT 13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-8, James 1:22-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Woe Is Me

Contributed by Ron Kelly on Dec 10, 2011

In this life, we will all experience our share of ups and downs, heartaches and pain. When we go through this pressure cooker called, "life" - we must understand that God promised us that He would never leave us, nor would He forsake us!

(New King James Version) 1 Kings 19:10-13 10) So he said ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.’ 11) ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:10-13

Denomination: Christian Church

God Will Provide

Contributed by James Linders on Apr 26, 2015

Abraham was born from a family of idol worshippers. At the age of seventy five God instructed him to leave his country of birth for a land that HE would identify unto him.Abraham obeyed God. God promised him that He would make him a mighty nation.

The Lord said to Abraham: “Go and get Isaac, your only son, the one you dearly love! Take him to the land of Moriah, and I will show you a mountain where you must sacrifice him to me on the fires of an altar.” When Abraham was seventy five years old, God instructed Abram to leave the ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Matthew 23 - Call No Man Father

Contributed by Lay Man on May 29, 2015

And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. - Matthew 23:9 Leaving a Presbyterian Church today at the end of the service we sang 3 amens, which is typical in many reformed churches dating back to the time ...

And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. - Matthew 23:9 Leaving a Presbyterian Church today at the end of the service we sang 3 amens, which is typical in many reformed churches dating back to the times of Luther, Calvin and others. This ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Back To Bethel

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 19, 2020

Jacob had stopped at Bethel on his way to his uncle's property. He didn't have much with him when he got there but he was able to become wealthy. Now it was time to for him to leave--and he stopped again at Bethel.

Back to Bethel Based on a message preached several years ago (not an exact transcription) Preface: Some people I’ve known have talked about “going back to Bethel”, and I really didn’t understand all they were talking about at the time. There are even some songs which mention this. In fact, one of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 35:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Abraham: A Final Look Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 3, 2021

The last years of Abraham's life have less coverage than his middle years, between leaving Ur and settling in Beersheba. Even so, several events happened, so let's take a last look at Abraham's live

Introduction: Abraham, like most Bible characters, had his high and low points. The highest point, arguably, would be the episode where he was commanded to offer Isaac as a burnt offering but was stopped before he actually did so (Genesis 22). The last years of Abraham’s life don’t have much ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 23:1-2, Genesis 24:1-9, Genesis 25:1-10, Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Baptist

You’re Not Alone Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 5, 2023

No matter what we're going through, we can have peace knowing that Jesus is with us. We can trust that he will never leave us or forsake us. And with Jesus by our side, we can face any fear or challenge that comes our way.

Do you remember the story of Joshua? Dude was chosen to lead a whole nation into a new land. No pressure, right? But God was like, 'Hey, I've got your back. I was with Moses, and I'll be with you. So be brave, don't freak out.' God was telling Joshua he wasn't alone. Now, let's fast forward to the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:20, Joshua 1:1-9, John 16:33

Topics: Faith, Divine Presence, Fear Management, Spiritual Strength