Sermons on Advent I:

The Best Gifts Come In Small Packages

Contributed by Jason Patrick on Jan 5, 2002

We need the joyful reminder that God is present with us not only in life’s most difficult moments but especially in the midst of life’s tragedies.

The Best Gifts Come in Small Packages / Matthew 1:18-25 Advent 4, Year A; Downsville Baptist Church; 23 Dec. 2001 A little boy and girl were singing their favorite Christmas carol in church the Sunday before Christmas. The boy concluded "Silent Night" with the words, "Sleep in heavenly beans." ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

Have A Fair And Balanced Faith Series

Contributed by Peter Schmidt on Dec 15, 2003

John the Baptist teaches us to prepare for Christ’s coming by making changes in our lives, but changes based on the unchangeable Word of our consistent God.

Advent 3 Luke 3:7-18 When I am home, chances are the television is going to be tuned to one particular station. Unless Ali is in the mood to watch the Disney Channel, I will have another station on in the background in the morning as I am preparing to go over to the church, or it will be on during ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:7-18

Denomination: Lutheran

"Signs Along The Way: A Christmas Tree" Series

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Dec 12, 2007

People are preparing for Christmas. It may be a secular holiday, rather than a holi day... but God can use the signs of the season to help us initiate conversations. The Holy Spirit can use the sign of the Christmas tree to create an interest and bring

In Jesus Holy Name December 12, 2007 Mid Week Advent II Redeemer “Signs along the Way” The signs of Christmas are all around. The shopping malls are full. Your neighborhood has homes decorated with Santa’s and Reindeer, and snow men and maybe a manger ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:57-63

Denomination: Lutheran

"Birth Of Christ A Time Of Joy"

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Dec 17, 2004

There area number of people who at the birth of Christ jump for joy at hearing of his birth.

“Jump for Joy” Luke 2:10-11 “…I bring you good news of great joy.” Luke 1:39-45 There are a number of individuals included in the story surrounding the birth of Jesus the scriptures portrayed as jumping for joy at the birth of Jesus. The Gospel of Matthew gives the story from the point of view ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:39-45

Denomination: Free Methodist

What's In A Name?

Contributed by Matthew Stoll on Dec 12, 2006

Explanation of the names given to the child, "Jesus" and "Immanuel", and how it impacts us today.

We are in the third Sunday of Advent, Advent being the season before the birth of Jesus where we prepare ourselves for His arrival into our world. As I shared last week Advent is a season of preparation, it is an anticipation of Jesus’ arrival. Unfortunately this season before Christmas has ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14-15

Denomination: Methodist

Keeping Christ In Christmas

Contributed by Howard Mcglamery on Dec 21, 2003

A Christmas sermon based on an acrostic of the Word CHRISTMAS AND TITLES AND NAMES OF CHRIST

KEEPING “CHRIST” IN CHRISTMAS Luke 2:1-11 INTRODUCTION How do some people spell Christmas. They write "X-Mas" instead of Christ. They are, in fact, leaving out the most important part of Christmas - "Christ." Because the Greek form of Christ, is "Christos, and the first Greek letter in His ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

What Are You Looking For? A Miracle? Series

Contributed by Jay Winters on Dec 24, 2007

This is the last in a series of Isaiah sermons in Advent all starting with the same question - "What are you looking for?" In this one, we consider the background story of the familiar passage found in Isaiah 7 and the sin of overwhelming "modesty" in bel

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Three In One who is Emmanuel. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The Lord spoke to Ahaz – “Ask a sign of the Lord your God, let it be as deep as Sheol or as high as the heavens.” It sounds like something that we would ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-16

Denomination: Lutheran

Distress Delayed Delight Series

Contributed by Mack Armstrong on Dec 2, 2007

Joseph, of the New Testament, encountered a new life when he and Mary became engaged. Little did he realize just what lay ahead for him when he started out on a "simple" journey of marriage.

MATTHEW 1:18-25 DISTRESS DELAYED DELIGHT I. DREAD: A. Disappointing. B. Delays. C. Damages. II. DREAMS: A. Disturbing. B. Dignified. C. Detailed. III. DELIGHTS: A. Dutiful. B. Danced. C. Designated. This is the first of five special Christmas sermons dealing specifically with ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Methodist

The Bethlehem Discovery

Contributed by Stan Simonik on Dec 19, 2007

An Advent sermon, following the theme of an adventure: the plan, the journey, the discovery.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, do you ever examine the deeper meaning of commonly used words? Take the word “discovery,” for example. It is fairly common in our vocabulary. Someone may say, “The other day I discovered a six-month old tub of cottage cheese in the back of my refrigerator. It ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Is Our Message Any Different? Series

Contributed by Steven Dow on Dec 3, 2005

Christmas Realities - Part 2. This Christmas we need to check the reliability of our message because the reality is that there is a lot of fluff out there.

IS OUR MESSAGE ANY DIFFERENT? Christmas Realities – Part 2 December 4, 2005 Mark 1:1-8 INTRODUCTION: Where do you get your news? Network news? 24-hour cable news channel? Newspaper? Internet? Today there are more options than ever before in history for getting your news. In the old days the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8

Let It Be...

Contributed by Joel W. Lohr on Dec 1, 2001

First Sermon in an Advent Series. Focussing on Mary’s encouter with the Angel Gabriel when she first learned of her role in God’s plan for the incarnation.

Welcome to the beginning of the church year. For two thousand years, this has been recognized as the beginning of the calendar... we begin the season of Advent with a season of waiting or anticipation of a great thing which is to come. Remember the Heinz Ketchup commercial with the Carly Simon ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-35

Denomination: Baptist

Merry Osmosis

Contributed by Rick Pendleton on Dec 16, 2003

Are we spiritually permiable? Are we ready to put on the things of the Spirit and put away the things of the flesh? Mary was.

Merry Osmosis Luke 1:26-38 ((Props: You will need a picture of the cardio-pulmonary system and a picture of two hearts… one colored white and the other black))) This morning I have a very strange sermon for you. I guess you are getting used to that. In the last two weeks I have preached using a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

True Love Series

Contributed by Jim Erwin on Dec 12, 2007

Christmas is about true love.

Ruth 3 - True Love INTRODUCTION: The Princess Bride - how I love this movie and I think it is the best story of all time. True Love In The Princess Bride, Westley is driven by one goal—to return to the love of his life, Buttercup. Westley does whatever it takes for his one "true love." He scales ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 3:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

He Brought You Out To Take You In

Contributed by Brian Matherlee on Dec 5, 2006

God delivered a nation through Moses. He delivers the world through Christ. In delivering a people several things that grip us must be broken.

HE BROUGHT YOU OUT TO TAKE YOU IN Advent Series-Part 1 Acts 7:20-37 Sunday, December 3, 2006 Pastor Brian Matherlee Read Acts 7:20-37 • THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRISTMAS TO AMERICANS The Barna Research Group poll, conducted for the Lutheran Hour Ministries found that: 37% of adults in the national ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:20-37

Denomination: Wesleyan

Getting Joy For Christmas Series

Contributed by Mark Haines on Dec 16, 2006

Happiness is rooted in human emotions. Joy is rooted in Jesus and is powered by God’s grace.

Response Goal: Individuals prompted by the Holy Spirit will pray silently and connect with Jesus. REPENTANCE POINT {paradigm shifts or changes in our thinking}: Finding joy does not involve making your circumstances better - it involves making your mind work like Jesus’ mind. Citation: Tom Fuller, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9

Denomination: Wesleyan