Sermons on Advent I:

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

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

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

Your Consolation Has Come

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Dec 2, 2003

From the words of Simeon when he saw Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus in the Temple. Know that at Christmas (1) our consolation has come; and (2) we have all that we need for life.

Do you look forward to Christmas? Kids love Christmas, because they know many wonderful things happen at Christmas. They will have lots of fun, parties and gifts. We all look forward to Christmas for many different reasons. Some for the bargains you’ll at Christmas sale; others will take it ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25-35

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Wonderful Counselor Series

Contributed by Chuck Boman on Dec 5, 2001

An examination of the phrase wonderful counselor in Isaiah 9:6.

WONDERFUL COUNSELOR Isaiah 9:1-8 1Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan— 2 The people walking in ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Dividing Peace

Contributed by James May on Dec 17, 2003

The Prince of Peace was born in Bethlehem but his birth didn’t bring the peace this world longs for. Instead, he brought a sword. The peace that Jesus offers is a peace with God.

A DIVIDING PEACE Luke 2:13-14, "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." One of the best things about Christmas has always been that people were kinder and more generous ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:13-14, Matthew 10:34

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Waiting For Christmas

Contributed by Scott Carmer on Dec 18, 2006

We are still in the season of Advent, not Christmas. We can’t be ready for Christmas unless we prepare ourselves through Advent.

Waiting for Christmas Luke 3:1-17 December 17, 2006 Back in the late 1980’s when I was pastor over at First UMC in Morocco, Indiana, I was approached by a gentleman from the congregation asking about my choice of hymns. “Why can’t we sing Christmas hymns?” It has been December for a couple of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-7

Denomination: Methodist

"Breaking News"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 3, 2005

A sermon for the second Sunday in Advent.

Mark 1:1-8 “Breaking News” By: Rev. Kenneth Emerson Sauer, Pastor of Parkview United Methodist Church, Newport News, VA www.parkview-umc.org “We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to bring you this ‘Breaking News.’” These are the kinds of words that cause us to sit up, call our ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8

Denomination: United Methodist

Love Incarnate

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 14, 2006

Advent is a time when we’re reminded of the need to prepare, to get ready. We’re not just waiting, we’re preparing. How do we prepare for that day? By purifying ourselves, just as he is pure. By continuing to rejoice that God has come among us. By getting

The opening chapter of Luke’s gospel is full of excitement and anticipation. For Theophilus, to whom the gospel is written in the first place, there’s the anticipation of discovering the facts behind all the things he’s heard about this man Jesus. For Elizabeth and Zechariah there’s the excitement ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Anglican

What If The Gift Never Came?

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Dec 30, 2005

What would be different if the Gift we celebrate never came?

What If the Gift never came? During this advent season, we have been talking about waiting. And perhaps how we tend to take the ancient meaning of Christmas for granted. The Question for today is What if the gift we celebrate as Christmas didn’t happen? Lets start with a few secular ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:26-28

Denomination: Congregational