Sermons on Advent Season:

Pulling Down Walls Of Discrimination

Contributed by Sajeev Painunkal, Sj on Dec 17, 2005

An advent sermon, learning to beat discrimination, learning from the geneology of Jesus

In one of the parishes where I worked, there were two families who were fighting over a property dispute. Both the families were rich and influential. Both tried to get the support of the local church in their favour. So they wrote to the parish council expressing their views and claims. One of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17

Denomination: Catholic

What I Want For Christmas

Contributed by James Tetley on Dec 18, 2005

Joy at Christmas is the coming of Christ not the birth of Jesus, this joy should be the thing we most desire at Christmas

What I want for Christmas – Matthew 2:1-12 Big Idea: Joy at Christmas in the coming of Christ not the birth of Jesus Big response: When reflecting on Jesus to know joy and share that with others If I am going to answer this question of “What I want for Christmas” – we first need to think about ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

A Risky Christmas

Contributed by Paul Stokes on Dec 20, 2005

Carol Service sermon focussing on the disturbing ’bad news’ we prefer to leave out of our cosy Christmas celebrations.

I wonder - have you ever thought how risky Christmas is? It’s official. RoSPA - The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents - has issued regular warnings about a whole range of hazards just waiting to happen... all of them arising from what you thought were innocent, Christmas-related ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Impact Of The Christmas Baby

Contributed by Paul Stokes on Dec 20, 2005

Carol Service sermon asking what impact the Christmas Baby actually has on our lives.

I wonder if you have finished your Christmas shopping yet? I’ve found it fascinating looking to see what "religious" gifts are available. What can you get for that special person which honours the fact that this is, actually, Christmas? What about a Bobble-Head Jesus, specially made to stand on ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Coming Of The King

Contributed by Paul Stokes on Dec 20, 2005

Carol Service sermon focussing on the enjoyment and ignorance that surrounds much of the world’s "Christmas" understanding.

I’m looking forward to visiting Middle Earth in a day or two... J.R.R. Tolkein’s "Lord of the Rings" - having been voted top book in the BBC’s "Big Read" - reaches its conclusion in the third cinema film "Return of the King". It’s so tempting to start drawing on Tolkein’s imagery. The conflict ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:16-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Seeking

Contributed by Paul Stokes on Dec 20, 2005

Carol Service sermon focussing on the search by the Magi and encouraging people to join in that search.

Some of the questions people ask about pregnancy - and answers ! Should I have a baby after 35? (No, 35 children is enough.) How will I know if my vomiting is morning sickness or the flu? (If it’s the flu, you’ll get better.) What is the most reliable method to determine a baby’s sex? ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Fact Or Fantasy?

Contributed by Paul Stokes on Dec 20, 2005

Carol Service sermon asking whether we regard the Christmas story as merely a story, or are there facts which should make us sit up and respond?

Christmas is a wasteful time ! Not a waste of time, but a wasteful time. In 1998 the UK threw away 2.5 billion cards, worth £350 million in the shops. If you stuck these cards end to end they would have stretched 236,000 miles - that’s nine times round the globe! We used a massive 85,000 miles ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Faith Or Fear

Contributed by Paul Stokes on Dec 20, 2005

Carol Service sermon looking at responses to Jesus - Herod’s fear and the Magi’s faith.

According to the Daily Mail, being here is good for you! In a section entitled "Making the most of your life" the Mail gave 12 reasons as to why this special time can be good for you and why you should rejoice on Christmas Day, one of which was ’Carol Singing’ It stirs the soul and takes us back ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Nothing Will Ever Be The Same Again

Contributed by Paul Stokes on Dec 20, 2005

Carol Service sermon (centred on the lyrics of a Graham kendrick song) asking how much difference Christmas makes in reality.

Most of us will break the law this Christmas ! The list of activities that are illegal to do on Christmas Day is fascinating & ridiculous. These laws have never been repealed and are still officially on the Statute Books: It is illegal to ride or drive to church, and illegal not to attend. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Deeper Magic Of Narnia

Contributed by David Woodward on Dec 21, 2005

The Deeper Magic of Narnia explains the substitutionary atonement of Christ as portrayed in the book and movie, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

The Deeper Magic of Narnia Good morning, children. Are you ready for a story from Pastor Woody? Aslan the Lion created the Land of Narnia. It was a land of beauty and peace, but the White Witch was now ruling. How she came to power, we just don’t know. Why Aslan left the land of Narnia, we ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Narnia: Finding Hope In The Middle Of Winter

Contributed by Scott Taylor on Dec 21, 2005

How does one find HOPE in a world under the curse? How does one celebrate when winter is so strong? Romans 8 God gives us three reasons to have hope, even if we find ourselves locked in winter.

Finding Hope in the Winter Narnia 2005 Intro: The land of Narnia was under a perpetual winter for over 100 years. The question we must ask ourselves is what was C.S. Lewis trying to portray with this image. The winter is a picture of what the Bible calls The Fall. It is result of Adam and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1-39

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Here I Am Lord

Contributed by Todd Kornahrens on Dec 24, 2005

We can learn a lot from the faith of young Mary when she encounters the Angel Gabriel

One of the aspects of the Christmas Story that always fascinates and amazes me is the virgin birth of our Lord Jesus It shows us the power of our God, that he can change the rules of nature he can do things that have never been done before to accomplish his will That through the gift of the Holy ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Lutheran

Expectations Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

Advent is meant to be a time of expectation, a time of looking forward to God doing a new thing. It’s not meant to be a time of passively waiting for Christ’s return, it is a time of actively working toward the return of Jesus

Expectations Luke 1:26-38 Today is the first day of the year on the Christian calendar, which always starts with the first Sunday of Advent. Advent means “the coming” and Christians have been celebrating Advent since the 4th century. Advent is about looking forward to and working for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Methodist

Christmas, A Line In Time Between Yes And No Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Dec 8, 2013

This message looks at how Christmas drew a line between those who would say Yes to Christ and those who would say no.

It was almost as if someone had dragged a stick though the sand drawing a line that said this was then and this is now. There has never been an event in the history of man that has so defined human history as the birth of Jesus. That single solitary event has shaped the world like no other ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-10

Denomination: Wesleyan

Christmas: Making Room For Jesus

Contributed by Travis Hearn on Dec 9, 2013

My prayer for all of us is that we make room for Jesus in our lives. Not just a little room – we give Him our entire life. Every piece of it. Not part of it; every part of it.

VIDEO: CHARLIE BROWN AND THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS (LINUS QUOTING “FOR UNTO US A SAVIOR IS BORN) Wow. How times have changed. You would never hear THAT in a modern day cartoon. Isn’t is comforting though…I mean, doesn’t it give you such peace of mind to know that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7, Luke 2:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational