Sermons on Advent Wreath:

Rejoice Always

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jan 8, 2003

Sermon highlights joy in the midst of pain, defines the Latin word Gaudete. Reflection on the difference between joy and happiness.

Grace be to you and peace from the One who was, and is, and is to come. Amen. Today is the third Sunday in Advent, which was historically called Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin word for ‘rejoice’. Gaudete Sunday is the Sunday, if we had a pink candle in our Advent wreath, that we would light the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-20

Denomination: Lutheran

Isaiah's Audacious Hope Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Dec 5, 2006

One can never start too early to get ready for something really big.

Isaiah’s Audacious Hope Isaiah 7:14 Rev. Brian Bill 12/3/06 Do you know that after today, there are only 21 more shopping days left until Christmas? Some people panic when they hear this but for me it means that I still have three weeks before I have to begin my shopping! Doesn’t it seem like a ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14

Denomination: Baptist

Opening Our Heart's Door To God's Plan Series

Contributed by Richard Pfeil on May 23, 2005

A four part series for the four weeks of Advent that seeks to make Christ more central in our holiday preparations and celebrations.

“OPENING OUR HEART’S DOOR TO GOD’S PLAN” TEXT: LUKE 1:26-38 Sunday, November 30, 2003 A gift at the right time. What is the word for that? A gift at the right time. Opportune, opportune. Thank you. It’s this little thing right here. I had to reglue it because I dropped it. It is a little ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Paul's Pattern In Striving For A Crown Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Oct 8, 2011

In our lesson today we learn that just as athletes exercise rigorous self-control in order to win a perishable prize, so we as Christians must exercise rigorous self-control in order to win an imperishable prize.

Scripture We continue our study in The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians in a series I am calling Challenges Christians Face. One of the challenges that Christians face is the issue of Christian liberty. Let’s learn about this in a message I am calling, “Paul’s Pattern in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Advent 4 - (Peace) 2006 Series

Contributed by Spencer Homan on Dec 7, 2007

A sermon for the fourth Sunday in Advent. Peace.

"Peace" When I look back to memories of Christmas past, particularly memories of Christmas as a child, I always find that I remember Christmas Eve more than I remember Christmas Day. I wonder why that is? Perhaps it is the sense of build-up and expectation, the sense of excitement about what is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Fourth Sunday Of Advent, A--Four Advent Annunciations

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Nov 8, 2022

To all the Marys everywhere; to all the Josephs everywhere; to all the Pauls everywhere; and to even all the Ahazes everywhere.

There are four annunciations or announcements in our Gospel this Sunday. 1. To all the Marys everwhere— Mary’s Annunciation— reminds me of an advertising slogan for a shoe company that says, “No great story starts, “it was cold, so I stayed in.” In classical Greek and Roman mythology every ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-14, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-24

Denomination: Catholic

Second Sunday Of Advent, Year B: Advent Voices

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Nov 11, 2023

Squander yourself for hope in Christ.

A three-year-old was helping his mother unpack their nativity set. He announced each piece as he unwrapped it from the tissue paper. “Here’s the donkey!” he said. “Here’s a king,” and “Here’s a camel!” When he finally got to a one-piece tiny infant molded to his crib, he proclaimed, “Here’s baby ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

First Sunday Of Advent, Year B: Advent Hope

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Nov 5, 2023

Optimism is an assessment. Hope is an act.

A man named John Hakel says his three-year-old daughter looked at a calendar and asked him, "Daddy, how many BE GOOD days until Christmas?" 1 Advent is not a penitential season; it’s a period of devout and expectant delight, yet we intuitively understand that it is not possible ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:33-37

Denomination: Catholic

Advent: Hope Is On The Way Series

Contributed by John Delozier on Dec 4, 2006

Week one of advent starts with the message that in the birth of Christ, in his life, death, and resurrection--Hope Enters the Word & As it was then it remains today "Hope is on the Way"

Introduction: If I may indulge you with a quick grammar lesson this morning, I would like to look at the dictionary definition of the word hope. I want to draw your attention to what this word means when it is used as a noun instead of a verb. I need you to go all the way back to elementary ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Good As Dead - Advent

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Dec 8, 2006

Advent. It is hard to do an orignial John the Baptist advent sermon isn’t it? I give it a go. Our life circumstances do not determine the validty of who Jesus is. Also, John 1:6-9, 15-16,19-23.

There are starting to be more movies with biblical themes coming out – the Nativity is the latest. I was thinking…Disney Studios might jump on the bandwagon and produce a biblically oriented film. I think there are many stories they could choose from….but you know Disney has a habit of changing the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:1-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

1 Advent C

Contributed by Roger Haugen on Sep 20, 2001

The start of Advent

23 Pentecost B Mark 13:1-8 / Hebrews 10:11-25 19 November 2000 Such a text. Wars, rumours of wars, earthquakes, famines, family discord, signs of the end of the world. Could be the nightly 11:00 news. We’ve heard it and seen it all. If we were of a ceratin theological bent, we would talk about ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:25-36

Denomination: Lutheran

2 Advent C

Contributed by Roger Haugen on Sep 20, 2001

John the Baptist declares, "It is time!"

This is a great text. The majesty of the writing -- what would Christmas be without the Christmas text from Luke? "In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus . . . ." All the names and dates. Historical details that make the story come alive. The event, marked in time and place -- in the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-6

Denomination: Lutheran

3 Advent C

Contributed by Roger Haugen on Sep 20, 2001

"You brood of Vipers!" and still they come.

What do we do with this John the Baptist? Here is the third Sunday in a row with him. Such a strange man. "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" Heaping abuse on the people. And still they came in droves to be baptized. John had that charisma that attracted people ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Lutheran

4 Advent C

Contributed by Roger Haugen on Sep 20, 2001

"My Soul magnifies the Lord"

Here we are on the fourth Sunday of Advent. The morning of Christmas Eve. It’s hard not sliding right into Christmas. Snow, the excitement, the baby to be born, the manger, the Shepherds -- the whole nine yards. Christmas as we have come to know and love and expect. Gifts under the tree, a feast -- ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Advent Sunday Sermon

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Nov 29, 2005

A sermon for Advent Sunday, also alluding to St. Andrew’s tide and World AIDS day.

Advent Sunday is a time that can mean so many different things to so many different people. As well as the start of Advent, it’s also the Sunday nearest to 1st December, marked as World AIDS Day, and the Sunday nearest to St. Andrew’s day, a traditional time for thinking about the mission of the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed