Sermons on Advent Wreath:

Joseph's Dreams

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 6, 2016

When it comes to dreaming, many readers think Matthew is the dreamer by the way he uses Old Testament Scripture to back up his story. Is Matthew too anxious to justify his story that he twists Scripture to suit his purpose?

Matthew 2:19-23 Joseph’s Dreams 12/22/02 D. Marion Clark Introduction Do you sometimes wake up tired because of vivid dreams? I imagine Joseph had that problem. Matthew records four dreams through which an angel of the Lord spoke to him. The first dream was to assure him that he could ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:19-23, Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Setting The Stage Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 26, 2016

A study of the genealogy of the Christ as presented by Matthew.

MATTHEW 1:1-17 DRAMATIC EVENTS IN AN OUT-OF-THE-WAY PLACE: SETTING THE STAGE “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. “Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Anticipating Christmas

Contributed by Rick Boyne on Nov 29, 2016

The Birth of Jesus was foretold centuries before He was born.

Anticipating Christmas November 27, 2016 Morning Service Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK Rick Boyne Message Point: The Birth of Jesus was foretold centuries before He was born. Focus Passage: Isaiah 9:1-7 Introduction: For the past several years, I just haven’t been in the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

I Am The Good Shepherd Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 4, 2016

The Good Shepherd enables His sheep to have peace with God because He: 1) Dies for them (John 10:11–13), 2) Loves them (John 10:14–15), and 3) Unites them (John 10:16–21).

President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday he has chosen retired Marine Gen. James Mattis, to be secretary of defense. He has said that responding to “political Islam” is the major security issue facing the United States. Like Trump, Mattis favors a tougher stance against U.S. ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-21

Denomination: Other

Slaughtering The Innocent

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 18, 2016

A homily considering the choice we must make when Christ comes near.

“Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Baptist

The Jesus You Need

Contributed by Andre King on Dec 22, 2016

While the Baby Jesus of Christmas is important, Jesus pointed to another time in His Life as necessary for the benefit of man

• IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE A CHILD. ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR! • THE ANTICIPATION OF CHRISTMAS...SANTA CLAUS, GIFTS, FAMILY COMING TOGETHER...ALL THE EXCITEMENT OF THE SEASON! • IT'S EASY FOR CHILDREN TO GET CAUGHT UP IN THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS. • EVEN SWEETER STILL TO BE A BABY AT CHRISTMAS ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:1-5, Galatians 2:8-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Peace Is Here Series

Contributed by Jay Tigner on May 7, 2016

Jesus brings us real peace.

THE PEACE THAT JESUS PROVIDES. One of the things that stands out to me from my seminary days is a lecture that one of my professors gave on the topic of the peace that Jesus has secured and gives to those whom He saves. Who knows where my notes are from that class but I do remember that this ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:13-16

Denomination: Baptist

Joy To The World, The Lord Has Come Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 2, 2017

In the account of Christ’s advent in John 1:19-37, we see a 1) Joyful Preparation (John 1:19-28), a 2) Joyful Arrival (John 1:29-34) and a resulting 3) Joyful Response (John 1:35-37).

If you're the type of person who counts down the days until your local radio station starts playing nonstop Christmas music, you might want to brace yourself for some bad news. Apparently listening to Christmas music on loop could have some negative effects on your mental health, according to ...read more

Scripture: John 1:19-37

Denomination: Other

A Man Named John

Contributed by Jonathan Meyer on Dec 11, 2017

This Advent sermon looks at John the Baptist: The Man, The Mission, & The Message. God unexpectedly worked through John. He now chooses to work through us as witnesses. (Based loosely on "The Word Became Flesh" Advent series from Concordia Seminary, STL.)

Forensic scientists in England analyzed the venerated remains from a certain grave, a few years ago. The corpse of the individual being observed was male. He was no more than five feet tall, and he had a broken nose. He lived in the 4th Century AD. And, despite being dug up in Italy, he was ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11

Denomination: Lutheran

O Little Town Of Bethlehem Series

Contributed by Sue Babb on Jan 9, 2018

Great things can come out insignificant places. God can use the smallest and weakest to shame the biggest and strongest.

I. Intro. A. I heard about a mother who was running furiously from store to store on Christmas Eve … trying to get those last-minute gifts. 1. Suddenly she realized she’d lost track of her little 3-year-old son. 2. In a panic, she retraced her steps and ...read more

For To Us A Child Is Born

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Dec 23, 2016

The concept of hope as set forth in Isaiah 9:1-7 shows us that just as God dispelled the darkness at creation, so he will bring light into a world made dark by sin and unbelief.

Scripture Tonight is Christmas Eve. During Advent, I have preached a series of messages on the Old Testament Scripture Readings that I am calling, “Advent in Isaiah.” In about 740 BC God called Isaiah to be a minister of his Word to Jerusalem and the southern kingdom of Judah. The culture had ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-7

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Tale Of Two Kings

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Mar 24, 2020

There would have appeared to be no contest in a contest between the great King Herod and the little baby Jesus. But Jesus' power of humility and holiness and obedience to God, displayed at Christmas was greater then and continues today.

Our text for this morning is Luke 2:1-7, the story of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. You’ve probably heard it many, many times before. Can there be anything new in it, any way that this ancient text relates to our world today? Let’s see. I encourage you to open your Bible to it as Linda ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Comfort My People

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 1, 2019

The weeks running up to Christmas can be really stressful. Remember that God comes to comfort his people.

This is the second Sunday now in the church season of Advent, as we celebrate the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The word “Advent” means that someone is coming, or arriving. There are many ideas of what will happen when Jesus comes. I suppose most kids in America identify the coming of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11

Letting Go!?

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Nov 27, 2019

An advent series about letting go of things and letting Christ in our lives.

Letting Go?! December 1, 2019 Have you taken inventory lately? As I approach this Christmas season, it seems like I’ve been doing that . . . which leads to this message. Do you have a lot of STUFF in your house? I mean, more stuff than you need? Can people mistake your home with an episode of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Matthew 19:16-22

Denomination: Baptist

Listen For Love Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Dec 5, 2019

In our text God speaks in different tones that I hope will bring us comfort and joy, to know we are loved by God.

LISTEN FOR LOVE   Isaiah 40:1-11 Introduction It is a traditional English Christmas carol, one of the oldest carols, dating back to the 16th century, the name of its author long unknown. In Dickens’ A Christmas Carol this song stirred irritation of Ebeneezer Scrooge,  causing him ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ