Sermons on Advent Wreath:

A New Direction

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Dec 21, 2021

Michelangelo left four unfinished sculptures called “The Prisoners or Slaves”. Individually they are known as “The Awakening Slave”, “The Young Slave”, “The Bearded Slave”, and “The Atlas Bound” (Accademia).

Michelangelo left four unfinished sculptures called “The Prisoners or Slaves”. Individually they are known as “The Awakening Slave”, “The Young Slave”, “The Bearded Slave”, and “The Atlas Bound” (Accademia). They are partway carved from their block of marble but, never finished, they are forever ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Philippians 1:3-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Christmas Eve Series

Contributed by Brady Boyd on Dec 22, 2021

There’s nothing more helpless than a newborn baby. There’s no one weaker than a mom who has just given birth. That’s how this story begins – two frightened teenagers in a barn with a God baby.

Christmas Eve 2021 Luke 2:1-10 NIV In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-10, 1 Timothy 2:5-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The King Has Come Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 24, 2021

Since the King has Come and is coming again, the Apostle Paul presents four aspects of the Father’s exaltation of the Son: 1) The source (Philippians 2:9a), 2) The title (Philippians 2:9b), 3) The response (Philippians 2:10–11a), and 4) The purpose (Philippians 2:11b).

Philippians 2:9–11. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:9-11

Denomination: Other

Jesus Is Coming Again! Series

Contributed by Jon Daniels on Dec 27, 2021

Based on Act 1:10-11 - Encourages hearers w/ the truth that we have hope in this life b/c Jesus is coming again.

“JESUS IS COMING AGAIN! Acts 1:10-11 FBCF – 12/26/21 Jon Daniels INTRO – Dec 26 is an interesting day for me & maybe for you. Still want to be in Christmas spirit, but hard to do that. Kind of melancholy, introspective. Christmas trees & decorations are still up. But just doesn’t feel ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:10-11

Denomination: Baptist

Do Not Be Afraid

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Jan 15, 2021

Mary accepts her bearing the Son of God without fear

“DO NOT BE AFRAID” This is the fourth Sunday of Advent, and we just heard a gospel reading foretelling the conception of Jesus – just two days before we celebrate His birth. The timing of this gospel reading often confuses people – why do we hear about Mary being called to be the mother of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:30-38

Denomination: Episcopal

The Nativity Of The Lord (Christmas)- Little Owl In The Big City

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Nov 22, 2023

The hope of a girl and the hope of the world.

Intro—God became a baby. Comedian Jim Gaffigan posted on Twitter, “My 4-year-old gave me handmade card for Father’s Day. Maybe for Christmas, I’ll draw him a picture of some toys.” -- Little Owl in the Big City is based on a true story that happened in 2020, of a Northern owl found hidden tucked ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-21

Denomination: Catholic

The Promise Of Jesus In Simeon

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Nov 30, 2023

Simeon is an old man who is described as “righteous and devout.” What fascinates me about him is his expectancy to see the Christ based entirely on the promise given to him by the Holy Spirit.

Dr. Bradford Reaves CrossWay Christian Fellowship Hagerstown, MD www.mycrossway.org This morning, I want to take you back to a man only mentioned 1 time in the New Testament. Yet he is someone who fascinates me. Simeon is an old man described as “righteous and devout.” What fascinates me about him ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:22-35

Denomination: Brethren

Come, Lord Jesus, Just Like Fire

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Nov 30, 2023

Isaiah prays for the Lord to come down like fire and shake things up. What for? It's the Advent Prayer.

12.3.23 Isaiah 64:1–9 (EHV) 1 Oh, that you would rip open the heavens and come down. Mountains then would quake because of your presence. 2 As fire ignites stubble and as fire makes water boil, make your name known to your adversaries. Then nations would quake in your presence. 3 You did ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-9

Denomination: Lutheran

Hope In Hebrews (Hebrews 11:1-13) Series

Contributed by James Jackson on Dec 5, 2023

What is the difference between wishing and hoping? What is the difference between faith and hope?

Good morning! Please open your Bibles to Hebrews, chapter 11. This is a passage that’s been described as the “hall of faith,” because it’s an extensive list of some of the heroes of the Old Testament, and their example of faith. You may be thinking, “but today, we lit the Advent candle of Hope, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

"journey To Bethlehem: The Paradox Of Blessedness"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 5, 2023

We are blessed when our lives are used for God's good purposes.

“Journey to Bethlehem: The Paradox of Blessedness” Luke 1:39-55 Last week we started our Advent journey to Bethlehem by reading about how the angel Gabriel visited Mary and told her that she would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit and bear a son, and He will be holy and be called the “Son of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:39-55

Denomination: United Methodist

Tis The Season

Contributed by Jacob Burdette on Dec 6, 2023

A look at Christmas themes and how they apply to the church.

Tis the Season If you have your bible, please open it to Ecclesiastes 3. We`re going to use a lot of scripture today, but that's where we'll start. One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church. The plaque was ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1

Mary Did Know

Contributed by Rich O' Toole on Dec 6, 2023

Gabriel appears to Mary with news about the birth of Christ

Mary Did Know Luke 1:26-38 Good morning. Think about the song we just sang, “Mary, did you know?”. Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water? Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No Debt. Now What? Series

Contributed by Brady Boyd on Dec 7, 2023

Church leaders in the first three hundred years rebelled against the Greco-Roman culture of abandoning infants.

No Debt. Now What? December 10, 2023 James 1:27 NIV Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. Church leaders in the first three hundred years rebelled against the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:27, Proverbs 21:13, Proverbs 19:17, Proverbs 31:8-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Holy Spirit & Christmas

Contributed by John Gaston on Dec 12, 2023

At Christmas, we think about the shepherds, the Magi, the trip of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, and the murderous plots of King Herod, but we overlook all HE, the Holy Spirit, does.

THE HOLY SPIRIT & CHRISTMAS INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. Two Aggies moved to a northern Canadian island. At Christmas they boarded a ferry off the island and went deep into the woods on the mainland, searching for a Christmas tree. 2. After hours of subzero temperatures and a few close ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:15-35

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Word Became Flesh

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 12, 2023

Christmas 2023

THE WORD BECAME FLESH (JOHN 1:14) Unlike the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke that explain Jesus’ earthly origins, the gospel of John emphasizes Jesus’ heavenly origins: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) He is co-eternal (“in the ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Denomination: Independent/Bible