Sermons on Agony Of The Cross:

The Beauty Of The Cross

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 8, 2021

Weeds being transformed into flowers is amazing, but nothing can compare with the wonder of the cross being transformed from a symbol of horror and death to a symbol of beauty and life.

Luther Burbank took an interest in the common field daisy that was an outcast weed despised by the farmers in the East. He crossed it with the Japanese daisy and an English daisy and produced the Shasta daisy, a flower whose beautiful bloom has grown as much as two feet in diameter, and which will ...read more

Scripture: John 12:29-33

The Foolishness Of The Cross

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 8, 2021

Paul wrote about the foolishness of many things, but the most shocking is that he wrote about the foolishness of the cross.

The mayor and other dignitaries were looking into the vast pit dug for the new hospital to be built. The town half-wit came up and gazed into the pit, and asked the mayor what he was going to do with this big hole. The mayor decided to humor him and said, "We are going to round up all the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

The Peace Of The Cross

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 8, 2021

Diplomacy has been defined as the art of saying, "nice doggie," until you find a rock. There is truth to this, but it is also true that one may want to say, "nice doggie" until the dog likes you, and becomes, in fact, a nice and friendly dog. That is being a peace maker.

A traveler in the South found himself stranded in a small town on Saturday night. Wondering around, he noticed there were two Baptist churches. He couldn't understand it, so he asked someone why it was that such a small town would have two Baptist churches? The local man said, "They ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:9

The Burden Of The Cross

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 8, 2021

Jesus says, happy are those who take following me seriously enough to bear the burden of the cross. Take up the cross and follow me Jesus said, and His demand is still the same today, and the promise is still the same, that those who suffer with Christ shall also reign with Him.

Florence Chadwick was the first woman ever to swim the difficult and cold 21 mile stretch of water between Catalina Island and the California coast. She failed on her first attempt because of poor vision. After 15 hours and 55 minutes of numbing cold she asked to be taken out of the water. A heavy ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Christmas And The Cross

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 8, 2021

It is possible to look forward to a merry Christmas in full awareness that we live in a world of misery. Just as there is nothing inconsistent with taking medicine to feel better in a world of sickness, so there is nothing inconsistent with a merry spirit in a world of misery.

Dr. Samuel Upham, a theological professor and a man of great learning, was dying. The family was gathered around his bed and someone said I believe he is already dead. Someone else said his feet are still warm and nobody ever dies with warm feet. Dr. Upham opened one eye and said, "Joan of ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2

Remember The Cross

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 8, 2021

The battle cries of our national history have been, “Remember the Alamo,” and “Remember Pearl Harbor.” Why in the world should we remember great defeats? It is because, like the cross, they become great defeats out of which came greater victories.

A couple of bank robbers hit a small country bank one lazy afternoon when the staff was small. They herded everyone into the vault at gunpoint. Then they gagged the teller and bound him hand and foot. They began to stuff the money into bags when they noticed the teller squirming and trying to talk ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

The Power Of The Cross

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Mar 9, 2021

Why do we preach Christ crucified?

The Power of the Cross Sunday Sermon Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz 1 Cor 1:20-24 In Jesus’ day, eastern people looked for a sign of some sort to tell them that God was doing something huge for them. The three magi who traveled from Persia to Bethlehem saw a special star in the eastern sky, and they ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:20-24

Denomination: United Methodist

The Foolishness Of The Cross Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

Paul's whole battle with the Corinthians was to get them to stop being wise before the world and fools before God, and to reverse that to being fools before the world, and wise before God.

The mayor and other dignitaries were looking into the vast pit dug for the new hospital to be built. The town half-wit came up and gazed into the pit, and asked the mayor what he was going to do with this big hole. The mayor decided to humor him and said, "We are going to round up all the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Christmas And The Cross Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 23, 2021

One of the greatest gifts that comes to us from Christmas is the cross, and all of its benefits for time and eternity. Christmas marks His coming, and the cross marks His conquering.

One of the great turning point days in the history of the Western world was June 18, 1815. Napoleon and Wellington faced each other on the battlefield for the first and last time. The history of Europe, and possibility the whole world, hung in the balance. The weight began to shift in ...read more

Peace Of The Cross

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Feb 20, 2015

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Peace of the Cross John 17 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/PeaceCross.html We're backing up to chapter 17 in John's Gospel to cover something we missed. Last time we began studying the trial and torture of Jesus, leading up to Calvary's cross. But the victory wasn't to be completely won on ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Why The Cross Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 20, 2015

Only God can stand against the evil that humans beings have brought into his world. he's done this by sending Jesus to become one of us, taking our place, becoming our substitute in facing God's anger and allowing humanity to be remade in God's image.

Why the Cross A Sermon series based on the book of the same name by Dr Leon Morris I trust no-one here would doubt that the cross is central to the Christian faith. Without the cross Christianity becomes just another religion, emptied of its power. The cross is central to our life together; central ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:5-18

Denomination: Anglican

Near The Cross

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Feb 27, 2015

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Near The Cross John 19:16-27 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/NearTheCross.html Imagine we were present in Jerusalem on the day Jesus was crucified. I wonder if we would have stood at the foot of the cross? We sing the great old hymn – “Jesus, keep me near the cross…there a ...read more

Scripture: John 19:16-27

Denomination: Baptist

Power Of The Cross

Contributed by Dr. Madana Kumar, Phd on Mar 27, 2015

How did the cross become a symbol of love and hope from a tool for excruciating death?

Power of the Cross We are in the Lent season. Since we are not in the mainline, or traditional congregation, this fact might be overlooked and forgotten by many of us. Parishioners in the mainline churches take Lent very seriously. I was reminded about this when I opened the news paper last ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Journey To The Cross

Contributed by Chad Brown on Mar 29, 2015

The beginning of the journey of Christ's week leading to his crucifixion.

Jesus and the Apostles all approach Jerusalem. He sent ahead two of the disciples. Go into the village, and as soon as you enter into it, you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat upon it. Loosen the colt and bring it. If anyone says to you, Why are you doing this? Tell them, The Lord has ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-10

Denomination: Catholic

Caiaphas And The Cross Series

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Apr 7, 2015

The story of Caiaphas and his role in the crucifixion of Jesus.

The Crucifixion: The Chief Priest March 15, 2015 Mark 14:53-65 Have you ever noticed how many “who done it” programs are on television? We have the old favorites like “Law and Order, CSI, Castle, NCIS, The Mentalist, Elementary and others. They try to keep the viewer in ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:53-65

Denomination: Baptist