Sermons on Alabaster Jar:

First Impressions

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Dec 3, 2024

Luke 7:36-39, Mary M. pours perfumed oil on Jesus' feet, is an example of how wrong one can be using only first impressions of another person.

First impressions Luke 7:36 – 39 Rabbi Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz 36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 aAnd there was a woman in the city who was a 1sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-39

Denomination: United Methodist

Going The Second Mile

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Sep 2, 2001

At times in our lives we are asked to go the second mile. Our Chrisitan witness depends on what we do.

First Baptist Church Rev. Michael Deutsch September 2, 2001 Genesis 24 Has anyone ever done something for you that was totally above and beyond the call of duty? Has anyone surprised you with random acts of kindness that you felt you did not deserve? I want to tell you about a woman who went far ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 24:1-4, Genesis 24:10-21

Denomination: Baptist

Strike Up A Passion

Contributed by Wes Humble on Jan 6, 2003

To be consumed with God and God things through daily servanthood.

Strike Up a Passion Part One: Faithful to his Call: The Submission God is looking for a people full of passion. Christ followers are passionate people. Christ followers are people who burn with a passion to serve God and others. Too often we take the life changing grace that has come to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:10-21

Denomination: *other

Running Your Race To The Finish Line

Contributed by Brandon Park on Apr 19, 2003

If you are going to run your race and win your race in the Christian life then you are going to focus on the finish.

RUNNING YOUR RACE TO THE FINISH LINE Introduction: Do you realize that the key to effective Christian living is to look at your life as a race. That’s how the Apostle Paul looked at it. He said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (II Tim. 4:7) Every ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-10

Denomination: Baptist

God In The Movies - The Matrix Series

Contributed by Glyn Norman on Mar 26, 2003

An examination of the spiritual message of the Matrix, with comparisons and contrasts (actual message used clips as described)

God in the Movies The Matrix What is Real? Warning – for any children in the audience, some of the clips might be disturbing Premise of the movie for any that haven’t seen it. The main character is a computer hacker called Neo. He suspects that something is wrong with the world, but he doesn’t ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Water, Wine And Other Changes

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Jan 15, 2007

This passage is not the legitimizer of alcoholic beverages. In fact, it is not about wine at all.

John 2:1-11 January 14, 2007 Second Sunday after the Epiphany - C On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: United Methodist

God's Love At The Well Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 11, 2008

Some people look for love in all the wrong places. This woman found what she had always been looking for when she met Jesus.

OPEN: A couple of years ago, a company out of Bethesda, Maryland put out a series of romantic greeting cards they called the “Secret Lover Collection”. The cards had a very specific audience. One of the 24 cards in the series read this way: “My soul has been searching for you since I came into this ...read more

Scripture: John 4:4-41

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Unexpected: The Last Part Of The Gideon Story Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 15, 2007

God specializes in the “unexpected.” I think it is because what we “expect” is so often not in line with who God is and what God desires, that we get caught a little off guard, a little by surprise, when we step back and see what God is doing.

God Unexpected: The Last Part of the Gideon Story Judges 6:33-8:4 May 7, 2006 Intro: God specializes in the “unexpected.” I think it is because what we “expect” is so often not in line with who God is and what God desires, that we get caught a little off guard, a little by surprise, when we ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Nowhere To Rest! (Luke 9:57-62)

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 27, 2007

It hurts when we lose someone we love, and it hurts because we love them. Love and pain are never far from each other. You can’t have one without the other.

Q: Why did the Palestinian cross the road? A: We don’t know either, but if he wont’ tell us what he was doing, crossing a road without a permit, we will detain him until we find out! I was looking for a joke with a jarring ending to introduce what I consider to be a particularly jarring Gospel ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:57-62

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

One Crumpled Leader Series

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Mar 5, 2006

5 of 5 messages on Judges. This message is on Jephthah and his terrible vow.

The Verdict on Judges One Crumpled Leader What a story line… Boy unhappily born and unwanted, goes bad, is called home by his humbled, repentant family, and then saves his tribe from the enemy in a fierce battle and rules over the people happily ever after. The credits roll and the story is over ...read more

Scripture: Judges 11:1-40

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Be R.e.a.l. Series

Contributed by Eyriche Cortez on Apr 17, 2007

Living an authentic Christian life

Someone wrote that some of the world’s unhappiest people are Christians. Why? Some Christians are too Christian to enjoy sinning but too sinful to enjoy their Christianity. Some Christians have enough faith to recognize their need for prayer, but not enough to take them to prayer meeting. Some ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-21

Denomination: Baptist

Wise Counsel

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Nov 13, 2006

How can you learn to trust God?

1Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, ¡§My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you. 2Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3Now wash and anoint yourself, and ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

The Fingerprints Of God Series

Contributed by Barry Edmondson on Feb 5, 2011

The Scripture teaches that God loves you. If you have Christ in your life, you have become a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way.

Charlie Brown built a beautiful sandcastle. He worked on it for hours. Finally, he stood back and admired his masterpiece. Just as he is admiring his work of art, a rebellious 8 year old boy runs across the sandcastle, destroying it. And with extreme frustration, Charlie Brown says to himself, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:7-16

Denomination: Pentecostal

Elijah's Mountain Top Experience Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jul 4, 2010

Elijah confronts the prophets of Baal to show that Only Yahweh is the true and living God.

By Rev Bill Stewart As we have just heard, in today’s Scripture reading the prophet Elijah was called by God to go to Mount Carmel which is situated in the North of Israel. It is not an especially high mountain but it does have a great view. In fact, it’s a bit like the lookout on Mount ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:1-46

Denomination: Anglican

Water Cooler Gossip Series

Contributed by Larry Turner on May 24, 2013

For 2000 years she has been labled as a loose divorcee living with a man. But what if she was misjudged?

“His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He is intelligent. Kind of esoteric and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college. Across the street from ...read more

Scripture: John 4:16-18

Denomination: Foursquare