Sermons on Ash Pits:

The True Meaning Of A Lenten Sacrifice

Contributed by Ryan Ferwerda on Mar 9, 2019

Most people attempt to give something up for Lent. But is what we give up for Lent beneficial to us or to God?

This past Wednesday, the collective whole of the Christendom observed Ash Wednesday. A day in the church year when we are reminded of our mortality, but more importantly, reminded of our reliance on God, both for life in this world and for life in the next. This day is the mark of the beginning of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-17, Matthew 6:1-6, Matthew 6:16-21, Joel 2:1-2, Joel 2:12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

The Discipline Of Fasting

Contributed by Ian Hyde on Feb 23, 2020

Ezra the scribe knew his people needed to prepare their hearts for the difficult and dangerous journey ahead. In this sermon we look at why we as the church are called to fast and pray together, especially during the season of Lent.

A FAMILY ON THE MOVE For our family, there is rarely any experience more stressful than preparing for a trip back to Iowa to visit our parents. The kids are always excited about the prospect of staying in motels, of visiting with Grandma and Grandpa, of going out to eat at restaurants, and of ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 8:21-23, Nehemiah 1:1-6, Jonah 3:5-10, Joel 2:12-13, Psalm 35:11-14, Psalm 69:9-12, Matthew 6:16-18, Acts 13:2-3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

Woes Upon The Privileged Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jul 29, 2017

God loves us, but we are not saved by His love; but by the death and resurrection of Christ, and by faith in Him. Jesus taught that faith and repentance are two sides of the coin, we call salvation.

Harmony of the Gospels -AD 28- Galilee (21) Woes Upon the Privileged (Genesis 19:24) Matthew 11:20-30 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; (Genesis 19:24) God saw to it that Lot was safely inside Zoar, and then the rain came. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:20-30

Denomination: Baptist

Create In Me A Clean Heart

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 21, 2015

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart These, O' God, you will not despise. Create in me a clean Heart O' God! (Updated February 2023)

Psalm 51 ... designated for today ... is one of the few psalms ... where we are given ... the historical background ... that led to the writing of this Psalm. The inscription reads, ..."A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet came to him, ... after he had gone into ...Bathsheba." That ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 28:13, Psalm 51:17, Romans 3:23, Psalm 51:1-13, 2 Samuel 11:3-15, 1 John 1:7, Romans 10:9, Colossians 3:9-10, Ephesians 4:22-24, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Psalm 103:12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Letters Of Lament - Thoughts From Lamentations Chapter Four Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Jun 15, 2009

Comments from Lamentations chapter four.

Letters Of Lament – Thoughts From Lamentations Chapter Four INTRODUCTION: There are times when we all lament – or need to lament. There are times when we have walked down the wrong path – and have found at the end of it – a dead end. At the end of the road we cry out, “What have I done? How could ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 4:1-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Battle For The Soul Of America: Progressivism Vs. Americanism

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Apr 26, 2021

Time and again humanity on this Earth comes to the brink of collapse. We live in a world where there is a rather large pit of darkness. And many times a century from this pit flows a mammoth flood of evil, in many a form, threatening to crush civilization.

Time and again humanity on this Earth comes to the brink of collapse. We live in a world where there is a rather large pit of darkness. And many times a century from this pit flows a mammoth flood of evil, in many a form, threatening to crush civilization. Our present era is no different. ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:19

Denomination: Salvation Army

Daniel In The Den Of Lions Series

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Oct 26, 2014

Message about how Daniel got in and out of the den of lions. Not just the pit but also the people.

Title: Daniel in the Den of Lions Theme: Trusting God for His Deliverance. Text: Daniel 6 Daniel 6:1-28 (1) It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; (2) and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:1-28

Denomination: Church Of God

Wrestling With Lions Series

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Jun 3, 2022

A 3 part series based on the book In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day from Mark Batterson

Chase the Lion - Benaiah 2 Samuel 23:20-23 1 Chronicles 11:22-25 1 John 4:4 June 5, 2022 Some of you may know this, most of you don’t know this . . . last year I was asked to be the volunteer police chaplain for Alexandria. I didn’t have to think too long before I said, ‘sure, I’d love to, but I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 11:22-25, 2 Samuel 23:20-23

Denomination: Baptist

How Can I Tell You About Jesus When I Am Afraid?

Contributed by Randy Rodenborg on Mar 28, 2006

Max is a Jr Higher who hates the locker room, and is now likely to be picked on for having a ash cross on his head after the Ash Wednesday service. It ends with a call to pray for others and submitting yourself to God to use you to lead others to Him.

Max hated the locker room. It wasn’t a mild dislike, like the days he would rather not go to science or choir. Max really dreaded walking into the locker room and confronting first the smelliness of the locker room and then those small lockers. These lockers were really just baskets that you could ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:54-61

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Day Of No Return

Contributed by Kenneth Tankersley on Jul 7, 2007

WILL YOU BE IN THE BLESSED BOOK OF LIFE OR IN THE BOTOMLESS PITS OF HELL. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION YOU WILL EVER BE ASKED.

7/01/07 A DAY OF NO RETURN TEXT: REVELATION 20 VS. 11--15 INTRODUCTION: OUR SCRIPTURE TEXT TODAY SUMMARIZES THE LOST PERSON’S FATE, IN PLAIN AND SIMPLE LANGUAGE. IT POSES A QUESTION: “WILL YOU BE IN THE BLESSED BOOK OF LIFE, OR THE BURNING LAKE OF FIRE?”(MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION YOU ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 20:11-15

Denomination: Baptist

Battling 800:1 Odds Series

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Jun 10, 2022

A 3 part series based on the book In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day and sermons from Mark Batterson

800:1 Odds 2 Samuel 23:8 June 12, 2022 Last week we started talking about a guy named Benaiah who wrestled with a lion in a pit on a snowy day and walked away from it victorious. He also took care of a rather tall Egyptian and a couple of heroes from Moab. Some of us would say Benaiah was ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21, Daniel 3:14-25, 2 Samuel 23:8

Denomination: Baptist

Your Life Is Not About You, But Jesus' Life Is

Contributed by Richard Schwedes on Feb 4, 2008

A short Ash Wednesday Sermon that encourages us to see that your life is not about you, but Jesus’ life is

Ash Wednesday has always presented me with a problem. As I read and research the scriptures for Ash Wednesday I get the feeling that God is saying, Hey Richard, hey Ray, hey….(and mention others) wake up to yourself, life is not about you, there are more important things in your life than ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Fire Burns Inward, Love Radiates Outward Series

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on May 12, 2025

To be a pilgrim of hope in a time like ours is to walk through the ashes of despair carrying a lantern lit by the Spirit.

Title: Fire Burns Inward, Love Radiates Outward Intro: To be a pilgrim of hope in a time like ours is to walk through the ashes of despair carrying a lantern lit by the Spirit. Scriptures: Acts 2:1-11, Romans 8:8-17, John 14:15-16, John 14:23-26. Reflection Dear Sisters and Brothers, There ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-11, Romans 8:8-17, John 14:15-16, John 14:23-26

Denomination: Other

Your Nail

Contributed by Rhonda Feurtado on Jun 23, 2009

This sermon looks at various nails we carry in our lives, much like the ones that nailed Jesus to the tree. It can be used on Ash Wed. or maundy Thurs. If used at ash Wed., each participant is given a nail to carry with them throughout lent to remind them

YOUR NAIL A nail can be an uncomfortable thing to confront. If you are not careful about how you handle it, it might cut or scratch you, or even puncture your skin. Then there would be blood on your hands…as there was blood on our Lord’s hands… as a result of the nail. “His blood be on us and on ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-21

Denomination: Methodist

Paradigms Of Prayer

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 2, 2019

We pray for the glory of God. We consider that it is He who we have sinned against. We pray in solidarity with those for whom we pray. We don't try to restrict God.

PARADIGMS OF PRAYER. 1. Solidarity with those for whom we pray (Exodus 32:30-32) Moses presents us with an example of true, thoroughgoing, intercessory prayer. This is Moses’ prayer after the infamous ‘Golden Calf’ incident, when the people had committed idolatry at the foot of Mount Sinai ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:30-32, Joshua 7:6-9, Psalm 51:3-4, 2 Chronicles 6:18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational