Sermons on Ash Wedneaday:

Return To The Lord

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jun 20, 2019

We are right to emphasize that God loves us, but we too easily forget that because he loves us he wants us to be the best we can be and calls us to a deep repentance.

Return to the Lord Isaiah 1:12-20 Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2012 Rev. Stephen Aram We live in a time when the church really emphasizes the mercy and grace of God. How many times have you heard it said that God loves us just the way we are and that he will be there any time we call? And ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:12-20

Lent 2021

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Feb 17, 2021

A sermon for the start of Lent 2021

I think this is the point where I am supposed to talk about Lent being a penitential time, and time for giving things up, but that seems patent nonsense in 2021. In the last eleven months we have given up more than we ever wished for longer than we would have wished. And we have lost some people ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:9-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Confession: The First Step Towards Wholeness Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Feb 18, 2021

Ash Wednesday's confession of sin is our first step towards wholeness

February 17, 2021 Ash Wednesday Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Psalm 51:1-17; Confession: The First Step towards Wholeness Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Today we turn the corner and a new season stands before us, ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

God’s Chosen Fast

Contributed by John Gaston on Mar 5, 2025

We look at 4 wrong motivations for Fasting, HOW we're to Fast, 7 Types of Fasts, 7 Purposes of Fasting, and 5 correct Motivations for Fasting. We also do a thumbnail sketch of Isaiah 58, where God does a critique of Israel's fasting practices.

GOD’S CHOSEN FAST Isa. 58:5 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: Modern People Know So Much 1. Did you hear the story about the lady who was talking to her friend and brought up the Bible. Her friend said, “Oh don’t start trying to tell to me about the Bible; my parents had me read it every day. I’m ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:5, Matthew 6:16

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Palm Tree Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Feb 15, 2024

A Sermon for Ash Wednesday

February 14, 2024 Ash Wednesday Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; Psalm 51:1-17; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 The Palm Tree Good evening, friendly humans. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Palm Tree. My siblings and I don’t grow this far north. And even though your weather has ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6

Denomination: Lutheran

Your Cross Has Arrived

Contributed by Bruce Lee on Jun 4, 2025

Lent is a the 40 days, (not counting Sundays) from Ash Wednesday till Easter.

Your Cross Has Arrived “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34 Intro: This week we celebrated Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent. Lent is a the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Beauty For Ashes, Joy For Mourning, Praise For Heaviness.

Contributed by Thomas Dibble on May 22, 2003

God will console those who mourn in Zion. There is enough of God to comfort all who mourn around the world. But his word specifically states those in Zion or those in God’s house are going to get God’s attention.

The Bible speaks of the Holy Ghost as being the comforter. Aren’t you glad for the spirit of the Lord? He is the comforter. In our scripture text it says that God would appoint, or as the NKJV says, God would console those who mourn in Zion. There is enough of God to comfort all who mourn ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3, Isaiah 61:1, Isaiah 61:1-6, Isaiah 61:3-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

It's Time To Get The Ashes Off The Altar

Contributed by Bishop William Bryant Wilmore, Jr. on Jul 19, 2007

Often our lives are cluttered by the residue of past experiences, making it difficult for us to receive the full blessings of God.

Text: Numbers 4:13 "And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon..." My brothers and sisters, biblically, the origin of the altar goes clear back to Genesis when Noah built an altar to offer sacrifices after the flood. Genesis 8 & 20 says: "And Noah ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 4:13, Ezra 4:12-16

Denomination: Baptist

Nehemiah, The Rebuild Begins, Dealing With Rubble And Ash! Series

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Feb 7, 2010

A narrative of the first two chapters of Nehemiah, Nehemiah tells his story up to the beginning of the work of restoration.

Introduction: Thanks to the NIV Bible and Message paraphrase, both of which I’ve leaned fairly heavily upon for this attempt at a narrative of the first two chapters of Nehemiah. This is a narrative that has been Kiwified, i.e. easily understood by New Zealanders. The Narrator’s words are in ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

Ash Wednesday Emtional Wounds--Emotional Healing

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Mar 15, 2011

This message was preached on Ash Wednesday and it deals with the power of Jesus Christ to bring healing to the emotional wounds of our lives.

Ash Wednesday Emotional Wounds & Healing 3/9/11 Isaiah 53:1-15 Luke 4:14-20 Ash Wednesday is a time when we begin to become clean with God and accept what God says about us. I came across the following section from the book “Imitation of Christ” “I ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Keep Calm And Carry On - A Sermon For Ash Wednesday

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Feb 17, 2013

A sermon for Ash Wednesday - for a UK congregation

Joel 2:1-2 & 12-17 John 8:1-11 I’m beginning, totally unsuitably for Lent, with an expression of pride. I’m very proud of my collection of the complete set of Carry On films - it’s the earthy British humour of the 1960s and 1970s at its best (or worst, depending upon your point ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:1-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Ash Wednesday: Leave No Cobweb Un-Swept

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Mar 5, 2014

A short talk for our annual Ash Wednesday service. The bright light of God's judgement and holiness and grace calls us to leave no stone unturned and no cobweb un-swept as we route out sin.

In 1977 (in his book How to be born again) Billy Graham wrote: ‘Several years ago I was to be interviewed at my home for a well-known television show and, knowing it would appear on nationwide television, my wife [Ruth] took great pains to see that everything looked nice. She had vacuumed and ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:12-17

Denomination: Anglican

Glass Houses: Skeptics Anonymous (Ash Wednesday) Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Oct 18, 2019

We all carry skepticism but Jesus transforms it for the glory of God

Ash Wednesday marks the first day of 40 that call the season of Lent. While the Bible does not mention Ash Wednesday or the custom of Lent, it does talk of the practice of repentance and mourning in ashes. This was a common place Middle Eastern practice in which garments were ripped because they ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 13:19, Esther 4:1, Job 2:8, Daniel 9:3, Matthew 11:21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Section (2) Answers From An Ash Heap Series

Contributed by Luther Sexton on Feb 19, 2019

Looking for answers for reason of suffering.

IV. ANSWERS FROM AN ASH HEAP A. Suffering can be for 1. Participation -- Being Human -- Because we are a part of the human race, and the human race (thanks to Adam and Eve) is conceived and born in sin. Rom 5:12&19 Ps 51:5 Romans 8:22 "whole creation groaneth" ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12, Job 1:9

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Trampled Triumphant (An Ash Wednesday Sermon)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 5, 2025

The beginning illustration is a about a fern that won't grow because of its soil. Like the fern in the soil of hardened clay, we need a new beginning in the soil of God's grace!

THE TRAMPLED TRIUMPHANT Text: II Corinthians 5:20b – 6:10 2 Corinthians 5:20-21  So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  (21)  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10

Denomination: United Methodist