Sermons on Ash:

What Will You Find When You Look For Jesus?

Contributed by Scott Sharpes on Apr 16, 2003

Finding the meaning of the empty tomb. In my darkness, would God’s presence break through? How can I celebrate Easter, when I’m living Good Friday. Out of the ashes of life, you can still find Jesus. These questions are answered as we look for the mes

Title: What Will You Find When You Look For Jesus?04/20/03 West Side Text: Matthew 28:1-10 A.M. Service ~ Easter Sunday Purpose: To find the meaning of the empty tomb *******************************************************Introduction Did you see the story on CNN this past Sunday of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10

Denomination: Nazarene

Give Up Giving Up Series

Contributed by David Roth on Feb 20, 2015

Ash Wednesday (B). Too often we focus on our outward behavior, our sins. But the root of our problem is not sins, but sin, our sinful nature. Joel urges us to "Turn to God and live."

J. J. May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen. “Give up giving up” What are you giving up for Lent? Anything? Some people give up something for lent. Not with the purpose of earning ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:12-19, Psalm 51:5-10

Denomination: Lutheran

A God Of Forgiveness

Contributed by John Saynor on Feb 23, 2021

The appointed Psalm for Ash Wednesday describes a God who forgives and forgets! For those who have difficulty accepting God's forgiveness, it would do well to read Psalm 103: 8-18.

Today I want to talk about forgiveness. It has been on my mind for some time now as a result of our regular use of our liturgies to guide us in worship. It has come to me that during our liturgies we repeat our need for forgiveness so often that I’m sure God gets tired of listening to us. What ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:8-18

An Overview Of The Book Of Joel

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 15, 2015

We cannot change the past: but in Christ, God restores to us what would have been had we not allowed sin an entrance (Joel 2:25).

AN OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF JOEL. Joel 1-3. The name Joel means ‘Yahweh is God’ or perhaps ‘Whose God is the LORD’. There is no doubt that Joel's God is the LORD: not only on account of his given name, but also because of his courage in confronting Israel and the nations with a far-reaching ...read more

Scripture: Joel 1:1-20, Joel 2:1-32, Joel 3:1-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pathway To The Christian Life

Contributed by Rev. Moses Assniyi on May 22, 2011

The pathway of the Christian life is a journey that is preplan by God and He handle the map for us to follow. As we set out for the journey God will then take the ashes of our lives and turn them into something beautiful;such is the pathway of the christi

Introduction The chronicles of the biblical heroes are clearly spelt out, whether good or bad. The bible is always honest in recording the faults and mistakes of the greatest men and women. These biographies are written to encourage us. The pathway of the Christian life is to see God taken the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 27:1-46

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Some Aspects Of The Church From Its Beginning – The Church’s Home And What Lies Ahead - Part 8 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 17, 2023

Our entire life as a Christian will be exposed in the judgement and all those years of being a Christian will be subjected to the test of fire. There you stand and the fire tests your works. What will the fire leave behind? Will it be precious or will it be ashes? Building on the foundation.

SOME ASPECTS OF THE CHURCH FROM ITS BEGINNING – THE CHURCH’S HOME AND WHAT LIES AHEAD - PART 8 [1]. THE CHURCH’S HOME - INTRODUCTION Maybe in this next posting in the series I might say some things that are new to you, but just follow along and search out these scriptures. Very little these ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:8-10, Psalm 16:10, John 3:13, Romans 14:10, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, Matthew 25:34-40, Matthew 10:42, Revelation 19:11, Revelation 20:6-7, Revelation 21:2-4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Called To Reconciliation And To Reconcile (The Trampled Triumphant)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 4, 2003

There is no one who ... can stand before God justified and clean because without the blood of Jesus that washes away our sin our righteousness is nothing more than filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). (A sermon for Ash Wednesday).

CALLED TO RECONCILIATION AND TO RECONCILE Text: Second Corinthians 5:20 - 6:10 William Cowper, the poet, found peace with God through the words, "Jesus Christ, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins" ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

The Mountain Before The Valley

Contributed by Don Schultz on Feb 27, 2003

Jesus reveals his glory on the mountain, to prepare his disciples, and us for the valley ahead.

MARK 9:2-9 THE MOUNTAIN BEFORE THE VALLEY Life is filled with peaks and valleys. A peak is something excellent that happens in your life, something great, something to celebrate and remember. The birth of your child – that is a highpoint in your life. The day you get married – that is a peak. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:2-9

Denomination: Lutheran

The Ministry Of Reconciliation

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 28, 2013

The need for reconciliation arises because of our estrangement from God on account of our sin. The mediator of reconciliation is God. The cost of reconciliation is the death of Christ. The result of reconciliation is a new relationship with God.

THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. This passage directly confronts us with the subject of reconciliation. It requires spiritual thinking: no longer regarding people from a worldly point of view - “according to the flesh” - and certainly not regarding Christ from a worldly ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Prayer To Praise.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 27, 2025

Be merciful. My heart is fixed. Be thou exalted.

FROM PRAYER TO PRAISE. Psalm 57:1-11. This is a beautifully crafted Psalm which, according to the title, was written by David ‘when he fled from Saul in the cave.’ The Psalm has two sections: first a prayer (PSALM 57:1-6); then second, praise (PSALM 57:7-11). Each section opens with a repeated ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 57:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Seek Righteousness…seek Humility”

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Feb 27, 2023

Sackcloth and ashes. Fasting and weeping. Tearing clothes and pulling out hair. Lying face down in the dirt. What does repentance look like for New Testament believers? The Prophet Zephaniah reminds of us what believers do when they are repentant.

Sackcloth and ashes. Fasting and weeping. Tearing clothes and pulling out hair. Lying face down in the dirt. Those are some powerful pictures of repentance, wouldn’t you agree? And what were Old Testament believers saying with these traditions? Wearing clothes made from rough ...read more

Scripture: Zephaniah 2:3, Zephaniah 3:11-13

Denomination: Lutheran

Your Place At The King's Table Series

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Aug 21, 2016

God values even the broken life. The Lord will take us from the ash heap of society to an unlikely place; let’s discover “Your Place at the King’s Table.” (Ends with "Sanctity of Human Life).

UNLIKELY - Your Place at the King’s Table John 3:7-8 MsgB “So don’t be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be ‘born from above’—out of this world, so to speak. You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 9:1-13

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Free Offer Of Mercy & Grace Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Jul 10, 2008

All people are called to listen & receive God’s wonderful new covenant. The gods of this world extract a high price for what eventually turns into dust & ashes. God’s free offer though is a covenant relationship that will never end. Come & partake.

ISAIAH 55: 1-3 -5 THE FREE OFFER OF MERCY AND GRACE [John 4: 10-14] People everywhere are called to listen to and receive God’s wonderful new covenant. The gods of this world extract a high price for what eventually turns into dust and ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Captives Free

Contributed by Ian Hyde on Apr 29, 2019

Just as God was faithful to Israel by returning them to the land and restoring the nation when all hope had seemed lost; so today, Christ is faithful to transform ashes into a beautiful headdress, a spirit of mourning into the oil of gladness, and a faint spirit into a garment of praise.

A PEOPLE IN EXILE I want you to close your eyes for a moment. Now imagine with me that you are an Israelite during the Babylonian Exile around 2,500 years ago, standing on the bank of the Euphrates River. You look downstream as two priests and a small crowd gather to perform an “Opening of the ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene

Would You Rather Be Dead?

Contributed by Jay Winters on Feb 9, 2008

This Ash Wednesday sermon uses a scene from "Fight Club" as its major illustration - it attempts to show that Christ doesn’t just give us a second chance, but that He puts us to death (while taking on our death) in Baptism and give us the empty tomb.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Three In One who makes our lives more beautiful than what they could ever be on their own. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, About ten years ago, a movie came out that just about everyone saw. It was called “Fight ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:3-14

Denomination: Lutheran