Sermons on Ashes:

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

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

God's Story Never Ends With 'ashes.'" Series

Contributed by Timilehin Daniel Olabiyi on May 12, 2025

This powerful quote by Elisabeth Elliot reminds us that no matter what challenges or hardships we face, God's plan for our lives is always bigger and better than we can imagine.

"Of one thing I am perfectly sure: God's story never ends with 'ashes.'" This powerful quote by Elisabeth Elliot reminds us that no matter what challenges or hardships we face, God's plan for our lives is always bigger and better than we can imagine. Elisabeth Elliot, a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Denomination: Apostolic

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

Forgiveness Is Not An Accident

Contributed by Scott Carmer on Feb 22, 2007

On Ash wednesday, we realize that God is always ready to forgive those who go to him in honest repentance.

Forgiveness is Not an Accident Psalm 51:1-17 (NRSV) February 21, 2007 Ash Wednesday On the corner of State Roads 5 and 120 up in LaGrange County, there is a campground. The best thing about the place is that there is also a little ice-cream shop on the corner. It’s a great place to go in the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-17

Denomination: Methodist

The Great Exchange

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Mar 9, 2012

The Great Exchange that God makes in our lives Beauty for Ashes, Oil for Anointing, and Garments of Praise for our heaviness.

Note: I am not sure where I got this basic outline from. I added much of the content and used some notes from messages of the past. Title: The Great Exchange Theme: To show what happens when Christ changes. Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3 (Isa 61:1 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3

Denomination: Church Of God

Temptation Series

Contributed by John Oscar on Aug 29, 2022

This message is from the Sermon Central Series, "From the Ashes" and is heavily edited for use in our church.

Temptation From the Ashes Series Week 1 – Temptation Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11, James 4:7-10, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 Timothy 6:9, Hebrews 2:18 and 4:12, James 1:2-3 Opening idea- chocolate on the seats Introduction Today we begin a 6-week sermon series called From the Ashes. It’s going to be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Humility Series

Contributed by John Oscar on Aug 29, 2022

This message is from the Sermon Central Series, "From the Ashes" and is heavily edited for use in our church.

Humility From the Ashes Series CCCAG July 10, 2022 Week 2 – Humility Scripture: John 13:1-8 Philippians 2:1-11, Ephesians 4:2, Micah 6:8, Romans 12:3, Matthew 23:10-12 Opening story: Once upon a time a rider came across a few soldiers who were trying to move a heavy log of wood without ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-8

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Contemplation Series

Contributed by John Oscar on Aug 29, 2022

This message is from the Sermon Central Series, "From the Ashes" and is heavily edited for use in our church.

From the Ashes Week 3 - Contemplation Scripture: Mark 1:35 Introduction Welcome to week 3 of our From the Ashes Sermon Series as we take a 6-week journey to the cross together. Each week we are looking at a different aspect of Jesus’ life and ministry during His time here on earth. Each week we ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:35

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Confession Series

Contributed by John Oscar on Aug 29, 2022

This message is from the Sermon Central Series, "From the Ashes" and is heavily edited for use in our church.

From the Ashes Week 4 – Confession Scripture: John 3:19-20, James 1:14-15, Luke 15 I grew up differently than most kids today. When I was staying with my grandparents in Hayward, we lived on the edge of town, and were allowed to hunt and fish around the property. We had many firearms, all ...read more

Scripture: John 3:19-20, James 1:14-15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Sacrifice Series

Contributed by John Oscar on Aug 29, 2022

This message is from the Sermon Central Series, "From the Ashes" and is heavily edited for use in our church.

From the Ashes Week 5 - Sacrifice Scripture: Philippians 2:6-8, Luke 14:25-33, Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 4:15-16 Introduction Today, we’re going to be talking about the sacrifice of Jesus and the impact his humble actions have had on all humankind. To illustrate the idea of sacrifice I want to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:6-8, Luke 14:25-33

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Resurrection Series

Contributed by John Oscar on Aug 29, 2022

This message is from the Sermon Central Series, "From the Ashes" and is heavily edited for use in our church.

From the Ashes Week 6 - Resurrection Scripture: Luke 24, Job 38-42, 1 Corinthians 15:13-14, 2 Corinthians 1:20 Introduction Over the last several week where we have been together, we have been learning how to recover after something happens that seems to reduce our life to ashes. This morning, we ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Festering Pharoah Series

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 6, 2025

God turns up the heat on pride, not to destroy but to heal—transforming our ashes into grace and our wounds into worship.

Egypt thought it had already seen the worst of it. The rivers had bled, the frogs had croaked, the flies had swarmed. But pride is hard of hearing. Pharaoh still stood tall, still folded his arms, still told God, “Not today.” So God turned up the heat. No thunder this time. No frogs hopping down ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 9:1-12, Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 4:12-13, Romans 8:28, Job 5:7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Controlling What Controls Us

Contributed by Jon Lipka on Jan 27, 2013

Part of preparing to celebrate Easter is examining ourselves, whether there is anything not of the new creation in us.

I’d like to talk to you this evening about humility. Humility has been much misunderstood and, frankly, is quite unpopular today. We can say, “Pride cometh before the fall,” but to really live that out requires radical commitment—a lifestyle that the world is unable to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-21

Denomination: Anglican