Sermons on Ashes:

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

The Need To Rend Our Hearts

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Feb 4, 2005

How many of us examine our lives that closely on a daily basis? (This sermon can be used for Ash Wednesday or in general).

THE NEED TO REND OUR HEARTS Text: Joel 2:1-2, 2 12-18 In his biography, Benjamin Franklin, reveals a lot about the kind of person he was. He would often look at his individual progress of each day. Someone (Raymond McHenry?) has observed Ben Franklin’s method specifically. ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:1-18

Denomination: United Methodist

Dry Bones

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jan 15, 2008

Salvation will arise from the ashes of judgment. God--in His time--will breathe new life into us and revive us.

"Dry Bones", Ezekiel 37:1-14. Pastor Bob Leroe, Cliftondale Congregational Church, Saugus, Massachusetts Ezekiel has been given an unusual preaching assignment. He’s brought by God’s Spirit to a valley full of dry bones. It is a scene of desolation and death. The bones are a gruesome image of ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Denomination: Congregational

The Necessity Of Shed Blood [part 2] Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Nov 2, 2020

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh. How much more shall the blood of Christ,

14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? How much more shall the blood of Christ, Since the blood of Jesus is infinitely more precious than the blood of an animal ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:13-22

Denomination: Baptist

C.p.r. For The Soul

Contributed by Jeffrey Wildrick on Feb 16, 2015

Examining Psalm 51, we see the pattern of Confession, Pardon, and Re-Creation (CPR) at work in David's life, and still effective for us today through the work of Jesus Christ. Preached on Ash Wednesday as an introduction to the season of Lent

Psalm 51; 2 Samuel 11-12 "C.P.R." Ash Wednesday INTRO: Today is Ash Wednesday, and throughout the world, Christians of many branches of Christ's church are observing this unique day in the Christian calendar. It is a day of penitence, and fasting. It is, quite frankly, a rather gloomy day. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Be Ye Reconciled To God

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 9, 2017

The once-and-forever experience of true conversion, and the on-going necessity of being sanctified.

BE YE RECONCILED TO GOD. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2. As an ambassador for Christ, Paul was pleading with the Corinthians - on behalf of Christ - that they go on being reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20). We may feel that this is unnecessary: if we are ‘called out ones’ ...read more

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

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Sprinkling With Hyssop

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 4, 2017

A Psalm of true repentance.

A SPRINKLING WITH HYSSOP. Psalm 51:1-17. In this solemn Psalm of repentance, we dive in (headfirst, as it were) with a plea for mercy. The verbs “have mercy… blot out… wash me… cleanse me” (Psalm 51:1-2) all appear to be in the imperative: but they are in fact plaintive pleas based in the fact ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

New Clothes Series

Contributed by Dr. C. David White on Nov 10, 2002

Believers are called to "put off" the old man and "put on" the new man. Literally, Christians exchange ashes for beauty, wrongness for righteousness.

Characteristics of Christianity pt 2 New Cothes I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10 (NLT) [Past tense] In ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:8-17, Isaiah 61:10

Denomination: Baptist

Game On! (Super Bowl Sermon)

Contributed by Spencer Homan on Feb 3, 2008

This is a sermon that encourages people to put the work into preparing for Easter (Ash Wednesday, Sunday Services, etc.) in order to get the most out of Easter.

Matthew 17:1-9 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The New Move Of God

Contributed by Samuel M on Feb 29, 2024

The present state of the church is “the fire has left, and we are looking at the ashes.” We are simply looking at the past exploits and trying to create new exploits of God based on those past exploits. It’s as if, after God’s fire has left, from the ashes we are planning to do new exploits.

The present state of the church is “the fire has left, and we are looking at the ashes.” We are simply looking at the past exploits and trying to create new exploits of God based on those past exploits. It’s as if, after God’s fire has left, from the ashes we are planning to do new exploits. The ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 4:21

Dancing With God

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Mar 5, 2009

Dancing with God begins when we realize that God chooses the music and the dance, but most importantly, God leads.

Dancing with God Matthew 6:1-6; 16-21 The Reverend Anne Benefield Geneva Presbyterian Church, Ash Wednesday February 25, 2009 Introduction: The passage we will read tonight is the traditional reading for Ash Wednesday. It focuses our attention on the three disciplines of Lent: Praying, Fasting, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Lent Homily

Contributed by Z. M. D. Mcgregor on Feb 23, 2015

The following is a 15 minute homily delivered on Feb. 18, 2015, Ash Wednesday at the Church Without Walls, Houston, TX, in the kickoff observance of Lent.

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. (Rom 12:1 NAU) I. Reflection: The Christ in Action Our symptoms revealed it. The diagnosis defined it. From vain thoughts to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1

Denomination: Baptist

The Twelve Tribes Of Israel Part 2 Northern, Dan, Naphtali And Ash Series

Contributed by Bruce Lee on Nov 6, 2011

Detailed individial look at each of the twelve tribes of Israel. With focus on the unique name and mission as a tribe fullfilling God’s plan.

The Twelve Tribes of Israel (Part 2) Northern, Dan, Naphtali and Asher “And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.” (Genesis 49:1) Intro: Last Sunday we started a sermon series titled “The Twelve ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 49:1

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Go And Sin No More

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Feb 17, 2010

God's mercy and forgiveness requires our lives to be lived as sinless as possible.

JESUS NEITHER ACCEPTED SIN NOR CONDEMNED SINNERS. ANOTHER WAY TO SAY IT IS THE WAY WE’VE ALWAYS SAID IT, “HATE THE SIN, BUT LOVE THE SINNER.” JESUS DID NOT COME TO CONDEMN PEOPLE, BUT TO TELL THEM THE GOOD NEWS THAT GOD IS FULL OF MERCY AND GRACE, EVEN WHEN WE SIN AND FALL ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Denomination: Free Methodist