Sermons on Ashes:

Seek Ye First

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 17, 2020

Giving first place to the things of God.

SEEK YE FIRST. Matthew 6:19-34. 1. Heart-Treasure. “Treasure not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,” begins Matthew 6:19. Moths destroy clothes (cf. Isaiah 51:8). Even gold and silver can become cankered (cf. James 5:2). Thieves can literally “dig through” mud-brick houses. No, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Is Lent? Series

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Apr 15, 2017

explanation of the season of Lent

WHAT IS LENT? Last Wednesday we celebrated Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent. While I was eating my share of pancakes at a Shrove Tuesday dinner, someone asked me just exactly what is Lent, which started me thinking. For those of us raised in the church (particularly the Roman ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-12, Psalm 103:1-22, Matthew 6:1-21

Denomination: Episcopal

Failure Of Joseph Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Mar 12, 2018

They attacked the city of Bethel, formerly called Luz, and destroyed it. Excavations at the site of Bethel reveal burned brick; ash filled earth, and charred debris, evidence of the thorough devastation of this Canaanite city by the Israelites.

Chapter 3 Failure of Joseph [Judges 1:22–29] Scripture 22 And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them. 23 And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.) 24 And the spies saw a man come forth out of ...read more

Scripture: Judges 1:22-29

Denomination: Baptist

Sermon # 32 - The Robe Of Repentance Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Dec 6, 2024

The King of Nineveh took off his robe and put on sackcloth and sat in ashes to signify his humble repentance before the Almighty God. There is nothing God can’t do with a repentant church and true revival will break forth when this happens.

We read in Jonah 3:6, “When the king of Nineveh heard about it, he got up from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth, and sat down in ashes.” (GNB) Jonah was sent by God to the city of Nineveh, and the message that Jonah preached was that the city would be destroyed in forty days. When ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:6, 1 Timothy 2:9, Genesis 3:21, Luke 8:27, Luke 8:35, Proverbs 28:13, 1 Kings 21:25, 1 Kings 21:27, 1 Kings 21:29, Matthew 11:21, Isaiah 5:4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

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

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

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