Sermons on Ashes:

Red Heifer Water (Numbers 19)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 22, 2024

What does the ashes of a red heifer mixed in water have to do with baptism and Jesus? Let's look at Numbers 19.

Is death the ultimate result of sin? Do hatred, verbal abuse, lust, lying, ignoring the needy and greed ultimately cause our own destruction? Does cleansing us from sin involve someone dying for us? Is this dramatically pictured in the water mixed with the ashes of a red heifer? Let’s review ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

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

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

Ash Wednesday: A Gracious And Merciful God

Contributed by Garth Wehrfritz- Hanson on Feb 29, 2016

Sermon based on Joel 2:1-2, 12-17. The importance of turning to God, repenting. One of the most important descriptions of God in the Hebrew Bible is that God is gracious and merciful.

Ash Wednesday Yr C, 10/02/2016 Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson “A gracious and merciful God” A young employee secretly misappropriated several hundred dollars of his business firm’s money. When this action was discovered the young man was told to report to the ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:1-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Ash Wednesday: Confronting Our Sins, Embracing Our Vulnerabilities

Contributed by Fr. Rian Adams on Apr 6, 2020

Ash Wednesday sermon about confronting our sins, but how that is a call to vulnerability by the Holy Spirit

Ash Wednesday: At one time Advent was my favorite season of the church year. The happiness, the joy of anticipation, the hope of a manger, the birth of a child… it all added a hopeful newness to my soul. But our culture ruined Christmas with the rabid consumerism and those lame made for TV ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6

Denomination: Episcopal

"Take The Mark"

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on Feb 25, 2015

The Bible teaches us in Ezekiel we need a mark that identifies us as his. So God desires us to be marked this ash Wednesday as one of His.

“Take The Mark” Ezekiel 9:1-11 (Ezekiel 9:4-6) "And the LORD said to him [one of the four cherubim], 'Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark [literally, "a tav"] upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 9:1-11

Denomination: Methodist

The Battle Is The Lord's

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jun 28, 2008

Joshua, Pt 4

THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S (JOSHUA 5:13-6:5) Once upon a time, there was an officer of the Royal Navy named Captain Bravado who showed no fear when facing his enemies. One day, while sailing the Seven Seas, his lookout spotted a pirate ship approaching, and the crew became frantic. Captain Bravado ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

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

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

Psalm 90

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Mar 5, 2003

ash wednesday sermon based on Psalm 90

Dear friends in Christ, Ash Wednesday has its roots in the early Church’s careful efforts to receive those penitents who had lapsed from the faith and faithful living and had been excommunicated by the Church. The rite of worship that eventually developed for Ash Wednesday focused on contrition ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:1-17

Denomination: Lutheran

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

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

The God Who Brings Beauty Out Of Ashes Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jul 31, 2025

The phrase “beauty for ashes” is a divine exchange initiated by the mercy and love of God. It represents His ability to replace sorrow with joy, shame with glory, and hopelessness with purpose.

THE GOD WHO BRINGS BEAUTY OUT OF ASHES By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Isaiah 61:1-3 Supporting Texts: Romans 8:28, Psalm 30:11, Joel 2:25, Job 42:10, Genesis 50:20 INTRODUCTION: Life often presents us with seasons of devastation, disgrace, and despair—times when it seems like all that is ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3

Denomination: Assembly Of God

What Is Lent? (For Ash Wednesday)

Contributed by Don Schultz on Jan 24, 2002

Should you give up something for Lent? A Lenten attitude what Jesus really wants us to give up.

Luke 18:9-14 “WHAT IS LENT?” (Ash Wednesday sermon) “There’s nothing wrong with me,” the man says. “But sir, you’ve just been in a terrible car accident. You’re bleeding and have some deep bruises. There may be internal damage!” “There’s nothing wrong with me!” “At least have a doctor check ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14, Luke 18:9

Denomination: Lutheran