Sermons on Ashes:

The Master's Mark

Contributed by Kevin Barron on Feb 26, 2017

An Ash Wednesday sermon that seeks to remind us of what we signed up for when we said we would follow Jesus!

THE MASTER’S MARK ASH WEDNESDAY, YEAR A 2 CORINTHIANS 5:20-6:10 MARCH 1, 2017 FARM HILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, HARRISBURG, AR INTRO. Branding your animals to establish ownership can traced at least as far back as the ancient Egyptians. The practice of branding slaves goes at least to the ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

Should Protestants Change Our Habits During Lent?

Contributed by Dennis King on Feb 25, 2018

What is the value of Lenten Rituals to Protestants?

We could look to the time of Lent as traditional activities representing the death of Christ plus His resurrection, and return. This year, the 2018 Lenten Season began on February 14th – Valentines' day. For Lent that day is called Ash Wednesday and people, worldwide, gave up certain foods or ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

Life In The Valleys

Contributed by Bruce Lee on May 28, 2025

This week we begin to celebrate the Holy Season of Lent starting with Ash Wednesday. Lent is a time to reflect on how we live out discipleship in the world around us.

“Life in the Valleys” “The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.” Luke 9:37 Intro: This week we begin to celebrate the Holy Season of Lent starting with Ash Wednesday. Lent is a time to reflect on how we live out discipleship in the world around us. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Plague Of Boils And Blains – The Sixth Plague Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jul 29, 2022

God's judgment on Pharaoh and Egypt in Exodus Chapter 9 was boils. He told Aaron and Moses to grab handfuls of ashes from the furnace and throw the ashes into the air in front of Pharaoh's eyes. When ash touched someone in Egypt, they would break out in boils and sores

The Plague Of Boils And Blains – The Sixth Plague EXODUS 9:8-12 8 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. 9 It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, and festering boils will ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 9:8-12

Denomination: Baptist

Ash Wednesday: Leave No Cobweb Un-Swept

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Mar 5, 2014

A short talk for our annual Ash Wednesday service. The bright light of God's judgement and holiness and grace calls us to leave no stone unturned and no cobweb un-swept as we route out sin.

In 1977 (in his book How to be born again) Billy Graham wrote: ‘Several years ago I was to be interviewed at my home for a well-known television show and, knowing it would appear on nationwide television, my wife [Ruth] took great pains to see that everything looked nice. She had vacuumed and ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:12-17

Denomination: Anglican

Sackcloth And Ashes (Twenty-Fourth Sunday In Ordinary Time)

Contributed by Dr Fr John Singarayar Svd on Sep 3, 2020

Reflection is on the grace of God’s forgiveness in our lives.

Sackcloth and Ashes (Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time) Matthew 18:21-35, Luke 17:4, Romans 14:7-9, Jonah 3:5-7, Jonah 3:9, Jonah 3:10, 1 Samuel 16:7, Psalm 30:11, Genesis 4:24. Reflection Dear sisters and brothers, Let us now listen to the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 18: 21-35): ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:24, 1 Samuel 16:7, Jonah 3:10, Jonah 3:9, Jonah 3:5-7, Romans 14:7-9, Luke 17:4, Psalm 30:11, Matthew 18:21-35  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

Going Up In Flames... Praise Soon Fades

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 31, 2023

Ever wander what happens to all the palm branches when the PRAISE fades into the cry of CRUCIFY? There is a tradition to burn the palm branches and save the ashes for ASH WEDNESDAY. PRAISE VS CRUCIFY?

GOING UP IN FLAMES… HOW SOON CAN PRAISE FADE? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) In this lesson we go from the PASSOVER to JERUSALEM via the avenue of praise to the road of crucify. TEXT: John 12:12 On the next day much people that were come to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:20, John 12:12-17, Luke 19:28-39

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Nehemiah, The Rebuild Begins, Dealing With Rubble And Ash! Series

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Feb 7, 2010

A narrative of the first two chapters of Nehemiah, Nehemiah tells his story up to the beginning of the work of restoration.

Introduction: Thanks to the NIV Bible and Message paraphrase, both of which I’ve leaned fairly heavily upon for this attempt at a narrative of the first two chapters of Nehemiah. This is a narrative that has been Kiwified, i.e. easily understood by New Zealanders. The Narrator’s words are in ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

Section (2) Answers From An Ash Heap Series

Contributed by Luther Sexton on Feb 19, 2019

Looking for answers for reason of suffering.

IV. ANSWERS FROM AN ASH HEAP A. Suffering can be for 1. Participation -- Being Human -- Because we are a part of the human race, and the human race (thanks to Adam and Eve) is conceived and born in sin. Rom 5:12&19 Ps 51:5 Romans 8:22 "whole creation groaneth" ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12, Job 1:9

Denomination: Pentecostal

Tcb (Taking Care Of Business) - Pt. 2 - Ash And Fire

Contributed by Steve Ely on Oct 1, 2008

Elvis put it on everything . . . rings, necklaces, even his jet. It was more than the name of his band, it was his slogan. TCB is more than a slogan for us. It is our misson. This examination of our daily duties as priests will help you TCB!

TCB Pt. 2 I remind you that last week I told you that Elvis has sold over 1 billion records worldwide. More than any other artist in history. But I also told you he didn’t accomplish this by himself. His band the TCB Band helped him accomplish this. TCB – Taking Care of Business was the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 35:30-33

Denomination: Pentecostal

Reconciliation, And Grace To Follow.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 3, 2022

Our reconciliation with God is made possible by the grace of God through the work of Christ. Having been reconciled, we are made the righteousness of God in Him. We are enabled, by the same grace of God, to follow God in the way of righteousness.

RECONCILIATION, AND GRACE TO FOLLOW. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21; 2 Corinthians 6:1-10. 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 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Send Not To Know For Whom The Bell Tolls

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 7, 2010

Ash Wednesday gives us what may be our last Lenten opportunity to repent and turn back to God.

Ash Wednesday Homily 2010 2 Cor 5:20 - 6:2 The great bell called St Ferdinand at our diocesan cathedral tolls solemnly several times each month. Many years ago I heard the toll as my father’s casket was slowly pushed out toward its ultimate resting place. Each day the low sound of bells ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

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

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 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