Sermons on Bitter Cup:

The Character Of A Disciple: Joy Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Jul 16, 2018

There is something about doing the right thing that brings a “joy” … a sense of peace, assurance, righteousness … that comes from doing the right thing for the right reason … whatever may befall us as we do the right thing for right reason.

THE CHARACTER OF A DISCIPLE: JOY Scripture: 1st Peter 1:3-9 We are all familiar with the horrors that Jesus went through during His arrest and crucifixion: The betrayal. Being abandoned by His Disciples and followers. Dragged before angry and determined religious authorities. The beatings. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-9, Matthew 6:19-20

Denomination: United Methodist

Remembering Series

Contributed by Duane Wente on May 29, 2023

We are a forgetful people. In America, holidays like Memorial Day help us remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Mordecai instructed that God’s people celebrate an annual festival to remember how God had saved them. God also gave us ways to remember today.

Video Ill.: We Will Remember (Memorial Day) — Centerline New Media ("The Old Man and the Gulls" from Paul Harvey's The Rest of the Story by Paul Aurandt, 1977, quoted in Heaven Bound Living, Knofel Stanton, Standard, 1989, p. 79-80) I know I’ve told this story before, but I love the ...read more

Scripture: Esther 9:16-28, Exodus 12:14, Exodus 12:17, Exodus 12:26-28, Luke 22:7-20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Victory Through Sorrow’s Deep Sea – Easter Message From A Poem – Part 1 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 21, 2023

In this 3 Part series we are going to look at Calvary and draw material from Isaiah and the Psalms and the Gospels. The messages are focussed on the Trial and what happened at Calvary. They will all be connected with a poem of mine. This is a serious message because Calvary is so pivotal.

VICTORY THROUGH SORROW’S DEEP SEA – EASTER MESSAGE FROM A POEM – PART 1 The following poem is one I did for Easter 2022 but each stanza comes from one of the following sources:- Psalm 22 Psalm 69 Isaiah 52 and 53 The Gospel accounts of the betrayal night and the crucifixion. This is how I did ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:9, Matthew 27:24, John 19:12, 1 Timothy 4:2, John 19:5, John 19:14, Acts 2:23, John 19:15-16, Matthew 8:12, Matthew 7:23, Luke 23:26, Isaiah 52:14, Isaiah 53:10, Hebrews 12:2, Revelation 19:16, Zechariah 14:9, Isaiah 53:2, Psalm 22:7-8, Matthew 27:29-30, Psalm 22:6-8, Mark 14:34, Hebrews 1:3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Easter 2023: Four Gardens

Contributed by James Jackson on Apr 10, 2023

On Easter, we always talk about the Garden tomb. But there are three other gardens in Scripture, and all four of them are important in the Great Big Story of God's redemption.

Four Gardens: John 20:1-18 Easter 2023 Good morning, and Happy Resurrection Sunday! Please open your Bibles to John 20, but for now just put your bookmark there, because we are actually going to be going through the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. But don’t worry, I will still have you ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18, Matthew 26:36-46, John 1:1-5, Revelation 22:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

That You May Know

Contributed by Dorothy Lam on Jan 12, 2023

Jesus drops a bombshell while performing a miracle, confronting Messianic expectations. Can we trust Jesus' word that he has the authority to forgive sins?

One of the greatest science-fiction movie scenes of all time is the scene from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, in which Luke Skywalker, the young hero of the rebel forces, the man in whom we are putting all our hope, confronts and duels the leader of the evil and oppressive Empire, Darth Vader. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12, John 1:9-13, John 3:1-2, John 3:16

Denomination: Baptist

Our Source Part 1 Series

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Jun 4, 2016

Part one of this series focuses on lukewarm Christians and how the farther we get from our source (God) the less likely we are to fulfill our real purpose on the earth.

Our Source Scripture: Revelations 2:4-5; 3:14-22; Matthew 22:37-40; 1 John 4:20 Introduction The title of my message this morning is “Our Source.” I want you to imagine, if you will, that you are a vessel that needs to be close to your power source in order for you to remain strong. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christmas Cheer

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Dec 20, 2020

Christmas is a time of cheer. You might respond with, "not this year. The Christmas cheer has been replaced with Christmas fear!" There was both fear and cheer surrounding the events of the first Christmas.

CHRISTMAS CHEER There's a Christmas song titled, Holly, Jolly Christmas. It starts out, "Have a holly jolly Christmas; It's the best time of the year. Now I don't know if there'll be snow; But have a cup of cheer". I wonder what's in that cup? But Christmas is a time ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-15, Matthew 1:18-21, Luke 1:39-49, Luke 1:67-79, Hebrews 2:14-15  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

4th Sunday Of Easter, Year B. Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 18, 2021

APRIL 21st, 2024.

Acts 4:5-12, Psalm 23:1-6, 1 John 3:16-24, John 10:11-18. (A) HEALING, RESURRECTION, AND SALVATION. Acts 4:5-12. There is a parallel between the persecution of Jesus upon the healing of a man ‘blind from birth’ (John 9:1), and the persecution of Peter and John upon the healing of a man ‘lame ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:5-12, Psalm 23:1-6, 1 John 3:16-24, John 10:11-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Test Of A Stranger Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on May 24, 2021

Watch Joseph’s strategy here. Joseph is alternating the sun and the frost in order to break the brothers open to God. When things alternate between really hot and really cold, it breaks things. It breaks the ground.

We’ve called Joseph’s life a roller-coaster… … where his dips included two years of languishing in prison and eleven years of slavery. And we meet him in today’s story, he’s been promoted over the world empire, Egypt, and second only to Pharaoh inside the world’s most important nation of the time. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Kodak Moments In The Life Of Christ (Christmas)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Feb 16, 2022

Christmas is a very special time of the year. It is one of the happiest times of the year for most folks. But it is not only the happiest time of the year for some folks, it is also a very sad time for others.

The statistics tell us that suicides rank high at this time of the year. WHY IS THIS A SAD TIME OF THE YEAR FOR SOME FOLKS? It is especially sad for some folks for two reasons: (1) SOME HAVE SUFFERED A DIVORCE This Christmas is the first year they have had without their marriage partner. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-14

Denomination: Baptist

Finding The Lord’s Will

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 17, 2022

Some would have us believe that one of the hardest things in this life to find, is the will of God for our lives.

Illus: Some think that finding the will of God for our life is like playing the game where you put a marble on the table, turn three cups upside down with one of the cups covering the marble. And then someone very quickly switches them around, then you try to guess which cup the marble is under. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:17

Denomination: Baptist

To Hell And Back

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 6, 2021

When Jesus cries out, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me!" He admits he has been forsaken by the one Person we expected to be his supporter to the end. But God cast his vote with the rest and says, guilty.

One of the greatest paradoxes of history is the story of the young English sailor by the name of Noble. His job was to deliver a large cannon from Portsmouth, England to Boston in the Colonies in the mid 1700's. After two days on the ship HMS INTREPID, they encountered heavy weather. Ensign ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:45-54

Cycle Breaker, Table Maker Series

Contributed by James Jackson on Jan 31, 2023

Joseph, the last major character to be introduced in Genesis, was part of a family with a long history of dysfunction, deceitfulness, rejection and resentment. Maybe you are, too. How did Joseph break the cycle?

Good morning! Today we are going to have our last sermon in this series from Genesis. You can go ahead and turn to Genesis 37, but know that we are going to be covering all the way to the end of the book this morning. If you are caught up with our Bible reading plan, we finished Genesis today! ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

When Night Comes - Your Identity Is Secure In Christ - Matthew 26.31-56

Contributed by William Akehurst on Oct 18, 2025

Even when we stumble in weakness, fear, or failure, our identity remains secure in Christ. Through faith, obedience, and prayer, we discover that GOD’s grace, love, and faithfulness redefine our story.

2025.10.19. Sermon Notes. When Night Comes – Your Identity is secure in Christ. Matthew 26.31-56 William Akehurst, HSWC Sermon Script: When the Night Comes - Your Identity Is Secure in Christ Matthew 26:31-56 Theme: Encouragement and Identity in GOD Big Idea: Even when we stumble in weakness, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:21-56, John 16:33, 1 Corinthians 10:13, John 18:10, Luke 22:40-44, Ephesians 6:18, Proverbs 27:6, Psalm 41:9, Isaiah 53:7, Hebrews 12:2, John 1:29, 1 Peter 2:24, John 14:2-3, Isaiah 53:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Labor Day, A Time To Rest

Contributed by Mitchell Leonard on Aug 30, 2025

A sermon to adults on the importance of rest.

August 31, 2025 a.m. Psalm 23 This weekend we celebrate Labor Day. It became a Federal holiday on June 28, 1894, after President Grover Cleveland signed the bill into law. It is a holiday for the working men and women of America. I thought this was interesting. Americans work HARDER ...read more

Denomination: Baptist