Sermons on Ceremony:

He Did It For Us

Contributed by John Lowe on Mar 18, 2015

The trial and crucifixion of Jesus is a story of hypocrisy and raging hatred.

He Did It for Us John 19:1-19:20 The trial and crucifixion of Jesus is a story of hypocrisy and raging hatred. It is also the story of the power and majesty of Jesus. The Jewish religious authorities wanted ...read more

Scripture: John 19:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Priests (Leviticus)

Contributed by Scott Jensen on Jul 15, 2019

Priests serve as intermediaries between God and Israel. Jesus is our High Priest for all time. Yet, we are still the priesthood of believers.

“Priests” (Leviticus) Leviticus 8:1-3, 6-10 OPENING AND INTRODUCTION Last week, we started a journey in Leviticus by looking at offerings and how they were presented to God. Blood is a big part of sacrifices which cleaned Israel from their sins, their guilt, and even offered ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 8:1-10, Genesis 14:19-20, Hebrews 10:1-2, Psalm 110:4, Hebrews 5:5-6, 1 John 2:1-2, John 8:12, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 John 5:14, Romans 12:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Give 'em Back To God

Contributed by Bo Dunford on Feb 18, 2021

Child Dedication

1 SAMUEL 1:24-28 “GIVE ‘EM BACK TO GOD” A) Have you ever given your children back to God? * Some of you are thinking, “I’d like to give them back, but I didn’t think God would take them back ... I thought He had a no return policy on kids – Besides, I lost the receipt.” B) The truth is, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:24-28

Denomination: Baptist

More Than Just Sending Cards Or Giving Chocolates And Flowers

Contributed by Benjamin Utomo on Feb 12, 2022

Americans spent $21 billion on Valentine's Day in 2021 to send cards or buy chocolates and flowers for their loved ones. God wants us to show our love more than that. As Christ always loves us, He wants us to love others every day!

Opening: A husband always carried a photo of his wife in his wallet. Whenever he faced a difficult situation, he opened his wallet and saw the picture of his wife. When his friends saw what he did, they said, "You love your wife so much, don't you?" He replied, "When I saw my ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:27-29, 1 Corinthians 1:18, John 15:13, Galatians 2:20, 1 John 3:23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ordinary Water Into Fine Wine

Contributed by Les Buttolph on Mar 13, 2023

Moses gets water from a rock; Jesus gets fine from stone jars

You’ve all heard that phrase, “You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip”. Well this morning, as you heard from our Scripture readings, you can get water from a rock, and even get the finest wine from ordinary water in a stone jar. At least with God, nothing is impossible. Our OT lesson, told in 8 ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11, Exodus 17:1-8

Denomination: Other

Be Like Valentine

Contributed by Benjamin Utomo on Feb 9, 2023

Billions of people around the world celebrate Valentine's Day. More than celebrating it, we should follow the good examples of Valentine.

Opening: A husband always carries a photo of his wife in his wallet. Whenever he faced a difficult situation, he opened his wallet and saw the picture of his wife. When his friends saw what he did, they said, "You love your wife so much, don't you?" He replied, "When I saw my ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:27-29, John 15:13, Galatians 2:20, 1 John 3:23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Quinceanera - Caterpillar To Butterfly

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 17, 2022

What does it mean to be transformed into the image of Christ? This Quinceanera message addresses more than just a coming of age celebration. It focuses on the butterfly-like change that can take place in God's people.

(I was honored to preach the sermon at the Quinceanera - pronounced “kin-sin-yarra” - of one of our Hispanic members. I wanted to do this right, so I studied a lot about this event means. I discovered that a Quinceanera is a celebration of the 15th birthday (Quinceanera literally means “15th year). ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Wedding Message

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 4, 2023

A message presented at the wedding of a young man who was born during a previous pastorate. The young man, now twenty-five years of age, is a vibrant follower of Christ as is his bride. I was privileged to be invited to share in this special event.

Would [the parents of the bride], and [the parents of the groom], please stand. You have acknowledged that your children are a heritage from the Lord, and you have faithfully given of yourselves to bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Now, they have come to a time of mature ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Great Inauguration

Contributed by Les Buttolph on Feb 6, 2025

Jesus was inaugurated to His Office of Ministry at His Baptism.

The headlines of the past week focused on the Inauguration of Donald Trump to begin his term of office as 47th President of the United States. Watching this every 4th year, Constitutionally mandated inauguration, led me to compare that event with Jesus’ baptism, His inauguration to begin His ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:7-17, Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Other

Jesus Loves Lingayats

Contributed by B. D. B Moses on Sep 24, 2003

Our Commission from the Lord is to “go and make disciples” of all nations (peoples). Jesus loves the Lingayats and has a desire for the Lingayats to know the truth of His saving power.

The Lingayats are the twelfth largest people group of India and the largest people group of Karnataka. Lingayats number 9 million people in the Karnataka state alone. A Lingayat is one who wears the Linga, a small spherical object that the Lingayat believes represents God. Lingayats are also ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:2

Denomination: Baptist

Seven Commitments For Spiritual Growth

Contributed by W F on Jan 27, 2007

Don’t tread water - or worse - lose ground in your spiritual life. Make these seven commitments for spiritual growth in 2007.

INTRODUCTION What do you want to achieve this year? While you’re thinking about that why not consider what you want to achieve in your spiritual life in 2007. Did you grow in your faith in 2006? Or did you tread water – or worse – did you lose some spiritual ground? Here are seven commitments that ...read more

Denomination: *other

Indecisive Compromise

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Apr 17, 2012

Eight times in this passage Pilate moves back and forth, showing how indecisive he was in this matter.

The Roman trial of Jesus is a picture of indecisive compromise. The scene flows along with Pilate moving back and forth to Jesus and to His accusers or the people. Eight times in this passage Pilate moves back and forth, showing how indecisive he was in this matter. We have a lot to cover ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Just Empty The House And Sweep It Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 14, 2016

Don't just empty your life of vices; fill it up with prayer, fasting, almsgiving and good work.

3rd Sunday in Lent 2016 Extraordinary Form “As the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters, so are our eyes on the Lord our God, until He has mercy on us.” The words of the psalmist could and should integrate our meditation on God’s word today, because all the ills of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

Prodigality, Love And Grace Series

Contributed by Garth Wehrfritz- Hanson on Mar 5, 2016

A few details of this beautiful parable that we may miss or take for granted because we think the story is so familiar.

The so-called parable of the prodigal son is one of the—if not the—most beautiful stories in the whole Bible. God, it is pointed out, is like the father in the story. The beauty and power of this story is made very clear in the description and actions of the father. One of the dangers ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: Lutheran

Six Men And A Promise

Contributed by Jeremy Poling on Jun 3, 2014

All of us leave a mark on life be it positive or negative.

Thank you Rev. R. Kent Smith Six Men And A Promise Gen 5:19-25 19 And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 20 And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died. 21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 5:19-25

Denomination: Pentecostal