Sermons on Criminals:

Shame You Don’t Deserve - Mark 15:21 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 27, 2024

What do you do when the opinions of others mean too much to you? You can’t stand it when certain people disapprove of you, maybe you’re a people pleaser or you shy away from conflict. How do you escape the fear of man?

Mark 15:21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was pass-ing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. Introduction Simon Well, they finally wrap up their gruesome vaudeville entertainment session and get on with the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:21, Matthew 27:32, Luke 23:26

Palm Sunday - At The Foot Of The Cross

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 3, 2001

Four women loved Jesus so much that they were willing to risk their own lives to be near Him as He hung there upon the cross.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (REVISED: 2017) TEXT: John 19:25-27; Matthew 27:40-42 A. As you know, today is celebrated throughout the Christian world as "Palm Sunday" in remembrance of that day nearly 2,000 years ago when Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:40-42, John 19:25-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Close To The Cross, But Far From Christ? You Don't Have To Be.

Contributed by Scott Sharpes on Mar 1, 2004

During those last days of Christ, there are many who were close to the cross, yet chose to be far from Christ. Asks the questions, "How close am I?" Powerful closing illustration: True Story

Title: Close to the Cross, But Far From Christ? You Don’t Have to Be! 03/2004 West Side Text: Matthew 27:29-56 and Luke 23:26-29 A.M. Service Purpose: Asks the question: How Close Am I? ******************************************************* Introduction: A. Open with personal comments about Mel ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:29-56, Luke 23:26-29

Denomination: Nazarene

The Life Of A Follower Of Jesus Series

Contributed by Tyler Thigpen on Sep 17, 2003

In a series of 7 sermons on "the marks of a disciple," this sermon aims to teach the audience from Luke 9:23 what it means to follow Jesus.

The marks of a disciple: part II 08.17.03 Identify: • Someone to follow me (sitting close to back or middle) band of brothers video – the qualities of a leader We are in a series called the marks of a disciple… last week – learner • if there are things in this book that you do not know, and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Return To Innocence

Contributed by Keith Manry on Apr 3, 2007

Part VI in the series - 24. This is a first person narrative account from the perspective of the penitent thief on the cross. The preaching idea: Only by the innocence of Christ are the guilty set free.

Introduction… My prayer is that over the past six weeks that those of you who have been present for this series of sermons have been moved by the stories that we have experienced. One of the great things about preaching – is that before the message ever gets to you I’ve spent hours and hours in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-46

Denomination: Methodist

To Catch A Thief

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 6, 2010

God uses us, even in our desire to have and to take, to turn around and give life more abundantly to those who have been hurt, even by the church.

Luther Rice Memorial Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD August 26, 1984; First Baptist Church of Wheaton, MD, September 17, 1984; Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC, October 14, 1984 The most delicious of all the thrillers, the most engrossing of all the movie mysteries, is the kind in ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Eternal Security

Contributed by Johnny A. Palmer Jr. on Oct 18, 2010

Notice that Assurance of Salvation is not the same as Eternal Security. Every believer is Eternally secure, unfortunately many do not have assurance of that truth.

Johnny Palmer Jr. Intro: Notice that Assurance of Salvation is not the same as Eternal Security. Every believer is eternally secure but not all have assurance that they are eternally secure. Eternal Security means that once a person is truly saved, they will remain saved eternally. I. First, the ...read more

Scripture: John 5:24

Denomination: Baptist

Operation Celebration

Contributed by Wayne Dishman on Apr 15, 2008

Celebrate the wonder of your salvation!

Celebrate: “to demonstrate satisfaction in by festivities.” But you did not need a definition of celebration did you? All of us have been a part of some kind of celebration. It may have been an athletic accomplishment. It may have been an academic achievement. The state of Florida has been ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

What Do You Want From Jesus

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Jul 15, 2019

If Jesus were to ask you, why are you following him, how would you respond. This message looks at the two thieves who were crucified with Christ, and what they wanted from him.

What Do You Want From Jesus? Proverbs 9:10-12 Luke 23:32-43 Have you ever tried to use deception to get what you wanted. You told someone something good about themselves, because you had plans for later. It could have been a statement, “Mommy I Love You, You’re the best Mom in the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-43

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Making A Messiah, Good Friday Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Mar 25, 2016

This message looks at the problems in the arrest and trial of Jesus. Was preached in two parts on Good Friday

It had been a full week, it had started with the crowds on the streets of Jerusalem and now here they were, just the thirteen of them in a private room celebrating the Passover. And only two people in that room knew where the night would lead. Jesus, because he was. . . Jesus. And Judas because ...read more

Scripture: John 18:28-40

Denomination: Wesleyan

Money Matters Series

Contributed by Rodney Coe on Feb 19, 2015

What is our attitude about money?

Money Matters James 5:1-6 The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5th, 1882 in New York City in accordance with the Central Labor Union. In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other ...read more

Scripture: James 5:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

An Unexpected Friday Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Apr 1, 2018

Of all the things that were expected to happen the Friday after the triumphant entry, nobody expected these things.

An Unexpected Friday Nobody had expected this. It was only five days ago that the people of Jerusalem had welcomed Jesus as their Messiah. For three years Jesus had travelled throughout Israel. Preaching, teaching, healing the sick and feeding the hungry. He had quieted storms and cast out ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:21-32

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Body Of Christ-5

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Jul 28, 2020

5 of 7. The apostle Paul maintained the significance of the Church's being the Body of Christ. What is exhibited by that entity known as the Body of Christ? The Body of Christ exhibits...

The BODY Of CHRIST-V—1Corinthians 12:12-31 Attention: The current times in which we live are marked by a continual bombardment by the worldly, by the fleshly, by the man-centered separations that exist in our country.—We have Movements promoting racial division, which ironically encourages racial ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:25-26, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Denomination: Baptist

Is He Your God? Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Sep 15, 2021

Good Friday: Psalm 22 is an amazingly accurate depiction of the events that surrounded Jesus’ crucifixion, and there is a lot we can learn from this passage about God’s character and His power over both life and death.

Our passage that we will examine today is amazing, for it is a prophecy of the passion story, or an account of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, that was written nearly 800 years before the birth of Jesus. James Smith says that, “Such a hope [as is found in this passage] must be restricted to the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 22:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

Good Friday Innocence Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Apr 18, 2025

This message looks at how official misconduct was at the root of Jesus' arrest, trial and conviction.

The Innocence Project was formed in the United States in 1992 in order to bring justice to those who had been wrongfully convicted. Since then, they are now represented by 70 independent chapters in 50 states and 12 countries. Their goal is to provide investigative support, legal representation, ...read more

Scripture: John 18:2-3, Mark 11:15-17, John 18:28

Denomination: Wesleyan