Sermons on Decorating Trees:

Have You Given A Party And Nobody Came?

Contributed by Deborah Prihoda on Apr 22, 2002

Illustrated sermon using a table decorated for a party (representing an empty life of religion) and a cross (representing a life given to Christ in relationship).

TEXT: John 18:28 They led Jesus therefore from Caiphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium in order that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. INTRODUCTION Give brief history of Passover and why it was instituted. Exodus ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:1-14, John 18:28

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Mushrooms Or Maple Trees: Spiritual Growth As God Intended (Sermon #2) Series

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jun 17, 2007

Salvation is free; discipleship will cost everything we have

Mushrooms or Maple Trees: Spiritual Growth as God Intended Sermon #2 Sermon Objective: Being a Christ-follower requires one to surrender themselves to God’s will for their lives. INTRO Last week we began a Bible series called Mushrooms and Maple Trees. Mushrooms sprout up overnight and then ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38

Denomination: Nazarene

Mushrooms Or Maple Trees: Spiritual Growth As God Intended Sermon #3 Series

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jul 16, 2007

A life that pleases God is focused on the person and words of Jesus Christ.

Mushrooms or Maple Trees: Spiritual Growth as God Intended Sermon #3 Sermon Objective: A life that pleases God is focused on the person and words of Jesus Christ. PRE-SERVICE INTRO We are in a sermon series called Mushrooms and Maple Trees. Mushrooms sprout up overnight and then wither away in a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:1-8

Denomination: Nazarene

Unusual Healings: He Saw "Men Like Trees, Walking About” Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jul 24, 2020

A man who could neither see nor hear was brought to Jesus. Note the unusual method Jesus used to heal this man with the two severe disabilities.

Text: Mark 8:22-26 KJV 22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. 24 And he ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:22-26

Denomination: Baptist

The Barren Fig Tree: Personal, National, And Universal Applications Of Fruit Bearing Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Oct 10, 2022

A fig tree produces fruit, it produces figs, a wonderful fruit common in Israel in the middle east.

“Mordecai was seven years old when he decided that God had called him to be an evangelist. He started by preaching to barnyard animals. He even tried to immerse a cat in a water trough. When the feline began to scratch and claw, the budding evangelist threw him down and screamed, “Go on . . . go to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:3-4, John 15:1-2, James 2:14-17

Denomination: Salvation Army

Men Like Trees Walking - Mark 7:24-8:26 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Nov 6, 2023

Did Jesus have to try twice to heal the blind man? Or was the two-stage healing a profound lesson for how we understand God's Word?

Introduction: Perception The Mexican cave fish has eye sockets but no eyes. Where they live, it’s so dark, eyes are useless and so they lost them. Biologists have discovered that same species of fish who live in waters that have some light, and they do have eyes. Stay too long in the dark and your ...read more

The King, The Temple, And The Tree - Matthew 21.1-22 (Part 1) Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Aug 15, 2025

The KING has come - not to meet our shallow expectations, but to rule our hearts, cleanse our worship, and produce in us a faith that is both pure and fruitful. JESUS enters as the rightful KING, calls His people to pure worship, and expects genuine faith that bears spiritual fruit.

2025.08.17. Sermon Notes. The KING, The Temple, and The Tree_Matthew 21.1-22 (Part 1) Welcoming the KING, Purifying the Heart, Bearing Fruit in Faith BIG IDEA: The KING has come - not to meet our shallow expectations, but to rule our hearts, cleanse our worship, and produce in us a faith that is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-22, Zechariah 9:9, Psalm 118:25-26, Isaiah 56:7, Jeremiah 7:11, 2 Timothy 4:2-5, John 15:8, Galatians 5:22-23, James 1:6, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Corinthians 13:2, Mark 11:24  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Did Nathan Know Series

Contributed by Dustin T Parker on May 1, 2007

just because he was sitting under a tree...

How Did Nathan Know? Epiphany 2 - January 15th John 1:43-51 † IN His Name! † Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord, Jesus Christ! A great Confession, often overlooked! Matt 16:16 But how did he know? In the gospels, there are a number of confessions about who Jesus was. ...read more

Scripture: John 1:43-51

Denomination: Lutheran

The Predecessor From God

Contributed by Dr. Jeffrey Dukeman on Dec 3, 2018

John the Baptist was a predecessor from God at Jesus' Baptism. We today should reflect on all those who have preceded us and helped us to know God, and we should also strive to be predecessors from God for others.

Historian David Barton has an interesting discussion in an article entitled “Christmas—as Celebrated by the Presidents.” Barton writes, Even though Christmas did not become a national holiday until 1870, it has a centuries old history in America. Interestingly, in colonial America, the southern ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-20

Are We Wandering In The Darkness? And How Do We Get Out? Series

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Feb 3, 2018

Advent gives us time to bear witness to Jesus

Mark 1:1-8 We gather on this the second Sunday of Advent with joyful expectations of another Christmas season with the sacred and secular traditions that Christmas brings. We can see the excitement in the faces of children who patiently wait for Christmas Day. It's harder for them to concentrate ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8

Denomination: Episcopal

How Christmas Complicates Things

Contributed by Dave Bootsma on Dec 15, 2005

How you respond to Christmas depends on how you view Jesus as well as how you view yourself.

ILL. THE DANGERS OF CHRISTMAS Dr. Mateen Elass grew up in Saudia Arabia. In his youth he associated Christmas with reindeer, stars, colorful lights, sleigh bells, parties, and decorated trees. He remembers being told that the deeper meaning of Christmas was love and good will shown by giving and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Making Room For Christ At Christmas

Contributed by Ray Swift on Dec 2, 2009

Instead of trusting in a stimulus package or a health care reform system that only creates false hope, believers can prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the hope of the world.

FBMB November 29, 2009 Sunday Morning Making Room for Christ at Christmas Luke 2: 36-38 Intro.: I have a big announcement to make this morning. No it’s not about someone being pregnant, it’s not about a sports team going to a bowl game, it’s not a new stimulus package, it’s not about the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:36-38

Denomination: Baptist

"Uncommon Birth"

Contributed by Ray Scott on Dec 2, 2003

The birth of Jesus was like no other ... because God planned it! This message reviews some of the uncommon aspects of the birth of Jesus.

“Uncommon Birth” Matthew 1:18 – 2:23 INTRODUCTION: People celebrate Christmas in different ways. There are different family traditions … different customs … BUT … the SAME BIRTH! Things sure have changed over the past 2000 years: o NOW – Santa comes at night … presents are opened as soon as ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas Greeting Card Sermon Iv: Joy! Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Sep 30, 2019

You may FEEL the human emotion of happiness, or sadness, at Christmas Time, but the Diving Blessing of the coming of God's Promised Savior is the gift that blesses your life with REAL Inner Joy.

CHRISTMAS GREETING CARD SERMON IV: JOY For some folks, Christmas is the happiest time of the year; for others, Christmas is the saddest time of the year. It all depends on how you feel about your circumstances in life. An editorial page ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-11

Pruning And Pinching Series

Contributed by Rick Pendleton on Oct 27, 2004

HOw the secrets that grow a Bonsai tree will kill a church.

Pruning and Pinching (On Not Becoming a Bonsai Church- Part 2) Luke 19:11-26 Recap: What is the first secret to keeping a Bonsai tree small? Keep the pot small. This week I want to share with you two more secrets for keeping the Bonsai small. They are things that sound unhealthy for the tree ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:11-26

Denomination: Baptist