Sermons on Decorating Trees:

Fate, Failure And Fig Trees (And Why Bad Things Happen To Good People)

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 17, 2007

It’s the age-old theological question - why do bad things happen to good people? Jesus, as ever, doesn’t give us the response we expect.

They say that philosophy deals with two sorts of questions: * Questions to which everybody knows the answer (eg. Do I really exist?). * Questions to which nobody knows the answer (eg. Why do I exist?). Religious teachers tend to deal the same sorts of questions, perhaps particularly questions ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Genesis 7 - Imagine How Many Trees Noah Cut Down To Make The Ark! Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 16, 2009

Don’t get sidetracked. Noah was saved from the coming judgment by coming into the ark. We can be saved from the coming judgment by coming to Christ and believing in Him. Come under His authority and trust Him today.

Genesis 7 - Imagine how many trees Noah cut down to build the Ark. Methuselah, whose name we have seen means "When he dies, judgment" was on his deathbed. God’s grace in giving man time to repent was drawing to a close. In Genesis 7 the entire earth is flooded. This isn’t a local flood. This is ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 7:1-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rediscovering The Wonder Of The Incarnation - John 1:14 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Dec 6, 2024

Christmas is a season where we celebrate the birth of Jesus. But sometimes, amidst the busyness of gifts, decorations, and gatherings, we lose sight of the profound mystery of the incarnation—God becoming man.

Rediscovering the Wonder of the Incarnation Theme: The incarnation of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our faith, revealing God’s love, purpose, and plan for salvation. Key Scripture: John 1:14 – “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1, John 1:14, Philippians 2:6-7, Matthew 1:23, Exodus 25:8, Colossians 1:19, Hebrews 1:3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Help! I'm Not Ready For Christmas

Contributed by Andy Grossman on Dec 3, 2006

Preparing for Christmas; using FACT as an acrostic

“HELP – I’m Not Prepared for Christmas!” December 3, 2006 “About this time Caesar Augustus, the Roman emperor, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the nation. (This census was taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) Everyone was required to return to his ancestral home for this ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Holiness

Like A Seed

Contributed by Richard Papafio on Mar 26, 2018

As a seed is buried and it dies to all the conditions around it and resurrects with resistance to them all and germinates then grows into a tree bearing many fruits who would become seeds to be planted for more fruit bearing, seed producing trees

May the peace of the Lord be with you. Topic: LIKE A SEED John 19:38-42 King James Version (KJV) 38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came ...read more

Scripture: John 19:38-42

Denomination: Charismatic

Joy That Lasts Beyond The Holidays

Contributed by Don Schultz on Nov 25, 2003

Most people throw out their Christmas joy with the wrapping paper and the tree. Where does one find Christmas joy that lasts?

Luke 2:8-20 JOY THAT LASTS BEYOND THE HOLIDAYS Luke 2:8-20 CHRISTMAS JOY THAT LASTS BEYOND THE HOLIDAYS There once was a small group of people – separate from the rest of the world. While the rest of the world was gathering together with family and friends, having a good time, eating and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Lutheran

No Fear No Worries

Contributed by David Hodgin on Nov 22, 2005

how we can be like a tree planted by the water, It does not fear, It has no worries.

Jer 17:7 “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. Jer 17:8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:7-8

A Sermon For Proper 14

Contributed by Ronald Harbaugh on Aug 12, 2006

WE need to look between the trees in order to perceive the presence of Christ in our midst.

9th Sunday after Pentecost (Pr. 14) August 10, 2003 “Series B” Grace be unto you and peace, from God our Father and from our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen Let us pray: Loving God, it is often easier for us to trust our minds than our hearts. Sometimes we believe only what our eyes ...read more

Scripture: John 6:35-51

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus Sees The Good In Us

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Nov 5, 2006

God calls us from our sychamore tree and requests residence in our hearts.

Text: When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today” (Luke 19:5). In my mind, I picture Zacchaeus as being about 5 feet tall with dark hair, a little goatee, average size nose, thick eyebrows, medium to dark brown ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Christian Church

Do Over

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Mar 5, 2010

Sermon using the parable of the fig tree to speak of the relationship between repentance and bearing fruit.

9 / Do Over Intro: Three demons got together and they were trying to find ways to conquer the world. The 1st demon went throughout the world proclaiming, “There is not God!” Even though few people acted as if there was a God, they knew in their hearts that this message was not true. The 2nd ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

God's Christmas Gift: Our Past Doesn't Determine Our Future Series

Contributed by Matthew Stoll on Jan 17, 2008

The skeletons in Jesus’ family tree demonstrate how Jesus would be the savior and redeemer of the world.

Several years ago I remember getting very interested in my family tree, my genealogy. I can’t remember why. Perhaps it was the old black and white pictures my grandfather showed us of our ancestors and their stories I never knew. What brought them from Germany to the U.S.? Did they come to here ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17

Denomination: Methodist

Book Keeping

Contributed by David Trexler on Dec 4, 2007

Jesus was not a candidate for the most popular award in his class. No wonder they nailed him to a tree.

Sermon for Luke 14:7-14 September 2nd 2007 Last week I mentioned one of the greatest privileges of being a pastor is the opportunity to preside over Word and Sacrament. The Sacraments are the easy part, because I really do nothing. After all, its God’s work, not mine. But the Word, the Word on ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:7-14

Denomination: Lutheran

Alive - But Not Productive

Contributed by Bryan Beverly on Jan 29, 2019

This sermon examines why Jesus cursed the fig tree, and what that means for followers of Christ.

INTRODUCTION A while back, I visited an old family friend. This person had not seen me for a long time. Let me reenact our encounter (place and then slowly take off cap). The reason why my friend’s voice trailed off at the end is because my afro had taken an extended vacation. Oh mind you, my ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:18-19, Mark 11:12-14, Luke 13:6-8

Denomination: Baptist

The True Reason Of Christmas!

Contributed by Tony Abram on Jan 4, 2019

The almost forgotten reason for Christmas seems to be almost lost in the hustle and bustle of people out doing each other with decorations and gift buying that most overlook the greatest GIFT there was ever given.

THE TRUE REASON OF CHRISTMAS! The almost forgotten reason for Christmas seems to be almost lost in the hustle and bustle of people out doing each other with decorations and gift buying that most overlook the greatest GIFT there was ever given. This is a gift that if we over look will cost us ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, Acts 10:34, Romans 10:13, John 1:12

Jesus' Concept Of A Mustard Seed Faith

Contributed by Joel Santos on Sep 2, 2006

Notice these powerful transformations: I. The Mustard Seed Faith Begins as a Grain II. The Mustard Seed Faith Turns Into a Plant III. The Mustard Seed Faith Turns Into a Tree IV. The Mustard Seed Faith Turns Into a Great Tree

Jesus’Concept of A Mustard Seed Faith Matthew 17:14-21 Mark 4:31-31 Matthew 13:31-32 Luke 13:19 Introduction: Have you ever thought about your faith being a living, growing thing? Did you know that God has a destination for your faith? There is a kind of faith that God hates, and there is a kind ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:14-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational