Sermons on Devouring Widows Houses:

Rapture Ready--Living With Authentic Faith Matthew 23 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Sep 14, 2025

To be rapture ready, we must move from empty religion to authentic relationship with CHRIST. JESUS condemns hypocrisy and calls us to authentic faith expressed in humility, obedience, and servant leadership. Outward show can’t replace inward surrender. Be watchful. Be faithful. Be ready.

2025.09.14 Sermon. RAPTURE READY_LIVING WITH AUTHENTIC FAITH_WOE TO HYPOCRISY, YES TO HUMILITY Matthew 23 William Akehurst, HSWC Scripture Readings Matthew 23:1-39, 2 Timothy 3:5, James 1:22, Philippians 2:3, Luke 12:1, John 10:9, 1 Timothy 6:5, Micah 6:8, Matthew 15:8, 1 Samuel 16:7, Matthew ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-39, 2 Timothy 3:5, James 1:22, Philippians 2:3, Luke 12:1, John 10:9, 1 Timothy 6:5, Micah 6:8, Matthew 15:8, 1 Samuel 16:7, Matthew 5:20, Matthew 7:21-23, Revelation 3:1-3, 2 Peter 3:9, John 14:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, Matthew 24:44, Matthew 23:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, Matthew 23:39  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Mother Who Would Not Give Up

Contributed by Lee Graham on Oct 18, 2000

Introduction: 4:1-7 The widow of a prophet was about to lose her children to slavery.

Introduction: 4:1-7 The widow of a prophet was about to lose her children to slavery. A. Mothers Have an Dedication. 1. This Mother was not out at the dance hall. q Nor at the cocktail lounge q Running around on her husband 2. She was at home fulfilling the greatest career of all ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-7

The Offer Of A Lifetime

Contributed by Scott Carmer on Jun 11, 2007

The widow of Zarephath received a lifetime of grace from God, as offered to her by the prophet Elijah.

The Offer of a Lifetime I Kings 17:8-16 June 10, 2007 There was this fellow who was downtown to do some business. He was only in the building for a few minutes. When he came out he saw a police officer writing a parking ticket. He approached the officer and said, “Come on, how about giving a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:8-16

Denomination: Methodist

What Kind Of Fool Are You?

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 18, 2022

Many of us have watched movies of wild animals on television. I enjoy watching them until they become vicious and start attacking and devouring each other.

I guess when they get like this, it reminds me of many church members that I know. There are many mean people in the world, and at times we find some of them within the church. That is, they are unkind and vicious in the way they treat others! Illus: They remind me of the story of President ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 14:1, 1 Corinthians 4:9-10

Denomination: Baptist

Foundations Series

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Oct 3, 2022

Jesus drives home the point of obedience by telling a parable about two men building a house. One built his house on the rock and withstood the storm. The other built his house on sand and was destroyed.

Two Sets of Joneses Luke 6:46-49 Parables with a Point Jefferson M. Williams 10-02-2022 Foundations When we built the addition to our house in Pontiac, the first thing that Milt did was dig a deep hole. My job was to clear all the rocks out of the hole. ??He explained that we had to build a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:46-49

Denomination: Baptist

Mistreating The Vulnerable Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 17, 2020

Christians are taught to treat the vulnerable with compassion and with generosity. The study is based upon the practised instituted by Moses for Israel, which practise is continued among the churches to this day.

“You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 22:21-27

Denomination: Baptist

An Invitation To Get To Know Jesus

Contributed by Steven Chapman on May 2, 2001

Step into the shoes of those around the table at Simon’s house.

Luke 7:36-50 It was an invitation that I couldn’t refuse. Oh, I had received lots of invitations in my lifetime; invitations to weddings, invitations to parties, invitations to fund raising gatherings for religious organizations and political parties. But never an invitation quite like this one. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Clones Or Discsiples? Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Sep 23, 2019

You might be a “modern day Pharisee” if you are more interested in making clones of yourself than disciples of Jesus

NOTE: This is a manuscript, and not a transcript of this message. The actual presentation of the message differed from the manuscript through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is possible, and even likely that there is material in this manuscript that was not included in the live ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:13-15

Denomination: Baptist

Love In The Dark Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Apr 10, 2010

If we truly love God and people, then we exalt the Savior, not ourselves, and give everything we have even when the days are dark.

A father passed by his son’s bedroom and was astonished to see the bed nicely made up and everything neat and tidy. Then he saw an envelope propped up on the pillow. It was addressed, “Dad.” With the worst premonition, he opened the envelope and read the letter with trembling hands: Dear Dad, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:35-44

Denomination: Evangelical Free

"So Close And Yet So Far!"

Contributed by Lee Miller on Aug 22, 2008

I believe there are hundreds of thousands and maybe even millions in the church of America and around the world who are close to, in other words, “not far from the Kingdom of God.”

“So Close and Yet So Far!” It was one of the best football games ever. Remember Super Bowl XXXIV between the Rams and Titans? In the final seconds Tennessee was driving for the game-tying touchdown and on the final play Kevin Dyson caught a pass over the middle and lunged ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Denomination: Mennonite

Know Prayer, Then Pray With Urgency! Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 29, 2011

Too many talk about prayer, push prayer but don’t pray! I have gone to prayer seminars and heard great teachings on prayer but you know what no one prayed. So today I believe the Spirit of the Lord is telling us to pray so we will start our message today

Series: What is the Spirit saying to the church today? The expression, "what the Spirit says to the churches" occurs in each of the seven letters to the particular churches in the book of Revelation. In these letters, Christ reminds these churches that he sees what is going on in their churches. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:12-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hand Me Another Jar

Contributed by Ronald Hughes on Jun 4, 2002

How a widow teaches us about emptiness. What we think is nothing God uses for everything.

HAND ME ANOTHER JAR 2Kings 4:1- Rev. R. B. Hughes 2Kings 4:6b … “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. I. INTRODUCTION Ever run out ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-7

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Not So Gentle Jesus Series

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Oct 13, 2005

The Bible does not present Jesus as the sissy the church presents him as.

Ancient Secrets of the Bible #3 The Not So Gentle Jesus What is the first thought that comes to your mind at the name of Jesus? How would you describe his character or emotional makeup? What is your image of Jesus as a man? Isn’t He sort of meek and mild? One man said “I mean the pictures ...read more

Scripture: John 2:13-17

Denomination: Wesleyan

Time Is Ticking Away

Contributed by Shawn Drake on May 29, 2001

A sermonette concerning a personal house cleaning.

TIME IS TICKING AWAY PSALM 90:12 Introduction: 1. This morning I have just a few minutes. a. How many times in your life have you felt that you didn’t have enough time to get something accomplished? b. Mothers and grandmothers, how many times have you not had enough ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:12

Denomination: Baptist

Still Blessed

Contributed by Michael Martin on Feb 25, 2007

The Blessing of Staying in God’s House

(Psa. 84:1-12) "Blessed are they that dwell in thy house..." The word "Blessed" in the Bible means "contentment, happiness, fulfillment!" The implication is that those that are content, happy and fulfilled are truly BLESSED! In this wicked, lost and dying world, we can still have peace and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 84:1-12

Denomination: Baptist