Sermons on Ditches:

The Gospel Of John (Lesson 1): The Word And The Witness Series

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Jun 14, 2020

This sermon is an exposition of John 1:1-18.

The Gospel of John Introduction: The Word and the Witness Introduction: John 1:1-18; 20:30-31 The author of the Gospel is John the Beloved disciple. He was probably a teenager when he began following Jesus. He was the oldest living apostle and, according to tradition, the only one to die a death ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-18, John 20:30-31

Denomination: Pentecostal

Release The Murderer

Contributed by Rich O' Toole on Feb 7, 2024

Jesus on trial before Pilate

Release the Murderer Mark 15:1-15 Good morning. Last week, the Atlanta first News website reported, “A murder suspect is on the loose after he was accidentally released, according to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. Zion River Shaka, 30, had been booked in Fulton County Jail since 2020 but he ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:1-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If The Lord Wills Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 19, 2023

Message 9 in a series through James that helps us explore the relationship between faith and works in our lives. James was the half-brother of Jesus and the leader of the church in Jerusalem.

Listen to this quote from P. J. Conlon in the Monthly Journal of International Association of Machinists, dated January 1899: “…I say if [the public] would only stop to consider this before forming an opinion perhaps the wage-earners might win; but no, they believe everything they see in the ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer – God’s Prescription For Persecution Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 19, 2023

Message 12 in a series through James that helps us explore the relationship between faith and works in our lives. James was the half-brother of Jesus and the leader of the church in Jerusalem.

There is a phrase we often use in our culture – we saved the best for last. I don’t know if the last part of James 5 is the BEST section because it is hard to measure that quantifiably. But one I can say for certain is that it is no doubt one of the most debated sections of the book of James and ...read more

Scripture: James 5:13-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Despair To Delight

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Aug 10, 2023

Watching television can be entertaining, but at the same time it can be very disconcerting to see what they do on a television program.

Illus: For example, John Wayne on his horse rides into a town that is filled with all kinds of major problems, and in a couple of hours he will clean that town up and make it a safe and decent place to live. The reason it is upsetting to watch such movies is because we find ourselves with major ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

In God We Trust

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 24, 2021

“Do not be anxious” about what you will eat and drink. “Do not be anxious” about what you will wear. “Do not be anxious” about tomorrow

It’s so appropriate that all our money has the motto, “In God We Trust.” To understand why it’s there, you have to go all the way back to the Civil War when a Pennsylvania pastor requested the Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase, place a Christian motto on our currency. Because of this ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Denomination: Baptist

What Happens When We Try To Follow Jesus Christ? Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Aug 16, 2021

Jesus will... 1. Help us count the cost of following Him (vs. 18-20). 2. Remind us of His sacrifice (vs. 19-20). 3. Stress the urgency of our service (vs. 21-22). 4. Reveal His greatness to us (vs. 23-27).

What Happens When We Try to Follow Jesus Christ? The Gospel of Matthew Matthew 8:18-27 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared August 16, 2021) BACKGROUND: *Here in Matthew 8, Jesus has finished His Sermon on the Mount, and great multitudes followed Him down the mountain, on the way to Capernaum. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:18-27

Denomination: Baptist

Excelling In Goodness And Mercy Series

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Aug 19, 2021

In the pursuit for godliness they will discover there are some negative characteristics that will block their ascendancy to excellency. Yet, disciples also learn lessons about how to experience a life characterized by goodness, mercy, grace, and joy

A major part of learning how to do something is learning the "do nots." To illustrate: One of my first lessons related to learning how to be a locomotive engineer involved learning certain things that I must not do—such as going to sleep. While pulling a train, you do not reach down ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Paul's Paradoxical Personality Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

Paul took seriously the obviously impossible goal of being all things to all men. The result is, he had the potential for pleasing everybody, but also for aggravating everybody ,and Paul was quite good at both.

A lion, a fox, an a hyena were moving through the jungle collecting their dinner. When they were done they had gotten a large pile of animals. The lion said to the hyena, "Why don't you go over and divide the pile into three equal parts." The hungry hyena said, "Sure." He ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:17-26

No Place Like Home

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Jan 9, 2022

We would sooner give up everything of human worth, even earthly joy, physical health and wholeness, than lose that gift. For this is our true home: in Zion, with God, and in his house. This is always home for God’s people: to be with Him!

There’s no place like home. You realize that when you’ve been away for a while: maybe on vacation, a business trip, or in the hospital. Home is a refuge. For when we’re at home, we’re surrounded by the familiar. Home is security and comfort. There’s no place like it. But how do we know when we’ve ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 137:4-6, Jeremiah 25:1-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Successful Failure Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 6, 2021

Peter was the greatest failure in his abusive power. And yet we see that he not only survives, but he does so quite successfully. He is able to stay on top as the leader of the 12. He does everything wrong, and still comes out a winner.

Apollo 13 was one of the biggest flops in the history of our space program, and yet it was also one of the most celebrated. Can a catastrophic failure also be a colossal success? Just ask the three astronauts of that ill fated flight. It was 1970, and they were on their way to the moon when an ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-26

When Fear Envelops You Series

Contributed by David Owens on Mar 7, 2021

God has made us with the ability to experience fear as a part of His loving provision for us. When properly embraced and employed, fear can protect us from harm, motivate us to action, and cause us to reach out to God for the help we need.

A. Years ago, fear began to take hold of the people of Moline (Mo-lean), Illinois. 1. First came the stories of a wild cougar on the loose. a. The news sent women and children into hiding, and even made brave men tremble. 2. Next came a similar story about a huge beaver, estimated to be 80 ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 56:3-4, Hebrews 13:5-6, Mark 4:35-40, Matthew 14:22-32, Psalm 34:4, Psalm 46:1-3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Fruit Of Patience Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 8, 2021

George Horne says, "Patience strengthens the spirit, sweetens the temper, stifles anger, extinguishes envy, subdues pride, bridles the tongue, restrains the hand, and tramples on temptation." In other words, it is the key to being like Jesus.

A young boy, who had reached the age where having a watch made life worth living, was bugging his parents to get him one. He was told he would have to wait until he was older. But he continued to beg for one until his whole family was sick of it. His father finally laid down the law and told him ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

The Fruit Of Kindness Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 8, 2021

People who do not grasp the theology of Christianity can easily grasp its love when they see it displayed in acts of kindness. Instead of thinking of kindness as a minor virtue, we need to exalt it to the level where the Bible puts it-a vital ingredient to being Christ like.

Allen Emery, one of Billy Graham's associates tells of his experience as a boy back in 1937. He was travelling on a train with his father. One of the porters had a limp and was obviously in pain. When they inquired about it, they learned he had an infected ingrown toenail. After breakfast ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

God Brings Down The Proud Series

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Apr 10, 2022

In the church's fear and struggle, feeling hard-pressed and helpless, she can be encouraged. We know that the proud of the earth will not endure forever. The violent will not prevail. God is on his throne: He is the great judge and our faithful Saviour.

The world has seen many cruel tyrants and dictators. Sometimes these powerful men live out their days to the fullest, enjoying all the glories of their position right to the end, then dying in comfort. But many end in humiliation and defeat. The great Napoleon spent his last years in exile on a ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed