Sermons on Empty Handed:

Boredom On The Job Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 13, 2015

Boredom is a constant complaint of many workers, but Solomon points to the one thing that can turn the emptiness of the workplace into a powerful tool for our faith. What is this "one thing" that can makes such a big difference for us?

Back in 2009, a 16-year-old British girl was fired from her office job because her manager saw - on Facebook - that she had said her job was “boring”. She was called into her manager's office and given the following letter: “Following your comments made on Facebook... we feel it ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:17-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Spiritual Anatomy

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 10, 2025

There is a space in Christ’s body that only you can fill. Some part of his hand, his eye, or his heart is missing when you are not there

A couple of weeks ago, I used the image of a jigsaw puzzle to illustrate that the gift of God takes some assembling before it starts to take shape in our lives. That is why you were given a piece of a jigsaw puzzle on the way in to the sanctuary this morning. The gift of God’s spirit comes in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:14-26

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Living Large-With Goodness Series

Contributed by Gary Shockley on Oct 2, 2001

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for goodness like a dying person hungers for food or drink.

Living Large-With Goodness The Beatitudes Part 4 Rev. Gary A. Shockley Cornerstone Church September 30, 2001 Man On the Street Video- “What is a good person?” What does “being good” mean to you? The beatitude this morning from Matthew 5:6 is about goodness. The NLT puts it this way, “God blesses ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6, Galatians 5:22

Denomination: Methodist

Go! And Sing To The God Who Rescues - Psalm 68:4–5 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Jun 17, 2025

When life feels unstable—when grief presses in, when loneliness bites, when injustice feels unchecked—we need more than empty platitudes. We need the presence of the living God.

Go! And Sing to the God Who Rescues - Psalm 68:4–5 Psalm 68:4–5 (NLT) “Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the LORD— rejoice in his presence! Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 68:4-5, Matthew 26:64, Philippians 2:9-11, James 1:27, John 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Acts 3:19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

It's Peter On The Line Series

Contributed by Peter Mclewin on Mar 14, 2002

The real miracle was greater than the catch of fish; Jesus had captured Peter’s heart.

Hats off to Luke for bringing his readers exclusive coverage of this great story. Jesus had attracted a crowd eager to hear a Word from God. When the Word of God is spoken with clarity, passion and conviction, it always draws a crowd. Gennesaret, the Sea of Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee are ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Thirsty

Contributed by Ken Sowers on Nov 11, 2002

Creating people who are thirsty for God

An Arab diplomat visiting the US for the first time was being wined and dined by the State Department. The Grand Emir was unused to the salty American foods Constantly sending his manservant Abdul to fetch him a glass of water. Often, Abdul would scamper off and return with a glass of water, but ...read more

Scripture: John 4:5-42

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

More Than A Mother

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Aug 3, 2023

No matter how deep the scars that life has left us with, the mother-love of God can restore the broken places and refill the empty places. There is nothing that we have lost that cannot be transformed or redeemed.

Many of you met my sister Kathleen and her son Brian when they came down for my installation. Brian is the only child in our generation, my mother’s only grandchild. And that’s surprising because, of the two of us, Kathleen didn’t want children and I did. I was the one who played with dolls. I was ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 49:15-23

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Full - Pt. 7 - Power Full Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Feb 19, 2017

We prefer full over empty! Jesus says He came that we might have abundant (full) life. Do we? Do we even know what we should be full of?

Full Pt. 7 - Power Full I. Introduction Are you full? If so, what are you full of? Your "fullness" will determine what overflows to every area of your life. And yet the truth is that if we find ourselves closer to the "e" than the "f" we are in the majority. In a recent study of 1,000 churches and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:14-16

Denomination: Pentecostal

Spirittual Zombies? Compssion Fatique?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 17, 2006

SOME OF OUR WORSE ATTITUDES ARE NOT PLANNED, THEY JUST EVOLVE. I often say: EVEN A DEAD FISH CAN SWIM DOWN STREAM! Are we actively pursuing God’s plan or are we empty zombies?

SPIRITUAL ZOMBIES? COMPASSION FATIQUE? TALKERS BUT NEVER DOERS. By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com TEXT: James 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them ...read more

Scripture: James 2:15-17

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Who Is In Control Of Your Life?

Contributed by Joel Ferren on Nov 26, 2001

What do you allow to control your life? Many things battle for control over us. When the Holy spirit is in control we are in safe hands.

Who is in control of your life? November 4th, 2001 Mark 5:1-20 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. [2] When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. [3] This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:1-20

Denomination: Church Of God

What Does A Man Get For His Toil?

Contributed by William Baeta on Aug 5, 2001

“For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labours under the sun?”

Theme: What does a man gain for his toil Text: Eccl. 1:2, 2:21-23; Col. 3:1-5, 9-11; Lk. 12:13-21 Read Eccl. 2:21-23 “For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. What does a man get for all the toil and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21, Ecclesiastes 2:21-23

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Of The Sons Of Korah

Contributed by Curtis Kittrell on Apr 23, 2002

Temple musicians, descendants of a rebel priest who died at God’s hand, help us explore mysteries of our faith.

OF THE SONS OF KORAH PSALMS 42–49 “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Ps. 42:2). Temple musicians, descendants of a rebel priest who died at God’s hand, help us explore mysteries of our faith. Background Book II. Most believe this second collection of psalms was assembled during the ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Place Of Escape

Contributed by Kevin Taylor on Oct 28, 2001

By using David’s experience, we can learn how to trust God as we abide under His almighty hand!

I. The Cave of Adullam (Justice of the People) A. Text: I Samuel 22:1-2 (Verse 2) Every one that was 1) In Distress 2) In Debt 3) Discontented Adullam means ‘refuge.’ This was a city conquered by Joshua in Joshua chapter 12. It was fortified by Rehoboam in II Chronicles 11. It is referred to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 22:1-2

The Right Measurement

Contributed by James May on Mar 7, 2004

Zechariah saw a man with a line in his hand. That man was Christ and it is his standards that we all must measure up to.

THE RIGHT MEASUREMENT Zechariah 2:1-2, "I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof." Aren’t you glad for ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 2:1-2, John 14:6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Forgiveness -Jesus's Most Costly Lesson

Contributed by Dennis Casanova on Mar 15, 2004

Who amongst us has not suffered from some grevious injustice at the hands of those who we have tried to help ?

Forgiving- Jesus’s Most Costly Lesson Who amongst us has not been grieved by being mistreated by those we have so diligantly attempted to help ? A grief that often turns our hearts black and causes us to focus on the hurt and in so doing clouds our eyes toward our fellow man. Thinking of him ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:14-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational