Sermons on Empty Handed:

Spiritual Fruit Or Religious Nuts?

Contributed by Douglas Turner on Dec 4, 2008

Lessons from the Withered Fig Tree

A sign posted outside a church on Highway 110 outside of Tyler, Texas once read, “God is looking for spiritual fruit not religious nuts.” Unfortunately, religious nuts abound everywhere, but in and out of the church, but spiritual fruit is rare. The importance though of bearing spiritual fruit in ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:12-26

Denomination: Baptist

Of Grace And Envy

Contributed by Greg Nance on Oct 17, 2010

How is the Kingdom of heaven to be understood in light of laboring for Christ while the world enjoys the pleasures of sin? The parable of Jesus in Matthew 20 is helpful here.

Matthew 20:1-16 Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard Jesus introduces this parable saying that the kingdom of heaven is like this. That's an impressive, if not disturbing introduction to this particular parable for many reasons. I believe that the kingdom of heaven in Matthew's gospel applies ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Maximum Exposure

Contributed by Horace Wimpey on May 4, 2012

In the parable of the tenants we see the characteristics of God Man and Jesus

Maximum Exposure Mark 12:1-12 Intro: One day, a bus driver was driving along his usual route. He didn’t encounter any problems for the first few stops; a few people got on, a few got off, and things went generally well. At one stop, however, a big hulk of a man got on. He was 6’ 8" ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Feeding The 5,000 Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on May 27, 2012

This miracle is one of only two recorded in all four gospels. The other is the resurrection of Jesus. As such, this is this miracle is of primary Importance to our understanding of who Jesus is and what His plan includes for each of us individually, for t

The Gospel of Mark #16 – “Feeding the 5,000” Mark 6:30-44 Intro – 1. ILL – A priest was giving his flock a sermon on the Gospel, and he mentioned how with 5 loaves of bread & 2 fish our Savior fed 5,000 people at once; but instead of saying 5,000, he said 500. The ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-44

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Grace Restored - Part 4 Series

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Apr 5, 2019

An ongoing look at the power of God's amazing grace.

Restoring Grace Mark 16:7 April 7, 2019 Have you ever blown it? I think we’ve all been down that road a time or two. We’ve all said some things which were really, really nasty! We’ve also done some things which can cut a person down. Not only have we done those bad things, we’ve also errored ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:7, Hebrews 8:12, Jeremiah 31:34, Psalm 103:12

Denomination: Baptist

Have You Seen "His Star?”

Contributed by John Gaston on Dec 20, 2018

Since Jesus is called “the Star out of Jacob” (Numbers 24:17) and the “Morning Star” (2 Pet. 1:19), it doesn’t seem surprising that Jesus' birth would be heralded by a new Star. For truly, a Star had been born!

HAVE YOU SEEN “HIS STAR?” Matt. 2:1-12 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: THE UNSELFISH REQUEST 1. The Santa Claus at the shopping mall was very surprised when Emily, a young lady about 20 years old, walked up and sat on his lap. 2. Now, we all know that Santa doesn't usually take requests from ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Cleansing The Temple

Contributed by James May on Apr 13, 2003

Why did Jesus go first to the Temple and then begin to cleanse it? What does he need to cleanse from our temples?

CLEANSING THE TEMPLE The shouts of Hosanna still rang loudly in ears of the citizens of Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday. A large gathering of people were on hand to see Jesus as he rode into the city as the King of Peace on the back of a colt. Jesus continued down the dusty streets while ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:17, Matthew 21:10-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

It's All In The Approach

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on Oct 2, 2009

In Mark 10 we learn from the Pharisees and from some kids on how we approach Jesus. Do we try to justify ourselves, or be justified by God?

Mark 10:2-13 So, usually I like to have my sermons done by Wednesday or so, and I worked very hard to get this one done on Wednesday. I wrote a sermon using the Gospel lesson that talked about marriage and divorce. And after I wrote it, I read through it before I went home and realized it was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:2-13

Denomination: Lutheran

The Perpetual Preparation Of Prayer Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

There are two types of prayer. There is the proud prayer that comes seeking what I want, and then there is the humble prayer that comes seeking what God wants.

Dr. R. G. Lee told of a preacher who use to open his Bible and put his finger down, and whatever it pointed to would be his text for the message. He told this brother that he needed more preparation for his sermons. The proof was the message that he preached on Naaman the leper. He put his finger ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:11-22

The Temple Completed Series

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Jul 29, 2010

Sermon 11 in the series (Ezra 6) We must refresh ourselves on the background of this chapter. You will remember that in 4:1-5, the locals began the opposition to temple construction. They first tried to cause the children of Israel to compromise. Remember

The Book of Ezra Study #11 (Ezra 6) The Temple Completed! OPEN: * 1. What do you think is valuable about studying history? 2. When have you discovered something about the past that has helped you in the present? • I remember when I learned that no great thing has ever been accomplished without ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 6:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

The Temple Completed Series

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Jul 13, 2010

Sermon 9 in the series. Nothing great has ever been accomplished without opposition. Remember, these locals worshiped Jehovah, but only as ONE of their many gods. When the Jews would not join with them, then they tried to harass them, both locally and leg

The Book of Ezra Study #11 (Ezra 6) The Temple Completed! OPEN: * 1. What do you think is valuable about studying history? 2. When have you discovered something about the past that has helped you in the present? • I remember when I learned that no great thing has ever been accomplished ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 6:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Find Joy In Suffering

Contributed by Paul Davidson on May 22, 2017

We can find joy in the midst of suffering... We can take courage and rejoice knowing that after all we've been through, it's going to be worth it all.

Today, we will “Find Joy in Suffering”… Please turn in your Bibles to 1 Peter 1:3-6… “3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-4, Mark 14:34, Matthew 25:31-46, John 10:27-30, Romans 8:16-17, Romans 8:22-25, John 16:33, Revelation 21:4, Luke 22:42-44, 1 Peter 1:3-6  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Initiating The Turn-11(2024)

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Oct 8, 2024

11 of 12. Luke informed his audience of the initial steps that God took to turn His people toward Himself. God began the process of turning of His people toward Himself. But what principles does God use to begin turning people toward Himself? In Initiating the Turn, God uses...

‘INITIATING The TURN’-XI—Luke 1:24a(:5-25) Attention: The aftermath of Hurricane Helene(Cat. 4; Landfall in Florida, Sept. 27, 2024; Sept. 28 it carried not only wind, but unprecedented amounts of rain into mountainous areas of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, & Tennessee causing ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:24, Luke 1:5-25

Denomination: Baptist

One Card Left Series

Contributed by John Braland on Sep 27, 2006

Welcome back to the world poker tour. Maybe you feel hopeless. Whatever is on your mind whether it’s your kids, your parents, your friends, your job, your marriage, your future, God wants you to take the one card you have left in your hand and give it t

Welcome back to the world poker tour. Today you are at the table hoping for a good hand. It’s five card stud so you need to play every card in your hand. It’s a brutal game and the stakes are high. What are you going to do? What cards are you going to play? Are you willing to go all in even ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ponder? Do We Ever Ponder?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Dec 21, 2019

Do we ever consider something important enough to be worthy of consideration? Life affords us a few avenues that should demand more attention than skimming over it. The story of the 13th hand at Iwo Jima is a lesson much like Mary faced. Let us ponder this. Christmas lesson or everyday lesson.

PONDER? DO WE EVER PONDER? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Luke 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:19, James 1:19, Matthew 6:21, Isaiah 6:8

Denomination: Assembly Of God