Sermons on Empty Manger:

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid

Contributed by W Pittendreigh on Dec 25, 2005

Angels always approach humans with "Don’t be afraid." Easier said than done. We are very afraid.

As a kid fear was a great experience. Especially if it involved SOMEBODY ELSE being afraid. Christmas and Easter are great holidays, but when I was a kid, Halloween was the most fun. Dressing up like some ghost or monster and jumping out of the bushes to yell, “boo!” And to see your best friend ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

He Is Immanuel

Contributed by John Telgren on Jan 8, 2006

God no longer comes near through a burning bush, tabernacle, prophet, or vision. He has come near through Jesus, who is God in the flesh, in order to reconcile us to him so that we can serve him and also carry the message of reconciliation to others.

Have you every heard of Heavenly beans? Little Carried thought that this time of year was for heavenly beans because people sing about it everywhere. The song, Silent Night, that ends with the line, "sleep in heavenly beans." Was her favorite song. Carrie’s brother corrected her. He said, "do ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Christmas: Immanuel - God With Us

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Dec 17, 2011

What I’m asking you to do is this: Imagine that the barrier has been removed, and that Jesus has come to be with us today in the flesh. We can see Him, & walk up to Him, & look in His eyes.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (REVISED: 2017) TEXT: Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23 Today is Dec. 24th, & tomorrow is Christmas Day. And for most of us this has been a very busy Christmas Season. But right now I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 7:14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Christmas Lamb Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Dec 20, 2011

Jesus has given us the greatest Christmas gift; the gift of Himself.

The Christmas Gift Text: John 1:14-18 Introduction 1. Illustration: Why would we feel like it’s an imposition to go to Church on Christmas Day? How ironic to think of Worshiping Jesus as an interruption to His birthday celebration! It reminds me of a story I heard about a mother who was running ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14-18

Denomination: Methodist

At (@) The Name Of Jesus

Contributed by Jay Mccluskey on Dec 30, 2011

Characteristics of Jesus that we can associate with His name.

AT (@) THE NAME OF JESUS Philippians 2:5-11 We can only imagine how carefully God chose those who would be the earthly parents of His son…the ones who would do for this most holy child what all parents do for their children: feed them, clothe them, protect them. Yet one of the most common ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

Sacrificial Love

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Dec 12, 2010

At Christmas we are often entertained with amusing stories of sacrificial love such as "It’s a Wonderful Life" and "The Gift of the Magi". In the Word of God we find a true story of sacrificial love demonstrated by a woman named Ruth.

Sacrificial Love Ruth 1:11-18 Introduction: At Christmas we are often entertained with stories of sacrificial love. We are all familiar with Jimmy Steward’s role in “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Steward, the hero, ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:11-18

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Is The One

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Dec 13, 2010

John the Baptist struggled. Was Jesus the One? Jesus leads us into God’s Word to heal our struggling hearts, just as he did for John. A) He fulfills the prophecies, so we find healing in the Scriptures B) He blesses us in his Word, so we take it to heart

Text: Matthew 11:2-11 Theme: Jesus Is the One A. He fulfills the prophecies, so that we find healing in the Scriptures. B. He blesses us in his Word, so that we take it to heart. Season: Advent 3a Date: December 12, 2010 Web page: ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11

Denomination: Lutheran

Love Came Down At Christmas Series

Contributed by Rich Anderson on Dec 16, 2010

Christmas is a time to reach out and love one another

Last year while at the mall with his Mom, a seven-year-old boy watched as children lined up excitedly to see Santa Claus. Having been taught as a little boy that Christmas is the holiday that Christians celebrate the birth of God’s Son, with the innocence that only a child can have, he asked his ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

Denomination: Christian Church

Joy Comes In The Morning Series

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Feb 13, 2011

Sadness and mourning come before joy. What is God’s joy? What is our true joy?

Joy Comes in the Morning – February 13, 2011 – CATM Anniversary Well…Happy Anniversary to Church at the Mission! Hard to believe it’s been 13 years since we formally launched as CATM. Actually we didn’t have a name when we started. Two different members of the mission’s Development department ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Waiting For Jesus: Shepherds Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 3, 2011

Ordinary people, holy times and places

Zach and his flock were the last into the fold for the night. One hundred and thirteen sheep, just the same as last night and the night before. He pushed the last one into the enclosure and pulled the dried thornbush into the space between the two rough stone walls. On the way up to the heavy ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Surprise Of Christmas

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

When you think about it, the thing that really makes Christmas for us is not what we expect but what we don’t expect. The most memorable Christmas’ are those when something unexpected happened. Christmas isn’t about what we expect; it’s about what we don’

The Surprise of Christmas Matthew 3:1-12 What are your expectations of Christmas this year? There is no season of the year so full of nostalgia and ripe with expectation than Christmas. It takes a Scrooge, with a heart of stone, not to become excited about the approach of this joyous occasion. We ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12

Denomination: Methodist

Christian Meditation

Contributed by Russell (Rusty) Pruitt on Jun 9, 2018

God's purpose for every Christian is to conform us to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). And how is that done? Through the transformation of our thinking (Rom. 12:1-2). And what is a method for transforming our thinking? By meditating on the Words of God!

CHRISTIAN MEDITATION TEXT: PSALM 143:5 **READ** INTRODUCTION: THE PSALMIST OF OUR TEXT IS DAVID. GOD SAYS OF HIM THAT HE’S A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART" (I SAM. 13:14). TO MAKE CLEARER THE LORD'S OPINION OF DAVID, HE SPOKE THROUGH THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYING: "HE (GOD) RAISED UP…DAVID TO BE ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Your Place In An Uncertain Future Series

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Aug 21, 2016

Only God knows tomorrow. Don’t Fear an uncertain future; it is our Opportunity to walk with God. As we do God gives us grace at the moment we need it.

UNLIKELY - Your Place in an Uncertain Future John 3:7-8 MsgB “So don’t be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be ‘born from above’—out of this world, so to speak. You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Separation Of Church & State

Contributed by Michael Grant on Sep 3, 2016

The foundations of America and how we are to view our role in society.

Separation of church and state     Matthew  22: 15-21   One nation under God in the Pledge of Allegiance.  A Ten Commandments monument in a local courthouse.  A Manger Scene on the town common.  In God we trust on our currency.   What do you think of when you hear those things?  For millions of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:15-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Our King Weeps At His Parade Series

Contributed by Allan Quak on Apr 2, 2018

Jesus, in fulfilment of Zechariah 9:9-10. rides into Jerusalem and a massive parade starts. It seems that Jesus should be happy. The people are joyful and God is being praised. Yet in the middle of His parade Jesus weeps. Things are not as they seem.

Message Luke 19:28-44 “Our King Weeps At His Parade” You know something is important in a person’s life when they have multiple words to describe the same thing. (Picture of a toilet) Toilet, WC, Dunny, Throne, John, Loo … quite a lot of other names that are not so polite. (Picture of Me and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-44

Denomination: Baptist