Sermons on Empty Manger:

What Is Greatness?

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Oct 10, 2024

Jesus our God came to serve. And even to die, to give his life as a ransom for many! To die for us, to empty himself of divine power and authority and serve those in need. That is true greatness.

I recall a meme I saw online, it had a picture of a janitorial supply cart and it said, "Called to ministry? This will be your first pulpit." Truer words were never spoken. My first five years in ministry I mopped a lot of floors, and believe me, I expect more floors in the future. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-21

Denomination: Salvation Army

Every Spiritual Blessing In Jesus Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Feb 10, 2022

Many Christians today have their eyes set on rolling hills of worldly blessings, never realizing we have within our grasp the richest reserve of blessing in Jesus that will never go empty.

Dr. Bradford Reaves Crossway Christian Fellowship Hagerstown, MD, USA www.mycrossway.org View this and other messages at: https://mycrossway.churchcenter.com/channels/8118 I want to ask for some license for just a moment to revisit a story I put into the newsletter last Sunday. It is about the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 2:10, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, John 15:16, Matthew 25:34, Colossians 2:14, Galatians 3:26  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Brethren

The Dead Hear His Voice And Live

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on May 9, 2021

The day will come when all the graveyards and all the cemeteries in the world will be emptied out. They will give up their dead, who will live again. And those who have believed in Christ will live forever with him.

The apostle John records seven miracles (or signs) from Jesus’s public ministry. Today we come to the seventh sign, and it is without question the greatest sign. For in John 11, the Lord Jesus powerfully restores the life of Lazarus. And it’s actually a miracle that we can relate to, in the sense ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-44

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Martha Syndrome Series

Contributed by John Huyser on Nov 29, 2022

Entering into the first Sunday of Advent, hope outshines disappointment. At some point of all of have come down with Martha Syndrome. When our caring and compassion tanks are nearing empty - Watch Out!

It was Junior High in the mid 1980’s when the Wilder family opened up Tokens Video Arcade in my home town of Lansing, IL. Today, you can go to Google Play or the Apple Store to download a pinball game, but it is nothing like the original. The pull of the spring tensioned launch button, the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:28-31

Remember The Lord!

Contributed by Larry Grant on Aug 16, 2025

We have already allowed the enemy to: Silence our praise, Empty our altars & Extinguish our testimony! But its not too late! Our Faith is worth fighting for!

Nehemiah 4:10-15 “Remember the Lord!” 8/17/2025 Intro: Nehemiah was neither a prophet nor a scribe. He was the cupbearer for the Persian King Artaxerxes. After Ezra the scribe led a group of Israelites back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. The Persian King allowed Nehemiah to lead another group ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:10-15

Denomination: Baptist

God Is Holy, And God Is Coming (Revelation 4:1-11) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Oct 27, 2025

As an encouragement, Jesus gives John a vision/revelation of heavenly reality. There is a throne higher than Caesar's. That throne isn't empty. And our holy God is coming soon.

Today, we find ourselves in the first of two chapters in Revelation, that I consider to be at its very heart. Revelation 4, and 5. Arguably, these two chapters in their own way are the very heart of the Bible, as well. There are things in these chapters that are not necessarily obvious, that ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 4:1-11

Righteous Joseph Series

Contributed by Shine Thomas on Dec 1, 2023

People often neglect righteous Joseph while focussing on the theme of Christmas. But do you know there is a man who stands silently next to the manger in the nativity scene? He is not even given a single line to speak! Then he disappears completely from history after the teenage years of Jesus.

INTRODUCTION There is a story of courage that took place in the very first Christmas. It is about righteous Joseph. But it is a story we often miss because people’s Christmas focus is mostly around a young mother Mary and her son, Jesus. People often neglect righteous Joseph while focussing on the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18, Matthew 1:24, 1 Peter 4:8, Proverbs 21:26, 1 John 3:7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Fathers Who Carry Arks

Contributed by Ava Ch on Jun 12, 2025

Today on Father’s Day and Trinity Sunday, we remember those who, like the ark-bearers, stand in deep places for others. Just as the ark once carried God’s presence, now Christ—born in a manger, obedient to the Father—dwells among us through the Spirit.

Fathers Who Carry Arks - Joshua 3:15-17 I. Introduction—The Race Defeat! He lay there silently, a tear dropped from his eye. “There’s no sense running anymore—three strikes, I’m out—why try?” The will to rise had disappeared, all hope had fled away, So far behind, so error prone, ...read more

Alleluia Christ Is Risen

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 23, 2016

The Sunday School teacher asked the class " What do you think were Jesus first words when he came out of the tomb?" A little girl shouted frantically I know!, I know!" Extending her arms into the air she said " TA DA!". Beloved "TA DA the Lord has risen!"

It is Easter... The day that we celebrate the resurrection ... of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A time when Alleluias fill the air: Beloved ... You know the response: Alleluia Christ is Risen...... (Pause) The Lord is Risen in Deed Alleluia. There is a story that I love so well ... that ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Corinthians 15:12-26

Denomination: Anglican

Foolish Wisdom-5(2025)

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Sep 23, 2025

5 of 8. The apostle Paul related that the wisdom of the Cross-work of Christ, was seen as foolishness by those who were perishing. The wisdom of the Cross can be misinterpreted. But How can wisdom be properly interpreted? Foolish Wisdom is interpreted thru...

FOOLISH WISDOM-V—1Corinthians 1:22-28[part-2--:24-25](1:18--2:5) Attention: Something deceptively seen by the heart’s predisposition. There is a ‘radical far-left liberal’ belief at work in America, that holds that most anything except Christianity, should be considered as normative. IF the Church ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:24-25

Denomination: Baptist

Ichabod: When The Glory Departs Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jul 3, 2025

The story of Ichabod is a tragic but necessary reminder that God's presence is not automatic. It can depart when dishonoured, neglected, or taken for granted.

ICHABOD: WHEN THE GLORY DEPARTS By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 1 Samuel 4:1-22 Supporting Texts: Ezekiel 10:18-19, Psalm 51:11, Hosea 4:6, Revelation 2:5, John 15:5 INTRODUCTION: There is no greater tragedy for a person, a church, or a nation than the departure of God's glory. The glory ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 4:1-22

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Worthless Clouds Without Water Carried By The Changing Winds –jude 1 Verse 12 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 16, 2022

Jude continues his description of the false teachers using metaphors to describe them. This follow on from hidden reefs and we now have empty clouds without water, useless in promise and leaving bitter failure. Many people are left hurt, and without hope, and fleeced and betrayed.

WORTHLESS CLOUDS WITHOUT WATER CARRIED BY THE CHANGING WINDS –Jude 1 verse 12 In our last message we were looking at these false teachers Jude was battling when he urged his readers to contend for the faith. They had to be positive, and a lazy and don’t care less approach would achieve nothing. ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:12, Ezekiel 34:1-8, Zechariah 11:15-17, Acts 20:28-30, Deuteronomy 32:9-10, 1 Peter 5:7, 1 Corinthians 12:25, Ephesians 4:14, John 4:13-15, John 7:37-38, Hebrews 10:22, James 3:11-12, Revelation 7:17, Revelation 22:1  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Start Of Something New Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Apr 18, 2006

With the empty tomb, God demonstrated that he was doing something new. We live out the reality that God is doing something new as we walk in faith in the relationship that God made with us at our baptism.

John 20:1-18 “The Start of Something New” INTRODUCTION It was near dawn on that first Easter, when Mary Magdalene approached Jesus’ tomb. It was probably a morning that was not all that different from this one. Mary expected to find a tomb with a stone rolled across its entrance. She assumed ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Lutheran

Helpful Routines For A New Year

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Jan 6, 2007

Jesus and his family went to the Passover Feast according to custom. It was a helpful routine and not an empty ritual for them. This talk offers four helpful routines for the Church: Praying, Eating, Worshipping and Serving Together (PEWS).

Luke 2: 41-52 Midnight mass – Church on Christmas Day – Presents all opened before 6am – No presents until after Christmas lunch – Turkey with all the trimmings – A family walk in the afternoon – A football match on Boxing Day – Turkey sandwiches for a week – New Year resolutions – A special diet ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:42-52

Denomination: Anglican

Partaking Of Christ

Contributed by David Swensen on Dec 20, 2001

Have we gone astray, feeding and feasting on all the empty, fleeting things this world offers? Let’s learn how to partake of Christ so our deepest hungers of our soul will be satisfied

PARTAKING OF CHRIST John 6:35-51 INTRODUCTION In his latest book, Jesus Among Other Gods, Ravi Zacharias tells of a 1996 expedition to Mt. Everest. His information came from the book, Into Thin Air, that chronicles the hazards that plagued the climbers. “The expedition was a disaster and many ...read more

Scripture: John 6:35-51

Denomination: Baptist