Sermons on Empty Seat:

The Unstoppable Invitation Of Jesus Christ Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Oct 23, 2024

Jesus pops up to speak in the middle of everyone on a major holiday with seemingly nowhere to go. Why would He risk His life? Why would He place Himself in such a dangerous position? Jesus risks everything to give us a gift that changes everything.

Have you heard someone say, “I wouldn’t bet the farm on that if I were you?” There are many things in life we CANNOT count on. You CANNOT count on a politician’s promise. You CANNOT count on the weatherman’s forecast. And you cannot count on the pastor when he says, “I’ll be just one more minute.” ...read more

Scripture: John 7:37-52

Denomination: Baptist

Mental Health In The Proverbs: Sinkhole Psyche Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jun 25, 2025

Mental health isn’t about patching cracks, but about laying the right foundation.

MENTAL HEALTH IN THE PROVERBS: SINKHOLE PSYCHE Proverbs 3:19-26 #mentalhealth READ PROVERBS 3:19-26 (ESV) The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; 20 by His knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew. My son, do not lose sight of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:19-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Coming Clean

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 8, 2025

Psalm 32 is a good introduction to the idea of confession. It’s a primer on penitence, the ABC’s of contrition. It teaches us why we should confess our sins, how to do so, and what we get out of it.

We live in a confessional culture. It’s been called the "Urge to Purge." Or even "Psychic Bulimia." I can remember back when Phil Donahue was shocking. But these days the things people have to display to get on Jerry Springer or Sally Jessie Raphael hardly raise an eyebrow in ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Recognizing God PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 24, 2025

Trusting God’s timing in every season, we learn to wait with faith, knowing He is present and working even when we cannot see it.

Some of us came in today with calendars covered in scribbles and hearts heavy with questions. The clock keeps ticking, but the answer seems late. A prayer hangs in the air. A door stays shut. A dream feels shelved. We know God is good, we sing that God is faithful, yet our watches rarely match His ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:11

Topics: God's Work, Daily Life

Through The Noise PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 27, 2025

Trusting Jesus in life’s storms means refusing to panic, fixing our eyes on Him, and finding courage and peace in His presence above our fears.

If you’ve ever stood in a kitchen at midnight staring at a stack of bills, or sat in a hospital parking lot and felt your heart pound, you know what it is to feel like a thin boat on a thick sea. The wind rises, the waves talk loud, and worries whip across the surface of the soul like whitecaps on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:21-28

Topics: Faith, Distractions

You Are Not The Only One PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 30, 2025

God’s presence and grace sustain us through suffering, assuring us that we are never alone or abandoned, no matter how fierce the trials we face.

Some weeks feel like a parade of pressures. The inbox pings, the headlines howl, the household needs help now, and your heart whispers, “I’m tired.” Then, almost on cue, the old accuser nudges in with noise of his own—fear, shame, cynicism—like a lion pacing the fence line, waiting for a gap in the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8-11

Topics: Struggle, Perseverance

The Word Gives Life PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 1, 2025

Jesus’ promise gives present assurance of eternal life, freeing us from guilt and fear, and inviting us to trust fully in His finished work.

Some words rearrange a room, don’t they? A doctor says, “It’s benign,” and shoulders drop. A coach calls your name, and you run to the field. A judge declares, “You’re free to go,” and the hallway home seems shorter. Words can wrap around us like a warm blanket on a windy night. And then there are ...read more

Scripture: John 5:24

Topics: Abide, God's Word, Power

Lord, I'm Not Okay, But I'm Still Here PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 2, 2025

God invites our weary, honest selves to find true rest in His presence, offering comfort and strength for every burden we carry.

There’s a hush that comes when a roomful of tired hearts hears a kind voice. I believe that’s what this moment can be—a hush for hurried souls, a pause for people who have given their best and still feel thin, a holy breath for those who woke up weary. Some of us are carrying backpacks no one else ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28

Topics: Perseverance, Endurance

Eyes In The Bible PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 3, 2025

The sermon urges us to focus our attention on God, allowing His light to clear our vision and transform our hearts, actions, and perspective.

Friends, have you ever tried to read with smudged glasses or looked through a windshield streaked with grime? You can see, but you can’t see well. Colors dull. Edges blur. You miss what’s right in front of you. Life can feel that way, can’t it? The calendar fills up, the news churns, the phone ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:22-23

Topics: Eyes, Understanding, Youth

Life On Earth – Then Heaven Or Hell PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 4, 2025

Life is brief, eternity is real, and only what matters to Jesus endures—so trust Him, pursue what lasts, and live with eternal perspective.

Some moments halt us midstride. A chair sits empty at the table, the voicemail no longer arrives, a laugh once loud has grown quiet. Or maybe it’s the ordinary that gets our attention—the steam on the mirror that fades as fast as it forms, the birthday candles that seem to spin faster around the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:46, James 4:14, John 11:25-26

Topics: Eternal Life, Heaven Preparation, Afterlife

Pastor Appreciation PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 5, 2025

Jesus gives pastors as a loving gift to His church, calling us to honor, support, and pray for them as they shepherd and serve us.

Some of the greatest gifts Jesus gives to His church have names and faces, coffee-stained sermon notes, calloused knees, and tender hearts. They stand at hospital bedsides, whisper prayers in empty sanctuaries, answer phone calls after midnight, and show up again on Sunday with a smile that says, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11

Topics: Pastoral Calling, Celebration

Life Is Like A Tapestry PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 13, 2025

Following Jesus means trusting Him through every joy and trial, knowing He leads us, shapes us, and walks with us every step of the way.

Some days feel like a string of small skirmishes—spilled coffee on the way out the door, a terse email that stings, headlines that weigh heavy. Other days carry a deeper ache—an empty chair at the table, a diagnosis you didn’t see coming, a door closed that you prayed would open. In moments like ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:21

Topics: Life's Challenges, Good Times, Difficult Moments

The Testimony Of Jesus PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 18, 2025

The sermon encourages steadfast obedience and faithful confession of Jesus despite spiritual opposition, assuring believers their perseverance matters and is empowered by Christ’s victory.

If you’ve ever felt the sting of being misunderstood for loving Jesus, if you’ve ever sensed a shadow trying to smother your song, you’re in good company. The Bible is honest about that ache. It doesn’t gloss over the grit. It names the Enemy. It speaks of a dragon. It recognizes that there is ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:17

Topics: Testimony, Jesus

The Salvation Of Zacchaeus PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 20, 2025

Jesus personally seeks and transforms the overlooked, offering immediate grace and acceptance that leads to genuine change and restored identity through His love.

Some of us walked in today feeling unseen, unheard, and maybe even unwanted. We’ve smiled for others, but inside there’s a quiet ache that keeps asking, “Does God notice me?” Picture dusty Jericho streets and a short man with a tall stack of regrets. A tree-climbing tax collector—pockets full, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Topics: Zacchaeus, Jesus

Perilous Times With Dangerous People PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 21, 2025

In turbulent times, God calls us to steadfast faith, resilient hope, and genuine godliness, anchored in Christ and His truth, not swayed by counterfeit spirituality.

Friends, if your heart has felt a steady ache from the noise of our age—the headlines that howl, the arguments that never end, the fatigue that flares by Friday—take a deep breath. You are not alone, and you are not without a map. God has spoken. He has not left us guessing or grasping in the dark. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-8

Topics: Jesus' Return, Second Coming