Sermons on Empty Seat:

Scriptures That Are Greatly Abused By…

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on May 19, 2022

We all want justice, but we do not always get justice.

Illus: Makes me think of a young lady who occasionally walked through the park after work, stopped to have her picture taken by a photographer on this particular day. She was very excited about her picture being taken. As she walked out of the park, she looked at the Polaroid picture in total ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Whitewashed Tomb Christians Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on May 10, 2025

This metaphor reveals the contrast between outward appearances and inner reality, exposing the hypocrisy that plagues many who claim to follow God.

In Matthew 23:27-28, Jesus unleashes a scathing critique on the Pharisees, calling them "whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness." This metaphor reveals the contrast between outward appearances and inner reality, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:25-28, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Go! And Love As Christ Loves - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Feb 10, 2025

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 remind us that love is central to everything we do as followers of Christ. Love is not an optional extra; it is the defining characteristic of a true disciple of Jesus.

Go! And Love as Christ Loves Introduction 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NLT) declares:"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Proverbs 15:1, Ephesians 4:15, James 3:17, Colossians 3:14, Matthew 6:1, 1 John 3:16, John 3:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

How Not To Betray Jesus Series

Contributed by Jeremy Mcquoid on May 16, 2019

4 attitudes that will stop us from betraying Jesus - 1) a readiness to repent, 2) an awareness of our weakness, 3) an appreciation of God's love, 4) a healthy fear of judgement

• The name Judas Iscariot is one of the most famous in the Bible, for all the wrong reasons. Judas is synonymous with betrayal. Back in 1986 the footballer Mo Johnston was called the greatest Judas in Scottish football because he made the unthinkable switch, moving from Glasgow Celtic, and all ...read more

Scripture: John 13:21-30, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, Revelation 20:11-15, Romans 12:3

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Top Ten Reasons Why Easter Jesus Is Better Than Christmas Jesus – Part 2

Contributed by Peter Pilt on Apr 28, 2019

This was a creative way we presented the Easter Story. We looked at the ways that Easter Jesus is better than Christmas Jesus and then decorated the auditorium half as Easter and half as Christmas. It worked very well.This post is Part Two of Top Ten Reasons.

During Easter 2019, I preached a creative message on Good Friday and Easter Sunday looking at the The Top Ten Reasons why Easter Jesus is better than Christmas Jesus. Now I understand that Christmas and Easter Jesus are the same Jesus…but the point I am trying to make is that the world is more ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-9, 1 Corinthians 15:14, Romans 6:5-7, Hebrews 9:11-14, 1 Peter 1:3, Acts 2:22-25, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Hebrews 10:19, John 14:15, Ephesians 1:19-21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Radical Prayer Series

Contributed by Paul Green on Jul 13, 2009

Many prayers of God’s people are weak, empty, passion-less, and vision-less. If we are going to see God move, if we are going to see God at work, if we are going to see situations turned around and lives dramatically changed by the mighty hand of God the

Walnut Prayers There was once a man who was very faithful in his prayer life. Every morning when he got up he would kneel by his bed and he would pray, ‘God bless me, God bless my family, God bless this day’. And before every meal he would say a prayer ‘God bless this food’. And every night ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:21-32

Denomination: Baptist

We Are Loosed !

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Apr 8, 2017

This message will be a challenge for many because the church, in general, has become a place where the power of God does not exist.

Even though Jesus has purchased our complete redemption, Satan tries to make us feel as if we still belong to him. He brings us into situations that confuse us and takes our focus off of the deliverance that now belongs to us as children of God. Christians are often blind to the needs of others ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:10-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Win The Super Bowl

Contributed by Marvin Patterson on Feb 2, 2007

This sermon compares the Christian life with the Super Bowl.

How to win the Super Bowl! Text: Acts 1:8 This evening the world will watch the Chicago Bears beat the Indianapolis Colts (I mean play the Indianapolis Colts). I shouldn’t have made a prediction like that! How many Bears fans do we have here this morning? Great! How many Colts fans do we have ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The House Of God Lives Series

Contributed by Bobby Gilles on Sep 23, 2014

How can we love each other well? How do we not only tolerate diversity, but celebrate it? How do we not only celebrate it, but pray for more of it – much more than we currently see in our congregation? The answer is in God's word ...

My wife Kristen and I often watch a sitcom on Netflix at the end of a long day. I like Cheers; Kristen likes The Andy Griffith Show. So we compromise on one or the other. Andy Griffith takes us back to a simple time and an idyllic, small North Carolina community, where people sang country gospel ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:19-22

Denomination: Baptist

Never Again Without The Presence Of Jesus

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

A simple Easter sermon used in at sunrise. What must it have been like between Jesus’ death and resurrection? To be without the presence of Jesus must have been utter emptiness. To be with him again must have been utter joy.

Never again without the presence of Jesus Purpose: To reflect on Jesus’ presence and challenge the people to be the presence of Jesus to a world that needs Him. 1. Read John 20:1-21 2. Do you ever wonder what it would have been like to actually be in the presence of Jesus? What would it have felt ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-21

Denomination: Nazarene

A Grain Of Wheat Is Much Bigger Than A Grain Series

Contributed by Paul Kallan on Apr 4, 2003

What Jesus teaches his disciples is not an empty phrase or a useless theory, but a reality that is proved by personal experiences of himself and of many of his followers and even by the findings of modern psychology: "He who loves his life loses it, and h

A river wanted to flow to the sea through a desert. But it got afraid when it saw the immense dry sand. It complained: "The desert will drink my water, the hot breath of the sun will destroy me and I will be reduced to merely a stinking swamp". Then it heard a voice:"Trust the desert!" But the ...read more

Scripture: John 12:20-33, Jeremiah 31:31-34

Denomination: Catholic

How Hospitable Are We?

Contributed by Gilbert Varela on Nov 9, 2007

How do you feel when someone welcomes you, specially if that is the first time you are there? There is nothing that the sad, frustrated, lonely, pathetic, empty soul does not like more than a friendly and smiling face saying “welcome”.

How Hospitable are We? Genesis 18:1-8 NT: Hebrews 13: 2 1 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:1-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Csi (Cross Scene Investigation) Week 3: Investigating The Cross Series

Contributed by Mark Canfield on Nov 10, 2006

friend’s betrayal, an illegal trial, an execution and an empty grave. What do these things have in common? Enter the world of CSI and search for the truth with the entire Cross Scene Investigation team. Delve deeply into the mysteries of four baffling cr

CSI: Cross Scene Investigation Week 3: Investigating the Cross [Before the message each week, a CSI style drama was performed to examine that weeks evidence] Last Two Weeks – Investigated the Betrayal of Judas / Learned -Betray Ourselves Investigated the Trial – Pilot’s ignored the Truth about ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18

Denomination: Christian Church

Csi (Cross Scene Investigation) Week 4 - Investigating The Resurrection

Contributed by Mark Canfield on Nov 10, 2006

A friend’s betrayal, an illegal trial, an execution and an empty grave. What do these things have in common? Enter the world of CSI and search for the truth with the entire Cross Scene Investigation team. Delve deeply into the mysteries of four baffling c

CSI: Cross Scene Investigation Week 4: Investigating the Resurrection [The message began with a CSI sytle drama that investigated the evidence of the Ressurection] For Most People in Our Culture – SEEING IS BELIEVING! [Show me the Money] BUT . . . For Eric Weihenmayer [WHY-in-Mayor] SEEING ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:17-20

Denomination: Christian Church

Death In The Pot

Contributed by Norman Lawrence on Aug 23, 2002

Man today is trying to give humanistic answers to spiritual problems to solve the emptiness of the soul, but it cannot be done.... The answer may often sound right, look right, and even be politically correct, but we realize that apart from Jesus Chris

"Death In The Pot" 2 Kings 4:38-41 Someone has observed that we live in a “cut-flower civilization” today. We speak of justice, morals, peace, and ethics, but do not establish a rooted foundation in God. Therefore there is little left to sustain a purposeful life. Things can look good on the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:38-41, Proverbs 16:25

Denomination: Assembly Of God