Sermons on Empty:

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

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

More Than Enough!

Contributed by Dr. Tony Young Jr. on Mar 11, 2022

Pastor TB Young shares an encouraging message on how a poverty-stricken window cries out and leaves having NOT ENOUGH and enters into a new destiny of having MORE THAN ENOUGH. God wants to do the same thing for you and your family.

GREETINGS PRAYER TEXT: 2 Kings 4:1-7 2Kings 4:1 ¶ A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-7

Denomination: Pentecostal

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

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

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

Don’t Ask How You Are Doing, Tell Them About Jesus

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Oct 25, 2013

Most know in their heart how they are doing in life. Those without Jesus know that there is an empty place in their heart that needs to be filled. But, most don’t realize what it takes to fill it.

Don’t ask how you are doing, tell them about Jesus. Luke 5:3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:3-7

Denomination: Baptist

Why Does The Resurrection Matter? Series

Contributed by David Henderson on Apr 28, 2014

What is the difference in Buddhism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity? Simple. Of the four major religions today only one claims an empty tomb. The resurrection is the miracle that makes a difference between a religion that is dead and one that is alive.

Why does the Resurrection matter? John 20:1-20 History records that Abraham who is known as the founder of the Jewish faith. 2000 years before the birth of Christ. His body remains in that tomb. History also records that in the year 483 BC that Buddha who about 80 at the time died from eating ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Boredom On The Job Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 13, 2015

Boredom is a constant complaint of many workers, but Solomon points to the one thing that can turn the emptiness of the workplace into a powerful tool for our faith. What is this "one thing" that can makes such a big difference for us?

Back in 2009, a 16-year-old British girl was fired from her office job because her manager saw - on Facebook - that she had said her job was “boring”. She was called into her manager's office and given the following letter: “Following your comments made on Facebook... we feel it ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:17-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Coping With The Holidays

Contributed by Davon Huss on Nov 19, 2016

This information was put together for a workshop on "Coping with the Holidays" (Adapted from the book, "The Empty Chair: Handling Grief on Holidays and Special Occasions" by Susan J. Zonnebelt-Smeenge and Robert C. De Vries)

HoHum: Start with some family information: I grew up in a tight knit family spending my Sunday afternoons after church with all my extended family at my grandparent’s house. I am the eldest grandchild and my grandfather spent a lot of time with me growing up. I had trouble reading so before ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 138:8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You Are Not Alone!

Contributed by Mike Fogerson on Aug 9, 2016

On this Easter Sunday morning, we stand amazed with the women who see the angel at the empty tomb. The angel announces to them, “He is risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.”

You Are Not Alone! Matthew 28:1-10 1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Searching For The Everlasting Life

Contributed by Lonnie Erwin on Feb 5, 2023

Many live today in public they portray a different persona than when they are alone. He let down his guard. He is searching to fill the emptiness in his life that only can be filled by Jesus.

John 3:1-17 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." 3 Jesus answered and said to him, ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Panic Room

Contributed by Carla Powell on Apr 20, 2002

References the movie "Panic Room" (Jodie Foster). Recalls the disciples’ reaction to hide out in a locked room after finding the tomb empty. The "Panic Room" can be both a safe haven and a well-fortressed prison.

"Panic Room" - Easter 2A April 7, 2002 - John 20:19-31 This week I saw the newly-released movie "Panic Room". In this movie, "Jodie Foster plays a wealthy single mom with a teenage daughter. They buy a fancy brownstone in NYC that has a ’panic room’, a fortified hi-tech room in the center of ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: Lutheran

Is The Resurrection Believable?

Contributed by Francis Camacho on Jul 9, 2002

4 Credible Evidences. Before we can prove the resurrection, we need to prove that Christ actually died, that the tomb was empty, that the resurrected Christ actually appeared to many, and that there were profound differences in the life of the witnesses.

Is the Resurrection Believable? 4 Credible Evidences 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 Citation: Case For Christ by Lee Strobel 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 1Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand 2and by which you are being ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8

Denomination: Baptist