Sermons on Emptying Oneself:

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

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

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

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

Going Beyond Human Sickness

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Jan 22, 2022

Where do you go when your mind is broken, you feel empty and without a sense of purpose, incapable of finding any joy in your life? You seek a cure from the Great Physician Jesus whose demand to deny self and follow Him is a yoke that is light in His sustaining grace and strength!

Going Beyond Human Sickness Matthew 11:28-30, 16:21-27 Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567 What do you do when you get sick? For many of us our first response is to look for an “over-the-counter” solution to see if we can find a cure for whatever ails us on our own! I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 16:21-27

Denomination: Baptist

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 ...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

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

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

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

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

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