Sermons on Exile:

Can These Bones Live

Contributed by Roberta Karchner on Jun 4, 2020

Written during the pandemic while chaos reigned in the streets and people protested as the church tried to reopen

Come, Creator Spirit, and move over this chaotic world. Come, Creator Spirit, and bring life to this world. Come, Creator Spirit, and move over the chaos of our lives. Come, Creator Spirit, and bring us new life. Amen. Reading of Acts 1:1-4, Reading of Ezekiel 34:1-14 (Valley of the Dry Bones) ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 34:1-14, Ezekiel 34:15-24, Acts 2:1-4

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

"bethlehem"

Contributed by John Huyser on Dec 10, 2024

Why would the wise men go to Jerusalem? Why would they connect the special star in the sky to a king's birth? Scripture must be the answer, but how?

Last week, we covered Joseph’s first dream in Matthew 1 and its related tie-in to Isaiah's prophecy. For Matthew's intended Jewish readers, we uncovered many details that would shock them. If you missed last week, you can listen to it as a devotion at fruitportcrc.org. Today, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12, Micah 5:2

Jesus As Never Seen Before

Contributed by Alex Shepherd on Dec 23, 2003

John gets a vision from Heaven and sees Jesus as never seen before.

JESUS AS NEVER SEEN BEFORE REV. 1: 9-20 Introduction:. John is the last one of the disciples left…he is in his 90”s but because he is still a threat to the gospel movement, he is arrested not put in jail be sent to an island called patmos…this rocky island is used primarily for politician ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:9-20

Denomination: Baptist

The Divine Purpose For The Storms Of Life

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Dec 7, 2006

The Secret Place Of Intimacy

Throughout the years of my life as a Christian I have experienced an ever deepening holy dissatisfaction with spiritual mediocrity and have continued in desire to draw closer to God’s majesty - yearning for more of His glory. But it hasn’t exactly been a ‘walk in the park’! Along with every other ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 2:14, Amos 5:20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Building Up And Moving On

Contributed by David Dewitt on Jun 21, 2010

One of the greatest accomplishments in the entire Bible was accomplished by Nehemiah when he led the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.

Building Up and Moving On Nehemiah 7:1-3 June 6, 2010 Morning Service Introduction There were many great leaders and great tasks accomplished throughout the Bible. Here are just a few reminders. * Noah built the Ark and saved the world * Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and slavery * Solomon ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 7:1-3

Denomination: Church Of God

Kingdom Seekers!

Contributed by David Wilson on Aug 26, 2013

Seeking God's kingdom should be priority, done diligently, and whole-heartedly.

BASIC OUTLINE FOR THIS MORNING’s MESSAGE: 1) We must seek God’s kingdom and righteousness FIRST! 2) We must seek God diligently! 3) We must seek God whole-heartedly! Matthew 6:33 We must seek God’s kingdom and righteousness FIRST! Far too often we find ourselves seeking our ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33

Denomination: Baptist

A Song For The Journey

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 6, 2014

The pilgrimage of life may - or even must - lead by the way of the Cross: but the destination is assured.

A SONG FOR THE JOURNEY. Psalm 121. This is a “song of ascent” - quite possibly sung by pilgrims on their way up to Jerusalem for one of the festivals. It would be an appropriate Psalm for returning exiles, too, when faced with the dangers of a thousand mile journey back across the wilderness from ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 121:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Advent 2c-- Make Straight His Paths Series

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Nov 1, 2018

What needs straightening out in my life? How can I help ease the path of others?

Father Joseph Donders who lives in Washington DC tells an interesting story about going to the airport to pick up a friend who was coming to visit him from Africa. It was a cold, winter day and all the trees were bare except for a few firs and pines. This was the first time his friend ever left ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-6

Denomination: Catholic

Holiness And Controversy

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 6, 2018

The life of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross is inspirational but off-putting to some.

St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross August 9, 2018 We are the people of the New Covenant, the covenant made in the blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Israel was brought out of Egypt by the power of God. He then gave them the Old Covenant made in the blood of lambs and oxen, written on stone in the Ten ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Matthew 16:13-23

Denomination: Catholic

Do All To The Honor Of God

Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Jul 27, 2016

To show that we do everything, whether we eat or drink, in honor and glory of GOD.

I. EXORDIUM: Are you doing everything for yourself? No. for the honor and glory of GOD. II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: Believers/unbelievers III. OBJECTIVES: To show that we do everything, whether we eat or drink, in honor and glory of GOD. IV. TEXT: 1 Corinthians 10:31 (Amplified Bible) So then, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:31

Denomination: Pentecostal

Living Through Disappointments

Contributed by Luther Sexton on Nov 27, 2015

Overcoming difficult situations.

LIVING THROUGH DISAPPOINTMENTS I. INTRODUCTION A. Fact of Life --> Disappointments do occur. Sometimes disappointment so crushes a person that he/she is emotionally handicapped for life. B. Everyone Experiences Disappointment --> No Exceptions God had only one Son without sin, but ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:8-18

Denomination: Pentecostal

Riots And Rancor And Have No Anxiety! Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 27, 2020

But whatever happens on November 3, God remains supreme, and God’s glory is assured, in our hearts and worship and ultimately in the victory Christ has won.

27th Sunday in Course A 2020 The Plague Year Homilies About forty years after the Resurrection of Jesus, in the third year of the Jewish revolution against the Romans, Supreme Leader Titus encircled the walls of Jerusalem and began a siege. It began three days before the Passover feast, and it is ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 5:1-7, Philippians 4:6-9, Matthew 21:33-43

Denomination: Catholic

Who's First? Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Jan 17, 2017

Jesus proclaims that Isaiah’s prophecy has been fulfilled. The inclusion of all people in to God’s family is foreshadowed.

Introduction When I was young, the kids in the neighborhood would occasionally play a game called, "King of the Mountain." We would use the giant piles of snow, which were made by plowing the streets and parking lots. The object of the game was to get to the top of the mountain before anyone else. ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Opposition (Ezra 4)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 29, 2025

Should churches expect opposition?

When we are building something for God, should we expect opposition? Do we sometimes have to wait patiently for God’s hand? Let’s look at Ezra 4. Do enemies sometimes pretend to be friends? What happened as former exiles began to rebuild the temple? Then the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Do Not Fear; Only Believe

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 27, 2024

God made man and woman in His image, with the plan that they would act and become more and more good, more and more like Himself. That was the divine order.

Thirteenth Sunday in Course 2024 In his great Summa Theologiae, St Thomas Aquinas wrote “the order of the Divine government is wholly directed to good. . .no one acts intending evil.” (ST I Q 104 Art 1) Those words are an appropriate commentary on the words from the post-exile writing Book of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Exodus 16:18, Psalm 30:2-12

Denomination: Catholic