Sermons on Half Empty:

Need A Boost?

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jul 17, 2012

We could all use a little boost every now and then. Some synonyms for “boost” are: improve, make better, advance. Sound refreshing? Sound invigorating?

NEED A BOOST? INTRODUCTION: We could all use a little more encouragement in our lives, don’t you think? We get run-down, we get disheartened. We wonder if what we’re doing really matters to anyone. We could all use a little boost every now and then. No, not the energy drink, although ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Self Grace Series

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on May 4, 2019

The final part of this series on grace. In Part 7, we look at extending grace to ourselves.

Self Grace Matthew 27:1-5 May 5, 2019 I want to start this morning by reading a passage. It’s from Matthew 27:1-5. Jesus has been betrayed and arrested. Judas, the betrayer went to the Jewish leaders to talk about what happened. This is the story – 1 When morning came, all the chief priests ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:1-5, John 3:16-17

Denomination: Baptist

How Can Heaven Be Happy? Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Mar 31, 2021

A short study of Heaven and why Christians should look forward to it.

We live in a world full of different ideas about Heaven. World religions have all kinds of forms of it - Hinduism teaches that it’s what happens for the person who finally escapes reincarnation. Mormonism teaches that we’ll all eventually become gods and each have our own planet to populate. ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-3

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Lightening Your Load Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 28, 2008

Everybody’s overloaded. Nobody has any margin in their lives. Everybody is trying to do so much. We don’t have time to do what’s most important because every moment is packed. This is madness. It can’t be God’s will for our lives. In our Scripture toda

Lightening Your Load Matthew 11:28-30 I have a friend who tells the story of borrowing a vacation trailer from a church member and taking his family on vacation to Lake Tahoe. He hooked this rather large trailer up to his car which he had never done this before and they headed north. He didn’t ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Methodist

Ask For Wisdom Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jun 16, 2021

James is not the James who was one of the 12 apostles and killed by Herod Agrippa I in the YEAR AD 44. Instead, James was the half-brother of Jesus (Matt. 13:55), the one who was a leader of the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:13; Gal. 1:19), the one Paul called a pillar in the church (Gal. 2:9).

I. There are certain realities of life common to all believers – 1:2-1:18. A. Trials and testing will come and can be overcome -- 1:2-8. 3. Ask for wisdom -- 1:5. Text – James 1:5 (KJV) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it ...read more

Scripture: James 1:5

Denomination: Baptist

All Fired Up - God Is Our Passion #4 Series

Contributed by Duane Wente on Aug 22, 2020

While there are many things for which we can be “fired up”, God shows that He should be our complete passion. God doesn’t do things half way — He goes all out. Just as God completely consumed the sacrifice on Mt. Carmel, so should God completely consumer our lives today.

Introduction We’re continuing our thoughts during this sizzling hot summer about different fiery stories in the Bible. In today’s story, things are all fired up. What gets you fired up? What gets your engines running? What Makes People “Fired Up”?! FEBRUARY 22, 2013 BY ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Do I Want God To Forgive Me As I Forgive Others? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 20, 2025

Jesus puts forward challenging words in the second half of v. 12 - calling us to ask for forgiveness in the same way we have forgiven others. Verses 14-15 emphasize the expectation from God that we will forgive others as part of having been forgiven by Him. What happens when we live this out?

DOES THIS SCARE ME? Do I want God to forgive me as I forgive others? - Matthew 6:12b, 14-15. - I said last week as we unpacked the first half of v. 12 that we often don’t put a lot of thought into what that actually means. In that case it had to do with making confession of our sins a regular ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Skeleton Of Hope

Contributed by Michael Brown on Nov 29, 2025

I wrote this message as a devotional to share at our next deacon's meeting. Our church is one of MANY churches without a full-time pastor. It's been over a year & a half since the previous pastor left & we need to remember the HOPE we have in Christ!

The Skeleton of HOPE One thing that we could all use a little more of is hope. Hope is something that can be hard to find in today’s world. Hope seems to be gone, deceased, expired, no more. Hope is nothing but a dried-up skeleton. But that doesn’t mean we should shrug our shoulders & give ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

A Blue Christmas Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 13, 2009

What happens when Christmas doesn’t go according to plan? How do we handle it when circumstances rob us of the joy of the season? How do we respond to a "blue Christmas?"

OPEN: John Simmons tells about a grade school class that was putting on a Christmas play which included the story of Mary and Joseph coming to the inn. In that class was one little boy who wanted so very much to be Joseph. But when the parts were handed out, his biggest rival was given that part, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Lesson 52: Gourmet Preaching Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 14, 2018

Preaching lessons from the best sermon ever given, the Sermon on the Mount.

Lesson Goal In this lesson I hope to teach some features of a rich sermon gleaned from the greatest sermon of all time, the Sermon on the Mount for a sermon filled with splendid content. Lesson Intro Have you ever sat through one of those sermons where you wished you could remember every line, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Are You A Martha

Contributed by Bruce Hadley on Aug 31, 2020

What is a Martha? A Martha is a type of person who wants to serve the Lord without getting to know the Lord personally. Let's take a closer look at the sisters Martha and Mary and their interaction with Jesus.

In today’s culture, we hear the term Karen, used to describe white women who perceive to be entitled or demanding beyond the scope of what is appropriate or necessary. Karen is a common stereotype associated with white women who won't hesitate to use their "privilege" at the expense ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Realization Of God’s Guidance-2

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Oct 28, 2025

2 of ? Luke records prophetic events surrounding the birth of John the Baptist. God’s ‘guidance’(1:79) has been realized or brought to fruition. ?How is God’s guidance realized? God’s guidance is realized thru a Prophetic...

The REALIZATION Of GOD’s GUIDANCE-II—Luke 1:60-64(:57-80) Attention: 1:76-79—““And you, child[John], will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord[Jesus] to prepare His ways, To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:60-64, Luke 1:57-80

Denomination: Baptist

Discouragement: Its Cause And Cure

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 21, 2010

DISCOURAGEMENT: ITS CAUSE AND CURE. (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Reading: Nehemiah chapter 4 verses 1-23. Ill: • A mother of eight children came home one day; • To find her youngest five children huddled intently in the middle of the floor. • She walked over to see what the centre of attraction was; • And to her horror, she discovered ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-23

Denomination: Brethren

Jesus, The Son Of God

Contributed by Tom Blasco on Apr 18, 2006

The Deity of Jesus - Jesus claimed it, Others claimed it, the Bible claims it, Fulfilled prophecies claim it, the Resurrection claims it, do you claim it?

Jesus, The Son of God Introduction A drunk man who smelled like beer sat down on a subway seat next to a priest. The man’s tie was stained, his face was plastered with red lipstick, and a half empty bottle of gin was sticking out of his torn coat pocket. He opened his newspaper and began ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:70

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Your Redemption Value Series

Contributed by Jim Heidebrecht on Jul 2, 2007

Sermon 9 in the Galatians series. An empty bottle has a redemption value: its maker is willing to pay a price to redeem it, because it has value to the maker. Christ was willing to pay the highest price to Redeem us because we have value to our maker.

04/29/2007 (The Divisions of the passage for this sermon were based on G. Walter Hansen’s Commentary on Galatians from the IVP NT Commentary series) YOUR REDEMPTION VALUE (Gal 3:10-14) The empty bottle and the squirrel – the hook Has some markings on it Tells us who made it, where it was ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:10-14

Denomination: Baptist