Sermons on Henri Nouwen:

Searching For Jesus

Contributed by Mathew Philip on Jan 23, 2021

The story of Joseph and Mary searching for Jesus is an invitation to consider where your are in your journey of faith. If your relationship with God has grown stale, the good news is that Jesus is right where he is supposed to be, just waiting for you to find him.

When Jesus was 12 years old, his parents went to Jerusalem as they did every year at the feast of the Passover. When the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:41-52

Denomination: Other

A Product Of Jesus Christ.

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Jul 3, 2022

I'm in His hands. Can you say that? What past shame or guilt is keeping you from being the person God created you to be? Why do you believe the lie that you are defined by your past?

A Product Of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:18-19AMP What past shame or guilt is keeping you from being the person God created you to be? Why do you believe the lie that you are defined by your past? 1 Peter 1:18-19AMP For you know that you were not redeemed from your useless [spiritually unproductive] ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:18-19, Ephesians 1:19-21

Denomination: Pentecostal

Loneliness (Part 2) Series

Contributed by Benjamin Utomo on Jan 12, 2022

This sermon explains the signs of loneliness and how to deal with it biblically.

Illustration: A lonely grandmother eavesdrops on the conversation of a teenager who was dating in the park. Girl: "You don't love me?" Boy: "I do!" Girl: "We've been dating for four months. What's the proof?" Boy: "ABCDEFG." Girl: "What's ...read more

Scripture: James 5:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Romans 12:10, Galatians 6:2, Ephesians 2:19, 1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 27:10, Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 1:23, 2 Corinthians 1:22, Colossians 3:13, Ephesians 3:17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Is One God Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Jun 12, 2025

What is one of the key truths about God that can bring a diverse group of believers together in unity?

Seven Foundations of Fellowship: There is One God Introduction What is one of the key truths about God that can bring a diverse group of believers together in unity? For the past six weeks we have studied the “Seven Ones” - the foundations of fellowship found in Ephesians 4. Each one of these ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Servants PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Jan 29, 2024

Explores the transformative power of serving God and others wholeheartedly, emphasizing selflessness, sacrifice, and relationship-strengthening through service.

Good morning, church family. It's a joy to gather with you today, our hearts beating in unison, our voices resonating together in praise, and our spirits yearning to draw nearer to our Creator. Today, we are going to focus on a passage that is so profound, so pivotal, that it has the power to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:7-9

Topics: Serving, 2024

The Homecoming

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Sep 1, 2002

It is interesting to try and identify with the three characters in the story: 1. The prodigal. 2. The older son. 3. The father.

I realize that I have recently preached on this passage of scripture, but I feel compelled to speak on it again. The reason is that while on vacation I picked up Henri Nouwen’s excellent book entitled: The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming. It is one of those books that pulls you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Methodist

Be Wise - Part 2

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Jun 29, 2019

A look at using the wisdom from Proverbs to help us in our daily lives.

Be Wise! Proverbs 3:5-6 June 30, 2019 There was a man who was a really good rock climber. He took the challenge on a really difficult rock formation. As he was climbing, he slipped and as he fell, he grabbed hold of a branch jutting out from the side of the rocks. He wasn’t sure how he would ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6, James 1:5

Denomination: Baptist

Holy . . . Spirit!

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Aug 12, 2014

A look at the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

HOLY . . . SPIRIT! June 8, 2014 Acts 2 The last book by Henri Nouwen was called Sabbatical Journeys. In it, he wrote about some friends who were trapeze artists, called the Flying Rodleighs. The head of the family, Rodleigh told Nouwen, “As a flyer, I must have complete trust in my ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Seeing Yourself Through His Eyes Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Feb 14, 2020

So many of us for various reasons when we look at ourselves the image is distorted, but when we see ourselves through the eyes of the Father's love (when we make our Maker our mirror) that distortion is driven away.

Seeing Yourself Through His Eyes #20/20 Vision Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:14-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Give And Take Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Nov 6, 2008

An examination of the 8th commandment and what it means for building healthy relationships when we don’t take from those relationships, but work to give.

Give and Take (Exodus 20:15) There is an old story about two neighbors, a baker and a farmer, who didn’t get along very well. You see, the baker was suspicious of the farmer, suspecting that he wasn’t getting his money’s worth when he paid for a pound of butter. He weighed the farmer’s butter ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:15

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Love And Sacrifice, Part 3

Contributed by Joey Nelson on Mar 2, 2003

He was a high school senior that was really messing his life up. He was being disrespectful to his parents, staying out late at night, and making poor grades in his classes. At this point in his life, he was hanging out with all the wrong people. But one

INTRODUCTION Opening Statement: He was a high school senior that was really messing his life up. He was being disrespectful to his parents, staying out late at night, and making poor grades in his classes. At this point in his life, he was hanging out with all the wrong people. But one thing that ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21

The Elder Son Returns Series

Contributed by David Flowers on Mar 17, 2011

Part 5 in series Return of the Prodigal, this message examines the possibility, potential, and process for the return of the elder son to the father.

The Elder Son Returns The Return of the Prodigal, prt. 5 Wildwind Community Church David Flowers March 13, 2011 Today we continue our series called Return of the Prodigal, based on Jesus’ parable in Luke 15. I want to start off with a provocative quote from Henry Nouwen. This series has ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:31-32

Denomination: Free Methodist

The Examined Life

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Feb 5, 2006

The hard commands of Jesus are best understood as being directed to the church, which should be a Community of Grace. This sermon addresses Jesus’ teaching on lust, sin and adultery.

The Examined Life in the Community of Grace Our key scripture today suggested to me the sermon title, The Examined Life”. You may have heard of this saying by Socrates, an ancient philosopher: “The unexamined life is not worth living." It struck me that, in some very strong language, what ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:27-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Father Welcomes Home Series

Contributed by David Flowers on Mar 22, 2011

In this message, part 6 in series Return of the Prodigal, based on Christ's parable of the prodigal son, Dave begins looking more closely at the father in the parable.

The Father Welcomes Home The Return of the Prodigal, prt. 6 Wildwind Community Church David Flowers March 20, 2011 There are two brief texts I want to use to start our focus on the Father in Christ’s parable of the return of the prodigal son. First obviously is the text we’ll be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:20

Denomination: Free Methodist

Godly Ambition Series

Contributed by Bob Myers on Sep 8, 2020

Ambition is a common human motivation. We see it played out in the lives of countless men and women throughout history. In our text today, we observe two kinds of burning ambition. While the passion to achieve desired ends is similar, the motivation sets them worlds apart.

Who Is This Man? Godly Ambition Mark 10:32-45 Ambition We often talk about people going through “phases.” That’s especially true for those who are growing through adolescence or some other dynamic season of life. “Oh, don’t worry about it,” we tell ourselves, “it’s just a phase.” Grown adults ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:32-45

Denomination: Baptist