Sermons on Herods Headache:

Epiphany O Godhead Hid

Contributed by Geoffrey Foot on Jan 1, 2018

The Wise Men seek the child Jesus and travel a long way from the East following a star, they even have to seek advice from King Herod to find Him. Its a little like a children's game of Hide and Seek.

O GODHEAD HID. MATT. 2:1-12. One of the most popular games among children has to be hide-and-seek - the rules are very simple. One child closes their eyes and counts to a hundred, while all the others hide - "Are you ready? Here I come." And one by one they are sought out from their hiding places ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

The Song Of Simeon: The Cradle And The Cross

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Dec 23, 2019

A sermon built on "God's resolutions" and promises. The holy family keep the Jewish rules for purification. Visited the temple. Simeon for tells the future. Herod seeks to dismantle God's resolutions and fails.

In Jesus Holy Name December 29, 2019 Luke 2:25-32 Christmas I “The Song of Simeon: The Cradle & The Cross” Well, here we are almost at the then end of another year. Do I still say “Merry Christmas” or do I greet you with “Happy New Year”? Liturgically we are still in the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25-45, Luke 2:21-24

Denomination: Lutheran

"Is Jesus The True Messiah?”

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Dec 9, 2021

A fair question for John to ask. Which Christmas cartoon will tell the true meaning of Christmas? Only Peanuts. John was no shy wallflower. He called people and Herod to repent. Quotes from Rev. Klaus; & The High Calling

In Jesus Holy Name December 12, 2021 Text: Luke 7: 21,18,19 Redeemer “Is Jesus the True Messiah?” Is Jesus the True Messiah? It is a fair question that John had to ask. With Christmas is just around the corner, people should be asking a similar question: “Is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:17-21, Colossians 2:14

Denomination: Lutheran

What Do We Stand For?

Contributed by Ian Bullock on Jul 8, 2021

Focussing on the actions of Herod, we see that no one stood up to tell him he was doing wrong, and how well this speaks to us now when we stay silent, when we should really be speaking up.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. “Oh what a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive.” A saying often mistakenly attributed to Shakespeare, but in fact was first published by Sir Walter Scott in the poem, “Marmion” in 1808. A phrase which speaks of betrayal, and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:14-29

Denomination: Anglican

Always Trust In The Goodness Of God! Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jun 22, 2022

Always trust in the goodness of God! 1. Because He hates injustice. 2. Because He shares in our sorrows. 3. Because He cares about our rest. 4. Because He cares about our other needs too.

Always Trust in the Goodness of God! The Gospel of Matthew Matthew 14:1-14; Mark 6:7-34 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared June 22, 2022) BACKGROUND: *Matthew 14:1-14 reports on the terrible murder of John the Baptist. Herod the Tetrarch had John arrested, thrown into prison, and eventually ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:1-14, Mark 6:7-34

Denomination: Baptist

The Church’s Growth And Its Political Persecution Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Apr 29, 2024

Even in the face of persecution and life's challenges, how different could we live if we chose to be faithful only to Christ? Even though the 1st century church faced incredible difficulties, God was still faithful to them, and we can learn from that right now!

To the Ends of the Earth, Part 17 The Church’s growth and its political persecution Acts 11:19 – 12:18 Dismiss children for nursery (under 4) and children’s church (ages 4-7) Introduction - Welcome to Seasons Church & 2024 sermon series, “To the Ends of the Earth” -- In 2023 we unpacked ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:19-30, Acts 12:1-18, Matthew 4:19, 1 Peter 2:21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Do You Follow? Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Jul 20, 2014

The contrast of Herod killing John the Baptist to Jesus feeding 5000 in Mark 6 is very revealing of the life of sin vs. a life of service. We must be totally devoted to Christ to live for Him, and cannot live like He is a convenience.

Who do you follow? Mark 6:14-44 Introduction - Jesus is demonstrated in this book as a “servant” -- Key verse: Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - For us to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:14-44

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Lost His Head?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 18, 2008

When we lose our ways emotionally or spiritually, we hurt ourselves and others. Herod, Herodias and Salome demonstrate the ways we can be seduced into losing our heads. John only lost his physical head but not his integrity.

Do you know the poem, "If’, by Rudyard Kipling? I’m sure you’ve heard it a hundred times. But let me quote just a part of "If’. "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you; if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:17-29

Denomination: Baptist

Rachel's Sorrow

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 6, 2016

However crafty, however ruthless Herod might have been, he could be no more successful than his evil superior Satan. The Redeemer would come just as was planned, would live just as planned, and would die just as planned.

Matthew 2:13-18 Rachel’s Sorrow 12/15/02 D. Marion Clark Introduction I do like our Live Nativity we put on at our church. We show the manger scene; we have a full inn, a market square retail booth, angels singing to shepherds, and a tax collector at his booth. We even have the three ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Our Refuge And Strength Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Dec 26, 2021

This is a sermon for Epiphany Sunday. I've linked Psalm 46 with the hymn "We Three Kings" as a way of reminding ourselves who this child/King is why He is worthy of any all the gifts we have to give Him.

Samuel could tell by the look on their faces that the elders weren’t making a social call to inquire about his health … and he was right. One of the elders cleared his throat. “Samuel … you are getting old and, well, no offense but we’re more than a little concerned about the future of our ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-11, Micah 5:2, 1 Samuel 8:7, 1 Samuel 8:11-18, Matthew 2:12, Exodus 30:34  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

Christmas Contrasts

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 13, 2001

Every year at Christmas time this great line is drawn. Here are people who are like shepherds & wise men coming to Jesus to worship Him. And there are others like Herod who stand hard & cold, resisting all that God is trying to do in their lives.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER CENTRAL CHRISTIAN, BROWNSVILLE, TX ILL. It is a time of great rejoicing in the palace, for a prince has just been born. Near the throne there is a lively discussion going on as the king’s advisers are making their suggestions concerning the best ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:7-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Finding Out Who Really Cares

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 31, 2003

Who really cares about you? Not those who, like Herod, are so scared they will do anything to save themselves. Rather those like the wise men, who give gifts for the future, or like Joseph, who make sacrifices for your protection. For Epiphany.

Some people have friends. Some people have enemies. Some people have acquaintances. But everybody has somebody you do business with. The people you do business with -- usually, that’s not an intimate relationship. It’s a distant relationship, limited just to transactions. Everybody deals with ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

The Responses To Christmas

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Dec 7, 2006

Three different responses to the news of Christ’s birth: (1) the Magi, passionately seeking Christ to worship Him; (2) King Herod, eager to get rid of Christ, do not want Him to sit on his throne; and (3) Jerusalem, apathetic to the prophecies rega

Matt 2:1-12, 16-18 We see here 3 different responses to the news of the birth of Jesus Christ. • First, we see the Magi in a passionate search for the child Jesus. • Second, we have King Herod also eagerly seeking to find the child, but so that he could kill him. • And thirdly, we see the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Christmas Sunday 2019 - Who Are The Wise Men? Series

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Dec 21, 2019

In the account of the Wise Men in Matthew 2 we see a grand variety of characters. All who are living can be placed somewhere in the spectrum of characters ranging from Herod to the Magi. Let's examine ourselves to see where we fit into the narrative.

Christmas Sunday 2019 – Who Are the Wise Men? Please stand as we read our newest memory Scripture together … Jude 1:24-25 “To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy – “To the only God our Savior be glory, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12, John 14:6, Jeremiah 29:13

Denomination: Nazarene

The Most Expensive Meal In History Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 22, 2012

Adam and Eve ate one of the most expensive meals in history. Why did they do it? And was there a more expensive meal than that one?

OPEN: A few years back George Beane of Palmdale, California, stopped at a local Burger King and ordered 4 sandwiches at the drive-through window. Total cost of his bill: $4.33. However, when he handed the girl at the drive up window his debit card she absent mindedly punched in the numbers ... and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ