Sermons on Herods Tyranical Rule:

Three Wise Men Outsmarting A Shrewd King

Contributed by Howard Gunter on Jan 5, 2020

Seeing God, Herod the Tyrant and Three Magi "Seekers" and what that means to us today!

Message/Devotion January 5, 2020 Matthew 2:1-12 Three Wise Men Outsmarting A Shrewd King The Reading Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, [wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Clash Of Kingdoms

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 20, 2015

The Kingdom of God goes head to head with the kingdoms of this world.

A CLASH OF KINGDOMS. Mark 6:14-29. As a unit, Mark 6:14-29 begins and ends with people “having heard” something. Herod “heard” about Jesus and His disciples (Mark 6:14), and drew his own conclusions from it (Mark 6:16). John’s disciples “heard” about John’s death, and acted accordingly (Mark ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:14-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Uniting Enemies Series

Contributed by Allan Quak on Apr 9, 2018

In this section of Luke we find individuals and groups of people – the Roman Soldiers, the Sanhedrin, Pilate and Herod – all uniting together against Jesus. In the face of such unity we need to ask the question – “Are we on the wrong side?”

Message Luke 22:63-23:12 Jesus Uniting Enemies Example Uniting for a common cause. Describe a bad car accident • People will rush to help. • No-one really votes on a leader, but everything just gets organised. • Blankets, water, shade. • People comforting. People who are not normally working ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Worship By The Book Series

Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Feb 17, 2005

If all of life is worship, what are the ground rules worship? If we know them, we know the ground rules for life.

Worship by the Book Colossians 2 Cascades Fellowship CRC, JX MI Jan. 16, 2005 Last week Pastor Bob began a series on worship. In that sermon he taught us that worship is only worship when it is God-centered. If we come to worship with anything else in mind – if we come to a service looking for ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:1-23

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How Does Legalism Get Us Off-Track Spiritually?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 6, 2007

This message uses Saul’s poorly-conceived rule as an example of how our rules can create major problems.

- This was a difficult passage to find the “interpretive key” for. How Legalism Starts: He made up a rule that made him feel better. - 1 Samuel 14:24. How Those Around Him Responded: They feared the rule, so they tried to live by it. - 1 Samuel 14:26-28. - v. 26 - There was honey that they ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 14:24-45

Denomination: Baptist

Matthew 2 The Infancy Of Jesus Series

Contributed by Thomas H on Nov 24, 2011

Matthew 2 The infancy of Jesus

Matthew 2 Manuscript Today we continue with Matt and look at chapter 2. Revision from last time: who can remember Matthew 1? What was it about? Birth of Jesus Christ. 1st half of chapter 1 – His genealogy. It showed He fulfilled the requirements to be Messiah – Son of David, Son of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Against His Own Self-Interest Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 7, 2012

God loved us so much that He acted against His own best self-interest, by becoming human. In doing this, He exactly contradicted the secular world's view of leadership and government.

Epiphany 2012 Against His Own Self-Interest Spirit of the Liturgy One of the insights that Pope Benedict has shared with us over the past few years continually comes to mind when I read the Gospels. It is like a unifying theme of the Scriptures. God loves us so much that he does things for us ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

The Fox, The Mother Hen, And The Chicks

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 14, 2013

Jesus determines his own path from Herod's jurisdiction to Pilate's.

THE FOX, THE MOTHER HEN, AND THE CHICKS. Luke 13:31-35. Jesus had been going through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem (Luke 13:22). On the way he had encountered a man who was curious about the number of people who are going to be saved (Luke 13:23). The answer ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:31-35

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Just And Unjust Societies In Olden Times

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 1, 2023

Do we respect the law of God or not?

Saturday of the 17th week in Course 2023 Our OT reading today continues the narrative of the Book of Leviticus, the main tradition of the Hebrew priestly class, in a sense the memories of the tribe of Levi. We need to remember that Moses and Aaron were members of that class; we need also to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:1-12, Leviticus 25:1-17

Denomination: Catholic

Contrasting Christmases

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Dec 20, 2022

This message reveals a contrast seen within the Christmas story, a contrast between those who are ready and willing to receive the good news, like the shepherds and the Magi, or Wise Men, and those who are not, like King Herod and the religious leaders of that day. Come and See.

Contrasting Christmases Psalm 1; Luke 2; Matthew 2 Someone has said that life is full of contrasts, and as far as I can determine, they are right. But most of these contrasts are self-determined. Psalm chapter one deals with the main contrast, the one that determines all the rest. It involves the ...read more

Denomination: Foursquare

Hold On!

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Mar 18, 2019

We keep our eyes on the promise of God's "third day"

March 17, 2016 (St. Patrick's Day) Hope Lutheran Church Pastor Mary Erickson Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35 Hold On! Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. One of the great songs from the Civil Rights movement in the 1960’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:31-35

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus' Birth & Childhood

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 6, 2023

Let's look at the beginning of Jesus' life, his refugee status and move to Nazareth.

Let’s look at Matthew, a catechism or instruction book for new Christians. Preparing for Jesus (Matthew 1) Read Matthew 1. Let’s learn about Jesus' birth and John the Baptist. Abbreviated Genealogy Why did Matthew abbreviate this genealogy? The lineage in 1 Chronicles 6:3–14 is abridged in ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Ruler Must Obey The Law Of God

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 29, 2022

If a ruler does not hold God and God’s Law in the highest respect, he will ultimately fail.

Saturday of 17th Week in Course Men and women without faith in the twenty-first century are a lot like the Israelites who were hearing and yet not listening to Jeremiah five centuries before Jesus. If you have no faith in Christ, in the transcendent reality we call communion with the Trinity, you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:1-12, Jeremiah 26:11-16

Denomination: Catholic

Jesus Is Enough Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Jun 9, 2025

Christ is fully sufficient for our every need, empowering us to serve others and meet challenges by entrusting Him with our limitations and needs.

Faith evangelism training a few days Learning an evangelism method Then sent in teams of three to specific doors My turn came to share the gospel - I was scared. I shouldn’t have been, but I was. I knocked on the door, introduced myself and the team, and then began by asking the question, “In ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Blame Game

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 9, 2023

Excuses and forgiveness are opposites. What can be excused does not need to be forgiven.

What do you suppose happened at the palace the next morning, when Herod woke up with a hangover the size of the Roman Empire and a public relations problem twice as big? I can hear them all spinning the story, can’t you? It’s not the way it seems! It’s not my fault! I’m not to blame! Let’s listen ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:14-29

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed