Sermons on Holding Pen:

Rejection Series

Contributed by Richard White on May 19, 2007

part 2 of series Facing Your Giants, the credit for the idea comes from Max Lucado’s book by the same title. This deals with how God uses those whom we see as unusable. David was the runt of the litter, God used him for great things.

Rejection: 1972 was a bittersweet year for me. I graduated from High School (YAY), I had a good part in the school musical (YAY). I remember these times with great fondness, there were also the bad times. I had tried out for a semi-pro theatre group, I thought I had a great audition and really ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Running With Horses

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jun 8, 2009

Perhaps you’ve run into some difficulties recently: your boss, an illness, conflicts in family. You’ve pleaded with the Lord for relief. But He may have said in response, “Toughen up. Dig in. It may get worse.” And then He asks you to “run with horses."

Opening illustration: Can you imagine what it would be like to be at a track meet waiting for the start of the 100 meter race? Gathered together are the top runners from across the world. Fractions of a second separate these runners. While the marathon is a test of stamina and endurance, the 100 ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 12:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Israel Reduced To One

Contributed by Curt Cizek on Dec 30, 2007

Matthew’s quotation of Hosea is extremely helpful for interpreting Biblical prophecy. God’s promises to the nation of Israel have found their fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ.

- The first time I read our text for today several years ago, “Out of Egypt I called my son” I thought no big deal. That makes sense, Jesus is God’s son. It makes perfect sense. - Then I started to think about it some more – it says that this happened to fulfill what the Lord had said through the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23

Denomination: Lutheran

Consider It All Joy? You Must Be Joking!

Contributed by Mark Roper on Nov 20, 2007

God uses many different kinds of trials in our lives in order to mold, awaken, and mature us, i.e., to make us lovely, Christ like people

Consider It All Joy? You Must Be Joking! James 1:2-1:4 Introduction: God uses many different kinds of trials in our lives in order to mold, awaken, and mature us, i.e., to make us lovely, Christ like people Preposition: Many times we balk at the very thought of suffering it. It’s ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Denomination: Church Of God

Fires, Floods, And Fuel

Contributed by Don Baggett on Jun 17, 2008

Gas prices keep going up, and many people’s blood pressure is going right with them! People are wondering what the world is coming to, but thankfully, we know Who has come into the world.

Have you been hearing the news, lately? Out west there were fires out of control, destroying an enormous amount of property. In Indiana and Iowa, there was severe flooding, with people losing their lives. In Japan, a major earthquake, killing a number of people. Have you pulled up to the gas ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Spiritual Protection

Contributed by Ricardo Rodriguez on Jul 15, 2009

What would you say are the needs of every child? • What are the needs of every person? • What are the needs of our soul? It is interesting how here in the United States we have so many advantages and protections for our children yet, they are in dang

A Spiritual Protection “Stones of Remembrance” 12/7/2006 - Marsing, ID Ricardo Rodriguez pastor_rr@yahoo.com Eph 6:1-3; 11-12 “1Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3That it may be well with thee, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-12

Denomination: Apostolic

Owl #5 Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on May 10, 2021

Obedience is required to be a disciple of Jesus so we, as His army, succeed in the direction He has sends us

<The owl commercial launches the message> Did you know that that commercial is almost 50 years old? It’s memorable. It points to a question, provides a practical experiment and even an answer. However, the wise old owl is only validating his own personal knowledge and experience so is that ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 30:27, Proverbs 30:24-28, 1 John 3:8, Hebrews 11:24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

More Joy Series

Contributed by Kirby Lloyd on Jul 27, 2020

As humans we are constantly focused on Joy or our lack of it

Robert Dean in the Homan Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines joy as A State of delight and well being that results from knowing and serving God. A number of Greek and Hebrew words are used to convey the ideas of joy and rejoicing. We have the same situation in English with such nearly synonymous ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"Were Can I Find The Intelligent Designer?”

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Dec 21, 2020

I love Christmas. But this is a difficult, unexpected kind of Christmas.Christmas is the celebration of the entrance of the “Intelligent Designer” of the Universe.

In Jesus Holy Name December 24, 2020 Christmas Eve–Matthew 1:20b-21 Redeemer “Were Can I Find the Intelligent Designer?” I love Christmas. But this is a difficult, unexpected kind of Christmas. Families have had to make adjustments. Churches ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:4-7, Matthew 1:20-21

Denomination: Lutheran

Birth Announcements

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Dec 24, 2019

A Christmas Eve devotion on the birth announcement to the shepherds

Birth Announcements December 24, 2019 Luke 2:8-20 I remember when Joshua and Zachary were born. We sent out birth announcements. We wanted everyone possible to know they were born. We were so happy and excited. Isn’t that kind of what you do as parents? You want to tell the world about your ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Easter Sunrise Service 2016

Contributed by Randy Edwards on Mar 30, 2016

Sunrise Service

2016 Easter Sunrise service Over the years I have looked at many Sunrises In many locations I remember looking at the sunrise on cold or cool mornings as we pushed cattle towards the pens to begin our annual shipment of calves The steam rising off the land Smoke seemed to flow from the noses of ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Finish What You Start, Never Quit

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Dec 12, 2014

Are you are good started but you seldom finish what you started? You need to finish, persis, complete the task before you. Have we counted the cost if we do? If we don't?

FINISH WHAT YOU START: DON'T QUIT By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com FINISH: To succeed in doing. Bring to an end, COMPLETE, To over come completely. Accomplish, achieve, carry out, COMPLETE: To make whole, entire, PERSIST: To continue firmly or obstinately, steadfast, DON'T ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:28-30

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Tools In The Master's Hands: Pencil, Rock

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 24, 2022

HAVE WE CONSIDERED WHAT STORY ARE WE WRITING TODAY. I use a #2 lead pencil and a rock with the words make today count. Let us rewrite our future.

TOOLS IN THE MASTER’S HANDS… PENCIL, MAKE TODAY COUNT… By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (I give each person a #2 Pencil and a small stone that has “MAKE TODAY COUNT” written on it.) Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 27:17, Proverbs 27:19, Ephesians 5:15, John 1:1

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The House Not Made With Hands

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Nov 15, 2021

A sermon for the Sundays after Pentecost, Year B, Lectionary 33

November 14, 2021 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Mark 13:1-8; Hebrews 10:11-14 The House Not Made with Hands Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:1-8, Hebrews 10:11-14

Denomination: Lutheran

The Legitimacy Of Scripture Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on May 24, 2022

The human trap is that we’d use scripture like a baseball bat and abuse people with it. But in reality, it ought to be a source of comfort and sufficiency in God - it should be our lamp in a very dark world!

The Legitimacy of Scripture 2 Peter Sermon Series, Part 2 2 Peter 1:12-21 Introduction - Purpose: Peter gives guidance and reassurance to the growing church -- Promise he stands on: the Gospel they are preaching is of Jesus Christ! -- This Gospel is our measuring stick; and it is what ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:12-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational