Sermons on Jerusalem:

O, How Shall I Receive You?

Contributed by Hans Krause on Nov 6, 2018

Advent is the time of preparation for the coming of our heavenly King. How do we receive him in our Christian community and in our personal lives? Are the gates wide open, or does he need to knock at our door, locked from the inside?

[Sermon preached on 3 December 2017, First Sunday in Advent / 3rd year, ELCF Lectionary] This past week, Finland had the honor of welcoming three royal visitors: Prince William of the United Kingdom, Prince Daniel of Sweden, and Prince Constantijn of my own home country, the Netherlands. The media ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 24:7-10, Luke 19:28-40, Revelation 3:20-22

Denomination: Lutheran

Triumph And Humility: Lessons From Palm Sunday Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Mar 14, 2024

Palm Sunday is a day of both celebration and reflection, as we witness the contrast between the adoration of the crowds and the humility of our Saviour. Let us delve into the scriptures to uncover the transformative truths found in this pivotal moment.

Triumph and Humility: Lessons from Palm Sunday Introduction: Today, we gather to commemorate Palm Sunday, a significant event in the Christian calendar marking Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. It's a day of both celebration and reflection, as we witness the contrast between the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-38, Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:6-9, Philippians 2:5-8, Matthew 21:9-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Crossing The Jordan (Joshua 3)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 5, 2025

How does Israel crossing the Jordan picture our wonderful eternity? Let's begin in Joshua 3.

Is there an eternal promised land of rest pictured by Israel crossing the Jordan into their promised land? Do we look for a new heaven, a new earth and a new Jerusalem? Let’s begin in Joshua 3. How did Joshua prepare to cross the Jordan into the promised land? Early in the morning Joshua and all ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Good & Bad Traditions (John 2)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 23, 2025

How do we discern between good and bad traditions? Let's look at John 2.

Do believers always choose the right way? Are mandatory teetotaling and selling items at church, good or bad ideas? Which traditions, built upon Jesus, are gold or stubble? Let’s begin in John 2. Should Christians make up rules not found in the Bible, like forbidding even moderate alcohol use? Did ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Man, Some Man, Some Other Man

Contributed by Jerry Carr on Oct 13, 2001

THIS WORLD IS SEARCHING FOR THE ANSWERS, JUST LIKE THIS MAN WHO WENT TO JERUSALEM TO WORSHIP, BUT GOD NEED SOME MAN TO SHOW HIM, WILL YOU BE THAT PERSON GOD USES??

When we come to where we are in the book of Acts, we find that Saul of Tarus was making havoc of the Church, but even in the midst of all the persecution God still had a man that was determined to be faithful to him, a man named Phillip. One that was willing to stand in the gap, willing to go where ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Matter Of Perspective

Contributed by John Harvey on Apr 7, 2005

Jesus commands us to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. We must have the perspective to focus on that task and not what the church can do for me

A Matter of Perspective April 10, 2005 Today we are going to look at one of the key functions or purposes of the church and how Countryside is working to fulfill that purpose. To get started, I need five volunteers. Join hands and make a circle. (They will face forward) Notice how, naturally ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Denomination: Baptist

Lessons For The Disciples

Contributed by Joel Santos on Jul 18, 2007

Jesus is still travelling towards Jerusalem. Along the way He gives instruction to the crowd and to the disciples. Luke 17: 1-10 contains four challenges to the disciples.

Lessons for Disciples Luke 17: 1-10 Jesus is still travelling towards Jerusalem. Along the way He gives instruction to the crowd and to the disciples. Luke 17: 1-10 contains four challenges to the disciples. 1. A disciple must avoid putting stumbling blocks in front of others (17: 1-3a). ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Back To School For Saul Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Sep 2, 2004

After his conversion, Saul was sent by God to 3 schools in order to become the Apostle Paul: ARABIA--SOLITUDE, DAMASCUS--SUFFERING, JERUSALEM--SEASONING. Powerpoint at website.

Back to School Acts 9:21-30 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/BackToSchoolForSaul.html ILL.- Teacher to student, “What are you – animal, vegetable or mineral?” The boy replied, “Vegetable. I’M A HUMAN BEAN.” ILL.- It was the little girl’s first day at school and the teacher was making out her ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:22-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Good Samaritan Series

Contributed by Eric Carey-Holt on Feb 19, 2003

A man travels from Jerusalem to Jericho, a distance of about 20 miles and is beaten up. -Luke 10: 30 it is a dangerous road and is known as "The Way of Blood"

THE GOOD SAMARITAN—Luke 10:25-37 INTRODUCTION The Good Samaritan’ is one of the better-known parables, (Luke 10:30-37) In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Methodist

A Wonderful Model Of Love

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Dec 7, 2006

After the Jerusalem Council decided to include the Gentiles without their having to become Jews, they needed to communicate that truth to them. The steps they took are a wonderful model of love in the church.

Passage: Acts 15:22-35 Intro: There he stood, leaning against the lockers. 1. it was “Shorts day” at Wheaton North H.S., and this young man, part of a group we called “greasers” or “hoods” must not have gotten the memo to ignore it. 2. black shoes and socks, white boxers, white t-shirt, but from ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:22-35

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Characteristics Of A Spiritual Church

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Jun 25, 2009

A Wednesday evening devotion which teaches us from the 1st Century church in Jerusalem, we can discern some of what it means to be a Spiritual Congregation.

The Characteristics of a Spiritual Church Acts 5:12-16 * One of the most sobering passages in all of New Testament scripture (at least for me) is found in Acts 5:1-11. To remind you, this is the story of Ananias and Sapphira. When they lied about their gifts to the church, they were struck down ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:11-17

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus' "Firsts" Series

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Apr 9, 2008

In the third sermon of the John series, Jesus performs his first miracle, connects with his first apostles, and has his first confrontation with the religious leaders in Jerusalem.

John’s Gospel #3 Jesus’ Firsts CHCC: January 20, 2008 John 1-2 INTRODUCTION: Today we’re going to look at Jesus’ Firsts in the Gospel of John. In chapters 1 and 2 John tells about Jesus’ 1st Apostles, his 1st Miracle, and his 1st Confrontation with the Religious Leaders. MY 1st thought was ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Nehemiah: Cupbearer On Fire

Contributed by Byron Martin on May 9, 2008

Because one man repented and followed the leading of the Lord; Jerusalem was re-built, thousands of exiles returned to the city and there was a mass repenting from God’s people.

NEHEMIAH: Cupbearer on Fire Rev. Maj. Byron E. Martin for American Rescue Workers DC Corps April 27, 2008 Scripture reference: the Book of Nehemiah We could have ripped this book out of the Bible if Nehemiah had been rational ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rediscovering The Word

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 9, 2009

In this chapter, we are moving from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem to building the people of God.
How does that happen? Being guide by our compass, the word of God.

[Re]discovering the Word Nehemiah 8:1-8 Image of Frank Worsley and the ship Endurance Just before the outbreak of the First World War, a small ship named the Endurance set sail from Briton with a crew intent on being the first to cross the South Pole. The ship reached Antarctica, but became ice ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-8

Denomination: Methodist

Who Is He? Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

“Who is he?” All who encountered Jesus from the peasants of Galilee to the scribes and Pharisees of Jerusalem to the Roman soldiers were faced with the same question: Who is he?

Who is He? John 1:1-3, 14 The movie Amistad tells the story of a group of African slaves who seize control of their slave-ship and demand to be returned to their homeland. The captain instead takes them to an American seaport where they are imprisoned. As they await the judge’s verdict, one of the ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

Denomination: Methodist