Sermons on John Lennon:

How We Can Defeat The Darkness Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Dec 22, 2017

How can we defeat the darkness? 1. Put a priority on prayer (vs. 1-5). 2. Rely on our Redeemer (vs. 6-16). 3. Strive to stick together (vs. 12-16). 4. Live in loyalty to the Lord (vs. 17).

How We Can Defeat the Darkness Acts 12:1-17 (Reading vs. 1-5) Sermon by Rick Crandall Grayson Baptist Church April 6, 2014 (Revised Sept. 18, 2016) *Anybody paying any attention at all knows we are living in a time of growing darkness. A five-minute glance at the headlines is enough to prove that ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas Eve Sermon: "Am I 'strong In Spirit'?"

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 5, 2017

A look at Luke 1:80 where it says that John the Baptist "become strong in spirit." This is the verse before the famous Christmas story (Luke 2:1-7). The sermon encourages people to "train themselves in godliness" and become more like Christ.

- Story from Preaching Today of the person pointlessly trying to visit every Starbucks in America. - “Accomplishing” something that really doesn’t amount to much. - What we accomplish with our lives is what v. 80 got me to thinking about. - This verse comes just before that famous Christmas ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

How To Be The People God Wants Us To Be Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jul 17, 2019

God wants us to: 1. Take care of our time (vs. 22-24). 2. Put away our pettiness (vs. 25-26). 3. Humble our hearts before Him (vs. 27-28; 30). 4. Have the full joy of knowing Jesus Christ (vs. 28-29). 5. Trust in the truth about Jesus (vs. 30-36).

How to Be the People God Wants Us to Be The Gospel of John John 3:22-36 Sermon by Rick Crandall Grayson Baptist Church - July 7, 2016 (Revised July 17, 2019) BACKGROUND: *Tonight in the last section of John Chapter 3, God's Word puts the spotlight back on John the Baptist. In these verses, ...read more

Scripture: John 3:22-36

Denomination: Baptist

The Consequences Of Repentance Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 13, 2023

John the Baptist's words about repentance draw a strong conviction from his hearers. They ask for practical instruction on how to move forward. What does John tell them?

THE CONSEQUENCES OF REPENTANCE: It’s striking that John’s answers are very practical. - Luke 3:10-14. - vv. 10, 12, 14 – Requests for practical answers. - The previous passage (and last week’s sermon) focused on the nature of repentance. Now these that were convicted by the message - Now we ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:10-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Beginning Of The Gospel Series

Contributed by David Owens on Mar 13, 2023

As is characteristic of Mark's Gospel, he quickly identifies that his subject is "the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God," and then immediately introduces John the Baptizer, the forerunner of Jesus, and then immediately tells about Jesus' baptism and temptation.

A. When you are writing a story, you want to catch your reader’s attention from the very start, right? 1. Here are some opening lines from actual books – some are famous, some not so famous. 2. “If you're going to read this, don't bother.” Choke 3. “I come from Des Moines. Somebody had ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Twenty-Eighth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C-- The Perfect Thank You Has Four Parts

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 10, 2025

Start with “thank you;” Recognize the Gift; Why you’re grateful, Tell that person what they mean to you.

John Kralik, a lawyer, found his life at a terrible, frightening low at age 53. He was twice-divorced, out of shape, had money troubles, and he had grown distant from his two older children and was afraid he might lose contact with his young daughter. But during his tough circumstances, an idea ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Catholic

Transition And Testimony (Matthew 11:1-30)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Mar 14, 2025

Our commentary on Matthew continues with Jesus' testimony about the ministry of John the Baptist and the promise of judgment upon the unbelieving cities who witnessed HIs work yet did not repent.

Matthew 11 begins with what is referred to as a "transitional" passage (v.1). While the disciples were going around the countryside doing the work that Jesus had commissioned, He continued to preach in the cities in Galilee. Verses 2-3 describe how John the Baptist had been thrown into ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:1-30, Luke 10:13-22, Genesis 19:12-14, Luke 7:18-35

Denomination: Baptist

Rejoicing When You Want Fiery Justice Instead!! Series

Contributed by Michael Blitz on Dec 16, 2023

John the Baptist sits in jail, waiting for Justice to rain down upon Herod. Meanwhile Christ preaches Good News, rather than wrath. How can we rejoice when there is no justice in this world?

Good Morning! As someone who grew up in a liturgical church, I realize that Lent and Advent can be easy to confuse. I say the wrong name quite a bit and might accidentally say the wrong name this morning. That’s one of those pastor cliches. My pastor, from our parish down in Baltimore, kept putting ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:1-11

Denomination: Anglican

Third Sunday In Advent (B C P). Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 2, 2024

Sermons upon the Bible Readings of the Book of Common Prayer.

Psalm 80:1-7, Isaiah 35:1-10, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Matthew 11:2-10 A). TURN US, SHINE FORTH, SAVE US. Psalm 80:1-7. Belief in the God of Israel is not blind faith, but an informed trust. One expression of our confidence that the LORD is in control of all things is to make our complaints known ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 80:1-7, Isaiah 35:1-10, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Matthew 11:2-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mom Said: Off With His Head!

Contributed by Troy Borst on May 7, 2024

Ladies, moms, grandmas, aunts, sisters… How do you use your influence for the Lord?

MOM SAID: “OFF WITH HIS HEAD!” MATTHEW 14:1-12 #MothersDay VIDEO INTRODUCTION… https://youtu.be/P3YmUx1rM8M [45secs] INTRODUCTION… theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2015/apr/04/off-with-their-heads-the-10-greatest-quotes-from-alice-in-wonderland [adapted] Lewis Carroll’s children’s classic, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Preparing The Way: The Dawn Of God's Tender Mercy Luke 1:76-78 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Jun 2, 2024

Luke 1:76-78 is a prophecy given by Zechariah about his son, John the Baptist. This passage is rich with promises and truths that can transform our lives.

Preparing the Way: The Dawn of God's Tender Mercy Luke 1:76-78 Luke 1:76-78 (NLT): “And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:76-78, Isaiah 40:3, Acts 13:38, Lamentations 3:22-23

Denomination: Pentecostal

No Screaming, Lots Of Listening

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 8, 2025

We might make the fiery preacher John the Baptist into our kind of Messiah. Energize by screaming at folks.

Feast of the Baptism of Jesus 2025 Sometimes in our reflections we might think that if God just made a few changes in the way He engineered our salvation, things might have gone better. Isaiah predicts that the Messiah would come gently, not screaming His message, giving people who were broken and ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-4, Isaiah 42:6-7, Acts 10:34-38, Luke 3:15-16, Luke 3:21-22  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

A Chapter Of Murder And Miracles (Matthew 14:1-36)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on May 16, 2025

This chapter describes the death of John the Baptist by Herod and the continuing ministry of the Lord Jesus.

The fourteenth chapter of Matthew opens with the death of John the Baptist, who had been imprisoned for preaching against the wicked ruler Herod Antipas. His father, Herod the “Great” had been the “ruler” of Judea from 37 - 4 BC at the behest of Rome and the emperor Augustus Caesar (ruled from ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-14, Matthew 14:1-36

Denomination: Baptist

Patient Attention Needed For True Devotion

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 10, 2025

And it was through the faith of the virgin Mary of Nazareth and the birth of Her Son that the promises of Isaiah came to life in the Church Jesus left after His resurrection and ascension.

Third Sunday of Advent 2025 Today we sing psalm 146, the first of the five alleluia psalms which act as a final movement to the whole book of psalms. It’s easy to hear the poetry of this hymn, even in English: “Adonai frees imprisoned; Adonai opens closed-eyes; Adonai lifts the prostrate; Adonai ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11, Isaiah 35:1-6, Psalm 146:7-10, James 5:7-10

Denomination: Catholic

The Perfect Christ Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Dec 23, 2025

Look to the Lamb who is Lord and be saved from your sins right now.

The Perfect Christ John 1:29-34 Rev. Brian Bill December 20-21, 2025 In the rolling hills just outside Bethlehem, under a canopy of stars in the cool night air, a group of shepherds kept careful watch over their flock. These fields were only a few miles from Jerusalem, and some scholars believe ...read more

Scripture: John 1:29-34

Denomination: Baptist