Sermons on Join Up Pay Up:

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by David Henderson on Dec 22, 2015

A cross is much more than a piece of jewelry.

Take Up Your Cross Scripture: Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Mark 8:34 (NIV) (Hold up one of the crosses.) You know what this is, don't you? Of course you do, it is a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34

Denomination: Baptist

Hurry Up And Be Patient Already!

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Dec 13, 2001

How James calls on Christians to be patient because Jesus is coming soon and because God blesses patience.

December 16, 2001 James 5:7-11 7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble ...read more

Scripture: James 5:7-11

Denomination: Lutheran

Who Is Willing To Speak Up

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Sep 24, 2003

This sermon about a willingness to speak the truth even when it’s not very popular.

Who Is Willing To Speak Up? GNLCC 7/13/03 Jeremiah 38:1-9 2 Timothy 4:14-18 Have you ever had the experience in which something was going on that was not right, or something was happening that you disagreed with but you just left it alone and walked away? Only to later be bothered by ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:14-18, Jeremiah 38:1-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Look Up And Praise The Lord

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 28, 2017

A summons to praise our God, with reasons attached.

LOOK UP AND PRAISE THE LORD. Psalm 147:1-11, Psalm 147:20c. Why “Praise the LORD” (Psalm 147:1)? There are two possible readings of the answer: “For it is good/ pleasant/ delightful to sing praises to our God” (cf. Psalm 92:1); or “For He is good/ gracious/ beautiful” (cf. Psalm 27:4). It could ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 147:1-11, Psalm 147:20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Take Up Your Cross Series

Contributed by Lanny Smith on Mar 14, 2022

What does it look like to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus?

[IMAGE] Philippine Passion Play - practice of literally crucifying people (voluntarily). The practice began in 1962 after a popular play about Jesus’ death. One man, Ruben Enaje, (as of 2019) had been hung on a cross 33 times. Many men and women have voluntarily submitted to temporary crucifixion ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Don't Give Up!

Contributed by Delishia Davis on May 5, 2017

Empowerment for the journey

“Day and night I’ll stick with God; I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go.” Psalm 16:8 King David records his most intimate thoughts in the writings of the Psalms. He begins Psalm 16 with a declaration that the Almighty God is in control of his life, and seeks him for safety. This is ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 16:8

Denomination: United Methodist

Give Up Your Rights Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jul 20, 2022

To gain a hearing for the gospel, know your rights and give up your rights.

Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hears a Who! centers around two characters: Horton, an elephant living in the Jungle of Nool, and the tiny mayor of Whoville, which is an extremely small world, which resides as a speck on a clover that Horton carries around. Vlad, an evil vulture, chases Horton to grab the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:1-18, 1 Timothy 5:17-18, Philippians 2:5-9

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Lift Us Up Lord

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Feb 6, 2021

Jesus is the only one who can lift us up where we need His healing touch---a touch only Jesus can give! Look at Jesus’s domestic touch, His couch in the community and the necessity of prayer.

LIFT US UP LORD Text: Mark 1:29 - 39 Mark 1:29-39  As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  (30)  Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once.  (31)  He came and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:29-39

Denomination: United Methodist

Clean Me Up, Lord

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 28, 2025

As we commemorate all Christians who have died and are not yet enjoying the Beatific Vision, we look forward to our own passage from this life and our hope that we can quickly be cleansed and admitted to the divine presence.

Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed 2025 One of the important concepts that our culture has lost over the past hundred years is that of an “intergenerational covenant.” We see it peeking through from time to time in the headlines, most recently in terms of our multi-trillion-dollar national ...read more

Scripture: John 6:37-40, Romans 5:5-11, Psalm 23:1-6

Denomination: Catholic

Works: Setting Up Camp Series

Contributed by Chris Kelly on Dec 4, 2002

Learn how each Psalm in the Songs of Ascent (120-134) describe the exciting life of the modern day follower of God as we climb and grow in our relationship with Christ.

Works: Setting Up Camp Series: The Great Adventure, Lessons We’re going to move on this morning in our series on “The Great Adventure”. We’re using the Psalms of Ascent found in Ps. 120-134 to describe for us what we can expect to encounter as we live the Christian life. This morning we’re going ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

Prepare The Way - Stand Up

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on Nov 22, 2018

This sermon shares with us the message of Jesus for this day - a Message of Hope as 1. We Stand (Take a Stand for Jesus) 2. We Raise Our Heads - message for Advent 2018

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Luke 21:25-36 Theme: First Sunday of Advent Title: Prepare the Way - STAND UP! This sermon shares with us the message of Jesus for this day - a Message of Hope as 1. We Stand 2. We Raise Our Heads - message for Advent 2018 INTRO: Grace and peace from God ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:25-36, Jeremiah 33:14-16

Denomination: Nazarene

Pick Up A Towel, Not A Title

Contributed by Wayne Lawson on Apr 3, 2017

In our text we find Jesus setting an example for us when he washed the feet of his disciples—an example of Servant Leadership.

TITLE: PICK UP A TOWEL, NOT A TITLE SCRIPTURE: ST. JOHN 13:3-9 / 12-17 We continue our “MARCH TOWARDS CALVARY” this morning and visit a scene that began to unfold the NIGHT IN WHICH JESUS WAS BETRAYED. I lift as a thought this morning – Pick Up a Towel Not A Title. What would you do if ...read more

Scripture: John 13:3-17

Denomination: Baptist

Pay Day

Contributed by Larry Kettle on Sep 6, 2011

This message highlights the fact that Jesus will reward his people at his coming.

Pay Day Pastor Larry D. Kettle Have you ever wondered why people drive on a parkway and park on a driveway? There have been many “Geniuses” who have produced brainchildren and bright ideas. (Most of them now work for the government) Labor day is a bright idea. Honoring the American ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 22:11-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Up A Tree And Out On A Limb

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 22, 2010

Dramatic monologue, as if Zacchaeus were telling his story. His life was "up a tree", in trouble. He went "out on a limb" to receive the welcome and the salvation offered by Jesus.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC October 30, 1988 Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he. He climbed up in a sycamore tree, the savior for to see.” Oh ... good morning, good morning. Almost didn't see you there. In fact, I've missed a lot of things, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Giving Something Up For Lent

Contributed by Craig Condon on Apr 20, 2015

God will give us the strength and desire to let go of the things that hinder us from serving Him. If we follow Him, He will bless us spiritually. In order to be first with God, we have to be last in the eyes of the world.

Let's take a walk down memory lane for a moment. Some of you, especially the older members of this congregation, may remember a famous comedian named Flip Wilson. He had a weekly TV comedy show back in the 70s, and one of his favorite characters was a preacher named Brother Leroy. In one skit, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:16-30

Denomination: Anglican