Sermons on Lay Down The Shovel:

Power Of Pentecost: Unleashing The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on May 17, 2024

The Average Christian And The Average Church are Somewhere Bogged Down Between Calvary and Pentecost. They have been to Calvary for Pardon, but they Have Not Been to Pentecost For Power. Bethlehem means God With Us. Calvary means God For Us. But Pentecost means God In Us.

OPENING ILLUSTRATION: Play the video on “Holy Spirit.” The word “Pentecost” designates the 50th day after Passover, which was a Feast Day. Also known as the Feast of Weeks or Feast of Harvest. It was a time when Israel celebrated Moses receiving the Ten Commandments from God. It was on this day, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It Bore No Fruit Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 26, 2022

If a person does not abide in God’s Word, he or she will be cut down. This passage looks at how we need to allow Jesus, the Word made flesh, to penetrate our heart as He penetrated the temple. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

This evening’s message is entitled “It Bore No Fruit,” and it’s taken from what is commonly called “The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree.” “Die when I may,” said Abraham Lincoln, “I want it said of me that I plucked a weed and planted a flower wherever I thought a flower would grow.”(1) Lincoln ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:6-9

Denomination: Baptist

Money Talks Series

Contributed by David Owens on Sep 13, 2021

In James 5, James comes down very hard on the rich and the sins that often accompany materialism. What we do with our money declares what we value and love. So, what is your use of money saying about you?

Introduction: A. One evening a husband was balancing the checkbook and said to his wife, “You know the old saying, ‘money talks’? Well, ours just said, ’So long!’” 1. I know that we all feel that way sometimes, don’t we? 2. The world we live in runs on money, and it seems that we never have enough ...read more

Scripture: James 5:1-6, Luke 6:24-25, Luke 18:24, Matthew 6:19-20, 1 Timothy 6:9-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Is The Wall Important? Series

Contributed by Allan Quak on Jan 7, 2019

Nehemiah wants to make the building of the Jerusalem wall a priority because he wants the people to have a clear understanding of their identity. By giving us boundaries God preserves us as His people from those who would tear us down.

Jexit: Judah Comes Home Why Is The Wall Important? A sermon on Nehemiah We've been working our way through a series of messages looking at the Jews who returned from the exile in Babylon. What has been going on in their lives. How they are resettling back into the land of Judah. And some of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Key To Freedom

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 12, 2021

The more you read of the history of our nation the more you realize the heroes of our history were not gods come down to earth, but they were weak and fallible men. It was their dependence upon God that enabled them to declare their independence from tyranny.

The story I am about to tell is fiction, but it is funny and it has a point. After 38 years of marriage I thought I knew everything about Lavonne. But I discovered something new when we got back from our trip to Washington. I was putting things away and I was pushing something under her side of ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:1-6

Caleb, The Wholehearted Dreamer

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Oct 6, 2021

Wholly following the Lord can be boiled down to three words. Trust and obey. Others in the Bible did that, but only Joshua and Caleb are immortalized for it. They are the example to follow. Any of us can wholly follow the Lord. All of us should.

Introduction: If you describe someone as a dreamer, you might mean that they spend a lot of time thinking about and planning for things that they would like to happen, but which are improbable or impractical in their own strength. Caleb was dreamer who was connected to a dream making God. God ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 14:6-15, Numbers 14:6-9, Numbers 13:30-33

Denomination: Methodist

The God Who Destroys Strongholds Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jul 30, 2025

Strongholds are not eternal—they can be pulled down. No matter how long they have stood, the power of God is greater. Don't manage the stronghold, destroy it. Don't excuse it, confront it. There is freedom in Christ.

THE GOD WHO DESTROYS STRONGHOLDS By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Supporting Texts: Judges 6:25-32, Jeremiah 1:10, Isaiah 10:27, Colossians 2:14-15, Psalm 18:2 INTRODUCTION: A stronghold is anything that exerts ungodly control over your life—be it fear, sin, generational ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Jeremiah Is The Prepared Prophet – Youth To God’s Man Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 3, 2022

The call of Jeremiah has challenges for us and we look at them. Abortion and the unborn are examined from God's perspective. How many sit down and laboriously draft and redraft some message straining to “polish” some sermon. Just speak what God has given!

JEREMIAH IS THE PREPARED PROPHET – YOUTH TO GOD’S MAN {{Jeremiah 1:1-3 “The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:1-3, Jeremiah 1:4-5, Psalm 139:7-12, Psalm 139:13-16, Jeremiah 1:6-10, Isaiah 6:6-8, Ezekiel 2:1-4, Jeremiah 1:9-10, 2 Peter 1:3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You Still Throwing Stones At Others?

Contributed by Jeremiah Menyongai on Mar 9, 2020

Let me talk about stones. God requires Christians to take care of each other. Not to pamper people in their wrongs, but to encourage them get back up when they do wrong or fall. We must have that Barnabas Spirit – to be willing to help each other when down.

John 8:1-12: 8 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-12

Denomination: Charismatic

Trust God - Part 2 Series

Contributed by Jeff Budzinski on Jul 30, 2010

• Last week we laid down some foundation about trusting God. This week I want to continue in the same vain. • Remember, to trust God means to be dependent on Him and no one else. Don’t look for any other source or outlet. • When we trust in God, we can

Introduction • Last week we laid down some foundation about trusting God. This week I want to continue in the same vain. • Remember, to trust God means to be dependent on Him and no one else. Don’t look for any other source or outlet. • When we trust in God, we cannot be ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Did God Do When The Lights Went Out

Contributed by Guy Glass on Sep 19, 2011

I THOUGHT THAT THIS MORNING, WE WOULD FIND OUT WHAT GOD DID WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. WE PROBABLY HUNKERED DOWN, LIT CANDLES, PULLED OUT FLASHLIGHTS, SEARCH FOR OTHER HOUSING, OR A VARIETY OF OTHER THINGS. WHILE SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURE, I FOUND SEVERAL

WHAT DID GOD DO WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT A Survey through the Scripture concerning God and Darkness INTRODUCTION: THIS HAS BEEN SOME SORT OF WEEK HASN’T IT? THIS WEEK OUR LITTLE AREA OF THE WORLD HAS SURVIVED AN EARTHQUAKE, A HURRICANE NAMED IRENE AND A TORNADO. ALL THAT IS LEFT IS FOR A ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

#38 Ministering In The Valley Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Feb 22, 2021

When Peter, James and John were up with Jesus experiencing the Transfiguration, what were the other 9 disciples doing? They were down in the valley ministering in Jesus’ name…unsuccessfully. This sermon examines why they were unsuccessful in healing and casting out a demon from a man’s son.

#38 Ministering in the Valley Series: Mark Chuck Sligh February 21, 2021 NOTE: PowerPoint or ProPresenter presentations are available for this sermon by request at chucksligh@hotmail.com. Please mention the title of the sermon and the Bible text to help me find the sermon in my archives TEXT: ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:14-20

Denomination: Baptist

Wings Of Eagles Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 22, 2018

Isaiah 40 declares that we will win the race because God says we will win - if we wait upon the Lord. That thought can change our lives... but it even has a greater power. Do you know what that is?

OPEN: (I began the sermon by reading the text and then singing a song I wrote back in Bible College that was inspired by the last two verses of the 40th chapter of Isaiah – See Footnote for the words) When I was about 8 years old, my dad decided to have a running contest between me and my brother ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:21-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Open Wide And Say 'ah-H-H-Men!' Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Oct 31, 2021

Imagine sitting in the waiting room at your doctor’s office and he comes in with a very serious look on his face. “God must be really, really mad at you because you have cancer.” That was David’s reaction when he came down with a serious illness.

Imagine sitting in the waiting room at your doctor’s office and he comes in … with a very serious look on his face. “God must be really, really mad at you because you have cancer.” That was David’s reaction when he came down with a serious illness. “O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger, or ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 6:1-10, Philippians 3:21, Revelation 21:4, 1 Corinthians 15:54-55, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

Restorative Justice #4: Samson's Revenge, Jesus' Redemption Series

Contributed by Anne Grant on Oct 11, 2001

Two men made for God’s purpose: one chooses his own pleasure and becomes a terrorist bent on revenge, fighting a holy war. He commits suicide bringing down a building, killing thousands. The other gives up his rights, chooses death, and redeems the world.

Samson’s Revenge and Jesus’ Redemption, Judges 13-16 Restorative Justice Series #4 Trinity United Methodist Church, Providence, RI October 7, 2001 Rev. Anne Grant We have been hearing some powerful stories about heroism Over the past few weeks. We read them in newspapers and magazines. We hear ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Methodist