Sermons on Lay Down The Shovel:

Anxiety Is A Downer

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Nov 14, 2016

Last week I shared Prov. 12:25, "An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up." As I focused on the later part of the verse last week, today I want to focus on the beginning part of the verse. So, let's look at the subject of anxiety.

ANXIETY IS A DOWNER INTRODUCTION: Last week I shared Prov. 12:25, "An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up." in regards to shining our light. Light warms and so therefore a kind word warms a person's heart. As I focused on the later part of the verse last week, today I ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Wisdom

Contributed by Chris Beam on Apr 26, 2015

It’s not an accident that this book has been classified as "Wisdom Literature." In my opinion, it’s probably the most philosophical books of the entire Bible. But, it also contains more than just philosophical debate. It contains some very practical and down-to-earth wisdom.

Series: Vanity Topic: Wisdom Text: Ecclesiastes 7:15-29 Last week, I began my sermon talking about wisdom. This week I want to expand on that thought as we come to the seventh chapter of Ecclesiastes. It’s not an accident that this book has been classified as "Wisdom Literature." In my ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:15-29

Denomination: Baptist

Isaiah And The Coal Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on May 24, 2021

Whenever you see an awakening taking place, you see people crying out to God in confession of sin. Sometimes this can be gradual, where God’s people really listen to the preaching of the Word. And at other times, there’s a sudden change as if an invisible thunderbolt from heaven comes down.

Introduction A revival is a time when sleepy Christians wake up, when nominal Christians convert to Christ, and when non-Christians come to faith in Christ. This is accompanied by an increase in the conviction of sin, an increase in the consciousness of God’s mercy and our unworthiness. You see, a ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

The "rest" Of Your Life Series

Contributed by Perry Fowler on Oct 26, 2023

Do you ever get tired? Weary? Ready for life to slow down? Perhaps you need peace inside. Hebrews 4 is written to some people who were tired. They were ready to give up on Jesus, and perhaps life all together. Where do we find rest?

Christmas is coming! Did you know that its only 57 days away? Any of you have your Christmas tree up yet? I wondered when the earliest day it is appropriate to put up your Christmas tree. The magazine, Southern Living tells me that “Black Friday.” Yet, I often find myself humming Christmas ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

From Prison To Palace

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Jul 28, 2025

Joseph’s life was full of ups and downs—but through it all, God was with him. Sold by his brothers, taken far from home, thrown into prison for something he didn’t do - it all seemed hopeless. The situation was very disappointing. But Joseph never gave up trusting God.

From Prison to Palace Joseph’s life was full of ups and downs—but through it all, God was with him. Sold by his brothers, taken far from home, thrown into prison for something he didn’t do - it all seemed hopeless. The ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Topsy-Turvy

Contributed by Michael Bates on Jan 21, 2024

Our society has become very perverse and our moral values are upside down (topsy-turvy). As Christians, we are in the middle of a spiritual war zone fighting daily against evil, sin and perversion. But with God on our side we can win the war and be declared victorious over the forces of darkness.

Our focal verse for this short sermon comes from Isaiah 5:20 CSB It says, 'woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.' During the time when this Bible verse was written, the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 5:20, Proverbs 14:34, Ephesians 6:12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Praise God For His Promise

Contributed by Efren V. Narido on Mar 30, 2024

We need to praise God more than anyone else. As the Psalmist also declared, “Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?” (Ps. 113:5). Just for His promise, we could praise Him.

“Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, ’Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:8-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Message I Would Like To Have Delivered At The Presidential Inauguration Prayer Service On 21 January 2025 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Nov 28, 2025

I was horrified at what was said at President Trump’s Church Prayer Service on 21 January 2025. It was godless. I sat down and wrote out what I would have said for that event. Please understand this message in the light of that, not an intrusion or anything; just before the Lord and His word.

MY MESSAGE FOR THE CHURCH SERVICE FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP At the outset, I need to say, I am not being precocious here, so please do not judge me as that. Please understand. As an outsider and not residing in the United States, it does give me one advantage of being more impartial. I was so ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 31:15, Matthew 12:30, 1 Kings 3:7-10, 1 Kings 3:11-12, Psalm 23:2-3, Mark 10:41-45, 1 Corinthians 15:52  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Wonder Of Christmas – Philippians 2:5-11 Series

Contributed by Scott Turansky on Feb 2, 2022

What God wants to do in our lives is something that's just, well, it's wondrous. Now when we do get this idea, we get the wonder of Christmas, when we realize that God came down to earth, we recognize that God was 100% God and 100% man in Jesus Christ

Philippians 2:5-11 Series: Choosing Joy in a Post-Traumatic World I think that there's a lot of confusion associated around Christmas in the lives of people. You've got this very, very significant event of Christmas, while at the same time almost a carnival atmosphere going on in society. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Freedom In Christ Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 28, 2025

What do you do when your past with its sins and failures just refuses to go away. What do you do when your guilt and shame stick to you like tar? The answer is here in Romans 7 and 8.

Back in the 1990s there was a scandal that rocked the political world. There was a 20-year-old intern who was discovered to have had a sexual relationship with the President of the United States. Her name was Monica Lewinsky… and when the scandal hit the news, she found herself being scorned, ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Child Of The King: Temptation And Identity

Contributed by Paul Humphrey on Mar 5, 2006

The Devil’s temptation of Jesus centered upon "if you are the Son of God." Even at the cross a voice cries, "If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross" (MT 27:40). Satan’s way may seem easier, but those led by the Spirit have a far different w

Child of the King: Temptation and Identity First Sunday of Lent 2006 Dr. Paul G. Humphrey There was a young preacher visiting with an old man who had an old hound dog. The preacher said, “that sure is a nice dog, what is his name?” The old farmer hemmed and hawed and said, “what is that flower ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:9-13

Denomination: United Methodist

Paul's Bar Mitzvah Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 30, 2004

So what can and cannot the Law do? The answer boils down to this: knowing what is right doesn’t mean we do what is right. Although ignorance of God¡¦s Word IS a major problem, we find that our sinful nature --that impulse to sin--is not defeated by info

Pau’s Bar Mitzvah (Romans 7:7-25) Intro 1."Christian workers in the Middle East are encouraged by the enthusiastic response to Mel Gibson’s The Passion on the part of Muslims in Qatar, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates. They view this as an unprecedented method of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:7-25

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Can Good People Love God? Series

Contributed by Dave Weidlich on Oct 8, 2002

It’s a well-known fact that Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost – the down-and-out. But what about the up-and-in? We are, and we live with, people who are not drug addicts, s and ex-cons. The folks we live with are highly educated, sophistic

Can Good People Love God? Rev. Dave Weidlich ~ Cooper Mountain Presbyterian Fellowship ~ Oct. 6, 2002 Read Zechariah 4:6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. In our Luke passage, we find two people ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 4:6, Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How The Holy Spirit Helps Us Receive And Give Forgiveness

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

If somebody killed your child, could you ever forgive him? By God’s grace the raging desire for revenge might eventually die down within our hearts, but most of us would probably prefer never to see that person again nor to help him in any way. Yet th

Let the Holy Spirit Help You Give and Receive Forgiveness (Eph. 1:7-18) Illustration: Forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. . --Ephesians 4:32 During the war in Kosovo in 1999, three Americans were captured and held hostage for more than a month. After intense negotiations, a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:7-18, Ephesians 1:7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Uses Cracked Pots Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Aug 11, 2010

Like the clay jars that Gideon and his soldiers broke, there a tremendous value in being broken. We throw things away when they’re broken, but God cherishes and uses broken people. So, broken down, cracked pots, rejoice because God uses cracked pots so th

INTRODUCTION The title of my teaching series from 2 Corinthians is “Hope for Cracked Pots.” Today, we’re going to look at 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 which is the passage for which I named the entire series. Today we’re going to talk about “God uses Cracked ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:6-7, 2 Corinthians 4:7

Denomination: Baptist