Sermons on Lay Down The Shovel:

Let Justice Run Down

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Apr 15, 2021

In Amos' time, justice and righteousness no longer prevailed in Israel; but rather, it had become wormwood. Wormwood is toxic, so Israel was dealing with a toxic justice system - but God was going to bring justice!

In Amos 5:24, we read, “Let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream!” This is a verse that probably resonates with us all. We all desire justice! I read some Christian articles that predicted the year 2020 to be “the year of justice,” but I doubt anyone who made these ...read more

Scripture: Amos 5:6-7, Amos 5:10-15

Denomination: Baptist

Go Down To Go Up Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Feb 24, 2016

Find the highest honor in the lowest places.

John Ortberg, in his book Love Beyond Reason, talks about the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, who pulled into a service station to get gas. He went inside to pay, and when he came out he noticed his wife engaged in a deep discussion with the service station attendant. It turned out that she knew him. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Turning The World Upside Down

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 27, 2010

Paul in Thessalonica

Reading: Acts chapter 17 verses 1-1: Ill: • Several years ago, American Larry Walters, a 33-year-old man; • Decided he wanted to see his locality from a new perspective. • So he went down to the local army surplus store; • And bought forty-five used weather balloons. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-9

Denomination: Brethren

When Heaven Came Down Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Dec 26, 2012

God exalts those who will be humbled. So when He humbled Himself to become a man, God did magnify & honor Himself to those who in humbleness would seek out the Christ. The significance of the event made it fitting that Heaven should come down & give God G

LUKE 2: 8-14 WHEN HEAVEN CAME DOWN [Eph. 2:12-18, Isa. 65:1, 61:1f, 1 Pet. 10:21, Zech. 9:9-12, Rev. 5:9-14] Christmas is a drama of the exciting invasion of earth by infinite God, the Eternal Spirit, Who became flesh in order to become man. His purpose was to personally reveal Himself to us, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-14

Denomination: Baptist

Stand Down, Or Stand Up!

Contributed by Norman Lawrence on Jan 14, 2013

I believe today that America and the Church in America is at a Crossroad, and it is up to each and every one of us here to decide whether it’s time to “stand down” or “stand up”! I believe it’s time to stand up!

The past couple weeks, I have heard a term more and more that to be quite honest with you, as a person who has not served a day in the military, hadn’t heard the term, and even when I did, I was a bit unsure what it meant. Here is the meaning of the term STAND DOWN: A relaxation from a state ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8-9

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Staring Down Your Critics Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Dec 19, 2024

Behold the glory of the Lord and be bold in your service for the Lord.

There is an old Peanuts cartoon, in which Linus has just written a comic strip of his own, and he wants Lucy's opinion. In the first frame, he tentatively hands Lucy his comic strip and says, “Lucy, would you read this and tell me if you think it is funny?” In the next frame, you see Lucy ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:1-18, 1 John 3:2-3, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Exodus 34:29-30

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Turning The World Upside Down Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Oct 12, 2021

To turn the world upside down, the Word must first turn us inside out.

In partnership with George Barna, Arizona Christian University just released its annual American Worldview Inventory. The results were disappointing, discouraging, and disheartening. Out of 176 million Americans who identify as Christians, just six percent hold a recognizably Christian ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

4. Impious Piety Series

Contributed by E. True Neilson on Nov 26, 2022

Watch the message video on YouTube at UCSZ0yPUBE_3382Mlb5fE8og

Check out the book "The Upside Down Kingdom" by Donald ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Come To Me And I Will Give You Rest

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Apr 11, 2005

Life has its challenges and heavy burdens. Jesus invites us to lay our burdens down and rest in him.

Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest” INTRODUCTION We are a sleep deprived nation. Doctors say that millions of people are not getting the necessary seven or eight hours of sleep a night. Most of us shake our head at such news because we can’t remember the last time we had eight ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28

Denomination: Lutheran

I Am The Good Shepherd Series

Contributed by Alan Mccann on Apr 25, 2005

The Good Shepherd lays down his life only to take it up that the sheep might live - in light of Psalm 23.

I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD JOHN 10 VERSES 11-21 What is your image of Shepherds? Do they have a beard? Wear woolly jumpers and have a shepherd’s crook in their hands? Maybe one man and his dog is the only time you have ever seen a shepherd. We all have this stereotypical idea of what a shepherd is ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-21

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Pastor's Appreciation

Contributed by Luther Sexton on Jul 11, 2018

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Pastor's Appreciation.

Pastor’s Appreciation LAYING DOWN HIS LIFE INTRODUCTION John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. It is love to the highest degree. M.H. Amplified Version John 15:13 No one has greater love--no one has shown stronger affection--than to lay ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Jesus The Good Shepherd Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jan 23, 2017

Jesus says he is the good shepherd, the one who’s come to lay his life down for the sheep.

Sermon by the Rev George Hemmings I wonder how close you’ve ever come to a sheep? Is it only the lamb chops that you ate yesterday on Australia day? Or have you seen one in a painting or on TV? Maybe you’ve touched one at a petting zoo, or a children’s farm? What kind of ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-42

Denomination: Anglican

Inspiring Purity Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Dec 23, 2020

If you want to encourage people pursue purity and follow Christ, begin with a blessing; don’t lay down the law.

After Helene Talbert of Wahpeton, North Dakota, completed her first semester at a Christian college, she had a lot to tell her family. Just before the end of the semester, they had an open house in her dorm – one of the few times men are allowed in the women's rooms. When her family came to ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 27:46, Genesis 28:1-9, Romans 2:4, Romans 5:20, Romans 7:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Memorial Day 2020

Contributed by Damien Saylor on Jun 9, 2020

Many are alive, many are free, because of the people who are willing to risk, & even lay down, their lives for others.

Sermon Memorial Day 2020 - Tomorrow we celebrate Memorial Day. It is a day that we look back at all that have fallen in past wars. - It’s seems our war with Iraq has become as distant as our civil war. As we are currently fighting such a war as this virus today. - So ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:18-19

Denomination: Baptist

Childishness And Small Religion

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 27, 2025

Jesus calls us to lay down childish stubbornness and take His hand in trusting, growing childlikeness that welcomes the Kingdom.

Have you noticed that Jesus holds two ideas in tension? He tells us to be childlike …and also warns us not to be childish. Only Jesus can say, “Become as little children” and “Grow up”…in the very same breath. He sees what we cannot. He can tell the difference. Our passage today is Luke 7:31-35. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:31-35, 1 Corinthians 13:11-12, Mark 10:15, Psalm 131:1-2, Romans 12:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist