Sermons on Lay Down The Shovel:

Breaking Down Our Prejudices Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Aug 18, 2022

The kingdom of God is brought near to others when we allow Jesus to break down our prejudices

ENGAGE If I were to ask you if you’re prejudiced, most of you would probably say “no”. You probably consider yourself to be a very unbiased, accepting and loving person. But the fact is that even committed disciples of Jesus have prejudices. And one of the reasons those prejudices are such a big ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

God Brings Down The Proud Series

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Apr 10, 2022

In the church's fear and struggle, feeling hard-pressed and helpless, she can be encouraged. We know that the proud of the earth will not endure forever. The violent will not prevail. God is on his throne: He is the great judge and our faithful Saviour.

The world has seen many cruel tyrants and dictators. Sometimes these powerful men live out their days to the fullest, enjoying all the glories of their position right to the end, then dying in comfort. But many end in humiliation and defeat. The great Napoleon spent his last years in exile on a ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Up With Faith, Down With Walls

Contributed by John Gaston on Sep 20, 2016

Israel had an area of defeat -- Jericho. They could never advance in their walk with God until they overcame that obstacle. But it was impossible for them to conquer, on their own. We too have Jerichos that have held us back, but with God they'll fall

UP WITH FAITH, DOWN WITH WALLS Josh. 5:15-6:20 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: STRETCHING THE TRUTH, many golfers are known to: 1. At a golf course, four men approached the sixteenth tee. The straight fairway ran along a road and bike path fenced off on the left. 2. The first golfer teed off and hooked ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 6:1-20

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Upside Down Logic Of Heaven Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 28, 2023

Message 10 in an expositional series through Paul's "second" letter to the church in the ancient Greek city of Corinth. This devotional is an abbreviated sermon preached on a Sunday in which the Lord's Supper was celebrated.

On what was probably a beautiful spring day in the first-century Roman providence of Judea, a large crowd had gathered on the Korazim Plateau, overlooking the southern slopes of Lake Tiberias. It was rumored that the increasingly popular teacher, Yeshua (yay-SHOO-a), would be addressing the crowd ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Philippians 2:6-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Walls Come Tumbling Down Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 15, 2023

We are not called to save our buildings, but to conquer Satan's domain. We are to storm the gates of Hell. But, how can do we do that and how can we shake the foundations of people's indifference and bring down the walls of their lack of faith?

Walls Come Tumbling Down OPEN: About 1400 B.C. (1400 years before Jesus was born of Mary) Israel crossed the Jordan River, following Joshua into Promised Land. The first city that Israel that came to was Jericho, and archaeologists tell us that Jericho was a massive fortress-city with walls as ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:36-41

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Knock Down, Not Knocked Out

Contributed by Lynn Sims on Jan 18, 2025

In our spiritual journey, we may face setbacks, failures, and discouragement, but God calls us to rise up and continue fighting the good fight of faith.

Knocked Down, Not Knocked Out Key Scripture: “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.” – Proverbs 24:16 “they rise again”. - Though God permit the hand of violence sometimes to spoil his tent, temptations to assail his mind, and ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 24:16, Isaiah 40:31

Denomination: Other

And The Walls Came Tumbling Down. Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 7, 2025

Did the walls of Jericho fall just the way Scripture says? And, if they did, what can this story mean to us?

(SING) “Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho, Joshua fit the battle of Jericho and the walls came tumbling down. VERSE: You can talk about the men of Gideon, you can talk about old King Saul. But there's none like good old Joshua at the battle of Jericho.” Jericho is commonly ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 6:6-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Upside-Down Kingdom Of Christ

Contributed by Antonio Manaytay on Aug 29, 2025

This sermon delves into teaching of Jesus Christ: The first will be last, and the last will be first.

Introduction: The Race to Be First Church, have you ever noticed how obsessed the world is with being first? Think of school days: the first honor, the valedictorian, the one with the medal around their neck. Parents clap the loudest when their child is first. Even at children’s parties, the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:16

Denomination: Pentecostal

Born To Excel But Tied Down

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Sep 23, 2025

God created you to excel, but invisible limitations can keep you from fulfilling your divine purpose.

BORN TO EXCEL BUT TIED DOWN By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Genesis 49:3-4 Key Verse: “Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 49:3-4

Denomination: Assembly Of God

When All The Bridges Are Down Series

Contributed by Sherry Brooks Martin on Sep 24, 2025

Theme: When life seems to come apart for us, God still comes to us to help us but more often than not, not in dramatic, earthshaking fashion.

Sometimes, life just seems to blow up right before us. Several years ago, an amazingly effective church developer was sent by his bishop to a recently planted church in a Midwestern state that was struggling. This young pastor had developed quite a reputation for being able to help newly ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-18

Jesus Came And Sat Down

Contributed by Samuel M on Oct 31, 2024

So many times in our life, when we are in our most difficult times, Jesus silently comes (enters) and sits (makes his dwelling) in our lives and makes us part of his plans.

Then Jesus got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Luke 5:3-4 Peter was so ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:3-4

Knocked Down But Not Knocked Out

Contributed by Pastor/Author: Terry Sisney on Mar 31, 2025

Nobody will get through this life without taking a few hits. The Bible says that a just man falleth 7 times, but he riseth again. Somebody is making a come-back today.

Acts 14:19-21 ¶ And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:19-21

Denomination: Pentecostal

God Comes Down To Earth

Contributed by Richard Schwedes on Nov 21, 2025

A short reflection for Christmas eve or day that focuses on the gift of Christmas of God coming down to earth for us, with a Gospel message and Gospel actions

Every year we have this wonderful opportunity to focus on the Christmas story. The community is filled with carols, there is plenty mention of the angels, we have the three wise me from the East, sometimes referred to as Kings….and there is baby Jesus the centre of the story, who is regularly ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:10

Denomination: Lutheran

When The Lord Comes Down Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jul 1, 2025

When the Lord comes down, things cannot remain the same. His descent signifies divine interest, intervention, and empowerment.

WHEN THE LORD COMES DOWN By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Exodus 3:7-8 Supporting Texts: Isaiah 64:1-3, Psalm 18:6-17, John 1:14, Luke 7:12-15, Acts 10:38 INTRODUCTION: There are moments in history and in our lives when God does not just speak from heaven—He comes down. When the Lord comes ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:7-8

Denomination: Assembly Of God

When Heaven Came Down

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 24, 2024

Pentecost was a once forever event presaging the work of the Spirit in God's people. The phenomena were displayed once, but the power of the Spirit continues to be revealed through the testimony of God's redeemed people who are empowered to do this holy work.

“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-41

Denomination: Baptist