Sermons on Leave The Past:

There's A Black Sheep In The Family Tree Series

Contributed by Bud Ross on Jan 24, 2005

A study of 5 people in Jesus’ genealogy who had tainted reputations illustrates that none of us have to be chained to our past.

THERE’S A BLACK SHEEP IN THE FAMILY TREE I recently became interested in family genealogy. I found some ancestors who intrigue me, like the civil war veterans and the Baptist preacher who was shot in the back during the Civil War. (I don’t know if he wore the wrong color coat or if his sermons ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17, Matthew 1:1-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Lessons From Failure Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jun 21, 2012

If we're going to rebound from failure, we must appreciate the past, be faithful in the present, and trust God for the future.

Several years ago, Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Bob Patterson described one of his pitches, which the Cincinnati Reds' Barry Larkin hit for a game-winning home run: “It was a cross between a screwball and a change-up. It was a screw-up.” (Wall Street Journal, 7/9/96; Leadership, Vol. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:1-25

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Faith Or Observance Of The Law? Series

Contributed by Roger Griffith on Jul 15, 2003

Some begin well in the faith but leave the truth for error and false teachings. Once you get on the track of faith in Christ, don’t get off.

FAITH OR OBSERVANCE OF THE LAW? TEXT: Galatians 3:1-14 (NIV) 1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit BY OBSERVING THE LAW, or BY BELIEVING ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-14

Zacchaeus PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Nov 4, 2025

Jesus sees beyond our past and reputation, calls us by name, and brings transforming grace and salvation personally into our lives.

Some of us walked in today wearing an invisible name tag. It doesn’t say “Hello, my name is…” as much as it says “Hello, my past is…” or “Hello, my reputation is….” Labels linger. Nicknames stick. Stories spread. And sometimes we start to believe them more than we believe the voice of God. We ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Topics: Christ's Knowledge, Names

Experience An Easter Earthquake!

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Apr 19, 2023

I am asking God the Holy Spirit to get our attention this morning and to shake our lives with an Easter earthquake so that we leave this worship service changed forever. May the Holy Spirit enable each of us to hear the earth-shattering news and to leave here with a life-changing faith!

It happened on an Easter Sunday. The date was April 4, 2010. The time was 3:40 p.m. Pacific Time. It turned out to be the biggest earthquake to hit Southern California in nearly 20 years. The magnitude—7.2 earthquake struck near the border with Mexico in Baja California. The earth shook for 45 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10

Denomination: Lutheran

Get Up Off That Couch..and Start Living!

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Apr 7, 2014

God is not interested in your past, He doesn’t remember it..the moment you take Him in your heart, your past is forgiven, At that moment..we are given a clean slate, "That's a Big Deal" That right there my friends..is Shouting Material!!

Get Up Off That Couch..and Start Living! Romans 8:31-39 MSG. 31-39. So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:31-39

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

B Thankful Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 22, 2009

God repeatedly tells me I should be thankful for all things. But there are times I don’t want to thankful. There are times I don’t FEEL thankful. So how can I obey God when that happens?

OPEN: I read the true story of GIs stationed on Leyte in the Philippines during WW II. Although the region was secure, sometimes the enemy tried to infiltrate their food storage area. One such adversary, dressed in GI clothing, had worked himself into the noontime chow line. But the camp cook ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fresh Start....with Myself - A Message On Making Wise Decisions Series

Contributed by Mark Nichols on Jan 20, 2009

You can’t change the past, but you can change the future! It start with making good decisions that will affect your future.

TEXT: Matthew 4:1-11 Proverbs 14:12 TITLE: A Fresh Start…With Yourself - A Message on making wise choices SERIES: Fresh Start TOPIC: Decision Making OCCASION: Burnside Christian Church, January 18, 2009 PROP.: Important decisions are like seeds. We don’t know exactly what they’ll produce ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Lost And Found PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 24, 2025

Jesus sees, calls, and transforms the overlooked and broken, offering grace and belonging to all who respond to His invitation, no matter their past.

Friends, picture it with me: a crowded street in Jericho, hot dust swirling, elbows and shoulders jostling for a glimpse of a traveling Teacher. At the edge of that scene is a man who feels small in more ways than one. He has money that can buy him furniture but not friends, status that sparks ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Topics: Jesus' Love, Undesirables

Make You Walk Erect

Contributed by Bala Samson on Jan 30, 2021

Whatever humiliation, mockery, criticism you might have faced in the past, God will change that friend and make you walk erect!

Make you walk erect! Leviticus 26:13 'I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you would not be their slaves, and I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.” I remember an incident that happened before my salvation, also during the time I was a ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 26:13

Denomination: Pentecostal

To God Be The Glory

Contributed by Bart Leger on Feb 2, 2005

I really believe God is able to use us, no matter what our education, or training or even our past involves.

To God Be the Glory! Do you sometimes feel you are useless, or that your life is not making a difference? I believe these are questions most of us deal with when reflecting upon our lives. We may be asking ourselves, “Is God really able to use me to make a difference in other people’s lives?” I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1-5

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Remember Lot's Wife

Contributed by Shawn Miller on Mar 11, 2017

Jesus warns us through an unnamed woman about the dangers of looking back to a life that we are called to leave behind in Luke 17:32

Remember Lot's Wife Introduction:  This past Wednesday was Women's Day, a day to remember women's rights, and the Lord calls his disciples to remember one woman in Luke 17:32.  There is no warning in all the Bible more sobering than this one.  The Bible says that Lot was a righteous man, but ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Wonderful Words For Wounded Workers

Contributed by John Kapteyn on Oct 18, 2000

John 16:1-14 WONDERFUL WORDS FOR WOUNDED WORKERS The disciples were hurting because Jesus was going to leave them.

John 16:1-14 WONDERFUL WORDS FOR WOUNDED WORKERS The disciples were hurting because Jesus was going to leave them. These words given by Jesus were designed to encourage them. When we are hurting, the place to go is God’s Word for encouragement. THE PURPOSE OF JESUS’ WORDS - Vss. 1, 4 THE ...read more

Scripture: John 16:1-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Rejecting What We Naturally Know

Contributed by Paul Apple on Oct 18, 2000

REJECTING WHAT WE NATURALLY KNOW ABOUT GOD LEAVES US WITHOUT EXCUSE AND ALWAYS BRINGS GOD'S WRATH 1.

REJECTING WHAT WE NATURALLY KNOW ABOUT GOD LEAVES US WITHOUT EXCUSE AND ALWAYS BRINGS GOD'S WRATH 1. God Always Responds in Wrath Against Those Who Reject His Revealed Truth (:18) -- God by nature is a God of Wrath Why should we believe in God's Wrath? a. Word usage in the Bible -- wrath, anger, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:18-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Peter's Fishing Expedition

Contributed by Billy Kryger on Jan 30, 2003

God placed a calling upon Peter’s life that never left him---even when he tried to leave the calling.

INTRODUCTION: Before the Lord Jesus had called Simon Peter to be a disciple he was a successful fisherman. Now, after the events recorded in chapters 18, 19 and 20, he returns to his first love. Some Bible scholars have suggested that he did this as a result of discouragement and ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-12

Denomination: Baptist