Sermons on Lent 4:

Our Own Cross To Bear

Contributed by Lynn Malone on Mar 7, 2026

We like the idea of following Jesus—until we hear Him talk about a cross. In Our Own Cross to Bear, we consider Jesus’ call to deny ourselves and discover that the life we try to protect is the very life we lose. The life we surrender to Christ is the one we truly find.

Our Own Cross to Bear Mark 8: 34-38 I. Introduction I have to be honest. Preparing this message has been a challenge. It’s a hard word, but it is Jesus explaining the very heart of discipleship. The words Jesus spoke that day to his disciples and to the crowd are just as pertinent to discipleship ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38

Denomination: Methodist

Ash Wednesday "marked, But Not For Show" Series

Contributed by Shawn Vollmerhausen on Mar 13, 2026

Explores the tension between the visible mark of ashes and Jesus’ call to a hidden, sincere faith. The sermon emphasizes the God who ‘sees in secret,’ the difference between outward signs and inward renewal, and the invitation Lent offers to return to God with honesty.

Tonight we gather at the doorway of Lent, a season that invites us to slow down, to look inward, and to return to God with honesty. Ash Wednesday is unlike any other night in the Christian year. It is quiet, reflective, and strangely beautiful. We come forward to receive ashes on our foreheads, a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6, Matthew 6:16-21, Isaiah 58:1-12

Denomination: United Methodist

Give Ear, O Shepherd Of Israel.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 7, 2013

No matter what the world throws at us, we will persevere in the LORD.

GIVE EAR, O SHEPHERD OF ISRAEL. Psalm 80:1-7; Psalm 80:17-19. Belief in the God of Israel is not blind faith, but an informed trust. One expression of our confidence that the LORD is in control of all things is to make our complaints known to Him. In Psalm 80 the writer bemoans the plight of the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 80:17-19, Psalm 80:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lenten Breakfast: Discernment

Contributed by Troy Borst on Mar 3, 2004

A short devotional for Lent Breakfasts. 10 minutes

LENT BREAKFAST MARCH 3, 2004 “Lent is a season of intense prayer, fasting and concern for those in need. It offers all Christians an opportunity to prepare for Easter by serious discernment about their lives, with particular attention to the word of God which enlightens the daily journey of all ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:9-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

To Be Tempted

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Feb 4, 2008

A sermon for the first Sunday in Lent the Temptation of Jesus

1st Sunday in Lent Matthew 4:1-11 "To be tempted" "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Lutheran

To Bring You To God

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Feb 23, 2012

Sermon for the first Sunday in Lent, Year B

I Peter 3: 18 – 22 / To Bring You To God Intro: 2 inexperienced hunters went hunting in the woods. The game warden had warning them that they might get lost said that if the got lost to shoot 3 shots in rapid succession. They did get lost. One said to the other, “You’d ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:18-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Three Tests, One Answer

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Mar 7, 2022

A sermon for the first Sunday in Lent, Year C

March 6, 2022 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Luke 4:1-13 Three Tests, One Answer Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. One of the iconic scenes in the movie "City Slickers" involves Jack Palance’s character, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: Lutheran

Getting Lost

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Feb 26, 2024

A sermon for the second Sunday in Lent, Year B

February 25, 2024 Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church Mark 8:31-38 Getting Lost Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. “Get Lost!” That’s not a polite thing to say. It has the connotation of “Scram!” or “Beat it!” If my mother ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Lutheran

Your Cheating Heart Will Tell On You (Part 4 Of 4) Illustrated Sermon Series

Contributed by Greg Cooper on Oct 4, 2001

Dealing with hidden sin

(For this Illustrated sermon you will need an eight foot tall heart with doors in the center to get thing out, and for Spirit of Pharisee; Spirit of Rebellion; Spirit of Gossip to exit) Title: Your Cheating Heart Will Tell On You Text: Psalms 51:10 Intro: Ladies and gentlemen, the music that you ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Rev.18:4-7~# 63-Pt.4 Commercial Babylon Falls Series

Contributed by William D. Brown on Aug 9, 2010

Chapters 17: describes the spiritual and chapter 18: describes the commercial states of Babylon. Spiritual Babylon involves the big umbrella of Christendom that is with us today; many assemblies that name the name of Christ are far from Christian, they o

Rev.18:4-7~# 63-pt.4 COMMERCIAL BABYLON FALLS 7-17-10 Chapters 17: describes the spiritual and chapter 18: describes the commercial states of Babylon. Spiritual Babylon involves the big umbrella of Christendom that is with us today; many assemblies ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 18:4-7

Denomination: Baptist

4 Aspects Of The New Way Of Life (Ephesians 4:25-5:2) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Sep 23, 2025

Paul gives four examples, illustrative, not exhaustive, of what this new life/shirt/road in Christ looks like. Specifics, of what God is looking for in a worthy walk.

Over the last couple of weeks, we've seen Paul starting to pull his entire argument in Ephesians together. God is in the process of creating one holy family, who will live in peace with Him and with each other. Or we can say, God is in the process of creating one holy body-- one person-- with ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-32, Ephesians 5:1-2

24. The Kingdom Parables – The Sixth – The Pearl Of Greatest Price – Part 4 Of 4 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Nov 29, 2025

The final posting on the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price looks at the church at Philadelphia again, then moves to the period of Church History that is represented by this parable. It is not a denomination or a particular church. It is explained in the message.

24. The Kingdom Parables – The Sixth – The Pearl of Greatest Price – Part 4 of 4 In this final Part we look especially at the place the Parable of the pearl of greatest price has in Church History as we have done with each of the parables. Before that though, there is a bit to finish off from ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:45-46, Revelation 3:12-13, 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10, 1 Peter 1:22-23, 2 Timothy 3:1-4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Are Made Righteous By Faith (Second Sunday Of Lent, March 5, 2023)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 3, 2023

How would you like to take a test that had a different rule for success? Instead of so many points for an “A”, so many for a “B” and so on, the success of the test would be based on an “all or nothing rule”. So you would have to get a 100% to pass on every test every single day.

WE ARE MADE RIGHTEOUS BY FAITH Text: Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 Romans 4:1-5  What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter?  (2)  If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:1-5, Romans 4:13-17

Denomination: United Methodist

First Sunday Of Lent, Year C--Assume The Power, The Devil Told Him

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Feb 7, 2025

An image or fantasy is presented to me...

Satan tries to drive a wedge between Jesus and his Father. “If you are the Son of God,” Satan begins two his temptations. Same with us, with baptism, “If you are a child of God.” Doubting baptismal identity. Lent is a time of self-appraisal and accountability. When we remember and reflect on our ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 26:4-10, Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: Catholic

You Can’t Unscramble An Egg (Lent 1 February 26. 2023)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Apr 25, 2023

Why did Adam and Eve fall? Was it because they both took a bite of the forbidden fruit? Of course they did. All it took was a bite for them to lose their mostly unrestricted place in the Garden of Eden. The fruit of tree of the knowledge of good and evil was the restricted part of the garden.

YOU CAN’T UNSCRAMBLE AN EGG Text: Genesis 2: 15 - 17 and 3: 1 - 6 Genesis 2:15-17  The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.  (16)  And the LORD God commanded the man, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:15-17, Genesis 3:1-7

Denomination: United Methodist