Sermons on Lenten Practices:

Week One Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Mar 15, 2021

“Lent is one of the oldest observations on the Christian calendar. Like all Christian holy days and holidays, it has changed over the years, but its purpose has always been the same: self-examination and penitence, demonstrated by self-denial, in preparation for Easter.

“Lent is one of the oldest observations on the Christian calendar. Like all Christian holy days and holidays, it has changed over the years, but its purpose has always been the same: self-examination and penitence, demonstrated by self-denial, in preparation for Easter. Early church father ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-2, 1 Peter 3:18-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Making The Most Of Every Opportunity

Contributed by David Owens on Mar 25, 2024

Where did the Easter holiday come from? How do Christians and Churches navigate holidays in a way that takes advantage of what is on people's minds without creating religious holidays and traditions that are not biblically authorized?

A. One day an atheist was complaining to his Christian friend, “You Christians have your special holidays, such as Christmas and Easter and Jews celebrate their special holidays, such as Passover and Yom Kippur, but we atheists have no recognized special holidays. It’s just not fair!” 1. The ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:2-6, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Acts 17:23, Revelation 22:18-19, Matthew 15:8-9, 2 John 1:9, Jude 1:3-4, Matthew 7:21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Ash Wednesday Sermon "Sinfulness

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Feb 25, 2001

A sermon for Ash Wednesday dealing with Sinfulness

Ash Wednesday Sermon Psalm 51:1-13 Sinfulness On this Ash Wednesday my Lenten journey begins...I am like a fisherman who launches his boat at dawn on the way to deep waters... The morning seas are calm; but the fisherman knows a storm can come with little warning. The boat may be buffeted ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-13

Denomination: Lutheran

Lent

Contributed by Christopher Nerreau on Mar 14, 2008

In today’s sermon we will see that in a very real sense, Lent is about understanding the 51st Psalm of David and seeing ourselves in the place of the Psalmist.

“Lent” Psalm 51 03/17/2008 By Dcn. Chris Nerreau ILLUSTRATION •(2 Sam. 11) Many of you are familiar with David’s escapades with a peasant girl named Bathsheba. In this particular story we see a King who abuses his power in such a way as to commit two heinous sins, namely rape and murder. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-19

Denomination: Orthodox

Mardi Gras!

Contributed by Rusty Tardo on Jan 21, 2009

Is the Mardi Gras celebration harmless fun? Or is it idolatrous?

The Spirit of Mardi Gras Dr. Russell K. Tardo Mardi Gras! The very word conjures up all sorts of images in our minds. We think of parades, floats, masquerades, balls, beads, doubloons, parties, kingcake and revelry. New Orleans promotes it as “the greatest free show on earth”, and it is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:20-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Journeying With Jesus Through Lent #1: ‘into The Wilderness' Series

Contributed by Michael B. Perrott on Feb 27, 2009

A SERMON FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT 2009. We accompany Jesus into the wilderness and an encounter with the Tempter

Mark 1:9-15 (Genesis 9:8-17) Journeying with Jesus through Lent #1: ‘Into the Wilderness’ Sermon Series: Lent 2009 Both our stories from the Bible have common themes for us today, as last Wednesday (Ash Wednesday) we began our Lenten preparations, and as the global economic crisis seems to cast ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:9-15, Mark 1:9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Faith Seeking Understanding

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 1, 2014

God redeemed the world through suffering, and we can understand, if not fully comprehend, the mystery.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday 2014 Lumen Fidei On this first day after the solemn beginning of Lent, as we begin our forty-day retreat, the Church gives us some stark words. Deuteronomy tells us that the choice is between life and death, between blessing and curse. Honor and obey God alone, and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:22-25

Denomination: Catholic

Yes, A Church Leader Must Have A Sense Of Humor Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 23, 2019

We are told to have salt in us. Salt was used in the ancient world, and occasionally today, to preserve meat from corruption. So if we have spiritual salt, we will be preserved against that kind of corrupt thought and behavior.

Thursday of the 7th Week in Course 2019 St. Hilarius Today we have a rare treat because of the late date of Ash Wednesday and Easter. We get the rare festival of St. Hilarius, about whom I will speak in a moment. By now, most years, we are deep into Lent, and so the saints’ days are suppressed in ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6, Mark 9:41-50

Denomination: Catholic

Mardi Gras Or Shrove Tuesday?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 22, 2020

The season we begin tomorrow is a time to draw near to God so that He can draw near to us.

Tuesday of the 7th Week in Course Mardi Gras Passions. We don’t hear much about that plural noun lately. Oh, the word “passion” turns up in seamy novels and videos, I suppose. And those of us for whom the Catholic religion, the word “passion” stirs up thoughts of the torture Jesus had to undergo ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:30-37, James 4:1-10, Psalm 55:22

Denomination: Catholic

Witnessing To The Culture Of Death Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 7, 2020

We must work and pray, as St. Benedict told us to do. Work for the spread of the kingdom in our families and communities, and vote as a Christian must, for godly men and women who will resist the culture of death and legislate for life, peace, and goodness.

Tuesday of the 2nd Week in Lent 2020 For our first reading today, I have chosen to begin earlier in the first chapter of Isaiah than the Lectionary suggests, and to add the verses the Lectionary omits. The Lenten readings take a great deal of the very long prophecies of Isaiah, but they omit ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:10-20, Matthew 23:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

The Dialogue Of Ecumenism Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 12, 2016

Our prayer is that all Christians be One.

Thursday of Fifth Week in Lent 2016 Joy of the Gospel The providential juxtaposition of St. Patrick’s Day with the readings of this Lenten feria should lead us to make a comparison between the call of St. Patrick and the call of the Hebrew patriarchs. Patrick was called by God to return ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 17:3-9

Denomination: Catholic

Cleaning Up Our Act To Be Useful To The Lord Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 26, 2022

God loves us and wants us to accept His forgiveness for our sins and bad habits, and help build the kingdom of God, and fall in love with Him and our brothers and sisters so we can all enjoy the divine companionship forever.

Eighth Sunday in Course I have never served in the Army, but I know quite a few of my acquaintances who have. All of them testify to the rigors and hazards of the battlefield. Just moving one’s feet forward in the direction of the foe is dangerous, even without projectiles aimed at you coming at ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:39-45, Psalm 92:2-3, 1 Corinthians 15:54-58

Denomination: Catholic

Easter Sermon On Peter

Contributed by Ava Ch on May 25, 2025

Resurrection hope meets us in our wandering and regret, assuring us that no failure is final when grace rolls the stone away.

Introduction Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Friends, we gather on this Easter morning in the light of resurrection, but many of us carry shadows too. The shadows of the past year. The shadows of our regrets. And if we’re honest, some of us arrive like Peter—with hearts that have wandered, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Switching The Price Tags Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 7, 2019

When Christians fight and quarrel they show that they've embraced the world and its ways of dealing with conflict. God's wisdom is different than the world's. Do you know what that difference is?

OPEN: Years ago, Tony Campolo wrote a book about Christianity called “Who Switched The Price Tags” He told about the time he and his best friend decided to break into the basement of the local five-and-dime store. They didn’t plan to rob the place (Sunday School boys after all); instead, they ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Is Official Or Formal Church Membership In A Local Church According To Scripture – Part 2 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 3, 2025

Formal church membership that involves special membership and voting rights is contentious. In this Part 2, I open up the matter to show how out of sync the matter is with the membership of the one Body of Christ, and the discrimination. We delve into some scriptures to bring this out.

IS OFFICIAL OR FORMAL CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IN A LOCAL CHURCH ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE – PART 2 In Part 1 we looked at the practice some churches have of there being an official local church membership that divides “members”, adherents and attendees into “MEMBERS” and “NON-MEMBERS” depending if one has ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10, Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 6:15, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 1 Corinthians 12:18-20, 1 Corinthians 12:24-25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational