Sermons on Lift Up Your Heads O Gates:

Division Over Jesus

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 11, 2019

Is conflict always avoidable? Is conflict always a sign of failure? Can good come from conflict? Let’s see how conflict is part of the Gospel message in Luke 12:49-56.

Is conflict always avoidable? Is conflict always a sign of failure? Can good come from conflict? Let’s see how conflict is part of the Gospel message in Luke 12:49-56. Fire & Division Luke 12:49-51 “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! 50 I have a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-56

Denomination: Baptist

Canonized Or Not, All Are Called To Be Saints Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 7, 2019

The slavery to sin that we all labor under for some part of our lives is destroyed by the infinite loving power of Christ.

Tuesday of 23rd week in course 2019 St. Agnes Tsao-Kou Ying We don’t become disciples of Jesus Christ on our own volition. We must be called to follow Christ. Some teachers have misunderstood this to mean that some are called and others are not called, and therefore are damned to perdition by ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:6-15, Luke 6:12-19

Denomination: Catholic

Our Face Set Toward Jerusalem Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 28, 2019

Athanasius taught that God became human so that humans could be made divine. But even the baptized struggle with the profound negative impacts of original sins in our physical, emotional and spiritual lives.

Tuesday of the 26th Week in Course 2019 St. Therese of Liseaux The connection between our two Scripture readings today is stark. The prophet Zechariah, writing a couple of hundred years before Christ, is in a society dominated by Hellenist culture, polytheism and utter contempt for Biblical faith ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:51-56, Zechariah 8:21-23

Denomination: Catholic

The Narcissus Who Gave Us Easter Sunday Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 26, 2019

Those who do not know the Resurrected Christ either have to attain some kind of Buddhist impassivity or despair of any relief.

Tuesday of the 30th Week in Course 2019 Saint Narcissus Today St. Paul contrasts our life in this world with our hope to live eternally in the arms of the Blessed Trinity. His reflections are particularly apt for Catholics today. Because of the evil done by a small minority of priests and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-25

Denomination: Catholic

Fourth Sunday Of Advent, Year A

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Dec 2, 2019

The same sign given to Ahaz and Joseph is given to you and me. "The virgin has conceived and has given birth to a Son. And He is Emmanuel. God with us." His name is Jesus.

Sometimes dreams are prompted by impressions and “residues” of the previous day that we take into our sleep, thus Joseph’s dream consists in his waking, conscious desire to protect Mary, preserve his own honor and resolve the dilemma of Mary’s pregnancy by divorcing her quietly. God uses Joseph’s ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-14, Matthew 1:18-24

Denomination: Catholic

Called

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Sep 17, 2018

God reveals himself to Abram and Sarai and calls them to follow him and become a great nation.

Genesis 12:1-9 “Called” INTRODUCTION Have you ever experienced God speaking to you? I’ve seen some husbands nudge their wives during my sermons and say something like, “Myrtle, have you been talking to the pastor?” After the worship service, they will come up to me and compliment me by ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-9

Denomination: Lutheran

A Cliffhanger

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Oct 1, 2018

It appears that the end is near with the Red Sea in front of them and the Egyptian Army fast approaching from the rear. At the last moment God acts and the sea parts.

Exodus 14:5-7, 10-14, 21-29 “A Cliffhanger” INTRODUCTION Our journeys of faith have many aspects to them. • God’s declaration of steadfast love and our experience of God’s overwhelming grace and unconditional forgiveness. • God’s presence, comfort, strength and hope in our times of trials ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:5-29

Denomination: Lutheran

Biblical Leaven

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 10, 2018

The Bible uses leaven to symbolize how both good and bad things grow in our lives. Let's put in the good leaven and leave out the bad, because either one can fill our lives.

Prelude The Bible uses leaven to symbolize how both good and bad things grow in our lives. It’s important for us to know the difference, so that we make sure that the good things in our lives grow and not the bad. Purpose: Let’s learn about the meaning of leaven in the Bible. Plan: We’ll look at ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:13-21

Denomination: Baptist

Why Silver Can Never Satisfy

Contributed by David Goering on Aug 16, 2018

Why silver can never satisfy, and why true satisfaction is in Jesus Christ alone.

SCRIPTURE TEXT: Ecclesiastes 5:10 "He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase..." PROPOSITION: To use this text and others to show why silver can never satisfy, and also to show that true satisfaction is in Jesus Christ alone, we were ...read more

A Way Of Life

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Nov 29, 2018

Observing and grieved by injustice and suffering, the prophet realizes that faith is a way of life and not an answer.

Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:2-4; 3:17-19 “A Way of Life” INTRODUCTION Today we enter the season of Advent. It is a time of preparation—for two arrivals. We first are preparing for the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child. This first arrival happened over two thousand years ago. The second ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-4, Habakkuk 2:2-4, Habakkuk 3:17-19

Denomination: Lutheran

Saint Nicholas And The Gospel Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 2, 2018

Let’s take this story as a challenge to become more compassionate to the destitute, and provide for their education, food and shelter so they may grow spiritually, physically and emotionally in Christ.

Thursday of the First Week of Advent 2018 Beginning any new liturgical season, we try to shake off our slumber and be more present to the Lord whom we worship. We know that we must change so that we can become more like Jesus and Mary, and so we listen to the Word of God with particular attention. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 26:1-6, Matthew 7:21-27, Acts 20:35

Denomination: Catholic

Contending With Evil Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 13, 2019

Just because we are chosen by God, baptized into Christ, does not mean that we are infallibly going to attain God’s promises. We are always tempted, as Christ was, to follow the allurements of the world, flesh and devil.

Saint Anthony of the Desert 2019 Saint Anthony–the less famous one we call “Anthony of the Desert”–died 1653 years ago today. Since he is also called “Anthony the Great” and “Anthony of Egypt” and several other honorifics, we might want to know more about him, and what he can teach us today. But ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:40-45, Hebrews 3:7-14, Psalm 95:6-11

Denomination: Catholic

Spiritual Manifestations

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 14, 2019

What kinds of epiphanies do we experience in a local church? Are spiritual enhancement of intellectual words, deeds of faith and foreign language skills manifestations of the Holy Spirit?

What kinds of epiphanies do we experience in a local church? Are spiritual enhancement of intellectual words, deeds of faith and foreign language skills manifestations of the Holy Spirit? Let’s see how God’s glory was revealed in spiritual gifts given to an ancient church by exploring 1 Corinthians ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Most Important Thing

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 29, 2019

What is the most important thing in life? How important are the things of this world, fashion, politics, fame, fortune? What should our priorities be? Let’s find out in 1 Corinthians 13.

What is the most important thing in life? How important are the things of this world, fashion, politics, fame, fortune? What should our priorities be? Let’s find out in 1 Corinthians 13 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

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