Sermons on Lift Up Your Heads O Gates:

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

The Glory We Share With The Father And Son

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 12, 2018

St. Gregory of Nyssa, and other Fathers of the Church, teach that the glory of the Father and the Son is the Holy Spirit, who is love. The glory we are given is the Holy Spirit who enables us to image Christ in our world.

Thursday of the 7th Week of Easter 2018 St. Paschal Baylon The prayer of Jesus we just heard from St. John is part of the High Priestly Prayer Our Lord offered at the Last Supper. If you look carefully at it, you might call it the first Eucharistic Prayer, and here you find Christ offering His ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-26

Denomination: Catholic

What's The Holy Spirit Doing In You

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 18, 2018

The Holy Spirit as teacher

Prelude How can a mere human being understand the things of God? Goal: Let’s understand the means by which God reaches out and touches us. Plan: Let’s look at John 15:26-16:15 and discover how the Holy Spirit works in our lives. John 15:26 Testify John 15:26 says, “When the Advocate comes, whom ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Christians And The Clash Of Cultures Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 3, 2018

How should Christians treat those of different cultures and traditions and religions?

Thursday of the 5th Week in course 2018 Reformation/Revolution Our Scriptures today ought to be at least a little disturbing to us today. In first Kings, Solomon, who was the anointed of God, the heir to the great king David, apostatizes. He had what we can only call a “mess” of wives. “According ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 11:4-13, Mark 7:24-30

Denomination: Catholic

The Time Is Fulfilled

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 11, 2018

Isn’t it true that when humans fail, sin, even commit the most awful injustices, God’s mercy is ever present, ever able to forgive when we repent?

First Sunday of Lent 2018 We come to Mass on the First Sunday of Lent, full of energy that has not diminished since we crowded the churches on Ash Wednesday. We know that the Word of God on this special Lord’s Day reminds us of the Lord Jesus’s battle with the Enemy of mankind, the one Scripture ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:12-15, Genesis 9:8-15

Denomination: Catholic

Biomedical Developments Require Advanced Ethical Reflection

Contributed by Frederick Meekins on Aug 13, 2014

Biomedical Developments Require Advanced Ethical Reflection

With advances in medical science, the line between when doctors should intervene to save a life and when they should step back to allow nature to take its course has become increasingly blurred. Since life sustaining support systems can be financially burdensome and because the average person ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Writing Straight With Crooked Lines Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 9, 2017

In the midst of the Reformation, God weaves a tapestry of faith in the lives of weak human beings.

Thursday of the 2nd Week in Advent 2017 Reformation/Revolution When external situations are the bleakest, God acts to fulfill His promises to His people–first in the history of the Jews, and now in the age of the Church. The second and third parts of Isaiah were probably written by his followers ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 41:13-20

Denomination: Catholic

Consuming Yhwh Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Jan 7, 2018

The Lord one who revealed to Moses was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However now he revealed himself as the God one who exists always as: "I am that I am". He spoke to Moses out of the Burning Bush.

God of Blazing of Fire- Deuteronomy 5:22-33 Introduction: We will be meditating throughout the year under the topic “Living God”. He is not dead God, defeated God, defiled God. He is ever living, ever green, ever loving, never sleeps nor slumbers. He is moving, touching and multiplying God. God ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:22-33

Denomination: Methodist

An Illogical Question: Carest Thou Not?

Contributed by Kevin Williams on Jul 13, 2017

The things we say in the midst of the storm! Like the disciples fearful of dying at sea while Jesus lies asleep, we cry out, "Carest Thou Not"? Answer the question now and find strength later in the storm. Feed faith, now!

An Illogical Question: "Carest Thou Not" (Some things make "no" sense) [ Maaan, The Stuff I Say In A Storm] Mark 4: 35-41 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Congregational

Faith And The Two Meanings Of Works Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 14, 2017

Faith, above all, is a gift of God. Now it’s a gift that he pours out liberally on all humans, but it will not save our souls unless we cooperate with it.

Thursday of 28th Week in Course 2017 Reformation Revolution Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues Our readings today say the same thing in different ways. St. Paul’s letter to the Romans was really the first work of systematic theology. It positions the saving work of Our Lord in the context of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-30

Denomination: Catholic

Reaction To The Resurrection Of Lazarus Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Nov 5, 2017

Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and that miracle brought results. First of all and most important is that many believed on him. There were others that did not believe and they went back to Jerusalem to report this incident to the religious leaders.

Perea to Bethany Lesson: Reaction to the Resurrection of Lazarus John 11:45-54 (John 11:45-46) Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had ...read more

Scripture: John 11:45-54

Denomination: Baptist

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

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

Be Strong In Grace.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 23, 2023

Three metaphors of the Christian life.

BE STRONG IN GRACE. 2 Timothy 2:1-7. 2 TIMOTHY 2:1. Paul exhorts Timothy, “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” In other words, in the face of the general apostasy (cf. 2 Timothy 1:15), you stand firm! The timid young man is not being encouraged to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Showing Kindness To Someone In Need

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Oct 19, 2022

This chapter records a beautiful story of grace bestowed upon someone who felt unworthy to receive it. It reveals the virtue of a man who many automatically think of the sin he committed.

This chapter records a beautiful story of grace bestowed upon someone who felt unworthy to receive it. It reveals the virtue of a man who many automatically think of the sin he committed. Although there can be so much good in a person's life, people will only remember the sin that someone has ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 9:1-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible