Sermons on Luke 12:1-13:6:

The Uncomfortable Christ

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Aug 11, 2025

What kind of fire is Jesus talking about? Is this the fire of judgment? The fire of hell? The fire of destruction? I don't believe so. This is the fire of purification, the fire of truth, the fire that burns away what is false so that what is true can shine forth.

OPENING Good morning, church family. I want to begin today with a story that might help us understand something profound about the nature of Christ's ministry. Last summer, I had the opportunity to speak with a forest ranger in Colorado. As we drove through a section of the national forest, I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-56

Denomination: Methodist

Keep The Light On: Living Ready For Jesus

Contributed by Patty Groot on Aug 12, 2025

Live ready for Christ’s return, rooted in trust, generosity, and daily faithfulness.

Let me ask you something: Have you ever had surprise company show up at your door and your house looked like a tornado had just passed through? You’re diving for the laundry basket, spraying air freshener, and whisper-shouting at your kids to "act normal"? Yeah. We’ve all been there. In ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:32-40

The Greatest Mission On Earth

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 13, 2025

Take heart from the Scriptures today and know that as we break and share the Bread of Life and take and drink the Cup of Blessing, we are surrounded by each other and a huge throng of witnesses, thousands of years old.

Twentieth Sunday in Course 2025 Cisterns, which date back thousands of years, are holes in the ground meant to collect and store water. Often they are lined on the sides with rocks to slow down leakage into the surrounding soil. At our house we have no cisterns, but we do have rain barrels that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-53, Hebrews 12:1-4, Psalm 40:2-4, Jeremiah 38:4-10, Psalm 40:17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

"The Jesus Who Brings Fire Not Peace”

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Aug 13, 2025

The words of Jesus regarding division in our families sound harsh. He knows a decioion about who He is and His message must be accepted or rejected.

In Jesus Holy Name August 17, 2025 Text: Luke 12:49-56 Pentecost XS - Redeemer “The Jesus who brings fire not peace” Very seldom are people the people you think them to be. Recently somebody told me of an adorable little girl who came into a pet shop. Missing two ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-53, Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Lutheran

Knowing The Times Series

Contributed by William Baeta on Aug 13, 2025

You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? (Luke 12:56)

The theme for today’s sermon is “knowing the times”. The first words of the Bible are “In the beginning (time) God created the heavens (space) and the earth” (matter). The relationship between time, energy, space and matter is a fundamental concept in physics to give us an understanding of the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:32-40, Luke 12:54-59

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Do You Do When The Lord Makes You Uncomfortable?

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Aug 14, 2025

Jesus is going to show us in Luke 12:49-56 that this divine discomfort is not a bug in the system of faith—it's a feature. It's not something to avoid—it's something to embrace.

There's a question that every serious believer must eventually face: What do you do when the Lord makes you uncomfortable? I'm not talking about the discomfort of difficult circumstances or trials that come from living in a fallen world. I'm talking about that deep, internal stirring ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-56, Jeremiah 20:9

Denomination: Methodist

Where Your Treasure Lies

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Aug 14, 2025

But Jesus, with divine wisdom, sees beyond the surface conflict to the heart issue that threatens both brothers: greed. In response, He tells one of His most sobering parables, a story that cuts through our material obsessions and calls us to examine where we place our trust and hope.

The scene opens with a dispute over inheritance - a matter as relevant today as it was two thousand years ago. But Jesus, with divine wisdom, sees beyond the surface conflict to the heart issue that threatens both brothers: greed. In response, He tells one of His most sobering parables, a story ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21

Denomination: Methodist

Twentieth Sunday In Ordinary Time- Year C-- Fire

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Aug 15, 2025

Fire, judgment, separation, crisis, – can bring a new opportunity for growth in faith.

Lodgepole pinecones are very compact, and they will only open to disperse their seeds under intense heat, as in a forest fire. We hear a similar idea today in our Gospel that fire means judgment, which results in separation, creating a crisis, but which also means opportunity. So, fire, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-53

Denomination: Catholic

Xx Domingo Ordinario- Ano C: Fuego

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Aug 15, 2025

Fuego, juicio, separación y crisis pueden traer una nueva oportunidad para crecer en la fe.

Las piñas de pino o conos de los pinos torcido son muy compactas y solo se abren para dispersar sus semillas bajo un calor intenso, como en un incendio forestal. Hoy escuchamos una idea similar en nuestro Evangelio: el fuego significa juicio, lo que resulta en separación y crea una ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-53

Denomination: Catholic

Gentle Jesus Meek And And Mild? Really

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Aug 16, 2025

Jesus obviously had not read Dale Carnegie's book "How to make friends and influence people" He hated hypocrisy and called it as it was even if it meant offending the Jewish religious hierarchy

Lk 12:49-56: Gentle Jesus meek and mild? You will probably recall that famous Anglican hymn writer Charles Wesley’s hymn that start with the words “Gentle Jesus meek and mild” I have a great respect for John and Charles Wesley but I would have to say You have to be kidding - as we see in the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-56

Denomination: Anglican

Grace Versus Works - Saved By The Faith Of Jesus

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Aug 20, 2025

In the Bible, Jesus is often referred to as God's "free gift" (Romans 5:15 NIV). A person is free to reject that gift just as they are free to reject the offer of friendship and love from another.

Works-based Christianity is similar to the principle of Karma, which is the "law of the deed," a centuries-old worldwide belief that if you do good things, good will come back to you, and if you do bad things, bad will come back to you. It is believed that suffering is a result of a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-5, Matthew 7:23, Galatians 2:20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living The Life! Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Aug 21, 2025

If you want to live the good life, protect yourself against envy, prepare yourself for eternity, and prosper yourself spiritually.

Some of my favorite cartoons growing up were the Road Runner cartoons. Take a look at this 30-second excerpt from one of them (show Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote—Free Bird Seed). Do you know? In not one of the 49 Road Runner Cartoons produced does Wile E. Coyote ever get the Road Runner. It ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21, Hebrews 13:5, Luke 16:13, Matthew 6:24

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Manure And The Problem Of Evil Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Aug 27, 2025

Jesus’ answer to the problem of evil—Repent or perish. Then demonstrate that repentance in your own life before God’s patience runs out.

The movie Forrest Gump addresses a lot of life’s issues including the problem of evil. Take a look (show Lt Dan against God; www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc374YQAjJg, stop at 48 second mark right before Lt. Dan starts using foul language). Lieutenant Dan had lost both legs in Vietnam and was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9, 1 John 1:9, Leviticus 19:23-25, 2 Peter 3:9-10, Romans 5:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Whom Shall I Fear Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Sep 2, 2025

Things and people that we fear take a variety of forms. Jesus urges us to not fear those who can only do things to us in this life, but to fear Him who has power over eternity - and yet because of His great love, we should not fear Him.

Introduction There are things that all of us fear. What may cause me fear might not be what causes you fear and vice versa. Last night we were visiting with some folks and were reminiscing a bit about one of the fear inducing and adrenaline pumping experiences we had - bungee jumping. Fear, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:4-12

Denomination: Baptist

Freedom From The Burden Of Worry Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Sep 8, 2025

Fear and anxiety are things that can have an unhealthy grip on our lives. In this passage, Jesus teaches his followers how we can be free from the burden of worrty.

In 1988, Bobby McFerrin released a song entitled “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” It was inspired by the teachings of an Indian Guru who used to tell his followers “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” McFerrin’s song was quickly written and recorded. It was released as an Adult Contemporary song where it made it to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-34

Denomination: Baptist