Sermons on Meaning Making:

The Two Meanings Of "End"

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 3, 2013

There are two meanings to "end," and as we reach the conclusion of a liturgical year, we must plan for both.

One of the legends circulating that purports to prove the superiority of the new liturgical calendar and new lectionary is that in the Extraordinary Form, we hear Scripture readings that really belong to the beginning of the year, not the end. Let’s be honest. We aren’t talking about ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-35

Denomination: Catholic

A Search For Meaning Of Life

Contributed by Douglas Nieuwstraten on Oct 18, 2000

Introduction Believe it or not, all of us are engaged in a search either for happiness or to find the meaning of life.

Introduction Believe it or not, all of us are engaged in a search either for happiness or to find the meaning of life. Look around you and think about what you see going on. As I look at the media, liturature, and culture itself I notice these six things: 1) A culture attempting to define human ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-26

Forgiving Means Forgeting Series

Contributed by Michael Luke on Jul 22, 2016

Misconceptions concerning forgiveness have forged a very formidable spiritual myth. This spiritual myth is the widely-held belief that genuine forgives means literally forgetting what happened.

Series: Mythbusters “Forgiving Means Forgetting” 1 Samuel 12:13-14 Matthew 18:21-35 Open After a two week break with Youth Sunday two weeks ago and the concert last week, we’re back in our series of messages called Mythbusters. We’re focusing in on spiritual myths. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 12:13-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Is The Meaning Of Life?

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on May 3, 2021

What is the meaning of life? Ah, the age old question. So many have asked the question, and so many have attempted to provide an answer.

"In an uncertain world, here is certainty; in a world without foundations, here is a rock-solid foundation" - Douglas J. Moo, The NIV Application Commentary: Romans What is the meaning of life? Ah, the age old question. So many have asked the question, and so many have attempted to ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6

Denomination: Salvation Army

Love Means What? Series

Contributed by Neil Partington on Feb 23, 2006

We hear all the time that we are to love each other, but what does that really mean? Today we are going to take a look at what Jesus might have meant by "loving each other as I have loved you."

I wonder why it’s such a compliment to tell a woman she looks like a breath of spring, but not to tell her she looks like the end of hard winter. Isn’t that the same thing? I wonder why it pleases her to say time stands still when you look into her face, but not to say her face would stop a clock. ...read more

Scripture: John 15:12-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Well Meaning But Wrong

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jan 27, 2007

In our text, we see some well meaning people who made some mistakes and how Jesus responded. 1- The mother’s request 2- The Savior’s comeback 3- The disciples’ reaction 4- The Savior’s example

INTRO.- Well meaning but wrong. Ever happen to you? ILL.- A young preacher said, “I was completing my first funeral service in my first congregation on the plains of Kansas. The words of committal for a dear, aged mother had been spoken and a prayer following concluded the graveside ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Discovering Life's Meaning

Contributed by David Owens on Nov 16, 2009

I used this lesson for our annual Friend Day.

Introduction: A. Good morning and welcome to Friend Day. 1. I sincerely hope you are uplifted and challenged by what takes place among us today! 2. If you are visiting with us today, we hope that you will come again – you are always welcome. B. Let’s start with some cartoons about the ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Deeper Meaning Of Christmas

Contributed by Kenneth Trent on Dec 2, 2007

The world today has no real conception of what Christmas really means, and much less its deeper meaning.

THE DEEPER MEANING OF CHRISTMAS "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) Much of the world today has no real conception of what Christmas really means. To many, it is Santa Claus, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14

Denomination: Baptist

The Real Meaning Of Easter Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Mar 31, 2023

The lines that surround Easter are often blurry, but one thing we know for sure is that the Tomb is Empty

April 01, 2023 1 Corinthians 15:1, 3–4 (LEB) Now I make known to you, brothers, the gospel which I proclaimed to you, which you have also received, in which you also stand…. 3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

All Means All

Contributed by Lynn Malone on Sep 21, 2015

When Paul says "all things work together for good," does he really mean all?

Dr. James Dobson wrote a book in 1997 entitled When God Doesn’t Make Sense. The book was written for anyone struggling with trials and heartaches—the death of a loved one, disease, divorce, rejection—in the hopes of understanding the meaning of suffering in the world. He ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39

Denomination: Methodist

What Does It Mean To Count The Cost Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 30, 2013

A look at what it means to "count the cost" and why that's so essential. This message calls down the cheap gospel presentations that we so often make that have no mention in them of what it actually means to follow Jesus.

CHEAP FAITH: Too often we offer salvation that’s straight from the discount bin. - Luke 14:28-32. - Our approach to evangelism is too often to present salvation as a low-cost, no-commitment offer. All you need to do is say you believe in Jesus! That’s it! There’s no mention of the need for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:28-33

Denomination: Baptist

Motion Without Meaning Series

Contributed by Stephen Elmer on Nov 10, 2006

If What We See About The Lord Does Not Affect Our Hearts For The Lord, What We Do For The Lord Will Be Meaningless!

Introduction 1. Sometimes It Is Helpful To Be Reminded Of Things That We Should Already Know & Things That We Should Already Be Doing! - How Do You Remind Yourself? - Some Are Reminded By Writing Things Down! But This Only Works If You Remember Where You Put The Paper You Wrote The Things You ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

What Christmas Means...

Contributed by Steve Malone on Dec 23, 2002

In this message we will look at 6 things that Christmas means that are totally independent of food, family, gifts and snow.

What Christmas Means… [show a clip from Jingle All The Way – in the beginning of the movie where Arnie goes to the store and meets Sinbad… start clip when it shows sky line and it when Arnie goes outside of store…] I don’t know about you, BUT like the character that Arnie is playing in the clip ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:10-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Mean It! Series

Contributed by Paul Decker on Sep 24, 2002

The people of God pray with passion.

I MEAN IT! Daniel 9:1-3 S: A Passion for Prayer Th: Live a Prayer Life (Prayer: A Passion for His Presence) Pr: THE PEOPLE OF GOD PRAY WITH PASSION. ?: Inductive KW: Phases TS: We will find in our study of Daniel 9:1-3 three phases that demonstrate what happens when we are in communion with ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 9:1-3, Jeremiah 29:10-14

Denomination: Baptist

The True Meaning Of Christmas

Contributed by Patrick Nix on Dec 10, 2010

To so many, the mystery of this event brings a magic to their celebration like none other. Let’s unwrap the greatest Christmas gift ever given and discover the REAL REASON for the SEASON... Why was Jesus Born?

I think that we both would agree that Christmas is more than the cards and gifts, more than the trees and lights, more than family and food. There is a much deeper meaning, a much more fulfilling notion than that of a fat, bearded man on a sleigh. It is the birth of the Christ child: the true ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:21-23

Denomination: Baptist