Sermons on Mud Jars:

John 12:1-8 (The Erotic & The Domestic)

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 30, 2007

It doesn’t take long at this dinner party before the chaos breaks out, this time through the surprising appearance of Mary, pouring a ludicrously expensive jar of perfume.

We’re turning to John’s Gospel today, which, quite frankly, is a little unnerving for me, as I find John’s Gospel more difficult to deal with than the other three John retells the story of Jesus in such a way that things are rarely as they appear to be. Jesus speaks of being born ’from above’ and ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-8

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Comfort

Contributed by Darrin Fish on May 7, 2014

As earthen vessels As jars of clay, We are stewards of God’s comfort. God places his comfort in us, So that we may in turn comfort others.

Title: Jars of Caring Text: II Corinthians 1:3-7 Thesis: We are “Jars of Clay” through whom God works. Introduction A little boy stopped by the super market and asked the cashier where he could find a box of Tide… he said it was for washing his cat. The lady was quick to tell ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

Denomination: Christian Church

Dead Flies In A Nation Series

Contributed by Charles Payne on Oct 18, 2025

America did not begin in perfection — but it began in fear of God. Our earliest laws quoted Scripture. But dead flies do not fall all at once. The jar spoils slowly.

🪰 DEAD FLIES IN A NATION (National Decay) SEEING THE BIG PICTURE TEXT Ecclesiastes 10:1 “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor…” PROLOGUE: A NATION ONCE FRAGRANT America did not begin in perfection — but it began in fear of God. Our earliest ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10:1, Proverbs 14:34, Proverbs 28:15, Isaiah 1:23, Isaiah 59:14, Habakkuk 1:4, Ecclesiastes 9:18, Isaiah 3:9, Jeremiah 6:15  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Provides In Difficult Times Series

Contributed by Henry Trocino Jr. on Jun 22, 2017

Part 4 of the Sermon Series, "God of Elisha"

The brief account of the widow’s oil illustrates Yahweh’s blessing of those who are faithful to the Mosaic Law. Yahweh provides a means of income for the widow, a “pastor’s wife,” and her family. In the miracle of the widow’s oil, we learn valuable lessons on how to receive God’s blessing of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-7, Leviticus 25:39, Micah 2:9, Psalm 121:1, James 2:6  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Strength Beyond Self: Receiving The Power Of God

Contributed by Jessica Linde on Sep 29, 2025

In contrast to the self-reliant grit our culture so often advocates, this sermon’s ultimate goal is to highlight that true and lasting strength comes from allowing God's "power" to work in and through our human fragility.

Over the past several Sundays, we have been working through a sermon series on Paul’s letter to the early church in Philippi—a now ruined city in north east Greece. As we’ve worked through this series (which we are concluding today), we’ve seen how this little letter is overflowing with faith, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-13, 2 Corinthians 4:6-10

U2 40, You Too?

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jun 20, 2014

God has taken us from places of sin, from the mud and mire and has lifted us and set us on a solid place. His place the firm foundation offaith! Sing his praises.

U2 40; You too? King David wrote a good number of Psalms; one that I particularly like is Psalm 40. This Psalm of praise is focused on grace and salvation. It is a song that declares how the author, the King himself was in a sticky place in, “mud and mire” is how he described it and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 40:1-10, Luke 19:1-10, Jude 1:21

Denomination: Salvation Army

Do What You Can

Contributed by Don Brockus on Oct 6, 2007

It is my opinion that although the gospels of Matt., Mk., Lk., and John record some similar details regarding the alabaster jar, the critical reader will conclude that three separate anointing occur.

Do What You Can! (Mark 14:3-9) (Mark 14:1-9; Matthew 26:7-13; Luke 7:36-40; John 12:3-8, cf. [confer]) Introduction In our pericope (Pericope is an English word with Greek origins for: a passage from a written work) this morning, I have chosen Mark 14:3-9. It is my opinion that although the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:3-9

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Deborah: A Woman Of Dynamic Faith Series

Contributed by Chris Kelly on Jun 22, 2014

Two woman who got honored over 2 men, not because they were necessarily better, but because they trusted God. Thanks to Guy Caley for his insights on faith from "Mud Wrestling".

About thirty years ago, a young woman tennis star named Billie Jean King was challenged to a tennis match in what was billed as the “Battle of the Sexes” Another American tennis star, Bobby Riggs, 55, had been considered the best player in the world years earlier. He won Wimbledon and ...read more

Scripture: Judges 4:1-24

Denomination: Wesleyan

20/20 Vision And Blind As Bats Series

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Jul 12, 2004

1st of 4 messages on spiritual shepherds. The story of Jesus mixing mud with spit and giving sight to a man in John 9 is not really about the blind man. It’s more about the Pharisees...

A Shepherd’s Heart 20/20 Vision and Still Blind as Bats The story of Jesus mixing mud with spit and giving sight to a man in John 9 is not really about the blind man. It’s more about the Pharisees who were spiritually blind to God, to the people in their world, and finally (and this is the most ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Don’t Settle For Good And Miss God!

Contributed by Robert Webb on Jun 2, 2018

Are you slipping and sliding around in the same old mud? We must hold nothing back, and never hold something so close to our heart that keeps us away from the promises of God

Following God requires a life of obedience. Being obedient does not just happen all at once. Our life journey is a process and we are all in different places in our journey. If you are like I am I get frustrated with the process at times when there are delays. Have you ever been stalled in traffic, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:8-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

If God Is With Us? Why All This Trouble?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 21, 2015

This is a lesson about attitudes to problems using Gideon and several illustrations. Consider the renewal of our minds... Your focus? Your perspective, pessimism, optimism, and realism. Caterpillars crawl in mud before they fly with the wind.

IF THE LORD IS WITH US, WHY ARE WE HAVING ALL THIS TROUBLE? THE CHALLENGE: GOD'S PERSPECTIVE & CHANGE! By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com I have a bucket, and I asked someone to bring me a bucket of water. They can not see that I have cut the bottom of the bucket out. Always they gladly ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:2

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Widow Of Zarephath

Contributed by Samuel M on Jan 1, 2024

Elijah went to the right widow, but she had no provisions to provide for the prophet. She just had a handful of flour in a bin and a little oil in a jar to make one last meal before dying.

Elijah went to the right widow, but she had no provisions to provide for the prophet. She just had a handful of flour in a bin and a little oil in a jar to make one last meal before dying. She was getting ready to eat her last meal and then die. God said He commanded the widow, but the widow was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:9

With Christ In The School Of Ministry

Contributed by Louis Bartet on Jun 13, 2004

Not everyone is called to the mud-in-the-eye ministry, but if you are then you’ll be a miserable failure trying to do anything else. John 9 offers us an opportunity to spend time with Jesus in the school of ministry.

TITLE: With Christ In The School of Ministry TEXT: John 9 SCRIBE: Louis Bartet DATE: 6/13/04 PLACE: Point Assembly of God The disciples must have been feeling overly spiritual that day, for as they passed the blind beggar they offered Jesus an observation framed in the form of a question: ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Look Before You Label

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Jul 23, 2001

We’ve all used labels. We stick them on jars and manila folders so we’ll know what’s inside. We also stick them on people for the same reason.

Intro: When I was in Bible College I meet an interesting young man by the name of Shannon. What made him interesting were his looks. His hair was a different color each week, his ears were loaded with earrings, and he wore the big loose grunge style clothing. But the most interesting point of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Holy Innocents

Contributed by William Mouser on Jan 10, 2006

This jarring episode is just as much a part of the Christmas season as the manger scene. Though grim, the fate of the Innocents shows us how and why we share the hope they had in Christ’s second advent

Psalm 124, Jeremiah 3:15-17, Revelation 21:1-7, Matthew 2:13-18 The Holy Innocents The Gospel lesson that is read today is actually from the lectionary for the Feast of the Holy Innocents, which in the liturgical calendar is celebrated on December 28 – four days ago. The Book of Common Prayer ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-18

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican