Sermons on Pagan Festivals:

Taking Christ Out Of Christmas

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Dec 2, 2023

If Christmas has become a "cultural" holiday, This message looks at what happens when we try and take out all of the religious elements.

Have you noticed that every year, people seem more intent on secularizing Christmas? They wish you a “Happy Holiday” or “Seasons Greetings” and then have presentations at school that make no mention of the Manger or the Wise Men, let alone the Christ Child. Now, I may be a little overly sensitive, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25, Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Wesleyan

Psalm 137 Series

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Mar 11, 2020

A lament for fallen Jerusalem - either prophetic or written in captivity. The psalmist grieves deeply for Zion and pledges to never forget.

For Sermon Central researchers: I have posted a series of 15 sermons on the Psalms. In recent personal studies I have found the psalms to be richer and more thought-provoking than I had fully appreciated. I had too often swept swiftly through psalms without slowing down to inquire as thoroughly as ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 137:1-9, Jeremiah 9:11, Jeremiah 9:17-19, Isaiah 34:11-13, Psalm 84:1-2, Psalm 84:10, Isaiah 1:1, Isaiah 1:7-20, 2 Kings 19:31-32, Romans 8:2-5, Psalm 106:9-10, Psalm 145:3-5, Psalm 147:1-2, Deuteronomy 12:10-14, 2 Chronicles 7:16, 2 Kings 4:18-37, Romans 9:2-3, John 11:20-24, John 19:38-42, Philippians 1:21-24, Isaiah 25:8, 1 Corinthians 1:3-4, Psalm 30:5, Romans 12:15, 1 Corinthians 12:26  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus: The Fulfillment Of Hanukkah

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

In the middle of the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah), where the people remembered the Most Holy Place being reconsecrated, Jesus says He is consecrated and set apart by the Father just like the Most Holy Place and just like the Temple.

Intro It is now winter. The fall harvest complete, the skies are now a darker hue, and the festivals are over. The Israelites have kept God’s ordained festivals and now the long, cold wet winter descends until the spring festivals begin. We can easily lose our focus on God during this time ...read more

Scripture: John 10:22-39

Denomination: Lutheran

Creating Memories Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 1, 2004

God used memories (the feast days) to help His people "remember" who they were and who they belonged to. How can we use the same principle for our children?

OPEN: Memorial Day originated when Southern women scattered spring flowers on the graves of soldiers during the Civil War. They honored the Northern dead as well as their own in this way. After the war, General John A. Logan (commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic) named May 30th as a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:1-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Seven Weeks Later…

Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 26, 2005

A Communion Meditation for Sunday, September 4, 2005

One of the most important ways that the Bible can come alive to us is to be able to link events in the New Testament to events in the Old Testament. As we are able to do so (and a good cross-reference Bible helps) we are able to gain a fuller understanding of how Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Old ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1

Denomination: Church Of God

Reclaimed: Resetting The Table Pt 3 Series

Contributed by Rob Ketterling on Oct 13, 2014

Reclaim the table!

Reclaimed - Part 3, by Pastor Rob Ketterling Well, we are continuing the series Reclaimed, and we are reclaiming the table, and I'm really enjoying this. And I hope you are participating all the way with this and you're doing all the things we asked you to do. Remember, we asked you to use the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Leave The Old Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 27, 2018

Just as fall turns to winter we can Leave the Old behind. But in order to do this we must: 1) Forsake our Former life (Galatians 4:8), 2) Understand our Present Life (Galatians 4:9) and 3) Live for our Future Life (Galatians 4:10-11)

As we come to the final season of the year, it tends to be a time of extremes. We are called to more events, to buy more and decorate more than the rest of the year combined. People will also go to personal extremes. Those who have been able to control spending, drinking and personal habits, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:8-11

Denomination: Other

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Contributed by David Petticrew on Mar 4, 2003

Contrasting the Magi with Herod to show the acceptance of outsiders in the Kingdom of God and a warning to the insiders to be careful.

Introduction Ever since I first started preached I have longed to preach this sermon, or rather a sermon with this title. It just struck me as the perfect title for a sermon on the story on magi’s visit to Jesus, Star Trek, but then it is not only about the story of the magi but about how the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Holiness

Trapped In Idolatry Series

Contributed by Michael Luke on Jun 4, 2005

Examining the idols in our lives, we see what keeps us from receiving God’s blessing

SERIES: “LESSONS FROM THE EARLY CHURCH” TEXT: ACTS 19:23-41 TITLE: “TRAPPED IN IDOLATRY” INTRODUCTION: A. The dictionary definition of “idol”: “an object of excessive devotion or admiration” --Fails to capture the biblical sense ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:23-41

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Give Your Thanks

Contributed by J. Yeargin on Nov 27, 2006

We can all agree that it is important to spend time with our families and enjoy Thanksgiving Day. But more importantly it is for you to remember to GIVE YOUR THANKS.

GIVE YOUR THANKS – (.a.k.a.) GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD – Sermon Central <Power Point available upon request> We have much to be thankful for this time of the year. Sometimes, we get so busy with all the cooking, and eating, and (then) sleeping off our turkey and dressing that we forget that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 100:1-4

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Christmas For Everybody!

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Jan 15, 2014

God’s favor is not exclusive. God doesn’t play favorites, but offers His mercy to all who will receive Him. Let’s look at some thoughts about God’s favor, His good will toward men.

Christmas for Everybody! Luke 2:7-14 7 and she [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:7-14

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Songs Of Ascent – Part 13 – Psalm 129 – Israel Is The Most Persecuted Nation In History Yet The Lord Is Righteous – Part Three Of Three Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 5, 2023

Psalm 129 continues with this third message looking at how Israel has faced persecution. The final end for the nation is glorious as the Lord’s heritage is Israel, and Jerusalem is the city of the Great King. This Psalm is very Jewish and after the long years of persecution, blessing will come.

THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 13 – PSALM 129 – ISRAEL IS THE MOST PERSECUTED NATION IN HISTORY YET THE LORD IS RIGHTEOUS – PART THREE OF THREE Psalm 129 focuses on the persecution endured by Israel and in the two previous parts we looked into some of this. This last Part ends the Psalm but it still ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 129:3, Psalm 129:4, Isaiah 53:6, Isaiah 53:4-5, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Psalm 129:5-7, Genesis 12:3, Revelation 20:7-10, Revelation 20:13-15, Psalm 137:5, Joel 3:20, Zechariah 8:3, Isaiah 60:14, Psalm 48:2, Psalm 129:5-8, Isaiah 19:23-25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Comes To The Party

Contributed by Martin Ellgar on Dec 20, 2014

A perspective on John 15. Where is God to be found? He can be found with his disciples, with his followers, with all believers of Jesus Christ. He is with them.

John 15: 26, 27; 16: 4b-15 God comes to the party We’ve had the millennium party, Easter, and now we’ve come together for the P2K celebrations (Pentecost 2000). We’ve come together to celebrate Pentecost. Christians have been celebrating Pentecost for 2000 years. The people of Israel continue to ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Pentecost And The Foundation Of The Church

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jun 4, 2025

We are called to work for God in the spiritual harvest and as a result we have three responsibilities for the success of the operation. 1. We need to hear what God is saying to us and obey him; 2. we need to ask for power to preach the Gospel; and 3. we need to know our Scripture well.

Corby Glen 08-06-2025 Introduction The fifty days between Passover and Pentecost following Jesus’ Crucifixion must have been incredibly strange time for the 11 remaining apostles (Judas having committed suicide) and the other disciples who had not deserted Jesus. The Jewish inhabitants of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21, Genesis 11:1-11

Denomination: Anglican

Life On The Edge Series

Contributed by Susan Blader on Mar 18, 2007

Our world lives life on the edge, and Christians can also push the limits of the acceptable and court temptation when they think their faith is strong enough to handle anything.

Life on the Edge A Sermon on 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 We are now in the season of Lent, which began as a parallel to the forty days Christ spent in the wilderness being tempted by Satan. And it is temptation that I want to focus on this morning. Temptation is something that we all must deal with. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Denomination: Disciples Of Christ