Sermons on Pagan Holidays:

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

Jonah

Contributed by Ewen Huffman on Sep 5, 2003

Summary: "It’s easier for God to get 120,000 pagans to do His will than one believer". A sermon preached at Winchester Cathedral.

Jonah. Jonah 3:10- 4:25. Winchester Cathedral 6/9/3 3.30pm Everyone loves a story with a twist. An unexpected ending. A sting in the tale - that’s what Jonah is - the story is surprising to us- but even more so to it’s original audience: Jews. Because of who the heroes and ‘bad guys’ are in ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Gospel Is Preached At The Areopagus Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Oct 25, 2005

Paul takes the context of a pagan city and uses their apparent spiritual thirst to tell them about Jesus and his rescue from the judgement to come.

Here’s Paul, left alone in Athens, the cultural capital of the world. How do you think he’d be feeling? Overwhelmed? Excited? Fascinated? Imagine this is you, not in Athens, but in New York or Paris or Rome or Berlin? How would you be feeling? Like you couldn’t wait to get out and start exploring? ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:16-34

Denomination: Anglican

Jonah - A Case Study In Anger And Suicide

Contributed by Bruce Morrison on Oct 27, 2003

The Book of Jonah is the story of a man whose greatest struggles were not with a big fish or a pagan city - they were battles within his own heart.

We are first introduced to Jonah the prophet in the Book of Second Kings. "In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. 24 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn away from ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-3, 2 Kings 14:23-27

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Jesus Would Say To A Confused Christian Series

Contributed by Tim Huie on Apr 16, 2008

How do we keep from drowning in the pagan culture around us? By following the guidelines Jesus set in His letter to the church at Pergamos

1. Illus. of wrong way on freeway As a man was driving down the freeway, his car phone rang. When he answered, he heard his wife warn him urgently, "George, I just heard on the news that there’s a car going the wrong way on 280. Please be careful coming home!" "I’m there right now," said George, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17

Denomination: Baptist

Soldiers For Christ Series

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on May 29, 2014

The fourth in a series dealing with the parables found in Matthew. This sermon was preached on Memorial Day and so it somewhat ties in with that holiday.

Soldiers for Christ: (Parables of Matthew Part Four) Text: Matthew 13:18 – 23 Well it’s Memorial Day weekend; and as you all know, Memorial Day was a holiday created originally for the purpose of honoring the men and women who gave their lives in service to this country. There’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:18-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Thanksgiving

Contributed by Scott White on Oct 24, 2016

A lesson on the roots of Thanksgiving, both the holiday and the act of giving thanks to the One who gives us His all.

Scripture: Psalms 100 A Psalm of Thanksgiving. Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He [is] God; [It is] He [who] has made us, and not we ourselves; [fn] [We are] His people and the sheep of His ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 100:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Chinese New Year 2023

Contributed by Benjamin Utomo on Jan 22, 2023

Chinese New Year is the most important traditional Chinese holiday, and this sermon shares how we celebrate it as Christians.

Opening: One Chinese person walks into a bar in America late one night, and he sees Steven Spielberg. As a great fan of his movies, he rushes over to him and asks for his autograph. Instead, Spielberg slaps him and says, "You, Chinese people bombed our Pearl Harbor, get out of ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:18, Colossians 2:8, Mark 7:8, 1 Timothy 6:18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Season To Remember

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Nov 23, 2023

We are encouraged to Remember Zion! Remember your past joys! Where does the beginning of the holiday season find you? There is reason to hope!

Subject: A Season to Remember Text: Psalm 137:1-6 “Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept as we thought of Jerusalem. We put away our harps, hanging them on the branches of poplar trees. For our captors demanded a song from us. Our tormentors insisted on a joyful hymn: “Sing us one of those ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 137:1-6, Psalm 27:1-5, Revelation 3:3, Isaiah 26:3, John 14:1-6  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

God's Stimulus Package - He's Not Finished Yet.

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Apr 9, 2009

Jesus left His stimulus package behind to stimulate us to be ready. He said in His stimulus package I’m not finished yet, I’m coming back.

“God’s Stimulus Package” “He’s not finished yet” District Elder M.L. Maughmer, Jr. John 20:1-7 “The first [day] of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-7

Denomination: Apostolic

Reflect The Purposes Of Christmas #1 - "To Preach Good News To The Poor" Series

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Dec 9, 2002

First in a series designed to help us get past the glitter of the holidays by focusing on the "mission statement" of Jesus in Luke 4:18-19.

Reflect the Purposes of Christmas #1 – “To Preach Good News to the Poor” December 1, 2002 Introduction Are you ready for the wonderful sights and sounds of Christmas? You know, the crowded malls, the friendly sales clerks and not-so friendly clerks, the long drive around the parking lot trying ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:18-19, Matthew 5:3

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Truth Of Christmas

Contributed by Bret Bone on Dec 27, 2012

It’ true…Christmas is a very special time of year. Statistics show that more people meet together during this holiday than any other holiday throughout the year. And I think there is a reason that this is true…Over 2000 years ago God gave the world the

Video Why Do We Celebrate Christmas Slide #1 Welcome to Vista Pointe We are so glad that you chose to be with us this evening for this very special service. It’ true…Christmas is a very special time of year. Statistics show that more people meet together during this holiday than any ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Harmony Amidst Diverse Opinions Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 1, 2021

Differences between believers are not always about the Biblical vs. the Unbiblical; most differences are about the extra-Biblical or a misunderstanding of what Christianity is. We must therefore be careful in determining the hills for which we are willing to die.

Harmony Amidst Diverse Opinions (Romans 14:1-23) 1. My young son ran to me, crying. “Daddy, I stubbed my toe,” he sobbed. “Let me kiss it and make it better,” I said. “Which toe was it?” My son answered, “The one that has no roast beef.” [rd.com] 2. Would that life was so simple. It never is. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Repent And Be Baptized

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Apr 18, 2022

A sermon explaining the gospel, especially Jesus death and resurrection, from Peter's first sermon on the day of Pentecost.

Resurrection Sunday/baptism... Text: Acts 2:22-41 Subject: How does Peter explain the events of “the Jerusalem Pentecost”? Complement: by authenticating Jesus of Nazareth & calling people to repentance. Exe idea: Jesus of Nazareth is the one & only Saviour who calls us to repentance & ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:22-41, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Ephesians 2:8-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Way Is Given

Contributed by James May on Apr 19, 2016

Jesus came that we may have an open door to the throne of our Father in Heaven. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Now we need not a temple in Jerusalem or Mt. Gerazim. We are his temple and we must worship him in Spirit and in Truth.

The Way is Given Sunday, March 27, 2016 – Easter The Sabbath was dawning over Israel but there was a sadness that filled the hearts of many on this day. According to the Law of Moses, this was to be a day of rest from their labors and a time of being refreshed and getting prepared for the ...read more

Scripture: John 4:23-24

Denomination: Independent/Bible