Sermons on Past Ruins:

Lessons From Failure Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Feb 21, 2024

When you have failed, appreciate the past, stay faithful in the present, and trust God for the future.

Several years ago, Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Bob Patterson described one of his pitches, which the Cincinnati Reds' Barry Larkin hit for a game-winning home run: “It was a cross between a screwball and a change-up. It was a screw-up” (Wall Street Journal, 7/9/96; Leadership, Vol. 17, no.3; ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:1-25, Hebrews 11:23, Acts 7:22, Isaiah 40:31

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Treasure This

Contributed by John Barr on Feb 26, 2003

People are seeking. Many think they must abandon the past to move forward. Others think they must idol worship the past to have honor for the future. The truth is neither. Mary pondered and treasured the things concerning Jesus. Maybe we can learn a

Treasure’s Abounding Luke 2:19;51 This week has been filled with many activities moving toward closure. As I packed boxes, officiated at a funeral, planned a baby dedication sermon and service I was thinking, reflecting and rejoicing. Today we do 3 things that call for celebration. 1) ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:19, Luke 2:51

Denomination: Church Of God

Out With The Old And In With The New

Contributed by James May on Jan 4, 2012

A sermon for the New Year. God wants us to leave the past in the past and look forward to a better tomorrow in Him. This world may not get any better, but the Bible is filled with promises for God's people. Let us look forward with anticipation to see

Out With the Old and In With the New Sunday, January 1, 2012 By Rev. James May Is there anyone here who has made a New Year’s Resolution to do anything that you haven’t done before or to change some things that should be better in your life? I made only one Resolution – ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 52:12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Nehemiah - A Bold Builder

Contributed by Jack Woodard on Jul 7, 2011

In a day when his nation lay in ruins from the Lord’s Judgment, the Lord needed a man Bold enough and Committed enough to lead His people to rise up and rebuild. Nehemiah was that man. This message describes the man the lord uses to get the job done

TEXT: NEHEMIAH 6:15 TITLE: BOLD BUILDERS Author: JACK WOODARD ______________________________________________________________ "So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty two days!" [Nehemiah ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 6:15

Denomination: Baptist

Participating Now In The Glory To Come Series

Contributed by Daniel J. Little on Apr 21, 2012

Jesus is what it looks like to be fully human. He is redeeming us from the ruin of sin even now. Already we are being changed from glory to glory. Jesus is what we are going to look like when the redemptive process is donw.

Participating Now In The Glory To Come - Part 1 Pastor Dan Little The Landmark Church Binghamton, NY 13901 SCRIPTURE READING.... Mark 16:1-15, 19-20 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-20

Denomination: *other

How To Return To God Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Apr 4, 2003

Prodigals still exist. These individuals rebel, stepping away from God’s blessings, indulging in reckless living and ruining their lives. But God runs to meet those who are at the point of total desperation and who are willing to repent and return home.

How to Return to God Luke 15:11–24 by David O. Dykes INTRODUCTION The parable in this passage focuses on the character and nature of the God of the Bible. It’s usually called the parable of the Prodigal Son but I prefer to call it the parable of the Loving Father. Jesus uses this story to teach ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-24

Denomination: Baptist

Towards Faith Promise 2016: Money, God, And You Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Mar 6, 2003

The passage we will look at today is one in which the desire for money did indeed lead to a trap, foolish desires, and piercing griefs which ruined an entire nation for awhile and eventually an entire family permanently. The passage is about a man named

TOWARDS FAITH PROMISE 2016: MONEY, GOD, AND YOU JOSHUA 7:1-5 INTRODUCTION… Dumb Crooks (geocities.com/Heartland/Cottage/1955/text/copdumbcrim.html) * It seems this guy wanted some beer pretty badly. He decided that he’d just throw a cinder block through a liquor store window, grab ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When God Moves Our Cheese

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 10, 2016

If we prayerfully look at our own lives, and especially at the times when somebody “moved our cheese” and inconvenienced ourselves, I think we can almost always see the finger of God at work amid the ruins of our plans.

“Der mentsh trakht un Got lakht.” The stark Yiddish proverb is true: man plans; God laughs. Now there’s many ways to interpret the saying. A politician might work for years on a piece of legislation that looked like the smartest thing for the greatest number of people, only to see it shot down in ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

Help! There's A Snake In My Garden! Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 5, 2023

We need a Redeemer because we are fallen people. We inherited our fallen nature because of the fall of our first parents. Eve was seduced by Satan, and Adam chose to rebel against God. Thus, the creation was plunged into ruin.

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. “He said to the woman, ‘Did God actually say, “You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?”’ And the woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, “You ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Character Study Of Judas Iscariot Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Mar 25, 2025

Judas Iscariot's life is a tragic reminder of how greed, hypocrisy, and unrepented sin can lead to destruction. Despite being chosen by Jesus, he allowed the love of money and Satan’s influence to ruin his destiny.

CHARACTER STUDY OF JUDAS ISCARIOT – BETRAYED JESUS FOR THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Matthew 26:14-16 "Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?’ So they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:14-16, John 12:4-6, Matthew 27:3-5, Acts 1:16-20, Psalm 41:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Are You Plugged In To Celebrate God's Goodness? Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Mar 31, 2003

When God’s people returned to Jerusalem after nearly a century of exile, they found their city in ruins. The Temple of God–where they believed God lived–was destroyed. This is a story about how God’s people plugged in to His supernatural power.

Are You Plugged in to Celebrate God’s Goodness? Ezra 3:10-13 by Dr. David O. Dykes INTRODUCTION I have a light here, but it’s not doing what it was created to do. It’s not shining. The reason it isn’t fulfilling its purpose for existence is because it isn’t plugged in to a source of power. I’ve ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 3:10-13

Denomination: Baptist

Christ’s Cross And Our Cross

Contributed by Rajkumar Pulla on Mar 22, 2011

The cross today is a vivid symbol of a great past victory that involved horrible pain and crucifixion. When we see our shiny crosses that symbolize this past event, we must also remind ourselves that it was really an “Old Rugged Cross”, as the song says,

He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 10:38-39) What happened at the college called Virginia Tech in the eastern United States, was simply terrible. It appears that a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:38-39

Denomination: Bible Church

Don't Look Back Series

Contributed by David Dunn on Apr 3, 2025

Life can sometimes feel like we are trapped in the past, weighed down by painful memories or regrets. We often find ourselves unable to move forward from past hurts. The Good News is that God offers us a new beginning in Christ.

In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens paints the picture of a woman, Miss Havisham, whose life was shattered on her wedding day. Left at the altar, jilted, humiliated, and heartbroken, Miss Havisham’s life stopped. The clocks in her house ceased ticking, the wedding cake became covered in cobwebs, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14

A Product Of Jesus Christ.

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Jul 3, 2022

I'm in His hands. Can you say that? What past shame or guilt is keeping you from being the person God created you to be? Why do you believe the lie that you are defined by your past?

A Product Of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:18-19AMP What past shame or guilt is keeping you from being the person God created you to be? Why do you believe the lie that you are defined by your past? 1 Peter 1:18-19AMP For you know that you were not redeemed from your useless [spiritually unproductive] ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:18-19, Ephesians 1:19-21

Denomination: Pentecostal

One Little Weakness Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Mar 14, 2021

Samson was so enslaved to this love for women, that he was making the same mistake over and over again. The very women whom Samson was so in love with were also the cause for his ruin. Is there some weakness that is within us which we have become accustomed to?

Chapter 3 – One little weakness We read in Act 26:18, “You are to open their eyes and turn them from the darkness to the light and from the power of Satan to God, so that through their faith in me they will have their sins forgiven and receive their place among God's chosen people.” (GNB) As ...read more

Scripture: Acts 26:18

Denomination: Other