Sermons on Preparing For Trials:

Preparing For Easter: Judas Iscariot, The Traitor

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 7, 2023

Traitors have been a problem for many years. Judas wasn't the first, but he was one of the worst, because he betrayed the Son of God, Jesus, to His enemies.

(Based on a message preached at First Baptist Church, Chamois, MO on April 2, 2023; this is not an exact transcription. ) Full disclosure: Sermon Central added a sermon of mine based on this topic called “Judas: The Tale of a Traitor” back in January 2020. That message was based on a sermon I ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Prepared Heart Leads To Honored Praise

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Nov 23, 2022

Ezra gave thanks to God for everything He had done for him and through him.

Ezra was one of three key leaders during the return of the Jewish nation from Babylonian captivity. Zerubbabel was the first to encourage rebuilding of the Temple. Nehemiah was involved with rebuilding of the walls. Ezra was key to restoring the people to worship God. Chapters 1-6 describe the ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 7:6-10, Ezra 7:27-28

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Preparing For The Present Troubles And The Joy Of Heaven Series

Contributed by Gordon Weatherby on Nov 4, 2021

This message focuses around the events of John 14:1-6 when Jesus was preparing his disciples for the events ahead of them that night, throughout life, and preparing for heaven.

PREPARING FOR THE PRESENT TROUBLES, AND THE JOY OF HEAVEN John 14 Greenmount and O’Leary Churches of Christ September 20, 2021 Video Link: https://youtu.be/6YY1guN-YIs I) JESUS WAS PREPARING THEM FOR THE EVENTS AHEAD THAT NIGHT. 1) Let not your hearts be troubled (14:1a.) A) In one sense there ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6, John 14:15-27, Revelation 21:16, Acts 4:12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Spiritual Healing – Preparing Oneself For Heaven

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Nov 13, 2021

Spiritual Healing is the preparation of one's soul to enter the gates of Heaven. Are you ready? The healing stories in Mark's Gospel are metaphors for our preparation.

Spiritual Healing – Preparing oneself for Heaven Mark 5:21-43 Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz [Healing Story #1] 21 When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore. 22 One of the synagogue officials named Jairus ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43

Denomination: United Methodist

Prepared Not Your Heart To Seek God

Contributed by John Gaston on Jul 23, 2023

Solomon's son Rehoboam, despite all his advantages, did not "prepare his heart to seek the Lord." How do you prepare your heart to seek God? What are the benefits of preparing your heart?

PREPARED NOT YOUR HEART TO SEEK GOD 2 Chron. 12:1-14 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. PSYCHOLOGY 101. In a class on abnormal psychology, the instructor was about to introduce the subject of manic depression. She posed this question to her students: "How would you diagnose a patient who walks back ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 12:1-14

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Are You Prepared To Fight Your Battles?

Contributed by Anitha Jabastion on Jan 12, 2026

What are the days of battle in our lives? Many times, we face days filled with challenges, hardship and difficulties. Some of these are internal like health issues or external like relationship, job, decision making and career decisions. Are we prepared to fight them?

Proverbs 21:31 - The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord. We can divide this verse into three parts: 1. Day of battle 2. Horse being made ready 3. Trusting the Lord for the victory 1. What is day of battle? Generally, battle refers to the specific day when ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:31, Jeremiah 29:11

To Make Ready A People Prepared For The Lord

Contributed by Phillip Smith on Dec 21, 2023

If you were told today you are to make ready a people prepared for the Lord, would you accept the charge? Would you grasp the magnitude of the duty laid upon you?

Luke 1:17. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. If you were told today you are to make ready a people prepared for the Lord, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:17, Luke 1:13-16, Luke 1:67-79, Matthew 28:19-20, Ezekiel 11:16-20, Proverbs 22:6, Titus 2:1-15  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Are We To Be Prepared To Face Doom Or Deliverance?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Feb 11, 2024

In this passage of Scripture, God is placing judgment on a sinful world. Assyria had been a powerful nation. They were proud of themselves at how they conquered the various lands and its people.

The Patience and Power of God: Like Jonah, Nahum was a prophet to the capital of the Assyrian Empire, Nineveh, and he prophesied somewhere in the range of 663 and 654 B.C. Jonah had seen the city atone a century sooner, however it had fallen once more into devilishness. Assyria was controlling the ...read more

Scripture: Nahum 1:1-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

"Lord, Prepare Us For Your Advent”

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Feb 3, 2025

Just as many of us travel during December, Advent reminds us of Jesus' "travel plans" to serve as our Savior. We'll use the Apostle Paul's travel plans to visit the Thessalonians as our guide.

It’s estimated that a record 80 million Americans traveled 50 miles or more over the Thanksgiving Holiday this year. Of course, the majority (a record 71.7 million) of those traveled by car. But today they anticipate that a record-breaking 3 million people will travel by air. Yes, travel plans ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, Matthew 25:40

Denomination: Lutheran

The Spirit Of The Age; Preparing For What Is Coming

Contributed by James May on May 28, 2023

This speaks of Conditions in America, the Spiritual Awakening around the world and the Spirit of Antichrist that are manifesting in our world right now as we draw ever nearer to the end of the church age. 2 part message.

The Spirit of the Age Preparing for what’s coming! Sunday, 5/21/23 & 5/28/23 Something that amazes me is that there are many in the church today who believe that prophets and prophecy are no longer relevant or active in this era of the New Testament, and that they ceased operating like they ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 14:1-4, Habakkuk 2:2-3, 2 Peter 1:19-21, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Luke 17:26-29  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Go To Prepare A Place For You

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Aug 28, 2023

Did you notice that I read, ‘There are many rooms in my Father’s house”? In the KJV it says, “many mansions.” Other versions say: “many abiding places” or “dwellings” or “resting places” or “homes.”

MELVIN NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK TEXT: John 14:1-3; 2 Cor. 12:4; Psalm 14:2, 139:8-10; Ecc. 3:11; Deut 6:15; 2 Chron. 2:6, ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, Psalm 139:8-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Preparing The Way: A Journey Through Advent

Contributed by Ronald Moore on Nov 28, 2023

We embark upon the season of Advent—a season of hope, expectation, and preparation. Advent marks the beginning of the liturgical year, a time when we turn our gaze towards the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, As we gather in this sacred space, our hearts filled with anticipation, we embark upon the season of Advent—a season of hope, expectation, and preparation. Advent marks the beginning of the liturgical year, a time when we turn our gaze towards the coming of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8

Denomination: Anglican

The Advent Call: Love Through Preparation Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 4, 2025

John the Baptist’s message to prepare for the arrival of Christ is put in three ways to first 1) Prepare (Mark 1:1-3), 2) Purify (Mark 1:4-5), and finally to 3) Proclaim (Mark 1:6-8).

Mark 1:1-8. [1:1] The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. [2] As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, [3] the voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8

Denomination: Other

God Prepares Esther (Esther 2)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 14, 2025

How does God prepare someone for His purposes?

Did God patiently prepare an orphan girl to become queen? Was there a greater purpose in these events? Let’s look at Esther 2. How did the king seek a substitute for his estranged queen? After these things, when the anger of King Ahasuerus had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Preparing The Temple (1 Chronicles 22)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 25, 2025

Continuing what previous generations have built.

How carefully are we building the house of God? Let’s look at 1 Chronicles 22. Were foreigners involved in preparing for Israel’s most sacred site? Then David said, “This will be the location for the Temple of the Lord God and the place of the altar for Israel’s burnt offerings!” So David gave ...read more

Denomination: Baptist