Sermons on Proper 23 Year B:

Strength For The Journey Series

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 8, 2014

This sermon is an overview of the qualities that helped Ezra succeed in his return to Israel along with 3000 other exiles to reestablish proper worship among the Jews.

Strength for the Journey - Ezra INTRODUCTION: Summer is almost here! How many of you have some sort of travel plans for this summer? Is anyone planning to join about 3,000 people for a 900 mile hike? That’s what we read about in the Book of Ezra. That would be like walking from San ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Paradox Of Our Time

Contributed by Chip Monck on Dec 1, 2005

This is a 15-20 minute devotional designed to help people transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas with the proper heart. A good Christmas message for early in the season.

(opened this message with a video clip entitled ’The Paradox of our Time’ downloaded from Sermonspice.com. The first paragraph ’show pics’ included pictures of dogs with cats, and other comical unexpected partnerships.) We live in a world of paradox. At a time of great paradox. In the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Wesleyan

Promises To Abraham Series

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on May 18, 2011

This is the 23rd sermon in our series on the Book of Genesis. In this sermon we examine God's promises to Abraham in the covenant.

Promises to Abraham (Genesis part 23) Text: Genesis 12:1-9 By: Ken McKinley (Read Text) Abraham is probably one of the most important characters in all of history. All three monotheistic religions (Islam, Judaism, and Christianity) revere him as the father of their faiths. National Geographic ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-9

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The God Of Second Chances

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 12, 2004

God wants us to understand: 1. Failure is not final. 2. Bad results can be redeemed. 3. The future is open. True change comes when: 1. You have a new occupant 2. You seek truth 3. You change your actions

A little boy went out to the ball field by himself, wearing his baseball cap and carrying a bat and ball. In his eye was the look of steely determination. He was so full of confidence that he put his bat on his shoulder, tossed the ball into the air, and said, “I’m the greatest batter in the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14

Denomination: Methodist

Despising The Lord's Table

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 24, 2010

The New Year brings with it a sense that here we are again, doing the same old things, even in worship. But the prophet warns us that weariness in worship comes from offering God less than our best.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC January 3, 1988 Prominent in Greek mythology there is the story of Sisyphus. Sisyphus, you may remember, was the poor lost soul who had been condemned to spend eternity heaving and shoving a huge rock up to the top of a hill, only to have it roll ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 1:6-14

Denomination: Baptist

"T. E. S. T. I. F. Y."

Contributed by Bill Burress on Dec 28, 2009

Seven things to improve on for the coming new year.

"T. E. S. T. I. F. Y.” December 27, 2009 ILL. Have you heard about the man who moved into a retirement community to spend the rest of his life there? It wasn’t long until he had made a number of friends among the other residents. There was one lady he was especially ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Ask, Seek, Knock - Grow! Series

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jan 1, 2010

A look at on going growth in God and our understanding of his word.

With a New Year, you may have been one of many to have made a resolution. You know the sort of thing; I’m going to loose six kilograms, that’s one I probably should have made! I’m going to work harder at my job, at school, at keeping the garage tidy. I’m going to give up this, that or some other ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-8

Denomination: Salvation Army

From Death To Life

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Apr 10, 2011

The story of the raising of Lazarus and the hope that awaits us all.

The story of Lazarus is one of the most human in the New Testament. We are touched by several emotions. Here is a family that Jesus loves very deeply. Mary later shows her devotion by anointing Jesus’ feet with perfume and drying them with her hair. Their home was a respite from the ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-45

Denomination: Methodist

Starting Over With God

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 13, 2010

God, though He is a god of wrath, also gives Himself permission to start over with us; we ought to take a cue from that and give ourselves permission to start over in our relationship with Him.

Did you ever start something and then find that it was going so badly, it was such a mess, you just wished you could just start all over again? You started down some path, you knew it was a mistake, but you got so invested in it you felt you had to see it through, even though it was getting worse ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 11:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Building The Hose Of The Lord: A New Beginning

Contributed by Dr. Madana Kumar, Phd on Feb 26, 2012

Let us dedicate ourselves to building the Hose of the Lord, this new year

New Beginnings – Building the House of God This is the last Sunday of January. Many of us have forgotten the New Year promise card, though Pastor tries to remind us every week. Most of us would have already forgotten about our New Year resolutions. But the fact is that we are still in the ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 3:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Stroke Of The Clock

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Jan 2, 2011

Resolutions come and go, but Jesus Christ will always remain the same! Will we accept that and be encouraged that it is to Him that we must follow in the New Year? (Ref: Isaiah 55:6, Psalm 105:4, John 1:12-13, Matthew 6:33)

The Stroke of the Clock Psalm 27:8 (and several others) Introduction - In the bulletin you will see the four pieces of scripture we’ll be looking at - This morning we are going to conclude the message that we began on Wed eve - Today, we find ourselves in the New Year facing many different ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

First Things First Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Jan 2, 2012

Understanding how quickly life goes by and how long eternity is should teaches us to have the right priorities. Getting to know God in a personal way should be our greatest priority in life.

FIRST THINGS FIRST [NEW YEAR] MATTHEW 6:33 [25-34] Jesus presented evidence that worry is irreverent, for it fails to believe that God is in control, that the God who gave us life is sustaining it. Worry is irrelevant because it does not change things nor help us cope with problems. And worry ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33, Matthew 6:25-34

Denomination: Baptist

The Need For Light Then... And Now!

Contributed by Monty Newton on Jan 9, 2012

The message a dark and chaotic world needs to hear and see is that God has sent light to show us the way out of darkness into light and life.

Title: The Need for Light Then… and Now Text: Genesis 1:1-5 Thesis: God said it and says it still, “Let there be light!” The message the dark and chaotic world needs to hear and see is that God has sent light to show us the way out of darkness into light. Introduction Most ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Song Of Beginnings - Genesis 1 Series

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Jan 4, 2015

What is the origin story of the universe and of humanity? When do we, really, show up in the story?

The Song of Beginnings - Genesis Chapter 1 - 1st in a 4-part Series on the Gospel According to Genesis Happy New Year to you. I hope it’s been good so far. New Years, like all beginnings of a type, can have an impact on how our year goes and on shaping where we end up at the end of the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mother Of God

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Dec 6, 2018

The infinite dimensions of Mary's the mind and will of God and her surrender.

Psalm 90:12 says, “Lord, teach us to number our days, that we may gain wisdom of heart.” There should not be a New Year’s Day that goes by that we don’t remind ourselves of that truth one way or another. Last night, one guy was really counting down the time for the New Year. He remarked ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 6:22-27, Luke 2:16-21

Denomination: Catholic