Sermons on Religious Vocations:

Fifth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C: Fishers: The Call, Objection, Assurance, And Commissioning Stories

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jan 8, 2025

“You got it bad and that ain’t good. But there is a doctor in the house and his name is Jesus."

Robert Coles, a Pulitzer Prize winner who taught at Harvard, believes that “the characters in novels can be persistent voices reminding us of the constant temptation toward egotism, and self-deception to which the mind is heir,’ and exhorting us to live lives that are morally inspired.”1 For ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8, Luke 5:1-11

Denomination: Catholic

Individualism And Making Holy Families Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 26, 2021

Individualism, like most isms, is a philosophy of “me, first.” “I don’t care about anything or anybody but me.”

Homily for Feast of the Holy Family Sir 3: 2-7, 12-14; Psalm 127; Col 3: 12-21; Lk 2: 22-40 Version 2 (request that lector read the long version of Colossians) Is any English word so misunderstood today as the key word in Paul’s letter to the church of Colossae? No, I don’t mean the word ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-21, Luke 2:22-40, Malachi 2:16

Denomination: Catholic

Persecution And Renewal: Why Opposition To The Church Could Signal Revival

Contributed by Ronald Moore on Jun 22, 2025

Recent years have witnessed a troubling rise in the persecution of Christians across the globe. In some countries, believers face brutal oppression — imprisonment, physical violence, even martyrdom.

Recent years have witnessed a troubling rise in the persecution of Christians across the globe. In some countries, believers face brutal oppression — imprisonment, physical violence, even martyrdom. Even in Western societies that pride themselves on tolerance and pluralism, there is an escalating ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:12, 1 John 4:4, Matthew 5:11-12, Acts 5:41, John 15:20, Matthew 28:20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

"Is Work Good Or Bad?"

Contributed by Fred Mueller on Sep 7, 2005

A Labor Day expository sermon on the theme of work in the Bible, incorporating the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina.

Sermon942005 Hillsborough Reformed Church Ex. 20, Eph. 4 Labor Day Theme Is work good or bad? It depends on whom you ask and when! Ask the teen aged boy who has to mow the lawn and has put it off until now – and dad is ready to hit the roof while at the same time his friends want to play a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

When God Is Pleased, Nothing Else Matters

Contributed by Anthony Hodge on Jan 10, 2003

This sermon is designed to help aid those individuals who struggle with being accepted by others.

When God is pleased, nothing else matters (Luke 3:21-22; Colossians 3:23-24) Too often we as human beings seek outward affirmation from those around us. While there is nothing wrong with being liked or thought well of, there is a danger in seeking such types of affirmation. As humans, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:21-22, Colossians 3:22-24

Denomination: Methodist

Who Are You Really Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Feb 13, 2008

One of the first steps in understanding how we are to respond to God’s grace it to discover who we are and what God has done for us.

Psalm 139:1-4, 13-18 “Who Are You, Really” INTRODUCTION We are going to begin something new. Isn’t that exciting! I’ve always enjoyed beginning a new class or starting a new activity, even though I knew it was going to take work and determination. I’ve anticipated the change and the benefits ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-18

Denomination: Lutheran

Wilderniss Into Oasis Series

Contributed by Paul Kallan on Mar 5, 2003

When we experience wilderness in life, it is difficult to uphold our moral standards. Rooted in God and with the power Jesus gives us, we can try to overcome the attractions and promises of evil.

Mark 1.12-15 describes the Temptation of Christ in the Wilderness. After the baptism in the Jordan, the Spirit leads him to the wilderness to spend fourty days of fasting and prayer. There he is tempted to give up the call of God and yield to the temptation to react to situations in the normal ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:12-15

Denomination: Catholic

A Child Asked For

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 17, 2015

As his name seems to suggest, Samuel was a child asked for. The destiny of the faithful was wrapped up in the birth of this child.

A CHILD ASKED FOR. 1 Samuel 1:4-20. It was still the days of the judges, and still everyone did what they thought was right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). Yet the LORD was at work, shaping man’s destiny according to His plan. The ‘man according to His own heart’ (Acts 13:22) had not yet ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:4-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

For Such A Time As This

Contributed by Les Buttolph on Nov 21, 2025

God creates us for His purpose, and equips according to such a need

I’m not asking for a show of hands, but do you feel called by God for a particular purpose, or even being given an increasing number of tasks, to fulfill God’s purpose in your life? Do you feel God has given you physical and/or spiritual gifts to achieve His purposes for your life? His gifts may be ...read more

Scripture: Esther 4:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Denomination: Methodist

Spiritual Fitness

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jul 31, 2003

In chapter 9, we explore having the Lord as your avocation – finding the best fit for you, fitting in with others, and becoming fit to excel in His service.

Do you have an avocation? I don’t mean a hobby you play at – or a job you work at – but something that really interests you – something you’ll spend hours and hours working on, even when you don’t have to? For some people its fishing – they not only have specific flies to catch specific fish in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

A Doctor You've Never Heard Of

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 29, 2018

The sixteenth century saw so much heretical scriptural writing that we usually write it off. But good Catholic scholarship was going on in that century, and John of Avila was one of the brightest lights.

Thursday of the 13th Week in Course 2018 Reformation/Revolution The vocation to be a prophet is not for the faint-hearted. We see in this reading from the Book of Amos that the poor fellow was a migrant shepherd and tree-dresser, but he heard the voice of God and responded “yes.” And then God told ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:1-8, Amos 7:10-17

Denomination: Catholic

Third Sunday Of Easter- Life Changing Breakfast

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Apr 18, 2022

Jesus is the cook

The famous English author G. K. Chesterton’s shortest essay was the following: The London Times asked various writers for essays on the topic “What’s Wrong with the World?” Chesterton replied, Dear Sirs: I am. Sincerely yours, G. K. Chesterton Something was wrong with the disciples. They ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-14

Denomination: Catholic

Heartily And Orderly

Contributed by Grady Henley on Dec 31, 2004

Take your ministry seriously. Do it heartily and orderly

Heartily and Orderly Grady (Doc) Henley 4 Jan. 2002 INTRODUCTION: Prov. 10:26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him. Have you ever worked with or attempted to work an employee that was a sluggard by nature? Such a soul will indeed set your ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:26

Denomination: Baptist

Called To Bless Series

Contributed by Stephen Sheane on Apr 10, 2018

When we serve others we find satisfaction, significance and succession

CALLED TO BLESS Many years ago there lay a large boulder in the middle of a well travelled roadway. Traveler after traveler walked past the boulder, veering off the side of the road to get around it. All the while, they were shaking their head and muttering, "Can you believe that? Someone should ...read more

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Want To Be Truly Healed? Include Gratitude!

Contributed by Philip Gill on Oct 16, 2007

To give thanks, to show gratitude is crucial for our wellbeing and our proper relationship with each other, with nature and with God.

Want to be Truly Healed? Include Gratitude. This morning’s gospel story presents us with two basic needs that can sometimes be in competition. One is that we need to be satisfied with our lot if we are to be in the least bit ‘happy’. The other need is to be able to look beyond that same situation ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Anglican