Sermons on Restoring The Years:

Thirty-Third Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year B: The End Of The World And Tender Branches

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Nov 1, 2024

The date of the end of the world cannot be known based on prophecy.

We are nearing the end of Ordinary Time as Advent draws near and so the theme this time of year is on the Second Coming of Christ at the end of the world. People are telling end of the world jokes like there is no tomorrow! E.g., A comedian spoke of a Pentecostal preacher who had predicted the end ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:24-32

Denomination: Catholic

Twenty-Second Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year B - Dirty Hands And Dirty Thoughts

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jul 29, 2024

“Nothing ever happens in the world that does not first happen inside a mind...”

An illustration for those who deny the reality of concupiscence: A visitor was once being shown around an art gallery. The gallery contained some beautiful paintings which were universally acknowledged to be masterpieces. At the end of the tour the visitor said, "I don't think much of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8-9, Mark 7:1-23

Denomination: Catholic

Twenty-Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year B: "When In Doubt, Cut It Out.”

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Aug 15, 2024

It is not hyperbole to say that it is better to enter heaven maimed [one-armed, one-footed, and one-eyed] than to enter hell whole. That is literally true.

“When Jesus exaggerated” is a book title, and there are countless articles on how Jesus uses exaggeration and hyperbole for effect, like we hear this Sunday; to literally cut off your hand or foot or gouge-out your eyes because then you won’t sin with them.1 However, “it is not hyperbole to say ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:38-48

Denomination: Catholic

Twenty-Fifth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C: Dishonest Steward Or Shrewd Manager

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Sep 18, 2025

Baptized believers should use the worldly resources they possess to serve God's eternal kingdom by being generous and helping the poor, and do it in a way that involves street smarts, enterprise, and proactive initiative.

There’s an old story about Moishe, a medieval Jewish astrologer who prophesied that the king’s favorite horse would die soon. Sure enough, the horse died a short time later. The king got angry at Moishe, certain that his prophecy had brought about the horse’s death. He summoned Moishe and commanded ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-13

Denomination: Catholic

Praise God And Give Him Thanks! (New Year's Eve Of 2024)

Contributed by Benjamin Utomo on Dec 29, 2023

I don’t know what you experienced this year and how you view 2023. But as we leave this year, I encourage you to do what David did: praise God and give Him thanks!

In less than two days, we will leave 2023 and enter 2024. Like any other year, 2023 is going to be one to remember! Here are some highlights of what happened in 2023. For the last century, if not longer, China has had the world’s largest population. That ended in 2023. India now does. Its ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C- The Beatitudes: Area Code 212 Or 04?

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jan 20, 2025

Heaven is not just up, but in.

The 212-area code is Manhattan, and it’s a status symbol as one of the most recognizable area codes in the United States. It’s considered more authentic than the more recent 646, 332 or 917 area codes for Manhattan. With a 212 Manhattan phone number, you’re sure to turn some heads, stand out from ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:5-8, Luke 6:17-26

Denomination: Catholic

Fourth Sunday Of Easter, Year B- We Are All Sheep And Some Of Us Are Shepherds

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Mar 22, 2024

There are problems with sheep too

Problems and challenges for shepherds and sheep-- Timothy Laniak in 2007 tells the story of a Bedouin Arab and an American scholar sitting under a tent discussing what it takes to be a true shepherd. The Jordanian shepherd insisted that the heart is the most important thing. He lamented, “My ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-18

Denomination: Catholic

Fifth Sunday Of Easter, Year B-- Vine And Branches-- See You Later, Suckers!

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Mar 27, 2024

“We’re dying on the vine here!”

Today, we hear about pruning and abiding to bear fruit. Regarding pruning, “There’s a sucker born every minute,” is an expression used in the hope of making money selling something worthless to a gullible customer. Similarly, in gardening, sucker shoots are false branches or stems that suck the ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

Samson: Saint Or Sinnner?

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 21, 2005

Explores Samson’s life and ministry: the mystery of his calling, sinning, prolonged anointing, and restoration

Samson: Saint or Sinner? Judges 13-16 6-1-03 Richard Tow Grace Chapel Foursquare Church Springfield, MO www.gracechapelchurch.org Intro: Judg 13:1-5 13:1Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, so the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years. 2A ...read more

Denomination: Charismatic

Tis’ The Season

Contributed by Steve Ely on Dec 22, 2008

Painful. Dry. Taxing. Rewarding. Seasons . . . they are common to all of us. These truths will help us negotiate these phases of our life and journey in Christ.

Tis’ The Season I. Introduction It is during this time of the year that I often begin to think about seasons. Deer season, turkey season, basketball season, and yes . . . Christmas season. We often talk about seasons even when we don’t realize it. When we talk about the weather we are actually ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3

Denomination: Pentecostal

"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

Looking To 2010

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Dec 30, 2009

Our hearts should be glad to consider the possible return of Jesus in 2010. People were glad to recognize him as Messiah in 33A.D. I sense some of us may not be as excited about the Lords return as we should be. For some of us that excitement has cooled.

Looking to 2010 Mark 11:1-11 Happy New Year! 2010, just writing the date reminds us of how quickly time is marching forward. We are into a new year and into a new decade of the new millennium. It is hard to believe that we are already this far into a new millennium. Looking back at 1999 there ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

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

A Goal Worth Of Effort!

Contributed by Joanna Rose on Jan 2, 2010

This sermon speaks to a goal worth our time and effort, a goal we see modeled by the appostle Paul himself. That God would have all there is of... (fill in your name).

Although I don’t always make New Year’s resolutions I do love moments in our lives when pause and evaluate who we are and who we would like to become. It is very easy in the busyness to keep on trekking along without ever stopping to examine where it is that we are headed. There are times when I ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14

Denomination: Holiness

February: The Leap Month

Contributed by Aderemi Ojikutu on Oct 20, 2009

Spiritual significance of a Leap Year and its month of February in the affairs of men.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 24:7-10

Denomination: Pentecostal