Sermons on Rites Of Passage:

Rebuilding The Temple

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 29, 2013

Past glories, present disappointments, and future glory.

REBUILDING THE TEMPLE. Haggai 2:9. BACKGROUND: King David wanted to build the LORD a house, but the time was not right (1 Chronicles 28:3): David's son would build the LORD's house (2 Samuel 7:12-13). Before his death, David appointed the masons, prepared iron and brass, received the ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 2:9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Going Back To Bethel

Contributed by Clint Shrum on Feb 28, 2008

Jacob first met God at Luzwhich means "a hard place." After his encounter with God he changed the name of that place to Bethel which means "the House of God." Years later Jacob finds himself returning to the place where he first met God.

GOING BACK TO BETHEL Genesis 35:1-7 Intro: To fully understand the message this morning it is imperative that I take you back to Genesis 27. Esau in his moment of weakness has sold his birthright to Jacob. Jacob through deception and by the held of his mother has gone to Isaac and received ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 35:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Beauty Of Baptism

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 18, 2014

The Bible makes few mandates for baptism, but what it does demand makes it beautiful.

Intro In Matthew 3 we are introduced to the Baptism of Christ. This ceremony which has become the norm for almost all Christian churches is also the subject of some division and much misunderstanding. Goal To help us appreciate baptism and its significance. Plan We will look at what is and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

Mystery Of Baptism

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 9, 2017

How can we differentiate between our preferences for baptism and Christ's commands?

Intro The Baptism of Christ was a forerunner to a ceremony which has become the norm for Christians. Baptism is also the subject of some division and much misunderstanding. Goal Let’s explore the mystery of baptism. Plan We will look at Matthew 3:13-17 and Jesus’ baptism. Matthew 3:13 Then ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Best Is Yet To Come

Contributed by Geoffrey Foot on Jan 31, 2017

Jesus keeps the vintage wine until everyone is drunk. This is the same for the vintage years of our lives - old age is viewed as something NOT to be thought of but Jesus shows us that our vintage year are the best yet to come.

The Best is Yet to Come Gospel reading: John 2:1-12 from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) The Wedding at Cana 1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-12

The Word As Peace Series

Contributed by Alvin Hathaway, Sr. on May 22, 2011

God give us a word of peace to prepare our spirits, to acknowledge our pain in prayer, to believe God's promise and covenant, to accept God's provisions as his gift to the world, and to know that God's plan is for us to have His peace.

Sunday, December 14, 2008 The Word as Peace Text: Luke: 1: 79 We continue in our Advent theme: “What God Gives” Last Sunday, we examined what God gives is his word as power, if we believe we can become a child of God; then we can inherit the benefits of his children. This Sunday I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:79

Denomination: Baptist

Adding And Subtracting

Contributed by Glenn Abel on Mar 21, 2017

A sermon on John the Baptist that focuses on John's humility and acceptance of his work as the one who prepared the way for the coming of Jesus. John's life is summed up in the words "He must increase and I must decrease."

Adding and Subtracting John 3:22–30 (ESV) “He must increase, but I must decrease” The third chapter of John is best known for Nicodemus and John 3:16 But this chapter also records an incident that is very important to the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus I. The ...read more

Scripture: John 3:20-30

Denomination: Baptist

New Beginnings

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Jan 11, 2021

Jesus' baptism marked the beginning of his ministry. Our baptism also lays the foundation for our lives of faith.

January 10, 2021 Baptism of Our Lord Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Mark 1:4-11 New Beginnings Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Jesus’ baptism. We mark this event every year on the first Sunday of Epiphany. Epiphany ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:4-11

Denomination: Lutheran

The Birth Of Moses Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on May 3, 2022

God has his heroes of faith. They may not be household names they are vitally important to God’s work of redemption. Like Jochebed and Amram the parents of Moses.

I was once gathered around a table ready to hear a good devotional message. Instead of a message it turned out to be a Bible trivia quiz. They were questions that no one could answer. One of the questions was, what was the name of Moses’s mother. It is not a name known by very many. The answer is ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

As It Was In The Days Of Judges

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Feb 17, 2023

Not only are in in the days of Noah, but we are in the days of Judges as well.

Have you ever read a book and did not really understand it until you were several chapters in? The plot became clear. In the book of Judges, I believe we get the key verse to the in chapter seventeen. Judges 17:6  In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was ...read more

Scripture: Judges 2:1-23, Judges 17:6, Judges 21:25, Deuteronomy 12:8

Denomination: Baptist

Parables Of The Kingdom – The First - The Sower Or Rather The Soil – Part 7 Of 7 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 1, 2025

In the conclusion to the Parable of the Sower we consider two things. One is the connection between this parable and the Church at Ephesus (Revelation 2), and the other is seeing how this Parable connects with the Apostolic period of Church History.

PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM – THE FIRST - THE SOWER OR RATHER THE SOIL – Part 7 of 7 This final message is covering some new ground for you. We have been looking at the Parable of the Sower and now look into its position in Church History. It is a shorter message. TWO INTERESTING, IMPORTANT ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:3-9, Matthew 13:18-23, Revelation 2:1-7, Revelation 2:2, Revelation 2:6, Revelation 2:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Paying Tithes To Jesus, Our High Priest Series

Contributed by Bruce Morrison on Jul 21, 2003

There is a difference between tithing under the Mosaic Covenant and tithing under the New Covenant of Grace.

Paying Tithes to Jesus, our High Priest Stewardship Series #3 Bible Text: In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. Hebrews 7:8. Many Christians practice the giving of tithes as a vital part of their ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 7:8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Definitely

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 13, 2004

Funeral sermon for Michael Ellis, avid golfer and new believer. God has done definite things in Michael’s life, has provided a definite plan of salvation, and has given the definite gift of eternal life.

I know almost nothing about the game of golf. I do know that Michael Ellis was an avid golfer. Even there in the hospice it seemed to comfort him to watch golf on television. I’m not sure he appreciated it when I compared looking TV golf to watching the grass grow. He laughed, but I’m not sure ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:22-24

Denomination: Baptist

The Most Important Things

Contributed by Michael Martin on Nov 4, 2006

There are things that are more important to God, than what man thinks is important.

(Phil. 3:4-14) "If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I MORE..." Paul was a man of words. They said about him, "His letters are weighty..." We understand now, that they were the very words of God. That Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-14

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Is No Turkey

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 26, 2000

For Christ the King Sunday: This message contrasts the one-time celebrations to which we "invite" the turkey to the full-time, all-seasons lordship of Jesus.

After Thanksgiving dinner, the men in the house retired to the family room to share in that most sacred of spiritual rituals – we worshipped at the shrine of the great god football. And it was not long before someone scored a touchdown and went into a liturgical dance in the end zone: high fives, ...read more

Scripture: John 19:10-22

Denomination: Baptist