Sermons on Rivers In The Desert:

The Wilderness Of Lent Series

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Feb 3, 2018

how should we spend the forty days of Lent?

Mark 1:9-15 Today is the first Sunday of Lent – the annual period of reflection leading to the joy and celebration of Easter. It is also the Sunday that we hear in the reading about of the baptism of Jesus and God’s affirmation that He is His well-beloved son. It surely helps to remind us of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:9-15

Denomination: Episcopal

Second Sunday Of Advent, Year B: Advent Voices

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Nov 11, 2023

Squander yourself for hope in Christ.

A three-year-old was helping his mother unpack their nativity set. He announced each piece as he unwrapped it from the tissue paper. “Here’s the donkey!” he said. “Here’s a king,” and “Here’s a camel!” When he finally got to a one-piece tiny infant molded to his crib, he proclaimed, “Here’s baby ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

Conditioned For The Conquest: Our Part, Part Two Series

Contributed by Dan Morrison on Aug 18, 2002

God parted the Jordan, God brought them up out of the river bed, God brought them out of the wilderness, but what was their part in the conditioning?

Conditioned for the Conquest: Part 2; Joshua 5; Preached at Midway Community Church March 5, 2000. Last time we saw in chapter 4; conditioned for the conquest, God’s Part. The Crossing that was finished & the Coming up that freed them. We saw how God did everything necessary so they EXCHANGE the ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 5:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Keeping Our Head Above Water

Contributed by Kenneth Trent on Apr 5, 2003

No matter what the waters of life may hold or how raging the rivers may be, the child of God can rest in the promise: "I will be with thee."

KEEPING OUR HEAD ABOVE WATER “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.” Isaiah 43:2a WHEN YOU PASS… No one is immune from trials, tribulations, troubles and distresses in this life. These things affect us all. Jesus said: ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:2

Denomination: Baptist

You Have To Take The First Step

Contributed by Peter Sapp on Jan 16, 2013

Just like the Israelite priests carrying the ark into the Jordan river, Christians must take the first step in faith to move forward with God's plan.

Joshua 3:1-17 Pray Did you ever notice that as people, we’re kind of obsessed with weight? We are always talking about how people in Hollywood are too skinny. She's so skinny she must have to jump around in the shower just to get wet. And even more than being obsessed with being skinny, ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 3:1-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Joshua 3:~ Camped At The Jordan – Tomorrow They Cross Series

Contributed by William D. Brown on Jun 13, 2015

Israel “lodged” camped at the swollen Jordan River because of the spring rains, they had no idea how they would pass to the other side.

SS~ #19~ Joshua 3:~ camped at the Jordan – tomorrow they cross~ 10-19-14 1  And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. ~ Israel “lodged” camped at the ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 3:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

"When The Beloved Steps Into The Water”

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Jan 11, 2026

Beloved, on Baptism of the Lord Sunday, the church turns its eyes toward a river in the wilderness, where Jesus — Son of God, Word made flesh

SERMON TITLE: “WHEN THE BELOVED STEPS INTO THE WATER” Matthew 3:13–17 • Baptism of the Lord Sunday “Wade in the Water” as Our Hermeneutic of Liberation INTRODUCTION Beloved, on Baptism of the Lord Sunday, the church turns its eyes toward a river in the wilderness, where Jesus — Son of God, Word ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: United Methodist

Narnia And An Angel Of Light Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 12, 2005

Why would C.S. Lewis use a "white witch" to depict the evil of Satan? And what can we learn from Satan’s attempt to deceive Jesus in the desert?

OPEN: (Played an ApologetiX CD featuring “The Devil Went Down to The Jordan” while showing the lyrics on the overhead projector) The devil went down to the Jordan He was lookin’ for a show to steal He was in a bind cause Jesus came to find The people willing to make it real. And he came upon the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Power Of The Promise

Contributed by Fred Mueller on Dec 17, 2004

A sermon exploring what God has done in making the desert bloom - an Advent sermon about God’s promises and how he keeps them.

Hillsborough Reformed Church at Millstone Advent III December 12, 2004 Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10 ¡§The Power of the Promise¡¨ I have some good news for Rutgers fans. Well, some good news and some bad news for Rutgers fans. I mean MALE Rutgers fans. I have only GOOD news for females, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

God's Guidelines For Thanksgiving

Contributed by Horace Wimpey on Nov 17, 2011

While many think that thanksgiving is an American holiday, God Iniated thanksgiving in the deserts of the middle east. There He gave instructions as to how we are to celebrate this holiday.

GOD’S GUIDELINES FOR THANKSGIVING Deuteronomy 16:9-12 Intro: One day Bill was hunting in the woods. It had been a slow day and he had yet to shoot any game. Suddenly, he heard a noise behind him. He whirled around and saw a ferocious mountain lion only 20 yards away. Bill quickly raised his ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 16:9-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Cave Of Doubt And The Call Of Duty.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 20, 2023

None of us are as alone as we might imagine. We can draw strength from the fact that the LORD has not deserted us. We are never alone.

THE CAVE OF DOUBT AND THE CALL OF DUTY. 1 Kings 19:9-18. While Obadiah was hiding others in a cave (cf. 1 Kings 18:3-4), Elijah hid himself in a cave. I. THE CAVE OF DOUBT (1 Kings 19:9-14). Why are YOU here? Indignant self-righteousness. Wind, earthquake, and fire - and a thin, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:9-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Patient In The Wilderness Premium Sermon

Contributed by PRO Premium on Oct 8, 2023

This sermon explores the concept of patience through the story of David in the Desert of En Gedi, emphasizing the importance of trusting in God's timing despite societal pressures for immediacy.

Welcome back for week two of our series we started last week, “Wilderness.” Now, if you were here last week, you heard a little bit about this wilderness concept in scripture, especially the first aspect of the wilderness: testing. We learned that even Jesus had a season in the wilderness, where He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 24:1-7

Topics: Patience, God's Timing, Wilderness Experience

Sermon Series: Wilderness

Before He Changed The World, Jesus Entered The Water

Contributed by Antonio Manaytay on Jan 9, 2026

Before His public ministry began, Jesus stepped into the Jordan. This sermon explores how humility, obedience, and identity come before world-changing power.

Beloved brothers and sisters, We live in a world obsessed with results—impact, success, influence, and power. We admire those who change history, who move nations, who leave their mark on the world. Yet when we look at Jesus—the One who changed the course of human history—we discover something ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Seven Benefits To A Spirit-Empowered Church

Contributed by James O. Davis on Nov 30, 2015

You and your church can become a fountainhead of supernatural revival in your community, city and country.

THE SEVEN BENEFITS TO A SPIRIT EMPOWERED CHURCH JOHN 7:37-39; EZEKIEL 47 By Dr. James O. Davis Do you want to have an average church or a normal church? By and large, the average church we find today, the normal church we find in the Word of God. Let me ask you a couple more questions. Do you ...read more

Scripture: John 7:37-39

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Seven Benefits To A Spirit Empowered Church

Contributed by James O. Davis on Dec 22, 2015

Do you want to have an average church or a normal church? By and large, the average church we find today, the normal church we find in the Word of God.

Do you want to have an average church or a normal church? By and large, the average church we find today, the normal church we find in the Word of God. Let me ask you a couple more questions. Do you want to be a container or do you want to be a channel? Do you want your church to be a reservoir or ...read more

Scripture: John 7:37-39, Ezekiel 47:1-23

Denomination: Assembly Of God