Sermons on Self Emptying:

Using Your Gifts To Serve Others - Part 1

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Jan 30, 2020

1 Peter 4:10 admonishes us to "use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." What is the greatest gift all believers have received? What gift does this poor, lost world need most?

Using Your Gifts to Serve Others Please stand as we read our newest memory Scripture together … 1 Peter 4:10 “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” And our memory refresher verse(s) for today is(are) ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-11, Acts 16:6

Denomination: Nazarene

The God Who Runs

Contributed by Martin Ellgar on Dec 6, 2014

A perspective on Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32. The loving father does he wait for a lengthy and rehearsed apology from his returning son. He sees him coming in the distance and with joy runs out to greet him. In this way he brings honour again to his son.

Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32 The God Who Runs God loves to have a party. He has been known to host the best and biggest celebrations in heaven whenever a sinner turns around from following their own desires and decides to come home to God. Everyone is invited to celebrate. Our parable today is not so ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: Lutheran

Impossible Love Pt 2 Series

Contributed by David Welch on May 29, 2018

Message 35 in our exposition of 1 Corinthians. This message is the second of 6 messages exploring the nature and practice of God's love.

Chico Alliance Church Pastor David Welch “Impossible Love” Part Two Introduction Our current stop in our exploration of Paul’s letter to the believers meeting in Corinth written a couple thousand years ago deals with love. 1 Corinthians 13 has been dubbed the “love” chapter. Here ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:20-21

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Living A Life Of Sexual Purity Series

Contributed by Thomas H on Oct 4, 2010

Sex. It is big in today’s world. As Christians we are constantly pressured to conform to the world’s low sexual standards. But we must resist and in this passage Paul gives us God’s standards for sexual purity.

Ephesians 5:3-14 Living a life of sexual purity Sometimes when watching the news on TV some footage might be coming up - say a bomb explosion or war scene - and before they show the footage there is an announcement something like this: This footage contains scenes which may offend some viewers. In ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:3-14

Denomination: Baptist

Plug Into Power Series

Contributed by Mark Jones on Feb 23, 2009

this is a look at the vision of Zechariah-where is shown two olive trees connected to an oil lamp, as the angel explains its significance. We are shown the source of power for the Christian Life in this ancient prophetic vision.

Plug Into Power! Introduce the cast of characters and the scenario: Ezra (Scribe), Nehemia (Engineer), Haggai (rugged outspoken prophet), Zechariah (Prophetic Priest) Joshua (High Priest) , Zerubbabel (Governor of Judah). Zechariah 4:1-10 Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 4:1-10

Denomination: Methodist

The Question Evil Can’t Answer

Contributed by David Dunn on Dec 29, 2025

Evil remains a mystery, but the cross reveals God’s character. He enters human suffering, bears its weight, and assures us that love—not evil—has the final word.

There are certain questions that do not arise from curiosity, but from collision. They are not born in classrooms or debates, but in moments when life presses hard against the soul and refuses to explain itself. These questions surface when loss interrupts routine, when suffering enters without ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-7, Job 42:5, Isaiah 53:3-5, Matthew 27:46, John 19:30, Romans 8:18, Revelation 21:4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

And Then Some!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jul 2, 2002

James Byrnes, Sec’y of State under FDR, said that the difference between successful people & average people can be summed up in 3 words, "and then some." He said, "Average people do what is expected. Successful people do what is expected, & then some."

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH BROWNSVILLE, TX A. When we read the Bible, one of the things that has to impress us is that God is often calling upon His people to do things they normally couldn’t do by themselves, but that they can do with His help. God is always saying, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"I Have Seen Jesus: Have You?” Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 11, 2007

when I imagine the story of Mary, and how weeping Mary turned into surprised Mary turned into responsive Mary, I see the power, the potential, the possibilities that come from lives that are lived in relationship with the living Lord Jesus.

“I Have Seen Jesus: Have You?” – Series: Seeing Jesus Apr 15, 2007 John 20:11-18 Intro: Christ is Risen! It is true, it is gloriously true – Christ is Risen! So, now what? The greatest story, our most important story, has just last week reached its climax. Our Lord, crucified, but then ...read more

Scripture: John 20:11-18

Denomination: Baptist

Fresh Starts And Living Hope

Contributed by Matthew Stoll on May 19, 2008

Using Peter as an example of how the Resurrection of Jesus gives us fresh starts and living hope

It had been the worst two and a half days of their lives. First the Master had brought them to the Garden of Gethsemane just outside of Jerusalem to pray, but instead they fell asleep, after all it was late. Perhaps if they had been awake and watchful they would have noticed the torches of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-9, 1 Peter 1:1-9

Denomination: Methodist

Resurrection Series

Contributed by John Oscar on Aug 29, 2022

This message is from the Sermon Central Series, "From the Ashes" and is heavily edited for use in our church.

From the Ashes Week 6 - Resurrection Scripture: Luke 24, Job 38-42, 1 Corinthians 15:13-14, 2 Corinthians 1:20 Introduction Over the last several week where we have been together, we have been learning how to recover after something happens that seems to reduce our life to ashes. This morning, we ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Unsanctified Man

Contributed by James Torrence on Apr 25, 2004

Descriptions of a unsactified person

The Unsanctified Man By: Rev. James Torrence Romans 7: 1-25 TEXT: Verse 24 - Oh wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me? Intro: The 7th chapter of Romans is the battle ground of theologians. Our Calvinistic friends have had trouble here because they do not believe in two works of grace. Our ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:24

Denomination: Methodist

Divine Cement For The Marriage Contract

Contributed by Donald Carpenter on Jan 18, 2003

Love is not an emotion, it is an holy commitment that trancends emotions.

Divine Cement for the Marriage Contract I Corinthians 13:1-8 Introduction: Many poems are written about it… many songs drone on and on… psychologists spout about it… liberals misrepresent it… The subject is true love. As the last part of our special Valentine’s Day celebration, we will spend ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Dependence (Part 1) Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Oct 7, 2010

Have we been able to identify the obstacles that keep hindering a close relationship with Christ and ask Him to help you to overcome them?

Opening illustration:  What does a teacher desire from his/her students?  What does a general desire from his soldiers?  What does a ruler desire from his citizens?  What do parents desire from their children? WHAT DOES CHRIST DESIRE FROM US? All these ...read more

Scripture: John 15:4-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Being In Awe Of God Series

Contributed by Brad Henry on Dec 9, 2011

How to be poor in spirit not on the outside but only on the inside is the place where God can do His greatest work. We need to rely on the only One who can save us from Hell's grasp and the only One who can help us conquer fear and worry.

What do you think of this statement: “Sin” to see God? In our fourth lesson about “Being In Awe Of God” some of you just can’t get past the fact that you are in some sort of pit that you can’t get out of. Then you feel unworthy of asking God for anything since ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3

Living The Lord's Prayer: Forgive Us Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 3, 2016

The practical love we show to the poor is critical for our discipleship.

Thursday after Epiphany 2016 Joy of the Gospel As we celebrate this day after Epiphany, we continue the readings from St. John that ornament our Christmas-Epiphany season. We also continue our review of the Pope’s long letter, the Joy of the Gospel, and we do so in this Holy Year of mercy. ...read more

Denomination: Catholic