Sermons on Sitting In Ashes:

Return To The Lord

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jun 20, 2019

We are right to emphasize that God loves us, but we too easily forget that because he loves us he wants us to be the best we can be and calls us to a deep repentance.

Return to the Lord Isaiah 1:12-20 Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2012 Rev. Stephen Aram We live in a time when the church really emphasizes the mercy and grace of God. How many times have you heard it said that God loves us just the way we are and that he will be there any time we call? And ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:12-20

Ash Wednesday: Confronting Our Sins, Embracing Our Vulnerabilities

Contributed by Fr. Rian Adams on Apr 6, 2020

Ash Wednesday sermon about confronting our sins, but how that is a call to vulnerability by the Holy Spirit

Ash Wednesday: At one time Advent was my favorite season of the church year. The happiness, the joy of anticipation, the hope of a manger, the birth of a child… it all added a hopeful newness to my soul. But our culture ruined Christmas with the rabid consumerism and those lame made for TV ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6

Denomination: Episcopal

The Palm Tree Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Feb 15, 2024

A Sermon for Ash Wednesday

February 14, 2024 Ash Wednesday Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; Psalm 51:1-17; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 The Palm Tree Good evening, friendly humans. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Palm Tree. My siblings and I don’t grow this far north. And even though your weather has ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6

Denomination: Lutheran

God’s Chosen Fast

Contributed by John Gaston on Mar 5, 2025

We look at 4 wrong motivations for Fasting, HOW we're to Fast, 7 Types of Fasts, 7 Purposes of Fasting, and 5 correct Motivations for Fasting. We also do a thumbnail sketch of Isaiah 58, where God does a critique of Israel's fasting practices.

GOD’S CHOSEN FAST Isa. 58:5 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: Modern People Know So Much 1. Did you hear the story about the lady who was talking to her friend and brought up the Bible. Her friend said, “Oh don’t start trying to tell to me about the Bible; my parents had me read it every day. I’m ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:5, Matthew 6:16

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Ash Wednesday Emtional Wounds--Emotional Healing

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Mar 15, 2011

This message was preached on Ash Wednesday and it deals with the power of Jesus Christ to bring healing to the emotional wounds of our lives.

Ash Wednesday Emotional Wounds & Healing 3/9/11 Isaiah 53:1-15 Luke 4:14-20 Ash Wednesday is a time when we begin to become clean with God and accept what God says about us. I came across the following section from the book “Imitation of Christ” “I ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Keep Calm And Carry On - A Sermon For Ash Wednesday

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Feb 17, 2013

A sermon for Ash Wednesday - for a UK congregation

Joel 2:1-2 & 12-17 John 8:1-11 I’m beginning, totally unsuitably for Lent, with an expression of pride. I’m very proud of my collection of the complete set of Carry On films - it’s the earthy British humour of the 1960s and 1970s at its best (or worst, depending upon your point ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:1-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Glass Houses: Skeptics Anonymous (Ash Wednesday) Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Oct 18, 2019

We all carry skepticism but Jesus transforms it for the glory of God

Ash Wednesday marks the first day of 40 that call the season of Lent. While the Bible does not mention Ash Wednesday or the custom of Lent, it does talk of the practice of repentance and mourning in ashes. This was a common place Middle Eastern practice in which garments were ripped because they ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 13:19, Esther 4:1, Job 2:8, Daniel 9:3, Matthew 11:21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Section (2) Answers From An Ash Heap Series

Contributed by Luther Sexton on Feb 19, 2019

Looking for answers for reason of suffering.

IV. ANSWERS FROM AN ASH HEAP A. Suffering can be for 1. Participation -- Being Human -- Because we are a part of the human race, and the human race (thanks to Adam and Eve) is conceived and born in sin. Rom 5:12&19 Ps 51:5 Romans 8:22 "whole creation groaneth" ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12, Job 1:9

Denomination: Pentecostal

Ash Wednesday: Leave No Cobweb Un-Swept

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Mar 5, 2014

A short talk for our annual Ash Wednesday service. The bright light of God's judgement and holiness and grace calls us to leave no stone unturned and no cobweb un-swept as we route out sin.

In 1977 (in his book How to be born again) Billy Graham wrote: ‘Several years ago I was to be interviewed at my home for a well-known television show and, knowing it would appear on nationwide television, my wife [Ruth] took great pains to see that everything looked nice. She had vacuumed and ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:12-17

Denomination: Anglican

The Trampled Triumphant (An Ash Wednesday Sermon)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 5, 2025

The beginning illustration is a about a fern that won't grow because of its soil. Like the fern in the soil of hardened clay, we need a new beginning in the soil of God's grace!

THE TRAMPLED TRIUMPHANT Text: II Corinthians 5:20b – 6:10 2 Corinthians 5:20-21  So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  (21)  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10

Denomination: United Methodist

The God Who Brings Beauty Out Of Ashes Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jul 31, 2025

The phrase “beauty for ashes” is a divine exchange initiated by the mercy and love of God. It represents His ability to replace sorrow with joy, shame with glory, and hopelessness with purpose.

THE GOD WHO BRINGS BEAUTY OUT OF ASHES By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Isaiah 61:1-3 Supporting Texts: Romans 8:28, Psalm 30:11, Joel 2:25, Job 42:10, Genesis 50:20 INTRODUCTION: Life often presents us with seasons of devastation, disgrace, and despair—times when it seems like all that is ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Your Blessed Life Now

Contributed by Chad Laughrey on Mar 29, 2008

Exegetical sermon on Psalm 1.

Your Blessed Life Now! Do you remember as a child the feeling you would get when Christmas was on the way? Do you remember the tree, shining and decorated, sitting in it’s honored place in the living room. Each day it caught your eye, and each day it reminded you of the joy to come. Perhaps ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Crossing The Legs On God’s Chair

Contributed by Antonio Silveira on Feb 26, 2011

Crossing the legs is for some a symbol of elegance, for others something that’s bad for your legs. For me represents comfort and relaxation. Today I want to tell you that God in his great love and mercy decided to raise you from your condition of spiritua

Crossing the legs on God’s chair There are different Kinds of Chairs When I was small, I used to play a game with my friends called musical chairs. Do you remember it? The object of the game was to be in possession of a chair when the music stopped. All through life it often seems ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:4-7

Denomination: Baptist

Asking Both Kings For The Wall

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 15, 2010

For every significant task, there is the "sit-down" approach and the "rise-up" approach. We need both to sit down and pray and then to rise up and do, but even then by involving the resources of others. Lone wolves are not appropriate.

When a big challenge faces you, essentially there are only two things you can do about it: You can rise to the challenge. Or you can sit down and ignore it. When there is a big task to be done, I am saying, there are two entirely different ways to approach it. There is the rise up approach and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Non-Decision Series

Contributed by Allan Quak on Mar 30, 2016

Pilate declares Jesus innocent so Jesus should be set free. But Pilate also needs to compromise so he makes a “non-decision”. Pilate’s decision seems better than the decisive decision of the chief priests to call Caesar their king however a non-decision about Jesus is still a decision against Him.

Message John 19:1-16a The Non-Decision. Have you ever been in one of those situations where you don’t really make a decision – but by not making a decision you actually make a decision? It might happen to a person who gets asked to join in on a Fun Run. You have to run 10km. You are not sure if ...read more

Scripture: John 19:1-16

Denomination: Baptist