Sermons on Smoking Ceremony:

"Woe To You": Avoiding The Pharisees’ Mistakes About Faith Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 4, 2025

Jesus' criticism of the religious leaders provides several insights into what genuine faith is supposed to look like.

WRONG WAY: Jesus rejected the Pharisees’ approach to faith. - Luke 11:37-38. - Jesus gets invited to dine with a Pharisee and He goes. That in itself is interesting: Jesus is engaging with those who are His most vociferous enemies. - Why did He do that? I think there are at least a couple ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:37-54

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Is The Jubilee

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Feb 9, 2005

Based on the passage in Lev 25:8, this sermon expores Jesus as the Jubilee from Isaiah 61 and Luke 4.

Jesus is the Jubilee Pastor Jeff Williams 7-04-04 In seminary, I had a friend named Mike who was working his way through school as a chimney sweep. He had been offered a job cleaning air conditioning ducts at a plant near our school. The only problem was he was too big (six feet ten inches tall) ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:16-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Broken And Blessed

Contributed by Mike Hays on Aug 29, 2003

The law is the hammer of God to break us so that we will be empty of our confidence in ourselves and declare our dependence upon His grace and glory.

“Broken and Blessed!” Galatians 3:15-22 Our experiences shape us. For most of us, “experiences” rather than “truth” carry more weight in defining our understanding of life than anything else. We arrive at the conclusion that what we experience, through our eyes, is truth. As a result of this way ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:15-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Let Go And Grow

Contributed by Mike Hays on Feb 13, 2001

God is calling us to let go of all that is familiar and comfortable so that we can grow and mature in our walk with the Lord.

"Let Go and Grow!" Hebrews 6:1-3 Simeon woke up early and while it was still dark. He made his way to his favorite place of prayer and knelt before the King of Glory to give thanks for a new day. Simeon prayed for the peace of YHWH to surround Jerusalem and for the LORD to send His Messiah to His ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:1-3

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When God Ran

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 20, 2002

Many Christians need to remember to keep their focus on Christ and not forget the day when God ran to us and embraced us.

"When God Ran" Have ushers pass out envelopes! Play song” When God Ran” during communion. Text: Luke 15:11-32 11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, `Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

But It's Not Fair: Unjust Suffering Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Aug 11, 2007

Believers strengthen their resolve in persecution when they are armed with an understanding of the 1) Attitude of Christ, 2) the Will of God, 3) the Transformation from the past, and 4) the Hope of eternal life.

When 53-year-old Danny Anderson was feeding his horses Monday night, a 5-foot rattler slithered onto his central Washington property. Anderson and his 27-year-old son, Benjamin, pinned the snake with an irrigation pipe and cut off its head with a shovel. A few more strikes to the head left it ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-6

Denomination: Other

Keep Your Eyes Open Series

Contributed by Stephen Colaw on Nov 2, 2008

A study through the book of Jude Part 2 of 4: We need to stay alert against our tendency to slip into “feel good sin.”

ME Open your bibles to the book of JUDE…if you don’t have a bible with you, the ushers will gladly hand you one. [Ushers hand out bibles to any who need them] We’re going to be looking at verses 5-11 today… Let me start by saying that I like things that feel good… • Roller coasters • Warm ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:5-11

Denomination: Wesleyan

"Ready Or Not, Here I Come!"

Contributed by Tony Searles on Nov 24, 2006

This message is about the return of Jesus Christ, and the rapture of the Church. Recent world events are all pointing towards Christ’s soon and certain return.

In light of recent world events, I have felt the need for us to hear from Matthew 24 this morning…to HEED the warnings in the Scripture that tell of Christ’s return… We have always believed that Jesus is coming back… BUT NOW, as we see things escalate in the Middle East (Israel attacks! Lebanon, ...read more

Denomination: Other

The One Thing You Need Series

Contributed by Ralph Juthman on Feb 11, 2012

This is the second sermon in a series on The Book of Joshua

COURAGEOUS LIVING P.2 Joshua 1:1-9 What You Need Most When Facing A Challenge Deut. 31:6- Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” INTRODUCTION The one thing you need when facing an ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9

Denomination: Pentecostal

Zechariah - In The First Person

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 12, 2016

An advent sermon about the life of John the Baptist and his parents as told from his Father Zechariah's perspective

Title: Zechariah - in the first person Text: Luke 1:5-25 and 3:1-20 Big idea: “May our prayers rise to heaven like incense.” It’s been 400 years since we have heard from a prophet. And as a result, things have been upside-down in our nation for far too long. We have long suffered under the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Challenge Of Change

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Nov 24, 2010

CHANGE is one of the hardest things a church or a person can do, BUTIt is something God wants from us. No Growth occurs without change.

CHALLENGE TO CHANGE All my sermons use illustrations found on www.sermoncentral.com and ALL scripture is NIV unless noted otherwise) I once heard that God loves us just the way we are, BUT He refuses to let us stay that way. That could almost be confusing, God LOVES us, in spite of the many flaws ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:16-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You Can’t Name It And Claim It Here Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Dec 1, 2017

A study of the book of Acts 19: 1 – 21

Acts 19: 1 – 21 You Can’t Name It and Claim It Here 19 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

When We Gather Together

Contributed by John White on May 3, 2017

The principle and practice of God's people gathering together in the presence of the Lord in a house dedicated to Him for the purpose of corporate praise and worship is clearly taught throughout the Bible by command, precept and example.

WHY WE GATHER TOGETHER Psalm 84:10 "For a day in thy courts [is] better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." Psalm 122:1 " I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD." Matt. 18:20 "Again I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 122:1

Denomination: Baptist

We Are Family Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Jan 24, 2018

There's something about families. Our families can be the source of the greatest joy and deepest heartaches. There's more emotion attached to our families than any other unit in society. And Jesus had some revolutionary things to say about family.

INTRODUCTION Over the years, it’s been my joy to officiate more than 500 weddings. Sometimes funny things happen at weddings. I’ve had a groom who passed out not once, but three times during the ceremony. I’ve had several groomsmen pass out—but never a bride or a bridesmaid. And they call females ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:20-21, Mark 3:31-35

Denomination: Baptist

The Promise Of Immanuel Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Nov 25, 2015

In a time for fear, trust in the Lord and hope in His promise.

A woman in Arkansas was sitting in her car in a parking several years ago when she heard a loud bang and then felt a sharp pain in the back of her head. She was holding her hands behind her head when someone walked by and asked, “Are you OK?” The woman answered, “I've been shot ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical Free