Sermons on The Importunate Widow:

Doers, Not Hearers Only.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 3, 2024

Practical implications of our new birth.

DOERS, NOT HEARERS ONLY. James 1:22-27. We must be careful that we are “doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving our own selves” (James 1:22). Having heard and received, we must then put the word into action in our lives. Good works do not make us Christians, but Christians will do good ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

7 Woes On Religious Leaders (Matthew 23)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 17, 2024

Why are we afraid to preach Matthew 23? Why does the Revised Common Lectionary leave it completely out? Are we afraid to let our churches know that we church leaders are weak, and fail, and also need to repent? Let's find out in Matthew 23.

Jesus warned about hypocrisy among religious leaders and accompanying woes. Have we ever heard this taught? Is it just too painful to admit that we church leaders can sometimes be just like the Pharisees? Let’s learn some hard lessons from Jesus in Matthew 23. Hypocrisy Do we practice what we ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Breaking Out Of Debtor's Prison

Contributed by Chris Talton on Jan 15, 2002

A biblical widow listened to the advice of Elisha to get out of debt. The techniques that she used can get us out of debt too.

March 18, 2001 2 Kings 4:1-7 “Breaking out of debtor’s prison” INTRODUCTION In the American religion of materialism, there are two words more sacred than any other: "Charge it!" Yet, consider the following two scenarios in evaluating the intelligence of using plastic: 1. Ellin is 30 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

What Did Jesus Do About Money? Series

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Feb 21, 2009

Jesus drew attention to the faith, trust and sacrificial giving of a poor widow who gave all she had to support the temple ministry.

I stand before you as a former Bank Manager, well aware that some types of ‘Banker’ are not especially popular at the moment; but I think it is the banker in me calculating that in the last 7 years I have probably preached less than 1% of my sermons on the subject of money. A very poor return - ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-44

Denomination: Anglican

A Dead End Short Cut Series

Contributed by Allan Quak on Mar 20, 2018

Elimelech takes a spiritual short-cut that ultimately leads to Naomi becoming a widow in a foreign land. Short cuts never work out.

Message Ruth 1:1-5 “A Dead-End Short Cut”. We have all done it haven’t we. You’re driving to a specific destination and someone says, “I know a shortcut!” Do you really? Often your first instinct is to stick with what you know, stay on the regular path. But sometimes you think, “Why not?” Why ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Increase In My Hands

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on May 2, 2025

Just as the widow of Zarephath experienced divine provision in the midst of famine, God is able to cause increase to flow into your hands, no matter the circumstances.

INCREASE IN MY HANDS By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 1 Kings 17:12-16 "And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:12-16

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Don't Eat Your Seed

Contributed by James May on Mar 31, 2004

The little cake that the widow of Zarephath gave to Elijah was the first fruits of her labor and the seed from which every blessing came into her life.

DON’T EAT YOUR SEED by Pastor James May 1 Kings 17:8-24 1 Kings 17:8-9, "And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee." Zarephath means smelting-shop, "a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:8-24

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Mothers Day: Faith: Mother's Day Flour

Contributed by Peter Loughman on May 11, 2007

This widow starts off with a tiny sparkle of faith and instead of holding on to what little she has - she let’s go, and the rest is history.

Today on Mother’s Day, we are going to look at a woman of faith. This woman in our Scripture doesn’t start out as a woman of faith, but she sure ends up a woman of faith….and that is what we need to start with this morning: Whoever you are, and whatever your faith is like – to end up as a person of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:8-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You Prepared To Go?

Contributed by Ron Whyte on Feb 10, 2006

Evangelistic funeral message requested by the widow of a lovely Christian man to reach out to unsaved members of the family. Based on John 11:25-26

Rev. Ron C. Whyte Rothiemurchus and Aviemore Church of Scotland Aviemore Funeral message 3.02.06 Reading :- John 11:17-44 Patty (my wife) and I hope to go to Turkey this year, but the things is our going and getting there isn’t based on hope alone, there is a certain amount of preparation ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25-26

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Rut, Rot, Or Revival

Contributed by Bishop William Bryant Wilmore, Jr. on Jul 7, 2003

Like the widow woman 2kgs 4, many people find themselves in a rut, which can lead to rot, unless they undergo a revival.

Text: 2 Kings 4: 1-7 1A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.” 2So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Beware Of The Scribes Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Jan 30, 2016

Jesus' disapproval of the scribes and approval of the poor widow in Luke 20:45-21:4 warns us about the despotic authority of religious leadership.

Scripture Jesus was in the final week of his life. After his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus returned to the temple on Monday and drove out the merchants who were selling their wares and obscuring the people’s access to God. This enraged the religious rulers, who then ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Lessons At Zarephath Series

Contributed by David Welch on May 21, 2018

Message 3 in our study of the life and ministry of Elijah. This message explores the lessons learned during his ministry to the widow and her son at Zarepath.

Chico Alliance Church Elijah Series #3 “Lessons at Zarephath” Introduction Observing God’s interaction with Elijah and Elijah’s spiritual journey in his day provides insight and principles for us in our day which is not unlike what Elijah faced. The periods in Elijah’s life follow a definite ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:25-26

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Judith Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Apr 28, 2022

The story revolves around Judith; a daring and beautiful widow upset with her Jewish compatriots for not trusting God to deliver them from their Seleucid monarchs.

The Book of Judith is a deuterocanonical[a] book, included in the Septuagint and the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christian Old Testament of the Bible but excluded from the Hebrew canon and assigned by Protestants to the Apocrypha. It tells of a Jewish widow, Judith, who uses her beauty and ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 21:14

Denomination: Baptist

Naomi The Reformer Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Feb 25, 2024

Naomi a poor widow in a foreign land, bounces back with new life through strong determination and courage. She became a wise and righteous woman.

Theme: Naomi – Reformer Text: Ruth 1:16-23   Greetings: The Lord is good and his love endures forever.   Introduction: The book of Ruth revolves around three personalities namely, Naomi, Ruth and Boaz. The aim of this book is to connect the birth messiah back to David and further back to ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:16-20

Denomination: Methodist

Persistent Prayer Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 5, 2023

Prayer is an important part of our faith, and Jesus encourages us to pray more like the widow in Luke 18 who was patient, precise, and persistent.

Today, we're gonna talk about something important in our lives as Christians - prayer. You know, that thing we do when we talk to God. Sometimes, we might feel like our prayers aren't being answered, or we just forget to pray altogether. So, let's dive into a story Jesus told about a persistent ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Topics: Faith, Spiritual Discipline, Divine Communication, Prayer Life