Sermons on The Weeping Widow:

Hidden, Hurting, Healed, Part 2

Contributed by Maurice Mccarthy on Jan 18, 2011

The widow of Zarapheth, like many Christians, did not realize her importance to God, her usefulness to the kingdom, nor her right standing before God. A message to encourage those whose value is hidden to themselves and others.

Hidden Hurting Healed 2 (Note to pastors, powerpoints slides are embedded in the sermon notes I post on church website. Plymouthcf.org) Show Video Talk about leverage. PPT 1 the mechanical advantage gained by the use of a lever mechanical advantage (MA) is the factor by which a mechanism ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:7-24

Denomination: Pentecostal

What Do We Do When Tragedy Strikes?”

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Aug 2, 2017

This section of God's Word shows us how two people responded to a tragedy. One example comes from a widow whose son died. The other comes from one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament, Elijah.

At some point it will likely happen to most of us. For each of us it will be different and yet the same. It will leave us with tears in our eyes and pain in our hearts. We call them tragedies—something that seems to turn our lives upside down. Because we live in a world stained by sin these ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:17-24

Denomination: Lutheran

Extravagant Generosity

Contributed by Rolando, Jr Pama on Mar 11, 2023

 The poor widow, would have had no source of income after her husband's death.  Therefore the two small copper coins were all she had - and yet she offered them to God.

1. GOD SEES HOW WE GIVE. Mark 12:41a Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Hebrews 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-44

Humor In Heaven Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 9, 2021

Laughter must be a part of heaven, just as weeping will be a part of hell. They are opposites, and what is absent from one is present in the other. Rob heaven of laughter, and you drag it nearer the abode of the lost. If God laughs, why should His children be deprived of laughter in His presence.

W. Douglas Roe pastored a large Baptist church in Philadelphia, where he had a weekly radio broadcast. He was also going to seminary, and the load became to heavy, and he had a breakdown. He was out of the pulpit for many months. He had to learn to relax, and so he became a sort of comedian. He ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:4

The Scroll

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Feb 13, 2006

John weeps in heaven as no one is found who can take control of planet earth\’s destiny - until a slain Lamb who is standing comes to claim ownership. We also learn about what happens to our prayers when they don\’t seem to be answered.

I remember one Christmas when one of my presents was a small box, tied with a bow. I opened it up and inside was just a little piece of metal. Not very cool you say. Well, for a 16 year old it meant a great deal. That little piece of metal was in the shape of a car key. No, my parents hadn’t given ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:1-14

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

A Pattern For Giving

Contributed by Joel Santos on Jun 21, 2006

Does your giving really cost you? How much is left behind? Are you giving out from the heart? Are you demonstrating a trust in God? Are you giving generously as the widow who gave just two lepta?

A Pattern For Giving Mark 12:41-44 The roof of the church hall of a little Swiss church, at the turn of the 20th century, was falling down. So the members of the church held regular prayer meetings in the hall after the service to pray for funds to repair the roof. There was an old man, known to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-44

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don’t Miss Christmas Series

Contributed by James Crain on Dec 14, 2007

This message describes those prepared for Christ’s coming and those who were not. The religious crowd is indifferent. The leaders are worried. A widow is watching and an old man is waiting. Magi are wandering and worshipping. Which one describes you?

Don’t miss Christmas (portions of this sermon are borrowed from illustrations and sermons on Sermon Central) Christmas time is a time filled with traditions. There is the time to get a Christmas tree and put it up along with the decorations. There are presents to buy, so there is shopping to do ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25-51

Denomination: Baptist

Slaves In Egypt Series

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Aug 16, 2013

Well whose to judge, to slander those lost in sin, those who don't know the Father. How do we treat the alien and the widow? Slapping them up the side of the head will not win souls for the kingdom of God.

The paradox that we are looking at this week of our OWSOMS Self Denial appeal that we are looking at is this ‘The Paradox of Belonging’. In the passage from Deuteronomy 24:17 through to verse 22 we get this command “Do not deprive the alien or the Fatherless of justice, or take ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 24:17-22

Denomination: Salvation Army

When God Turns On The Light

Contributed by Michael Blitz on Oct 14, 2025

Elijah’s encounter with the widow of Zarephath shows how God uses seasons of loss and exposure to bring healing and faith. When God turns on the light, it isn’t to shame us, but to lead us to confession, forgiveness, and life.

When God Turns on the Light GM. Elijah may almost seem like a superhero when you read through some of the events in his life: He’s the prophet who calls down fire from heaven a number of times, most famously in the Battle on Mt Carmel with the Prophets of Baal. At the end of his life, he ascends ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:8-24

Denomination: Anglican

A Time To Mourn, A Time To Hope (Funeral Sermon) Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Apr 6, 2025

Though we mourn the loss of a loved one, we do so with the promise of hope in our hearts. God has already made a way for us to overcome the sting of death through the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.

A TIME TO MOURN, A TIME TO HOPE (Funeral Sermon) By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 (KJV) To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Promise Of Hope For The Future

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Dec 12, 2023

Lamentation does more than ask the question, how? Lamentations gives of the profound answer.

I hope that you had a good year. We can say that not everyone had a good year. Some lost a loved one. Others were touched by the tragic consequences of war. Many lost jobs and went into financial ruin. Many have come through this last year asking, what hope is there for me? If that is your ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:21-26

Denomination: Baptist

What Motivates You?

Contributed by Dana Visneskie on Jun 14, 2004

I ask the question, what motivates you as a Christian? What makes you do the things you do? I then make a contrast between David and Saul and ask, what motivated David to weep for a man who wanted to kill him, and what motivated Saul to pursue David.

Title: What Motivates You? Text: I Sam 18:1-12; 19:9-11; 24:1-7; 26:5-12; 31:6; II Sam 1:11-12 Pray!!! Read Text - (II Sam 1:11-12) Introduction: - A question that has been frequently asked by Christians is “If you knew the Lord was coming in 2 weeks what would you do?” - Many have said, I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Check Your Motive

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Nov 11, 2018

Jesus contrasts the Teachers of the Law with the poor widow. In the former, we see people more interested in themselves than in God; hypocrites, pretending to be something they were not. In the latter, we see a lady who loved God authentically and completely.

Check Your Motive Mark 12:38-44 In March 2009 Bernie Madoff pled guilty to running the largest Ponzi scheme in history. Bernie’s last name is appropriate, because he literally “made off” with billions of dollars belonging to his investors. A Ponzi scheme is pretty simple in concept: you convince ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:38-44

Denomination: Baptist

Empty Vessels

Contributed by James May on Oct 30, 2022

The story of Elisha and the widow with the pot of oil teaches us a lot about what Jesus did for us and what we are now called upon to do for the Kingdom of God. God wants to fill as many empty vessels as will come to him.

Empty Vessels Sunday, October 30, 2022 – 10 am In the prophetic times which we live we see so much of the fulfillment of God’s Word all around us. The Spirit of God is moving in the earth to find as many empty vessels as He can that will be willing to be filled with the Oil of Gladness and will ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-6, Luke 10:34

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Four Life Changing Words Series

Contributed by Tim Diack on Aug 22, 2012

Sin is easy to see in someone else's life but it's often hard to see it in our own. Simon the Pharisee thinks he's righteous in God's eyes when what he really needs to see is the reality of his own sin that he might discover what the woman weeping at Jes

Four Life Changing Words - Luke 7:36-50 - July 15, 2012 Series: Forgiven For Forever - #1 (Baptism Service) I very much appreciate that passage we just heard from the book of 2 Chronicles. Those words are a call to humbleness and holiness, to righteousness and revival. The occasion was the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: *other