Sermons on tragic loss:

John The Baptizer's Death Series

Contributed by Garth Wehrfritz- Hanson on Jul 6, 2003

A sermon on the tragic beheading of John the baptizer.

Sermon for 5 Pent Yr B, 13/07/2003 Based on Mk 6:14-29 Grace Lutheran Church, Medicine Hat, Alberta By Pastor Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson Ever since the beginning, prophets have, more often than not, lived on a collision course with “the powers that be.” Indeed, the prophetic word, often embodied ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:14-29

Denomination: Lutheran

The Danger Of Neglect

Contributed by Lowell Williams on Jul 16, 2009

Neglect in any area of life is tragic, but in the spiritual realm, hearing the Gospel message and doing nothing about it is infinitely more tragic.

THE DANGER OF NEGLECT. (Hebrews 2:1-4) What if... What if God failed to take the time to bless us today because we neglected to take the time to thank Him yesterday? What if God decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we neglected to follow Him ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

How To Get Your Stuff Back

Contributed by Jason Murphy on Oct 27, 2001

Overcoming Loss

How to get your stuff back 6/24/01 scog I Samuel 30:1-8 Intro Webster defines the word stuff simply as material. Some folks have lost their material. They have lost what they are made of. Material is what makes up an object. If you have lost what you are made of then this message is for you. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:1-8

Funeral For A Baby

Contributed by Shane Brooks on Feb 23, 2005

This is a light and comforting message for an extremely touchy and painful situation. Wouldn’t it be great if no pastor ever needed this message.

There’s a song by the Los Lonely Boys that asks a question. HOW FAR IS HEAVEN? To us who drive in our cars, and go to our jobs- it seems really far away _______ learned Friday, that it’s not really as far as we think. _________ was a beautiful baby. Who squealed instead of talked Friday she ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Breaking Bad: Decisions

Contributed by Lynn Malone on Aug 25, 2015

Samson's is a tragic story of bad decisions and their consequences.

Walter White is the main character in the AMC series Breaking Bad. High school chemistry teacher turned drug king-pin of New Mexico. As the 5-season series begins, we learn that Walter has cancer, no money, not long to live and a pregnant wife. It’s easy to become sympathetic to ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:23-31

Denomination: Methodist

Knowing Christ Is Our Greatest Gain

Contributed by Timm Meyer on Apr 17, 2009

Lent 5(C) - Knowing Christ is our greatest gain. It means we leave behind sinful pasts and we press on toward God’s goal.

KNOWING CHRIST IS OUR GREATEST GAIN (Outline) March 29, 2009 -- LENT 5 -- Philippians 3:7-14 INTRO: Our world makes many promises of “great gain”. Recently those grand promises of great gain have become great losses. Such are the empty promises of a sinful world. Not so with the God’s ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-14

Denomination: Lutheran

Sandy And Job And Jesus

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Nov 3, 2012

Yes - New York City is a place full of sin and rebellion against God but God did not single out New York because of its sin. This hurricane Sandy struck the good and the bad those who love God and those who loath God.

Sandy and Job and Jesus after the storm Job 40:1-14 and Job 42:1-6 Hurricane Sandy struck this week and took more than 170 lives after touching eight countries that included Bermuda, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Cuba, Haiti, the United States and Canada. Sandy became the largest ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Losing A Lifelong Mate

Contributed by Greg Nance on Jan 12, 2014

When Sarah, Abraham's sister of 127 years and wife of who knows how long, dies, he loses a soul mate. Genesis 23 tells how he established a family burial plot and began to move on after this loss.

Can you believe it? Here we are making history at the Signal Mountain Church of Christ! This is the first day for two Sunday morning Worship services in our history. May the Lord give us all courage and commitment to go out and bring others in so that the house may be filled… twice! For ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 23:1-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Am Undone Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jul 9, 2020

When we are wrecked because of our sinfulness, He gives us more grace and the blood of Jesus Christ to comfort us. When we are lost because someone nearest and dearest to us has died, He gives us the assurance of Heaven for the believer and His peaceful presence for us.

BEATITUDES SERIES: I AM UNDONE MATTHEW 5:4 #Beatitudes INTRODUCTION… Crowder Lyrics (Come As You Are) Come out of sadness; From wherever you've been; Come broken hearted; Let rescue begin Come find your mercy; Oh sinner come kneel; Earth has no sorrow That heaven can't heal Earth has no ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Church Of Ephesus Series

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on May 8, 2020

Work for the Church does not please Jesus unless we maintain our original motivation

Letter to the Church in Ephesus Introduction: I rarely dip into the Book of Revelation to preach because it is so difficult to understand and needs a lot of background to get a full picture of what John is saying. But today I sensed the Lord telling me that I should change my strategy and take ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7, John 14:15-21

Denomination: Anglican

Good Grief: Expressing Grief, Finding Grace Series

Contributed by David Owens on Aug 10, 2020

Grief, suffering and loss are a part of the human experience. Although we don't grieve like those who have no hope, we do grieve. God gives us the biblical song of lament to help us express ourselves to God and receive His help.

A. One day a homeowner cut down a large shade tree in their own yard, but the tree was so big it also provided a lot of shade in a neighboring yard owned by Joe and Marylou. 1. Joe’s wife, Marylou, was lamenting that the landscaping they had put in that area of their yard was designed for shade and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 13:1-6, Lamentations 3:1-3, Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Funeral (Celebration) For A Long-Time Member

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Jan 30, 2023

This is a funeral for a woman who was a good and long-time member of our church who died rather suddenly.

One of the ways in which the Apostle Paul supported his ministry was through donations from the various churches, but his main income came from the work of his own two hands. Paul made and mended tents. It required a lot of time and patience, so Paul had a lot of time to think about things … ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 84:1-12, Matthew 6:19-21, Philippians 2:5-8, 2 Corinthians 5:1-7

Denomination: United Methodist

Defined By Your Job?

Contributed by Boomer Phillips on Feb 17, 2022

Making work our priority can become a problem in our relationship with God and with our family. It can also develop into an issue with our self-worth should we ever experience problems in the workplace or the loss of a job.

Today’s sermon is for the men of our congregation; being that we had a Men’s Breakfast this morning. I would like to begin our message with a short sermon illustration. Author John Trent, in an article entitled “A Father’s Heart,” states, “Not long ago, my family and I had the privilege of going ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 47:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

A Blue Christmas

Contributed by Davon Huss on Dec 7, 2022

Our comfort from God is based on... (Material adapted from Brandon Web at: http://www.brandonweb.com/sermons/sermonpages/isaiah11.htm)

HoHum: “Blue Christmas” is one of the all time holiday classics each year during Christmas time. The heartbreaking song captures how lonely the season can be without the one we love, which is probably why it’s been a staple for over 70 years. The song was written in 1948. The most famous version ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-2, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Peril Of Having Too Much Series

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Apr 28, 2021

The rich young ruler and his decision to walk away from the call of Jesus shattered the disciple's beliefs about riches being an exclusive sign of favor with God. Money and possessions tend to be a hindrance to faith in Him instead.

A young man whom the Scriptures refer to as a "rich young ruler" came before Jesus with a question on how to obtain eternal life. After using the Law as a means of examining his motives, Jesus instructed him to go and sell all his possessions in order to receive spiritual treasure and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:23, Mark 4:19, Mark 10:17-22, 1 Timothy 6:9-10

Denomination: Baptist