Sermons on welcoming strangers:

Harlots And Kings

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Nov 8, 2009

Who is welcome in the church?

1Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you. 2Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3Now wash and anoint yourself, and ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

Hospitality 101 Series

Contributed by Thomas Black on Feb 2, 2005

Abraham’s encounter with three strangers can teach us much about hospitality as a church.

A mother invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to her six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?" "I wouldn’t know what to say," the girl replied. "Just say what you hear Mommy say," the mother answered. The little girl bowed her head and with sincerity ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Our Refugee God Series

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on Jan 12, 2010

Jesus was a refugee - we need to welcome the refugee

Advent/Christmas 2009 Epiphany Sunday, January 3, 2010 The Incarnation Our Refugee God - Matthew 2:13-18 Begin with Hushidah’s story and Maria’s. Hushidah Bagam is 20. For two years now, she has lived in a squalid bamboo and corrugated iron hut in a Bangladesh refugee camp. But ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-18

Denomination: *other

How To Be Holy In All My Conduct Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Aug 8, 2016

Being holy as God is holy means living as a stranger in a strange world

ENGAGE/TENSION A California driver’s license examiner told about a teenager who had just driven an almost perfect test. “He made his only mistake,” said the examiner, “when he stopped to let me out of the car. After breathing a sigh of relief, the boy exclaimed, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-25

Denomination: Baptist

God Wants A Church For Forgiven Sinners Who Get A Jesus Welcome

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Aug 22, 2007

Saul was formerly a ’Preacher of Hate’. He was once a Religious Terrorist! After his dramatic conversion Saul, like us, was a forgiven sinner. He received a Jesus welcome into the Church from Ananias and Barnabas. That’s the Church God wants!

He was once a religious fanatic and a religious terrorist at the same time. He was once a preacher of hate. There was a time when he was “breathing out murderous threats against followers of Jesus” (9:1). Saul! We heard last week that Saul’s conversion was as dramatic as the transformation which ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:19-31

Denomination: Anglican

Can You Take In Two Homeless People? Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Dec 18, 2015

A study of the book of Hebrews 13: 1 –25

Hebrews 13: 1 –25 Can You Take In Two Homeless People? 1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:1-25

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Let Us Rejoice

Contributed by Carl Benge on Sep 19, 2007

A sermon on welcoming back the sinner

The title of my sermon today is “Let us rejoice!” Even though it may be under somewhat different circumstances, rejoicing is a common theme throughout the 15th chapter of the Gospel according to Luke. In our gospel reading for today, we read of two different parables that Jesus is telling to the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:4-10

Denomination: Methodist

Acquire The Fire Series

Contributed by Paul Decker on May 25, 2008

Welcome the interruption of the Holy Spirit.

ACQUIRE THE FIRE Acts 2.1-4 S: Change C: Holy Spirit Th: Choose the Fire Pr: WELCOME THE INTERRUPTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Type: Narrative, Inductive I. PENTECOST (1) II. TOGETHER (1) III. SOUND AND FLAME (2-3) IV. FILLED (4) V. COMMUNICATION (4) PA: How is the change to be observed? • Welcome ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Heading Home From Jerusalem Series

Contributed by Roberta Karchner on Apr 19, 2024

The concept (Bright Sunday) is that Jesus was having fun showing up for the disciples, here as they headed home, he walked with them, and they recognized him in the breaking of the bread.

Today is Bright Sunday. Easter is a Holy Day, a day when everyone comes to church. Today is the day when the Christian believers come back to celebrate, because we are now in Easter Tide – the time between the Resurrection and when Jesus Ascended into heaven. After the Ascension, we have ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Come Home To Christmas

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Dec 1, 2004

Christmas is a sign of God’s welcome to all just as President Bush’s speech reminded Canadians regarding their welcome to Americans in their hour of need.

Dec. 1, 2004, U.S. President George W. Bush remembered what Canada means to Americans. In a speech he gave he thanked Atlantic Canadians for helping the US on Sept.11. 3 years ago thousands of US citizens were stranded here due to the terrorist attacks on his country. Pres. Bush said, “You opened ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:21-25

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Ichthys - The Symbol Of A Fish

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Aug 26, 2003

The symbol of a fish - <>< - was a code message to tell a stranger that the person who drew it was a Christian.

ICHTHYS - THE CHRISTIAN FISH SYMBOL I’ve got a picture here - <><. Do you know what it is? Yes, it’s a symbol of a fish. But it’s more than that, it’s a Christian symbol going back to the time of the first years of the Christian church. In the first century Christians were a persecuted ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

How To Give Thanks In Every Circumstance

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Sep 18, 2006

Have you ever noticed that people who habitually ungrateful are stranger to happiness?

How To Give Thanks in Every Circumstance 1 Thessalonians 5:16-5:18 (NIV, NIRV, TNIV, KJV) Have you ever noticed that people who habitually ungrateful are stranger to happiness? Illustration: One day a TV reporter asked a mason, "How do you like your job? I hate it, he said. Its this ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rules Of Engagement

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 29, 2012

The rules by which we are to conduct ourselves as strangers in this world are provided in the Word of God.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:6-11

Denomination: Baptist

A Big Crowd Meets A Great King Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Mar 26, 2018

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on His way to the cross, the throngs of people joyously welcomed Him! HOW they welcomed Him is how we should also welcome Jesus into our own hearts and lives.

A Big Crowd Meets A Great King Easter Series: On the Way to the Cross, #3 Chuck Sligh March 25, 2018 NOTE: A PowerPoint presentation is available for this sermon by request at chucksligh@hotmail.com. TEXT: Please turn in your Bibles to Luke 19 INTRODUCTION Today is Palm Sunday, the celebration ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-44

Denomination: Baptist

The King's Judgment: Embracing The Least Of These

Contributed by Ronald Moore on Nov 26, 2023

The powerful image of the King's final judgment, a scene that vividly portrays the destiny awaiting all humanity.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, our hearts are drawn to the profound and challenging words of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, verses 31-46. In these verses, we encounter the powerful image of the King's final judgment, a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Anglican