Sermons on Withered Arms:

Plastic Faith

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Sep 26, 2025

Artificial leaves look healthy but produce nothing. In Mark 11 Jesus exposes leaf-only religion: a fig tree with no fruit, a crowded temple with no prayer, faith without forgiveness, and leaders without surrender. He clears space for real life with God—fruit, prayer, forgiveness, and obedience.

An artificial plant looks impressive. But it produces nothing. You could easily buy one at a store with thought that it will "bring life to any room." And—sure—it brings the appearance of life. The leaves stay green. They never drop. It never needs water. In fact, if I tried to water it, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:12-33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bearing Fruit

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 8, 2002

What happens when Jesus inspects your life? He cursed the fig tree because it didn’t bear fruit - why? And how do we bear fruit for our Savior?

I have three fruit trees in my backyard. I would not call it an orchard – just three trees – a plum, a pear, and an apple. It’s not an orchard, nor am I an orchardist – or whatever you are when you have an orchard. I think my trees know it too – they get together every winter and say "how are we ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:18-46

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Rooting For Yourself Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jan 11, 2010

Every action we take has consequences for where we end up - so where we plant our lives is critical.

“Renewable Energy: Rooting for Yourself” Psalm 1 Barb and I have discovered that where we plant a tree in our yard makes all the difference in whether or not it grows into maturity and productivity. This is so because some of our yard is good soil and some of it is thick clay; good ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Are You Listening?

Contributed by Luther Sexton on Jun 1, 2021

The psalmist distinguishes between the life of the righteous compared to the ungodly.

Are You Listening? Psalm 1:1-6 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3And he shall be like a tree ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6

Denomination: Pentecostal

Ihop & The Case Of The Missing Figs - Mark 11:9-21 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Feb 9, 2024

Palm Sunday Message

Mark 11:1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:9-21

He Fixs My Soul

Contributed by Dennis Selfridge on Mar 7, 2009

The Good Shepherd helps our souls

John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, ’If I were any better, I would be twins!’ He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, John was there ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:3

Denomination: Wesleyan

Farmville - Life On The Farm Pt. 1 Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Feb 19, 2010

Farming is no game. Understanding life on the farm is necessary for survival. Learn the laws and learn the lessons in order to live successfully in Farmville.

Farmville Life on the Farm – Part 1 I. Introduction Unless you have spent some time on Facebook you are probably asking, “What is Farmville?” I am glad you asked! Farmville is a real-time farm simulation game. The game allows members of Facebook to manage a virtual farm by ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Complete Hunger

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 11, 2009

It’s healthy to feel hunger and thirst, and if these are never satisfied, health will deteriorate. To satisfy spiritual hunger, do something for the Kingdom and for others, and you will feel fulfilled.

Hunger is something we feel at every stage of life and every day of our lives. In fact, when you are no longer able to get hungry, you know you are very sick. Being hungry is a sign of health. Hunger is something felt by the youngest infant, from the very beginning. I had the rare chance this ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Denomination: Baptist

Satan's Rummage Sale

Contributed by Dennis King on Jun 9, 2016

Modern day fable of Satan's entrapment's. This is also available on amazon with a few color illustrations.

Satan's Rummage Sale Once upon a time, in the nearby land of temptation, Satan was having a rummage sale. Even before leaving home, my mom had warned me by saying, “Don't be mess in' with the Devil stuff. The Devil's ways lead to no good.” Well, you know me, I went looking anyway. ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 6:16-19

Denomination: Baptist

The Measure Of A Man

Contributed by Stephen E. Trail on Jun 14, 2014

Father's Day sermon.

"The Measure of a Man" Psalms 128:1-6 Psalms 128:1 A Song of degrees. Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. 2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 128:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Different (Leviticus)

Contributed by Scott Jensen on Aug 12, 2019

God did not want Israel to live or look like all the other nations around her. How should we look different from the culture around us?  

“Different” (Leviticus) Leviticus 18:1-5 Opening and Introduction For the past few weeks we’ve been looking at Israel and how God worked to bless them. We’ve looked at priests and sacrifices, the tabernacle and how it became the center of society. As we’ve gone through this journey, ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 18:1-5, Leviticus 20:2

Denomination: Lutheran

Peace Work Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 24, 2022

God’s peace is not the same as the world’s peace - even though people filled with God’s peace DO bring peace to the world.

We human beings are not naturally peacemakers. On the contrary: we’re naturally trouble-makers. A few years ago a group of people tried walking across America on a mission of peace. They couldn't get along and divided into two groups by the time they were half way across. According to the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Dried Out But Not Dried Up

Contributed by Jeremy Lile on Jan 6, 2006

A sermon that stresses the importance of staying in the word and remaining prayerful. Otherwise, we are weak and then the enemy will try and tear us down and strip us of all our joy.

Text: Ezekiel 37:1-3,7-10 (NIV) 1 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry 3 He ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-10

Denomination: Church Of God

Empty Vessels

Contributed by Samuel Fulkerson on Aug 23, 2012

Jesus came to heal the broken hearted, sin-sick and emotionally lame.

Luke 19:9-10: “And Jesus said unto him (Zacchaeus), This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10- For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Matthew 9:10-12 “And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:9-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

Fall Of The Rich

Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Dec 7, 2011

I. EXORDIUM: Anyone rich here? Pls raise your hands. Have you seen a rich person? II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: Sitio Visaya/Villa Luisa/Waltermart III. OBJECTIVES: To show that being rich in this world is not the answer. IV. TEXT: James 1:11 For

I. EXORDIUM: Anyone rich here? Pls raise your hands. Have you seen a rich person? II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: Sitio Visaya/Villa Luisa/Waltermart III. OBJECTIVES: To show that being rich in this world is not the answer. IV. TEXT: James 1:11 For the sun rose with the hot wind and dried up the grass, ...read more

Scripture: James 1:11

Denomination: Pentecostal