Sermons on You Follow Me:

The Withered Fig Tree.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 17, 2022

Today’s passage brings together two events which are not unrelated to each other: the cleansing of the Temple, and the withering of the fig tree. Both are figurative of the state and changing status of the old Jewish faith at the dawn of the gospel era.

THE WITHERED FIG TREE. Mark 11:12-33. I. The Barren Fig Tree. Mark 11:12-14; Mark 11:20-26. As we see Jesus approaching the fig tree (Mark 11:12-13), we need to recollect that Jesus is God. The fig tree is a well-known symbol of Israel: ‘every man under his vine and his fig tree’ (cf. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:12-33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lord Please Free Us From The Machine That Turns Itself Off Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 26, 2020

In ways we do not understand, Our Lord will help us and bring to naught the plans of the murder coalition.

Feast of the Holy Innocents 2020 I first saw one of these toys back in the late 1950s when my uncle brought it to Christmas dinner. It’s been re-invented in the last decade and it’s a robot parallel to modern Western society. In its present incarnation, it’s a black plastic box with a switch on ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:5-10, 1 John 2:1-2, Psalm 124:2-8, Matthew 2:13-18

Denomination: Catholic

Everyone Who Asks Receives? Really? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 2, 2021

“We should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.” That’s not a suggestion. That’s a demand .

Monday of Epiphany Week 2020 It’s a good idea to read St. John’s words in this first letter perhaps every week of our lives, because in it we find the key to happiness and fulfillment. John says “we receive from [God] whatever we ask.” Hmm, that’s interesting. And we recall that Jesus Himself said ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:12-25, 1 John 3:23-24, 1 John 4:1-6

Denomination: Catholic

The True Solution To Violence Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 7, 2021

These are times that try our souls. When the secular parts of our world collapse under the weight of theft, fraud, lying and disrespect, violence solves nothing, and brings only more violence.

Baptism of the Lord Jesus 2021 Reading St. Mark’s account of the baptism of Jesus, which is the shortest of the three Gospel accounts, I am struck by the language used just before the Father’s voice is heard from heaven. We heard that Jesus “saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:7-11, Genesis 8:11, 1 John 5:1-9, Isaiah 12:2-6, Isaiah 55:1-11, Acts 1:4-8, Isaiah 4:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

It’s About Heaven

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jun 19, 2018

The idea of Heaven works its way into every culture like the way that yeast works its way through the whole dough. Even in Communist China the Gospel of Jesus is being told and shared and people are coming to faith.

It’s About Heaven Matthew 13:31-32 Matthew 13:33 Luke 18:1-8 Back to the Parables of Jesus Today we will quickly look at 3 of them. Did you know that the parables are about the Kingdom of Heaven? Jesus mentions this phrase more than 30 times. It’s in every parable – why? Could it be that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Kingdom The Size Of A Tiny Dot? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 24, 2020

Jesus always used healings as an opportunity to teach about the kingdom of God, which begins within each Christian heart.

Tuesday of the 30th Week in Course 2020 In the last episode of our Gospel drama–yesterday–Jesus encountered two obstacles on a Sabbath day, right in the synagogue. He was teaching and a woman with what appears to be a deformed spine or chronic back muscle problem hobbled in. Now if you’ve ever ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:10-21, Ephesians 5:21-33

Denomination: Catholic

The Water And The Temple Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 21, 2020

Those are the healing waters that can always save those who are soaked with them, precisely because this sacrament is the visible sign of the power of Christ, who is the real minister of every baptism.

Tuesday of the 4th week of Lent 2020 Water I always recommend to those who can make pilgrimage that they take a week or more with a Christian guide in the Holy Land–Israel and Jordan–so that they can understand the people and places we read about in the Sacred Scriptures. The Christians living in ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-16, Ezekiel 47:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

When God Blows Your Mind

Contributed by Dr. Phillip Paschal on Oct 9, 2019

THE AMAZING THINGS GOD CAN DO

WHEN GOD BLOWS YOUR MIND EPH. 3:20 1. INTRODUCTION. THERE ARE SOME SIGHTS IN THIS WORLD, THAT IF YOU SAW THEM FACE TO FACE, THEY WOULD BLOW YOUR MIND. THE GREAT PYRAMID OF GIZA, WHICH STANDS 455 FEET IN HEIGHT, CONSISTING OF 2.3 MILLION BLOCKS, WITH A BASE LENGTH OF 756 FEET, WEIGHING ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20

Denomination: Baptist

A Solemn Feast Day

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 8, 2020

A summons to resounding praise.

A SOLEMN FEAST DAY. Psalm 81:1-7. This Psalm opens with a summons to resounding praise (Psalm 81:1-3), with reasons to do so attached (Psalm 81:4-7). It continues with an address by God, beginning with a commandment, with a promise attached (Psalm 81:8-10); and going on to upbraid the people ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 81:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Withering Religion

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 21, 2020

Judgment begins at the house of God.

A WITHERING RELIGION. Matthew 21:12-22. Today’s passage brings together two events which are not unrelated to each other: the cleansing of the Temple, and the withering of the fig tree. Both are figurative of the state and changing status of the old Jewish faith at the dawn of the gospel ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:12-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do Not Worry Series

Contributed by Sourav Dasgupta on Jan 3, 2022

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus rather than on chores of life to be full of Joy

. . *DO NOT WORRY.* (Matthew 6: 25-34) Many people in the world are going through unprecedental problems or sickness and are going through worries of different levels... Problems can come for everyone but how we face it or handle it differs from person to person and depends on who we are or ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Philip's Preaching Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Jan 21, 2022

May we like Philip be ready to go when and where the Spirit leads. May we be prepared to boldly speak the gospel of Jesus Christ for his glory.

Context of Philips preaching Acts 6-7 Acts 6 is where we first find out about Philip. He is one of the seven chosen to help smooth over the division in the church between the Hellenistic Jews and Hebraic Jews. Philip is a Greek name. As a result of the seven the disciples increased rapidly in ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Denomination: Baptist

Your New Life Part 2 Series

Contributed by Andy Payne on Dec 12, 2010

Paul outlines what he expects as evidenve of a regenerated life in Christ.

INTRO: Tonight we conclude our series on Romans 1. The mega-theme: Because of sin the whole human race (Jews and non-Jews) need to be put right with God—Through Jesus Christ 2. Everyone are sinners – believers and non-believer – no difference between them 3. God has made a way ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

God's Remedy For Sin

Contributed by James R. Rice on Feb 5, 2014

The only remedy for sin is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Lehman Strauss said, "There is a scarlet cord that moves throughout the Bible, that binds every page, every word, every line, every chapter and scarlet cord ends at Calvary."

GOD’S REMEDY FOR SIN 1 JOHN 1:7 A. At the world’s fair in Chicago there was a Congress on the World’s Religions. One by one each representative stood and expounded the virtues of their religion. Finally Joseph Cook, the representative of Christianity stood to speak and ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:7, 1 John 1:1

Denomination: Baptist

The Nitty-Gritty Of Personal Evangelization Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 20, 2015

Person to person evangelizing can take many forms, but it is the responsibility of all.

Thursday of 12th week in course 2015 Joy of the Gospel I have a motto in my lab. It’s a kind of universal directive that the students, I hope, learn by heart: Do what I say, and nobody gets hurt. If you have a good memory for movies, you’ll see that the motto is a loose paraphrase ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-29

Denomination: Catholic