Sermons on Ambition:

Getting Real With Your Friends Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 29, 2003

Jesus used the principle of understanding our weaknesses but trusting our possibilities in order to transform people-pleasers into persons of integrity, ambition into selfless commitment, and immaturity into responsibility.

History is full of stories of betrayal. Those who look like friends sometimes turn on you. Friendship means nothing to people who are bent on preserving privileges or feeding ambitions. Some of us have friends who would sell us for even less than Judas’ thirty pieces of silver if they ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:37-42

Denomination: Baptist

A Glorious Decline Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Oct 27, 2003

The nobility of John the Baptist submission to God’s plan for his life is contrasted with Lucifer’s ambitions for prominence. The value of a healthy appreciation for the sovereignty of God is considered.

A Glorious Decline Fortifying the Foundations # 8 John 3:22-36 Intro: When we say the word “down”, what kind of thoughts go through your mind?—down and out, down under, down hearted, a downer. By and large “down” is considered negative. In contrast, “up” sounds real good.—up and coming, upper ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 14:12-17, John 3:22-36

Denomination: Charismatic

It's About Time: Walk As Children Of The Light Series

Contributed by Allan Kircher on May 27, 2013

There is pressure within us as the flesh reaches out for the things that are now forbidden to it.

Pastor Allan Kircher Shell Point Baptist Church June 2nd 2013 Eph. 5:8-14 “It’s about time! WALK AS CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT” Intro: Eph. chap 5 is all about change. • Designed/teach us we are different/world around us. • Now that we are different/should live lives ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:8-14

Denomination: Baptist

Trivial Pursuit

Contributed by Jeremy Poling on Apr 4, 2011

We must be careful to not allow small things to affect us greatly.

1Sa 26:18 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand? 1Sa 26:19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 26:18-21

Denomination: Pentecostal

Who's Coming To Dinner?

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 22, 2013

A sermon on who to invite to dinner based on Luke 14:12-14 (really it covers Luke 14:1-24)

HoHum: Brad and Libby Birky opened a restaurant in Denver, Colorado. It is a 40 seat restaurant that has one thing conspicuously absent, a cash register. They serve healthy food to people in need. The Birky’s do not charge for their meals telling people “Pay whatever you can ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:12-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Renewed Vision

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on May 20, 2025

This New Year’s Eve sermon challenges believers to reflect on perseverance through hardship and to anchor their goals not just in ambition, but in the eternal path, presence, and pleasures found in Christ.

Not Giving Up As I was preparing for today, I just want to share with you where my heart was yesterday as I was preparing for this morning: we had a hundred opportunities this year to quit. We had a hundred opportunities to quit on Jesus. Maybe you were disappointed and you clung to him. Maybe you ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 16:1-11, Psalm 119:103-105, John 14:6, John 4:13-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fulfilling God's Purpose And Living A Life That Honors Him. Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on May 2, 2024

In a world that often encourages us to chase our own dreams and ambitions, it's easy to forget that God has a unique purpose for each of our lives.

But what does the Bible say about God’s purpose for us? And how can we discover and live out this purpose? Are you living a life that fulfils your own selfish desires, or are you seeking to fulfil God’s purpose for your life? As believers, we are called to surrender our own plans and ambitions to ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11, John 14:21, Proverbs 19:21, John 14:27

The Paradoxical Saying Of Jesus: To Be Great, Be The Least Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Jul 27, 2018

Jesus said many counter-intuitive, counter-cultural and against-common sense statements which emphasize the difference between worldly values and Kingdom priorities. This series examines how these very challenging statements applies to our lives

The Paradoxical Sayings of Jesus To Be Great, Be the Least Selected Passages To be truly great in life, seek to be the least! This has to be one of the most incredible, unbelievable, counter-intuitive, counter-cultural statements of all time. Essentially it is a statement that the way up in life ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-5, Luke 22:24-27, Mark 9:33-37, Luke 9:46-48

Denomination: Bible Church

A Transfer Of Power

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on May 12, 2001

What Elisha’s succession to Elijah’s office can tell us about the transfer of power: God’s use of imperfect people, the need for loyalty, ambition, and decisiveness.

A TRANSFER OF POWER How many of you came to our play? Do you remember when Steve came in at the beginning of the 2nd Act, dressed as Samson with hair almost down to his waist? Did you laugh? If you did, you better watch out for bears. That’s what happened to the boys of Bethel who made fun of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Lovest Thou Me? Do You Really Love Me?

Contributed by Victor Ramlall on Dec 30, 2013

When face to face with our life's ambition, dreams, pursuits and plans, a question that will always present itself for comparison is, "How much do I really love Jesus?"

There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that ...read more

Scripture: John 21:2

Denomination: Pentecostal

Serve God

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Mar 4, 2025

Serving God is not just a duty but a privilege. Many people serve different things in life—money, career, personal ambitions—but true fulfilment comes from serving the Lord.

SERVE GOD By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Joshua 24:15 "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:15, Exodus 23:25, Deuteronomy 10:12, 1 Samuel 12:24, Matthew 6:24, Romans 12:11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

God And Children

Contributed by William Mouser on Sep 24, 2006

In contrast to the ambition to acquire the applause and approval of men, Jesus turns his disciples toward the powerless -- toward children -- as exemplars of Himself, His Father, and the ones his disciples should seek to serve.

Psalm 54, Wisdom 1:16 - 2:22, James 3:16-4:6, Mark 9:30-37 Apostles, Christians, and Children Sometimes, the disciples of Jesus don’t come off very well in the gospels, and today’s Gospel lesson is one of those times. Jesus tells them again, as he is doing more and more often at this point in ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:30-37

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

How The Holy Spirit Protects Us From People Who Would Use The Scriptures For Their Selfish Ambitions

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

1. The Holy Spirit protects us from manipulators of the scripture by teaching us to be discerning of truth.

1. The Holy Spirit protects us from manipulators of the scripture by teaching us to be discerning of truth. Many Pharisaical leaders have learned how to use the scripture as a club to manipulate people for their own selfish gain. The Holy Spirit gives us a discerning mind to help us distinguish ...read more

Scripture: John 16:13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sown In Peace

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 4, 2005

Funeral message for Velton H. Edmonds, former chair of the church’s Music Committee. Gentleness and wisdom together, without an ounce of envy or ambition, yields a harvest for those who survive.

The poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson has the ancient Greek hero Ulysses say, “I am a part of all that I have met”. More completely, I am a part of all that I have met; Yet all experience is an arch wherethro’ Gleams that untravell’d world, whose margin fades For ever and for ever when I move. How dull ...read more

Scripture: James 3:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Cost Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Aug 13, 2020

When we follow Jesus, we are stepping into a new life that leaves an old life behind. It will cost us some of our worldly ambitions, but it will give us so much more.

Following Jesus: The Cost Luke 9:23 Introduction Following Jesus means we hear his invitation to come and see, listen to His teaching, act upon what we learn from Him. When we follow Jesus, we are stepping into a new life that leaves an old life behind. It will cost us some of our worldly ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23, Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ