Sermons on approve:

Motivation: It's The Bottom Line! Series

Contributed by Johann Neethling on Oct 14, 2006

Christian disciples seek to live their lives for an audience of ONE. God’s opinion, God’s approval or disapproval is ultimately all that matters. The applause of heaven is the deciding factor in their life.

MOTIVATION: IT’S THE BOTTOM LINE! Matthew 6:1-18 1. A father wrote a letter to apologize to a certain young man for not allowing him to marry his daughter. The letter went as follows: Dear Marty, I have been unable to sleep since I broke off your engagement to my daughter. Will you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-18

Denomination: United Methodist

You Will Never Fall

Contributed by Rev. Mario Gonzalez on Oct 25, 2010

God often mercifully uses us, and then we somehow feel that it is some sort of blanket approval of all the foolishness we observe in ourselves alongside the supposed “anointing.”

You Will Never Fall By Rev. Mario Gonzalez I. Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 1:3-4, 10 “3. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness (KJV: virtue (arête; are-tay) meaning: power or excellence). ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3-10

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Triumphal Entry Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Mar 19, 2016

1) The Faithful Arrival (Mark 11: 1– 7), 2) The Faithless Approval (Mark 11: 8– 10), 3) The Faithful Appraisal (Mark 11:11)

Carved into a towering cliff in central Afghanistan stood two gigantic statues. Hewn out of the living sandstone rock, they were figures of the Buddha, dominating the Bamiyan Valley which they overlook. The statues stood on the ancient Silk Road, the old trade route which stretched through ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11

Denomination: Other

Saved From Shallow Religion Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 5, 2023

Jesus saves us from sin and shallow religion. He teaches us to practice our faith in private, not for public approval, but to build a solid core of self-giving love.

Today we're going to talk about how Jesus saves us from sin and shallow religion. You know, the kind of religion that's all about showing off and not about what's really going on inside of us. Let's start with a little object lesson. I want you all to imagine a cup. Now, this cup looks super shiny ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6, Matthew 6:16-21

Topics: Spiritual Growth, Faith Journey, Religious Depth, Beyond Superficiality

Go Tell It On Mt. Carmel Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 20, 2003

We turn our successes into failures because we see only the negatives, and we need approval. But in the Incarnation God accepts our incompleteness and offers us His unconditional love.

All of us want success. All of us need success. If you don’t care about doing something well, you are in sad shape. You are in trouble if you don’t want to succeed at something. And yet the problem is that we are our own worst enemies. We defeat ourselves time and time again. We take ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Crown Of Creation

Contributed by Curtis Kittrell on Apr 12, 2002

Each day’s work of Creation closes with the divine evaluation, “it was good.” Only the work of the sixth day, on which the Lord created humanity, earned ultimate approval—“very good.”

THE CROWN OF CREATION Genesis 1–2 “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good” (Gen. 1:31). Each day’s work of Creation closes with the divine evaluation, “it was good.” Only the work of the sixth day, on which the Lord created humanity, earned ultimate approval—“very good.” Overview God ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-31, Genesis 2:1-25

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Sanctity Of Life

Contributed by Jim Mccutchen on May 8, 2010

The penalty for killing an unborn eagle in this country is a fine of up to $5000 and up to five years in prison But,the killing of an unborn baby is not considered a crime at all, as long as the mother approves.

THE SANCTITY OF LIFE INTRO: A.Vince Lombardi was one of the most outstanding coaches of the Green bay Packers. Due to his success each year the winner of the Super Bowl receives a trophy called the Lombardi Trophy. Each year Vince would start each summer camp the same way. He would get h is ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:5

Denomination: Christian Church

Cain & Abel Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Feb 18, 2012

Genesis 4:1-16 gives a picture of faith and how it is only by genuine faith through an approved sacrifice, that we can approach God. The rejection of this means rejection by God Himself.

Canada made international news recently for the Shafia murder trial. What should have been a refuge for the healthy development of family, became an environment for intimidation that eventually lead to murder. A misplaced understanding of honor, resulted in the murder of siblings. Tooba Mohammad ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-16, Genesis 4:3-8

Denomination: Other

Take Heed Unto Yourself And Unto The Doctrine

Contributed by Bishop Prof. Julius Soyinka on Mar 5, 2013

Every one called to minister the word of God must first of all take heed unto himself. It is when your life is according to the will of God that your ministry can be approved of God.

TAKE HEED UNTO THYSELF AND UNTO THE DOCTRINE 'Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.' 1 Tim. 4:16. In remarking upon these words We shall consider four things: I. THE RESPECTS IN WHICH A ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:16

Denomination: Pentecostal

Attributes Of True Love

Contributed by James Dina on Oct 14, 2020

Anyone who intends to make heaven on the last day must demonstrate God’s unconditional love to others. The person must not mistreat others but demonstrate the agape love that God approves.

ATTRIBUTES OF TRUE LOVE "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:17, John 3:16

Denomination: Pentecostal

Private Relations Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 24, 2022

God gives us what we value most. If it’s public recognition, we get it. We get God’s approval only if that is what we value.

Our culture admires publicity. People are famous just for being famous. We grow up watching people who command the public eye; we call them stars. They are the people with money, fame, position, power and recognition. They are held up by the media as larger than life, people to be envied. We ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-8, Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Do You Get For Following Jesus? - Mark 6:14-30 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Oct 19, 2023

Herod liked to listen to John but remained perplexed instead of repenting. The great “king” became powerless before a little girl because of his bondage to lust, pride, and the idol of human approval.

Mark 6:14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:14-30, Matthew 14:1-12, Luke 9:7

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

God's Masterpiece

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 7, 2009

You are God’s Masterpiece in Christ Jesus. This message is especially for any Christian trying to measure up and gain God’s favor rather than living in the approval that is his already in Christ.

God’s Masterpiece Eph. 2:1-10 5-24-09 Intro This morning I want to speak with you about God’s Masterpiece. You may be surprise what it is. We take our text from Ephesians 2:1-10. I am reading from the N.L. Translation. Look at the amazing statement about you in verse 10, “...we are God’s ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Charismatic

Confessions Of A Misguided Innovator

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Nov 17, 2008

A tendency to rebel against authority, an exaggerated desire to win the approval of others, and a skewed definition of what it means to be successful; these deadly ingredients combined to create the misadventures of my life and ministry so far.

Dakota Community Church November 16, 2008 (pm) Confessions of a Misguided Innovator Begin by reading Ephesians 4:1-16 Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

Denomination: Mennonite