Sermons on Avoiding Worldly Pursuits:

Jesus Joy Series

Contributed by Larry Turner on May 11, 2014

Jesus did not pray for us to have worldly joy but rather to have his joy. What does his joy look like and what can destroy it?

We are now four weeks past Palm Sunday and three weeks past Easter. However, today I want us to go back to the last night Jesus had with the disciples. He washes their feet to teach them humility and servant hood. He begins to reveal to them the fact that He must die. He gives them the promise of ...read more

Scripture: John 17:13

Denomination: Foursquare

Hold Fast!

Contributed by Bala Samson on Apr 13, 2015

The more we hold fast to our job, spouse, kids, worldly passions, dreams and whatever you may be passionately attached to; it might slip away! Caution!

Hold fast! Philippians 2:16”holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.” Listen! The more we hold fast to our job, spouse, kids, worldly passions, dreams and whatever you may be passionately attached to; it ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:16

Denomination: Pentecostal

Man’s Way Or God’s Way

Contributed by Chris Beam on Apr 26, 2015

Jesus challenges his disciples, the crowd and us to surrender ourselves to what God has planned for us, rather than holding on to worldly things for our own comfort.

Series: The Book of Mark Man’s Way or God’s Way Text: Mark 8:31-9:1 What does it mean to be a Christian? Some people think that just because members of their family are Christians, then that automatically makes them Christians. Others think that just because they were baptized then ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Revival In Politics, Church And Marriage Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 8, 2021

Can revivals reach worldly politics as well as righteous people? How do lovers picture a revival? Let's look at Esther, Job and the Song of Songs.

Can revivals reach worldly politics as well as righteous people? How do lovers picture a revival? Let's look at Esther, Job and the Song of Songs. 1) Esther’s Revival Can God provide revival even through normal worldly politics? Esther, a Jew, became queen to Persian King Ahasuerus, but evil ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Forgiveness -Vs- Victimhood

Contributed by Michael Carter on Dec 2, 2019

Christians whose tenuous relationship with God hangs by some vaporous thread of hope all the while they continue clinging and subscribing to worldly ideologies are seeking forgiveness in the mouth of evil.

Forgiveness I was on a phone call this last week with someone very near and dear to my heart. Just before we ended the long, cheerful Thanksgiving day conversation, I asked a question that I’d not contemplated or asked before. I felt a bit weird even asking it, but there it came out. For some ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:2, Romans 12:18, Jeremiah 17:9, Isaiah 66:2, Romans 2:14-15  (view more)  (view less)

More Than Corn And Wine: The Secret Of True Joy Series

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Aug 19, 2025

This sermon on Psalm 4 uncovers the secret to finding lasting joy and peace, revealing how a relationship with God provides a gladness that is far greater than any worldly prosperity.

Title: More Than Corn and Wine: The Secret of True Joy Text: Psalm 4 What makes for a good and happy life? It’s a question that echoes through every generation. If you listen to the world around us, the answer seems obvious. A good life is a prosperous life. It’s a bigger harvest, a rising stock ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Choose Wisely

Contributed by Les Buttolph on Nov 14, 2024

As Election Day 2024 approaches, we face worldly decisions. Joshua confronted Israel with the spiritual decision to serve the Lord. Like Israel, we must choose wisely.

I doubt there’s anyone here that doesn’t know Tuesday is Election Day. You may have already voted early. We can look forward to Tuesday’s TV or radio news coverage about the voting turnout, and the partial results all day, then into the night when the results are projected and winners announced. ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:16-18, Galatians 5:13-26

Denomination: Methodist

Love What Matters Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 4, 2023

God's love is eternal and unconditional, unlike the temporary and conditional love of the world. We must make a daily decision to choose God's love and values over worldly desires.

Imagine you're starving, and you have a choice between a candy bar and a healthy meal. The candy bar might taste good for a moment, but it won't fill you up or give you the nutrients you need. That's like choosing the world's temporary pleasures over God's lasting love. That's like choosing the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17

Topics: Spiritual Growth, Divine Love, Materialism, Spiritual Priorities

Earning - Where Does Our Money Come From? Series

Contributed by David Owens on Feb 4, 2008

In the first lesson of this series, we focus on three things: 1 - Everything Belongs to God. 2 - God gives us the Ability to Earn Money. 3 - The Pursuit of Money must be kept in Perspective.

Introduction: A. A Madison Avenue advertising agency surveyed non-church-going people several years ago and asked them their impressions of church. 1. The respondents said, “The problem with church is that the people are always sad, or they talk about death, or they ask for money.” B. A classic ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:10-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Pride, The Glory Stealer...

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Aug 19, 2019

Everything we do as unto God with a humble spirit, is an act of worship unto God and part of our diligence and pursuit of our faith in our relationship with God we have through Jesus!

Pride, The Glory Stealer... Illus. From the book a life beyond amazing, by David Jeremiah. In Detroit in the 1930s, three young men boarded a bus and attempted to pick a fight with a passenger sitting alone in the back. They threw one insult after another, but the man said nothing in response. ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-17, Proverbs 16:18, Matthew 5:13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Seven Sons Of Sceva Series

Contributed by John Lowe on May 11, 2017

If we desire to have a part in the great work of salvation, every pursuit and pleasure—which hinders the effect of the gospel upon the mind, or loosens its hold upon the heart—must be given up.

July 31, 2015 By: Tom Lowe Acts of the Apostles Title: Seven Sons of Sceva (Acts 19:13-17) Acts 19:13-17 (KJV) 13 Some ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Son Will Come Out Tomorrow Series

Contributed by Chip Monck on Jul 18, 2005

The tenth in a series walking through the book of James. This message contrasts the temporary nature of worldly wealth, with the eternal hope found in the coming day of the Lord. It is intended to provide hope for those in financial struggles needing to

There is no doubt that James is a book of tough teaching. In fact, I can just imagine there were probably recipients of this letter that were going through some really hard times. Maybe they had endured some persecution. We know that many of them were suffering financially. Life was not easy. ...read more

Scripture: James 5:1-12

Denomination: Wesleyan

Some Reasons For Not Relying On Human Judgment

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 10, 2001

Reasons why we should avoid relying on human judgment, including our own - only on the God’s perfect and impartial judgment

Reasons For Guarding Against Relying on the Judgments of Men (Acts 24:1-20) 1. Have you ever wondered why some people fall into the temptation of relying on the judgments of others? Illustration:It was F.B. Meyer, I believe, who once said that when we see a brother or sister in sin, there are ...read more

Scripture: Acts 24:1-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Satan's Fishing Trip Series

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Aug 24, 2001

This is the fourth sermon in the series "Finding Freedom From Sin". This sermon looks at how Satan tempts us and how to avoid being hooked.

Sunday Evening August 26, 2001 Bel Aire Baptist Church, Hobbs, New Mexico Series: Finding Freedom From Sin #4 SATAN’S FISHING TRIP Luke 4:1-13 Introduction: 1. As Christians we are called to be fishers of men, but there is something that I think we don’t realize sometimes and that is the fact ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Battling The Bite Of Betrayal Series

Contributed by Todd Stiles on Jan 18, 2007

Gain insight into the two main words Christ used to help his disciples avoid the temptation to quit in this sermon from Luke 22.

“Battling the Bite of Betrayal” Luke 22:39-46 Good morning, First Family. It’s been a good month so far in Luke 22, and I hope God is using His Word to bring the right kind of growth and exposure to your walk. As we think about battling sins and conquering the secret strongholds of our life, let ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:1-46

Denomination: Baptist