Sermons on Avoiding Worldly Pursuits:

How The Holy Spirit Helps Leaders Utilize Self-Control

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

1. The Holy Spirit motivates us to serve with love from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith by helping us to control our thoughts, emotions, and choices.

1. The Holy Spirit motivates us to serve with love from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith by helping us to control our thoughts, emotions, and choices. Paul wrote, "The object and purpose of our instruction and charge is love, which springs from a pure heart and a good (clear) ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Deadly Desires And The Glory Of God - 1 Peter 2:11-12 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Dec 13, 2024

We were chosen and exalted for the purpose of showing God’s excellencies, which requires holiness

1 Peter 2:11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the gentiles that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:11-12

Day By Day - Time Management Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 4, 2026

Every day (Day by Day) spiritual seeds are being planted in us by the Holy Spirit but the key to spiritual growth is found in discerning what type of heart or soil those seeds are falling on to? Our hearts are either: hard, shallow, entangled or fertile for spiritual growth.

Theme: Day by Day - Time Management Opening Video: Sermoncentral.com “We need to run again!” Introduction to Theme: “Desire that your life count for something great! Long for your life to have eternal significance. Want this! Don’t coast through life without a passion.” ? John Piper, Don't ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-20, Mark 4:30-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Got Future Plans?

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Mar 3, 2009

It is good to have goals, but goals will disappoint us if we leave God out of them. There is no point in making plans as though God did not exist, because the future is in His hands. That man walks most safely who has the least confidence in himself.

Opening illustration: Fortuneteller, gazing into crystal ball, to frog: You are going to meet a beautiful young woman. From the moment she sets eyes on you she will have an insatiable desire to know all about you. She will be compelled to get close to you - you’ll fascinate her." Frog: "Where am I? ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Get Out Of The Boat

Contributed by Tim Patrick on Oct 17, 2005

This sermon teaches us the importance of allowing our faith to be stretched.

Have you done anything in your faith walk recently that stretched you? We use the term “stretch” to refer to growth, development and learning. I must admit, it goes against human nature to be stretched. There is a popular story that illustrates our reluctance to be stretched. Ill- A man was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:28-32

Denomination: Baptist

2 A Full Believer Overcomer Series

Contributed by Kent Kessler on May 26, 2025

What kind of life do you want to end with when you leave it? When you leave this life and enter the next one, what do you want to have to show Christ for it? We need to begin with the end in mind. We need to be people who fully believe in Jesus to be an overcomer in this life.

I got pulled over about a week ago. I was pushing it a little too hard through an intersection to try to make it, and it was not even yellow not even orange. It was red the whole way through. I felt really bad about that. But I also wanted to make sure we got to Jonathan‘s band concert in plenty of ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Do Not Be Deceived! Series

Contributed by Greg Nance on Feb 14, 2015

Deception is all around us. How do we overcome? James has great counsel from God to help us.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren! These are the opening words of today’s text in James chapter 1:16. As I worked through this text over and over this week both to memorize it and to understand it, I realized that James speaks of being deceived three times here in the last part of ...read more

Scripture: James 1:16-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Love God Hates Series

Contributed by David Owens on Feb 5, 2007

In this sermon we notice that John gives his readers both assurance and a warning.

Introduction: A. One day a group of 1st graders took a tour of a hospital. 1. The person who had guided them on the tour then opened it up for questions. 2. One little fellow asked, “How come the people who work here are always washing their hands?” 3. After the giggles had subsided, the tour-guide ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:12-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Understanding Sin Series

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Aug 26, 2008

This message reveals sin in a little different way.

UNDERSTANDING SIN Romans 7:7-25 (Begin with the skit – “Do Not Touch” – chair) 1. What is it about being told “not to” that cause us to “want to?” For some, reason, just the knowledge that we are not supposed to do “a thing” is enough to motivate us to “do it”. 2. As children, we remember the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:7-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Fork In The Road Series

Contributed by Ian Whitmore on Aug 1, 2024

In life we all have choices. We make over 12 million choices in a year. Which means in an average lifetime you will make over one billion decisions. There are only a few decisions that can change your eternity. Living the righteous life brings life, but living the wicked life brings destruction

Text: Psalm 1 DT: Living the righteous life brings life, but living the wicked life brings destruction The average person makes 35,000 choices in a day. Which means that in a year we make around 12.7 million decisions. Some of them are small every day decisions that we can make in a snap ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Happiness Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Mar 8, 2024

God is interested in your happiness. Psalm 1:1-3 gives us a foundation in which we can build a happy life.

INTRODUCTION - This week, we will begin our third series in Core 52. - This series is entitled Singing the Sacred: - In the center of the Bible is the Book of Songs. - They cover various styles, moods, moments, and even instruments because they are the soundtrack of our spiritual lives. - ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How Should We Relate To Carnal Christians?

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 23, 2004

Remember, the source of most quarrels begins within one’s own desires. James writes, "You quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask. When you ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on yo

Galatians 5:17-5:21 What are some of the best ways to relate to carnal Christians? Illustration: Where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? —1 Corinthians 3:3 Why do we hear of Christians who are pitted against Christians over such ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Optimism

Contributed by Isaac Magsino on Mar 11, 2019

“The optimist recognizes a responsibility in every crisis; the pessimist sees a crisis in every responsibility.” – copied

Theme: Optimism Text: I Samuel 17: 1-58 Place: FBC Kodiak, Alaska Date: January 8, 2k6 Intro: Illus: a man lost a leg in an accident and when he was picked up and discover what had actually happened, he said to those around him, “Thank God it was the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:1-58

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Living Water PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 27, 2023

Explore the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman, emphasizing how Jesus, as the living water, satisfies our spiritual thirst and hunger.

Good morning, everyone! It's so wonderful to see your faces in this blessed gathering. Today, we are going to dive into a beautiful passage from the book of John, specifically John 4:5-42. It's a story that's as relevant today as it was two millennia ago. It tells us about an encounter between ...read more

Scripture: John 4:5-42

Topics: Spiritual Hunger, Satisfied

Sermon On An Eclectic Lifestyle

Contributed by William Meakin on May 20, 2025

An eclectic lifestyle is characterized by a broad range of influences and interests, rather than adhering to a single style or approach.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, an American actor once remarked: "I don't just like one thing. Contrast is key. What do they say? Variety is the spice of life." 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 reminds us: “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:2, James 1:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Colossians 3:23