Sermons on Bad Success:

Disappointed Dreamer Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Sep 14, 2017

Don’t let anything stop you from pursuing your God-given dreams, not rejection nor reversals, because in God’s sovereignty, our setbacks are but stepping stones to success.

Before I get into my message today, I want you to pick a number, any number. Did you pick a number larger than a million? If not, then, why didn't you? In 1998, Larry Page and Sergey Brin picked the number one followed by 100 zeroes while they were still graduate students at Stanford University. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-36

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Has My Life Been A Failure? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 26, 2003

Joshua’s life reveals that success in old age is measured by faith and not sight, by what we have left for the next generation to complete, and by passing on a warning about the lessons he had learned.

And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one thing has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you; all have come to pass for you, not one of them has failed. Not one thing has failed. It would ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 23:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Empowering Our Activities With Prayer Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

Prayer will not change the fact that you live in a fallen world where the news will be filled with sin and folly of man. You won’t be able to pray that away, but you can by prayer make sure you are not a part of the bad news.

Bernie May, the United States Division Director of Wycliffe Bible Translators, for many years tells of his conflict with other Christians in a major book publishing deal. Chet Bitterman was shot to death by a terrorist group in Columbia, because they wanted the Bible translation he was doing to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

How Do You Recognize Faith?

Contributed by William Mouser on Mar 11, 2005

The "Faith Hall of Fame" shows us how we recognize faith -- not by the success or failure of those who have it, nor by their joy or sadness, but by the way they clothed their faith in works.

18th Sunday in Trinity Hebrews 11:1-39 "How do you recognize faith?" Many years ago, a pornography case came before the United States Supreme Court. Justice Potter Stewart said this: “I shall not today attempt further to define [obscenity]; and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-39

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Integrity: Dependence On God Series

Contributed by Don Jones on Jun 19, 2006

Do you give God the credit for the successes in your life? Find out what happens to a world ruler when he takes all the credit. The fourth in a series on integrity.

6-25-2006 Integrity - Dependence on God. Daniel 4:1- 37 West Glendale Baptist Church Pastor Don Jones Over the course of the past three weeks, we have been looking at the character trait of integrity. We have looked at how integrity involves being true to your self no matter the pressure that ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 4:1-37

Denomination: Baptist

For Richer Or Poorer

Contributed by Steven Haguewood on Aug 8, 2008

So often we get caught up in the world’s definition of success. James calls us to look beyond the limitations of temporal wealth to the eternal blessings of spiritual prosperity!

FOR RICHER OR POORER James 1:9-11 Scripture Reading: Luke 12:13-21 INTRODUCTION 1. Those of us who are married took vows before God and witnesses to take on certain responsibilities in our new homes. 2. Most of our vows included loving our spouse, “For richer or poorer.” 3. This indicates our ...read more

Scripture: James 1:9-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You Can Not Fail If You Love

Contributed by Terry Jones on Nov 8, 2008

This message was delivered by Pastor Terry at the 2008 Nations Network of Ministers Conference. In this encouragement to Pastors and church leaders, Pastor Terry reminds us of the key ingredient to successful ministry - Love!

A young man called on Watchman Nee on day distressed and fearful that he was losing his salvation. “I pray and pray to be faithful to Christ” he cried, “yet I continue to do the most displeasing things”. As if not responding to the young man at all Nee said “see that dog lying at my feet? He is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"What Mary Did Know?"

Contributed by Jerry Depoy on Dec 28, 2007

Elizabeth had the perfect words to encouage the heart of Mary. This message is a look at Mary’s response and praise, Mary felt: safe, special, sanctified, strong, successful, satisfied, and significant!

Title: "What Mary Knew?" Introduction: Can you imagine how full of desperation that Mary must have felt? When the angel mentioned to her that her aged cousin, Elizabeth, was also with child, Mary eagerly hasted on a journey to see her. At this point, it is doubtful that she had confided in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:39-56

Denomination: Baptist

Upside Down Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Nov 10, 2009

Jesus--the radical rebel that he is--continually turns our world upside down. He questions our assumptions and challenges our goals and our definitions of success.

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST NOVEMBER 8, 2009 Mark 12:38-44 “Upside Down” INTRODUCTION One of the questions that parents dread to hear asked them by their children is, “Why?’ This simple question challenges our assumptions and our preconceived ideas. If forces us to ask questions that ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:38-44

Denomination: Lutheran

The Rich Fool

Contributed by Joel Santos on Jul 18, 2007

The rich man prided himself on his intelligence, his success, his efficiency and foresight. He had plans to ensure his comfort for years. But God calls him a ’fool’.

The Rich Fool Luke 12:13-34 Jesus is preaching mainly about the Pharisees (see 11 :37, 45;12:1). Suddenly a man shouts out from the crowd. ’Tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me,’ he calls out. While Jesus is preaching, the man is thinking about a family quarrel in which his brother ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Strategic Praying Pt. 1

Contributed by Daniel Olukoya on May 2, 2011

Our message this week is entitled, “Strategic praying.” Let us start by looking at the word strategy. Strategy is a tactical or skillful planning adopted for achieving success in an endeavour.

Our message this week is entitled, “Strategic Praying.” Let us start by looking at the word strategy. Strategy is a tactical or skillful planning adopted for achieving success in an endeavour. PAUL, A PRAYER STRATEGIST If you were an avid reader of the Acts of apostles, you would ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Pentecostal

Prepare For Action Series

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Apr 13, 2015

Our text speaks of preparation for living a successful Christian life. Prepare what? 1- Prepare your mind 2- Prepare your body 3- Prepare your heart

INTRO.- Prepare for action. Prepare for what? It could be anything. ILL.- My dad was born in 1910 and our family didn’t have a car until the late 1940‘s. The first car I remember we had was a 1947 or 48 Chevy. When I was very small we took a trip in that car to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Mountain Within

Contributed by Jesse Crooks on Feb 26, 2019

The success or failure of life depends to a very large degree on how we deal with these mountains. I want to talk with you about three different ways people deal with their mountains.

The Mountain Within (Matthew 17: 20-21) Introduction: While Linda and I were working at the Baptist Children Home, decades ago, they made a documentary film called “The Mountain Within.”. It was on an old 35mm. reel. In fact, some of you old timers may have seen the movie. It was shown in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:20-21

The Place Is Too Small

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Jun 21, 2025

Sometimes God's blessing creates beautiful problems that require faithful responses, while other times success can lead to spiritual complacency that demands honest restoration.

The Place Is Too Small 2 Kings 6:1-6 Introduction There comes a moment in every believer's life, in every ministry, and in every congregation when we must honestly assess where we are and where God is calling us to go. Sometimes we find ourselves in seasons of growth that demand expansion, and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:1-6, Psalm 127:1, Zechariah 4:6, Judges 16:20, Ephesians 4:30, Genesis 6:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:19, 1 Corinthians 3:12, Joshua 3:13, Revelation 2:2-5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sermon – What To Do When Victory Leads To Exhaustion

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Jan 27, 2026

After his greatest success story, Elijah hit rock bottom. Sometimes doing work for God drains the work of God in us. Discovering How to renew your strength!

Sermon – What to Do When Victory Leads to Exhaustion Scripture Lesson: 1Kings 19:4-12 NLT, “Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:4-12, Philippians 4:6-7, Psalm 103:14

Denomination: Methodist