Sermons on Bad Success:

What Makes The Church Run? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 12, 2020

What make a church successful? Is it lots of money? A great preacher? Great outreach programs and internal programming? Oddly enough, the early church didn't have that - and yet they turned the world upside down. What did the early church have that made the difference?

Flip Wilson was a popular black comedian several years ago, and among the routines he did were skits about a Preacher at the “What’s Happening Now Church.” One of his skits went like this: He’d shout out: "If this church is going to serve God it’s got to get down on its knees and crawl!!!” ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

#60 Don’t Quit! Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Feb 6, 2022

During the betrayal and arrest of Jesus is the odd story of a man who was in a linen cloth whose garment was torn from him and he ran into the night naked. What’s THAT all about? This sermon tells us the story of a failure turned success named John Mark.

#60 Don’t Quit! Series: Mark Chuck Sligh February 6, 2022 NOTE: A PowerPoint presentation is available for this sermon by request at chucksligh@hotmail.com. Please mention the title of the sermon and the Bible text to help me find the sermon in my archives. This sermon is adapted from a sermon by ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:50-52

Denomination: Baptist

The Peril Of Self-Exaltation

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jul 18, 2025

God created us for His glory, not ours. When we learn to redirect all praise, success, and honour to Him, we stay safe under His covering. But when we begin to think we are the source of our own greatness, we invite destruction.

THE PERIL OF SELF-EXALTATION By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Daniel 4:28-37 Supporting Texts: Proverbs 16:18, Isaiah 42:8, Acts 12:21-23, James 4:6, 1 Corinthians 1:29 INTRODUCTION: One of the greatest temptations that men face—especially when they begin to taste success—is the desire to ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 4:28-37

Denomination: Assembly Of God

I Am With You In The Wilderness Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Jun 28, 2020

Psalm 34 is a gift from David to us. It gives us a rare and honest glimpse into the heart of a Godly man who was overwhelmed by fear and fatigue and for a moment panicked … just as we are being constantly being overwhelmed and worn down by what seems like a non-stop barrage of bad news lately.

It seemed like just another day in the sleepy little town of Gath. Merchants selling their wares in the little local market. People standing in front of the shops, discussing the latest news and gossip. Small town folks just going about another typical day … when “they” appeared. Now … any ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:1-9, 1 Samuel 21:10-15, 1 Samuel 17:46-47, 2 Kings 6:11-17

Denomination: United Methodist

Kingdom Come! Series

Contributed by David Asch on Oct 12, 2004

In this text we see Jesus begin to proclaim God’s good news. He tells us what this good news is, and what we are invited to do about it. Then we see what we can expect from this good news, as well as what not to focus on. It all begins with some bad news,

Kingdom Come! Mark 1:14-39 INTRO: What’s the best news you have ever heard/could ever hear? Today, God has some really good news for you! PREV: Today we will see Jesus begin to proclaim God’s good news. He’ll tell us what this good news is, and we will see what we are invited to do about this ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:14-39

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Making God's Power Personal Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on May 24, 2021

President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s son, John Eisenhower, asked his father about the Bay of Pigs fiasco of then President, JFK. The former President reminded his son of D-Day, “I don’t run no bad invasions,” Ike said. If that is true of the former general and President, how much more for God?

This is a series designed to deepen your worship of God. The Bibles offers us three lenses to view God. The first lens, the Bible gives us various names of God including Yahweh (Lord), Elohim (God), and El Shaddai (God Almighty). The second lens, the Bible presents word pictures of God. You ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:13-18, Psalm 135:6, Psalm 115:3

Denomination: Baptist

Freedom From Division-4(2024)

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Jul 30, 2024

4 of 4. The apostle Paul urged the Corinthian church to distance themselves from internal division. Successful ministry is undermined thru internal division. ?What can free us from division? OR, ?How can we be free from that indignity? Freedom from division thrives in Christian...

FREEDOM From DIVISION-IV—1Corinthians 1:14-17(:10-17) formerly: The INDIGNITY Of DIVISION Attention: On Feb 20, 2019, Duke University, basketball forward & freshman basketball sensation, Zion Williamson(from Spartanburg, SC), was injured within the first minute of play, in a regular-season game ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:14-17, 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Denomination: Baptist

Do We Have David’s Desire?

Contributed by John Gaston on Oct 16, 2019

We will follow whatever we desire. That was the secret of Davi'ds spiritual success. David "set his heart" and his affections on God. Because he did, he developed a hunger for God, he loved God's presence and His Word. We must set our hearts on God.

DO WE HAVE DAVID’S DESIRE? Ps. 27:4 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. A man was telling about an exciting experience in Russia. His sleigh was pursued over the frozen wastes by a pack of at least a dozen famished wolves. 2. He arose and shot the foremost one, and the others stopped to devour it. But ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:4, Colossians 3:1-2

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Beaten For The Light

Contributed by Frank Jackson on Jan 14, 2003

I am learning as I walk with God, that if you don’t have a plan or strategy you will never be successful. You can’t just hope to win at life; you have to have a plan for living or you’ll spend the rest of your life wondering aimlessly going nowhere. God

BEATEN FOR THE LIGHT Lev 24: 1-4 The Lord speaks to Mose about establishing the tabernacle and he goes to great length about building it according to pattern. He does things by plans and strategies. I am learning as I walk with God, that if you don’t have a plan or strategy you will never be ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 24:1-4

Denomination: Disciples Of Christ

Connecting In Prayer Series

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 22, 2005

Every Child of God has gone through a dry period in prayer and some have never really been able to enjoy the success in prayer that the Lord Jesus wants them to experience. This message can enable you to once again "Connect in Prayer" with our Lord Jesus

Turn Your Bibles to John 15:7 Title: Connecting In Prayer Theme: Five Truths to Success in Prayer Listen as I read John 15: 7, “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” Pray!!!! Introduction: Every child of God has gone through a ...read more

Scripture: John 15:7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Crisis Of Belief

Contributed by Robert Garrett on Apr 11, 2005

It seems now more than ever we are living in the era of Crisis’. Everywhere we turn we are met with one crisis after another. No matter what the crisis may be, good or bad, it needs to bring each of us to a "Crisis of belief". A. Crisis of belief is a

INTRO. It seems now more than ever we are living in the era of Crisis’. Everywhere we turn we are met with one crisis after another. Day in and day out we are met with difficulties, heartaches, problems, tragedies, conflicts, you name it we are hit with it. ILLUSTRATION: "YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:33

Denomination: Baptist

Saul's Failure Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Apr 3, 2003

Saul’s mistake was that he was more worried about his success than God’s glory. God became for him a means to an end, rather than an end in himself. So this is both warning and a challenge to us. Make sure that God is at the centre of our focus in everyth

On the surface, the story of Saul’s life is one of wars against his enemies, mostly victorious. But that’s just the setting for a much more significant drama that unfolds as his life as king progresses, a drama that involves his relationship with the God of Israel. It’s ironic that as the story ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 13:1-22

Denomination: Anglican

Praying Through Your Problems

Contributed by Roger Griffith on Oct 18, 2000

When you start a new church you don’t have seasoned prayer warriors in that church who will pray in the blessings and the protection of God. We were successful because we convinced a few Christians in other churches to pray us through our early problems.

"PRAYING THROUGH" YOUR PROBLEMS TEXT: Acts 12:5 INTRODUCTION: Moses prayed and God spared Israel from judgment. Joshua prayed and God caused the sun to stand still. Hannah prayed and God gave her a baby boy. Solomon prayed and God gave him wisdom. Elijah prayed and God sent fire down from ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:5

Walking Across Impossibilities Part Two Series

Contributed by Arthur And Marie Mason on May 17, 2004

If you have faith in God.... trust and believe Him for everything... not just the big things.. but everything in your life... you can walk across impossible situations! No matter how bad things seem in your life.... don’t quit... don’t give up.

Walking Across Impossibilities Part Two Through Faith, Your Impossible Situation Can Become Possible Exodus 2:11-15 In our previous lesson, we learned that the children of Israel were in an impossible situation; under bondage and hard taskmasters. There seemed to be no way out of this ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:11-15, Acts 7:22, Exodus 2:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Widow's Oil

Contributed by Scott Ridout on Jul 2, 2009

This sermon focuses on the story of the Widow’s Oil from 2 Kings 4 and answers the questions: "Why do bad things happen to good people, where is God when they do, and what do we do when it happens to us?" Part of a series entitled "Seven".

We’re in a series called "Seven" learning unforgettable lessons from forgotten lives of the Old Testament. This week we are going to take a look at a woman who is having a very difficult time in her life. In fact I’m not sure things can get worse. If you have a Bible, turn to the passage in 2 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-7

Denomination: Baptist