Sermons on Better:

Part Three: Understand Your Struggle With Christ Series

Contributed by Luskey Green on Sep 23, 2006

We all struggle to be better, to improve, etc. But struggling in becoming a disciple is a product of pride. The sooner we understand this, the sooner we can make struggle an asset rather than a liability.

Introduction Where are we today? I mean by that, in our study about the Christ and His Church, are we making progress? Are we moving toward Christ or are we satisfied to stay back, keeping our distance? Are we unsure we are willing to make the kind of commitment Jesus Christ wants of us? It is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Open Hands Of God Series

Contributed by Andy Almendarez on Dec 11, 2006

Human beings cling tightly on what belongs to us, and yet God showed us, through His Son, that there is a better way to walk through life – not with clenched fists, but with open hands of love.

Open Hands of God II Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:5-11 Human beings cling tightly on what belongs to us, and yet God showed us, through His Son, that there is a better way to walk through life – not with clenched fists, but with open hands of love. I. The Generosity of God God gives and gives ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:9

Denomination: Holiness

Lost And Found

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Sep 18, 2007

Sheep wander off and get lost because they’re stupid. We know better and still do it anyway, so I’m not sure just how smart that makes us.

Other Scripture used: Exodus 32:1,7-14 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Psalm 51:1-18 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. God, grant me the Serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the Courage to change the one I can, and the Wisdom to know it’s me. Naval aviation training ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Dreaming God's Dream

Contributed by Don Baggett on Oct 28, 2007

As you realize that God has something better for you, as you remember he has chosen and called you, and as you rely on Him, you can dream His dream for your life.

People generally go in the direction they aim, and they generally aim in the direction they dream, or imagine themselves going. Everyone needs a dream to follow, but God’s people need to follow a specific dream, and that is the dream that God has for them. I recall asking one little boy what he ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

The Ultimate Endgame Series

Contributed by Steve Bond on Oct 31, 2007

Nobody’s perfect. The words are both true and of some comfort. But as Christ followers the Good News is far better. Jesus is perfect. and if we pursue him passionately, that rubs off on us in this life.

Introduction Billy Graham is now in his late 80’s and he suffers from Parkinson’s disease. His worldwide evangelism ministry has spanned more than sixty years. Awhile back, Billy was invited to speak at a luncheon in North Carolina. After many wonderful things were said about him, Billy stepped to ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Blind Bart Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Feb 11, 2010

If we dont’ want to become weakened or hardened in adversity, but change the world around us, we must throw aside our own efforts at self-betterment and trust Christ with our lives.

A daughter complained to her father about how hard things were for her. “As soon as I solve one problem,” she said, “another one comes up. I’m tired of struggling.” Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen where he filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52

Denomination: Evangelical Free

A Life Of Discipline Week 2 Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Mar 3, 2010

In order to get into better spiritual shape we need to apply certain spiritual disciple. Paul said that working hard does not earn us our salvation; instead it demonstrates our salvation.

A Life of Discipline, week 2: Lent 2010 Feb 28, 2010 Intro: Welcome this morning to the second Sunday in Lent, which is the season of preparation for Easter. I’ve decided to theme our Lenten Journey this year along the lines of “a disciplined life”, recognizing that God calls ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:25-27

Denomination: Baptist

Hungering For God Series

Contributed by Robert Higgins on Sep 18, 2007

Why is worship supposed to be an encounter with God and not just going through the motions? How can you better encounter God each time you gather corporately as a church? The answer is in your appetite!

ENCOUNTERING GOD – Part One - Hunger Listen to this story, “I had my first experience with the presence of God when I was 5 years old. Arriving home from my ½ day of kindergarten, I usually ate lunch with my mom and then hurried off to play. When I would run out of things to do, I would resort ...read more

Scripture: John 4:23-24

Denomination: Baptist

This One Thing

Contributed by Andy Stanley on Dec 20, 2012

There is one thing that based on what’s going on in your life that if you could figure it out and do it, it would leave you in a much better place a year from now.

So you could go home now. We’ve kind of got it all set up for you. You know what to do. Hey thanks for being here. One of the things I struggle with at the beginning of every year is how long do you say Happy New Year. I tend to go into like February so I’m just going to try and say it ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 6:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What We Believe - Intro Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on Sep 14, 2012

Why a series on theology? Because studying theology can help us overcome our wrong ideas, it can help us to make better decisions, & it can help us grow as Christians!

What We Believe: Intro – “Why a Series on Theology?” Intro – 1. VIDEO – “Why Theology Matters?” by Joshua Harris… 2. The EFCA SOF begins with these words, “The Evangelical Free Church of America is an association of autonomous churches united ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Make A Choice! Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 13, 2012

The Bible is filled with calls for us to "make a decision." Choose whether our God, or the gods of this world are better... then live like what you believe. What does the world offer, and why can

OPEN: An evangelist in South Africa had a van with this sign on the side that said this: “Where will you spend eternity? Most people don’t decide till the 11th hour. Our service begins at 10:30.” That evangelist’s van was telling people that there was a “decision” to be made. It asked: Where ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:17-40

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Tongue Tamers

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Mar 20, 2012

The tongue is a powerful tool. However, as someone once said, "When it is good there is nothing better but when it is bad there is nothing worse." It's that last part that moves us to understand the importance of taming the tongue.

TONGUE TAMERS James 3:1-12 INTRODUCTION: In northern New Mexico, at around 5 AM on July 16, 1945, the still dark early morning sky became as bright as the noonday sun. In that one blinding flash, the Atomic Age had begun. The atomic fireball shot upwards at 360 feet per second. The characteristic ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Not Everything Is As It Seems

Contributed by Aaron Holbrough on Jul 13, 2011

Jesus meets a sick man, and Jesus question to him seems odd - "do you want to get better?" But sometimes what we want and what we need are two different things.

Not everything is as it Seems. John 5:1-15 Jesus is heading up to Jerusalem for a Feast of the Jews (doesn’t say which one) On his way he passed by pool that in Aramaic is called Bethesda archeology has uncovered these pools and they had colonnades or covered parts and the invalid and ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-15

Denomination: Mennonite

The Major Events At The Cross Series

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Sep 20, 2011

We are going to divide this passage into 8 events to get a better understanding of what is happening. This is not an unfamiliar story to most Christians but maybe we can learn yet a little more about it.

The most significant event in history is the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. We are saved by His death. Because He died, we live. But there IS a condition. We have to believe, and it’s the necessity for belief that John stressed throughout his gospel. He was an eyewitness of the crucifixion, and ...read more

Scripture: John 19:16-37

Denomination: Baptist

Four Freedoms Found In Christ

Contributed by Andre King on Sep 15, 2015

Franklin Roosevelt once gave a speech outlining "four freedoms" that he believed would make the world a better place. 60 plus years later, those freedoms have become twisted.

JANUARY OF 1941, 11 MONTHS BEFORE THE JAPANESE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT GAVE A STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH. IT BECAME KNOWN AS “THE FOUR FREEDOMS” SPEECH. ROOSEVELT SAID; IN THE FUTURE DAYS, WHICH WE SEEK TO MAKE SECURE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO A WORLD FOUNDED UPON FOUR ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:12-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ