Sermons on Clergy Failures:

The Great Reset

Contributed by Craig Benner on Apr 19, 2022

All of us have those times when we are caught with egg on our face. We are guilty and there is no getting around it. What do we do now? Is God done with me? Would He even dare to entrust me to do something for Him again? I believe that is how Peter and the disciples felt.

READY, RESET, GO! John 21:1-7 Thomas Edison and his team invented the first light bulb that actually functioned for a few hours (1879). It took hundreds of attempts, and each attempt took a full 24 hours to create a new bulb and put the ingredients together. On one occasion, after 24 hours of ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-7

Denomination: Pentecostal

Stormy Weather

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Aug 17, 2023

Jesus’ job is not to make things easy for us. It is to save us from sin and death, not from suffering and life. Life includes suffering.

Just a few weeks ago we celebrated the 150th anniversary of this church: a century and a half of vital, energetic, faithful ministry and worship. And in just another couple of weeks we will be closing the door on that history. This is not what you expected when you first embarked on your journey ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Faith 101 Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Oct 30, 2014

When someone directs us to do something, before we take the first step, most of us want to know all the details. Abraham didn’t ask; he just kept on moving by faith until he came to this land that was going to one day be Israel.

INTRODUCTION In college, usually the most basic freshman courses are labeled “101.” It may be Algebra 101, History 101, Calculus 101 or something like that. Today I want to teach from Romans 4, some of the basics about faith. My favorite uncle was Uncle Charles, my mother’s ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

What To Do When You're Sunk

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Oct 5, 2015

Peter did exactly what he said he would never do, & right then the rooster crowed. Remembering Jesus’ words, Peter ran into the darkness & wept bitterly. He had failed Jesus. This brash & boastful fisherman had failed.

MELVIN NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK A. Have you ever failed at something that meant a lot to you? Have you ever had that sinking sensation in the pit of your stomach that comes when your hopes & expectations are crushed? Now maybe there is someone here who has never ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:31-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Feel Completely Inadequate

Contributed by David Radcliff on Mar 12, 2016

Have you ever heard the old saying, “If you fail to plan, then you may as well plan to fail.”

I FEEL COMPLETELY INADEQUATE Luke 14:28-33 Have you ever heard the old saying, “If you fail to plan, then you may as well plan to fail.” This is a hard saying of Christ that makes it sound impossible to be able to one of his disciples. We should always have a plan of action no matter ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:28-33

Denomination: Baptist

God Restores Elijah / The Heart Of The Problem

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Aug 15, 2020

To help Elijah out of his depression God needs to reach a point where Elijah is willing to listen to him. He then needs to resolve Elijah's sense of failure and hopelessness. We see how God did that.

1 KINGS 19, GOD RESTORES ELIJAH INTRODUCTION Today we’re returning to the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. 1 Kings 18 tells us about Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. In 1 Kings 19, we find that Elijah has become very depressed. He thinks he’s a failure, but God ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

On The Shelf, Marred Clay?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jun 5, 2019

What do you do with "MARRED CLAY?" We have the tendency to throw failures under the bus. Do we love the hard to love people? Are we pronged to quit and give up? Come on my friends, let us try again. Just because you fail, does not make you a failure. Someone needs you today!

ON THE SHELF, MARRED CLAY --- USELSS? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com MARRED CLAY? ON THE SHELF? Jeremiah 18:1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. 3 Then I went ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-6, 2 Samuel 21:15-17

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Stand Firm - Part 5

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Jun 13, 2019

A final look at standing firm in faith as we look at Peter and what it means to fail or not to fail. A new definition of failure.

Father’s Day June 16, 2019 Failures Video compilation of fails . . . Youtube. How do we define failure. It seems that when we don’t succeed at something, we say we’ve failed. We didn’t win the championship, so we failed to win the championship. I didn’t get the job I wanted, I failed to get ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:31-62, Philippians 3:13-14, Matthew 14:25-31

Denomination: Baptist

Where Succession Fails (1 Samuel 2)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 28, 2025

Can someone outside the line of succession be more faithful to God? Let's look at 1 Samuel 2.

Does a list of succession automatically mean faithfulness to God? Do faithful people often come from outside artificial lines of succession? Let’s look at 1 Samuel 2. Who weighs the actions of people and judges accordingly? And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Peter - A Fisherman's Tale Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 1, 2025

What would be your greatest catch of a lifetime? Is it 153 large fish or is it catching a vision of your divine purpose and landing insight into your eternal purpose for God?

Video Transition: Jesus and Peter changing the world video! “A Fisherman’s Tale” - Peter Thesis: What would be your greatest catch of a lifetime? Is it 153 large fish or is it catching a vision of your divine purpose and landing insight into your eternal purpose for God? In other words doing ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:16-20, Luke 5:1-11, John 21:1-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Life No One Expected Series

Contributed by Brian Williams on Mar 7, 2024

Moses wanted to pass on this lesson from the garden to God’s people so they would learn from it, live by it, and thrive.

Genesis 1-2 begins with the orderly creation which forms the content of the scriptural vision for the future. Genesis 2 is a more detailed account of the creation narrative where we see Adam and Eve in paradise, in the midst of an incredible garden prepared for them by God Himself. At the end of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Leadership Fails A Congregation

Contributed by Gordon Brownlee on Nov 3, 2023

When leadership hurts a congregation there has to be a way for the people of God to heal.

Video Presentation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvHs2i4S92k When leadership oversteps their bounds there is a compounded effect upon the lives of the people they once served. Most recently the news has highlighted a minister who has engaged in certain nefarious activities for over twenty ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1

Denomination: *other

Legalistically Stubborn Paul Experienced Jesus For His Indwelling Lesson 4 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Nov 13, 2023

The most defining experience of your life will be touching/encountering Jesus.

A. INTRODUCTION: SAUL PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS 1. Saul was a successful failure. He was going to top of the religious ladder. “Paul was better qualified than all the legalists ... the best of all ... born a Jew into the tribe of Benjamin, and circumcised on the eighth day. He spoke Hebrew, kept ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:6, Acts 9:22

Denomination: Baptist

Blessings & Curses (Deuteronomy 28)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 15, 2025

Can Jesus help us escape the curses of the old covenant? Let's begin in Deuteronomy 28.

Do the blessings and curses promised Israel suggest a choice? Is there a way to be blessed forever? Let’s begin in Deuteronomy 28. Blessings Were there blessings for Israel’s faithfulness under the old covenant? Indeed, if you diligently obey the Lord your God to carry out all his commands that ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Happy Are The Sad - Matthew 5:4 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 3, 2024

No one feels good after a failure. But how is the sorrow of a child of God different? And why does Jesus pronounce a blessing on people who feel that way? This message will help you draw near to God through times of hardship.

Matthew 5:1-12 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:4