Sermons on Effort Required:

Walking Towards Spiritual Fitness

Contributed by Steve Taylor on Jun 9, 2018

Spiritual growth requires effort and diligence, and it takes time. It’s not a one shot deal. There’ll be constant battles. But just like physical fitness, you’ve gotta keep getting back out there, and start back working out, your body, mind and soul.

Do you ever feel like you’re slipping with your faith? You just can’t seem to keep steady with doing what you know it takes to be a good Christian. You just can’t be that perfect projection of what’s perceived to be the “perfect Christian”. Well believe me, true spiritual growth requires effort ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:7-8

Go! And Love With The Heart Of Christ Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Feb 10, 2025

Love is at the core of the Christian faith - no matter how gifted, knowledgeable, or generous we may be, without love, we are nothing.

Go! And Love with the Heart of Christ Introduction: Love is at the core of the Christian faith. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, teaches us that no matter how gifted, knowledgeable, or generous we may be, without love, we are nothing. Today, we will explore what it means to love with ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Matthew 22:37-39, 1 John 4:8, Matthew 6:1, John 13:34-35, Philippians 2:3-4, Galatians 2:20, Romans 12:9-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Father's Day 2001

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jun 16, 2001

Scriptural thoughts from the book of Proverbs in an effort to honor Fathers.

FATHER’S DAY 2001 INTRO.- It’s Father’s Day and someone wrote, “What my dad taught me.” - My dad taught me about religion - “You better pray that stain will come out of the carpet!” - My dad taught me about behavior modification - “Stop acting like your mother!” - My dad taught me about time ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 6:20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Missing Christmas

Contributed by Bernard Dawson on Dec 15, 2002

An effort to draw attention to the risk of missing the real meaning of Christmas.

MISSING CHRISTMAS Luke 2:1-7 George Mason was an astute businessman. He was also unsocial, single and against Christmas. He was a modern day Ebenezer Scrooge who wished for Christmas to move along so business and profits could resume. On Christmas eve as his workers were leaving he accidentally ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7, Luke 2:25-36

Denomination: Holiness

Move With God Beyond Your Comfort Zone Series

Contributed by Marilyn Murphree on Mar 18, 2003

Sometimes it takes effort to move out of our comfort zone.

Iliff and Saltillo UM Churches January 26, 2003 Move with God Beyond Your Comfort Zone How to: Go for the Gulp Matthew 14:22-33 INTRODUCTION: Picture yourself at 4:00 a.m. out in a rowboat on a choppy lake with the wind blowing like crazy and the waves slapping up around the side of the boat. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Methodist

Living In Christ Part 2: Bearing Fruit Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Aug 11, 2008

We must put forth an effort towards becoming fruitful.

Living In Christ Part 2: Bearing Fruit Text: Eph. 4:25-32 Introduction 1. Illustration: There are no short cuts to maturity. It takes years for us to grow to adulthood, and it takes a full season for fruit to mature and ripen. The same is true for the fruit of the Spirit. The development of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-32

Denomination: Methodist

From Wee Little To Great Big Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Jul 13, 2006

In order to draw nearer to Jesus we need to make the effort.

From Wee Little to Great Big Text: Lk. 19:1-10 Introduction 1. Read Lk. 19:1-10 2. Illustration: A certain man was troubled with dizzy spells. He went from one doctor to another and none could tell him what the problem was. He tried everything, it seemed. Finally, it was bothering him so ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Methodist

Let You Shine Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Aug 6, 2014

Being the light of the world is a cooperative effort between God and ourselves.

Let You Shine Text: Phil. 2:12-18 Introduction 1. Illustration: Jesus himself said to his disciples, "[L]et your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works, and give glory to your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16) 

This is a concept that is sometimes a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:12-18

Denomination: Methodist

Come Let Us Reason Together.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 10, 2022

The failure of our efforts and the glory of Christ's work.

COME LET US REASON TOGETHER. Isaiah 1:10-18. Isaiah addresses his congregation as “rulers of Sodom” and “people of Gomorrah”, and begins to reason with them (Isaiah 1:10). It is all quite shocking: how dare he expose our comfortable, upright congregation to such strong language? After all, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:10-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Monument Of Shame Series

Contributed by Mathew Philip on Sep 7, 2020

Man's efforts without God result in confusion.

Several of the structural designers of the original World Trade Center was attending a conference in St. Louis. During the question and answer period a person asked to one of the chief engineers if he had any regrets about the design of the building. When asked this question, the chief structural ...read more

Denomination: Other

Experiencing The Word Of God Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Feb 2, 2003

1. Being a student of the Word takes effort. 2. Being a student of the Word turns effort into joy. 3. Being a student of the Word turns the written Word into the Living Word.

Ravi Zacharias, a Christian intellectual who travels around the world lecturing in secular settings on spiritual themes, tells of an experience he had in Columbus, Ohio. He writes, “A few weeks ago, I did a lectureship at Ohio State University. As I was being driven to the lecture, we passed the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:9-16

Denomination: Methodist

Supernatural Advancement

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Feb 17, 2025

Supernatural advancement refers to progress that is beyond human effort, orchestrated by divine intervention.

SUPERNATURAL ADVANCEMENT By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Isaiah 60:1 – "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." Supporting Texts: Exodus 14:15, 1 Samuel 2:8, Psalm 75:6-7, Zechariah 4:6, Acts 12:7-10 INTRODUCTION: Supernatural advancement ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:15, 1 Samuel 2:8, Psalm 75:6-7, Zechariah 4:6, Acts 12:7-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Understanding Works Series

Contributed by Eddie Snipes on Jan 4, 2003

In this sermon we explore the difference between works by human effort and godly works.

Good deeds or works fall primarily into two categories: man driven works and God produced works. Man-centered religion always works to improve self in the hope that we will reach the level of salvation. Even Christians fall into this trap. Man driven works is either the attempt to become a god or ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:8-10, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Denomination: Baptist

The Priority Of Faithfulness

Contributed by Billy Kryger on Mar 20, 2005

God doesn’t require us to be intelligent, articulate, handsome or eloquent. He requires us to be faithful.

INTRODUCTION: Ø Paul had reminded the Corinthians that they served a faithful God (1:9). Ø He also declared that God can be depended on to be with them in any trial (10:13). Ø He further encouraged them to be zealous with the assurance that their labor will not go unrewarded (15:58). Ø Every ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

The Holy Spirit Vs. A Spiritual Nuisance Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 16, 2011

If we serve the Lord in the Spirit's power, God will assist and bless our efforts.

The Holy Spirit vs. A Spiritual Nuisance (Acts 13:4-12) 1. The Upshot newsblog carried a breath-taking article this week: Jordan Rice, a 13-year-old Australian boy, has emerged as a tragic-heroic figure in news accounts of the disastrous Australian floods, after he asked a rescuer to save his ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:4-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible