Sermons on Effort Required:

Children Of Promise Series

Contributed by Aarron Ellerman on Feb 7, 2008

Paul uses an OT illustration to hightlight the difference between human effort and God’s promise.

Series: Study of Galatians Text: Galatians 4:21-5:1 Title: “Children of Promise” Vs. 21 • “Do you not hear the law?” o Do you not understand what the law is teaching? o James 2:10 I. Children of Bondage (22-25) Vs. 22 • Paul begins to make a comparison between the promise of God and the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Live A Life Of Holiness In A Tainted World Series

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Jun 13, 2013

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

What holiness means; the word holiness is a noun that means "state or character of being holy." Holy is an adjective that means "belonging to, derived from or associated with a divine power” and also "set apart to the service of God. Holiness must be the goal of every person who is serious ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fullness And Limitation, Time And Space Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 18, 2017

we must focus on the efforts we need to make to improve our imaging of Jesus and Mary.

Thursday of Seventh Week in Course Joy of the Gospel We continue in the season which the Extraordinary Form calendar still calls Septuagesima, or the seventy days before Easter. The penitential season of Lent begins on March 1, and we must focus on the efforts we need to make to improve our ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:41-50

Denomination: Catholic

Up The Down Side

Contributed by Dr. Amen Howard on Jul 31, 2014

It takes tremendous effort to make it to the top. Well, sometimes that’s the way it is for believers.

At times we may feel as though we’re going up the down side in life. Someone might say, “What are you talking about?” Let me give an example. Have you ever tried to go up and down the escalator? You might take two steps forward and fall back four steps. What should you do ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:18-19

Denomination: Pentecostal

Rejoicing In His Salvation

Contributed by Kenneth Trent on Apr 2, 2011

David recognized that the joy of salvation is not the product of man’s work or effort but is rather of God.

REJOICING IN HIS SALVATION “And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; it shall rejoice in His salvation.” Psalm 35:9 David recognized that salvation is not the product of man’s work or effort. He referred to salvation as “His (God’s) salvation”. The Apostle Paul ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 35:9

Denomination: Baptist

The Great Physician Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 16, 2021

Jesus supports all the medical efforts to heal all diseases, even those that are caused by sin.

People who survive great dangers and diseases are often creative people who do the unusual. Robert Muller, in his memoirs, Most Of All, They Taught Me Happiness, tells of how creative he became under pressure. In 1943 he was a member of the French Resistance. Using the name of Parizot, he ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

The God Who Unlocks Divine Favour Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Aug 17, 2025

Divine favour is God’s supernatural hand that distinguishes, promotes, and blesses beyond human effort.

THE GOD WHO UNLOCKS DIVINE FAVOUR By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Psalm 102:13 — “Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.” Supporting Texts: Proverbs 3:3-4, Esther 2:15-17, Genesis 39:21, Luke 2:52, Exodus 3:21 INTRODUCTION: Favour ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 102:13

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Staying On Course Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on May 2, 2011

Make the effort to stay faithful (winning over complacency) and make the choice to obey God (winning over compromise).

It easy to make promises, but to keep them is another matter altogether. • You may be passionate and sincere when you make a stand, but to stay on course requires much, much more. William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, say this: “It is in the nature of a fire to go out, you must keep it ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 13:1-31

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Church Covenant: What Is Requried Of Church Members ? Part 4 Series

Contributed by Mike Turner on Feb 13, 2004

Part 4 of Sermon Series on the Church Covenant and what is required of church members

Church Covenant: What Is Reguired Of Church Members ? # 4 Final in Series I Timothy 3:15 Congregation stand and read covenant: Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:15

Denomination: Baptist

Sleep ,sleep Peaceful Sleep Series

Contributed by Claude Alexander on May 27, 2021

Proverbs makes a great effort to bring home the idea that there is a "right way" to live, and a wrong one. Every effort must be made to find the right way. Nothing must stop you from doing that. And everything possible must be done to avoid the wrong way.

Sleep ,Sleep Peaceful Sleep Prov. 3:1 -35 A fairy tale often ends with the statement that they lived happily ever after. Proverbs chapter 3 on the other hand, start with happiness and a long life. " My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:1-35

Denomination: Assembly Of God

What Might Have Been?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 15, 2005

Little effort, little satisfication? there are no sadder words of pen or tongue, than the words, what might have been.

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN, IF I TRIED A LITTLE HARDER? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com INTRODUCTION: Have we really been trying? Oct. 1978: Mrs. Fannie Turner of Little Rock, Arkansas passed her written drivers test on the 104th attempt, and thus made the Guinness Book of World Records. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:6-9

Denomination: Assembly Of God

God's Message Of Salvation

Contributed by Leonard Davis on Jul 23, 2009

Picking yourself up by your bootstraps is a great idea but the impossibility of doing that is like finding salvation by your own efforts.

GOD’S MESSAGE OF SALVATION A Call to Faith We have heard the expression "Pick yourself up by your bootstraps." The picture this brings to mind is that of someone pulling on his or her shoes and as a results being lifted off the ground. In a way, this is rather humorous when we realized the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

Close Is Not Enough Series

Contributed by Tim White on Mar 19, 2014

Knowledge is good, effort is commendable, and lifestyle is important. However, you can get all that right and miss Jesus.

"If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost" (II Cor. 4:3). Mark 12:28-34 Is close always good enough? Not when you think about it. • If 99.9 percent were good enough ... • The IRS would lose 2 million documents this year. • 22,000 checks will be deducted from the wrong ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Denomination: Baptist

The Essence And Extract Of Jesus Ministry Series

Contributed by Marc Bertrand on Dec 4, 2002

A challenge to match evangelistic effort with social concern in our world. Preached from an evangelistic perspective to an evangelical audience.

The Extract and Essence of Jesus Ministry Introduction: (From Harvey Conn - Planting and Growing Urban Churches) The house is for William and Mary Elliot, both in their sixties. Community residents for over forty-nine years, today, for the first time in their lives, they will own their home. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:29-39

Denomination: Baptist

The Law Vs. Grace Vs. Faith PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 6, 2025

God’s promises are received by faith, not by our efforts; grace, not performance, secures our acceptance and hope in Christ.

Some of us walked in today with lists—mental ledgers of what we did right and where we fell short. We carry them like heavy backpacks. We whisper, “Maybe if I try harder, God will be pleased.” And our hearts grow tired, tight, and tentative. Then we come to Romans 4 and hear a fresh breeze blow ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:13-16

Topics: Grace, Gift