Sermons on Effort That Is Worthless:

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

Wrestling With God Series

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Mar 2, 2013

Here, God empties Jacob of his NATURAL effort and teaches Jacob to trust Him completely.

What images come to mind when I mention the word wrestling? For some, it is an image of a High school wrestling match. Others happily envision Dad wrestling with his son. And a few of us think of the theater of “professional wrestling” with Iron Rings of death and tag team death ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:1-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

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

The Power Of Teamwork Among Church Workers Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jun 8, 2025

The church is not built by one person but through the united efforts of many who faithfully serve together.

THE POWER OF TEAMWORK AMONG CHURCH WORKERS By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Supporting Texts: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Romans 12:4-8, Ephesians 4:11-16, Nehemiah 4:6 INTRODUCTION: The church is not built by one person but through the united efforts of many who faithfully ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Futility Of Religion

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 14, 2022

Religious exercise can become a snare if in our efforts we fail to seek the Lord. Religion for the sake of religion is a dreadful snare.

“Like a pregnant woman who writhes and cries out in her pangs when she is near to giving birth, so were we because of you, O LORD; we were pregnant, we writhed, but we have given birth to wind. We have accomplished no deliverance in the earth, and the inhabitants of the world have not ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 26:17-19

Denomination: Baptist

The Lost Coins In The House

Contributed by Tyrone Garay on Dec 21, 2000

Many lost coins in the house of God, many are not being used by the Holy Spirit. and because we do not allow our lives to managed by God, our value becomes worthless. To be found in HIM

The Lost Coins in the House The Need of the Holy Spirit… Opening Text: Luke 15:1-7 15:1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. Note: The Spirit of God was so strong in Christ that the sinners drew near to hear him… 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Heart Of The Matter: When Tradition Makes A Trespasser

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Oct 4, 2025

This sermon delivers Jesus' powerful warning that religious traditions can become a dangerous substitute for God's commands, leading to a worthless worship from a heart that is far from Him.

Introduction: The Danger of Good Habits Traditions can be wonderful things. They give us a sense of identity and rhythm. They connect us to our heritage and to our families. In the life of faith, traditions and habits—like coming to church, praying before a meal, or reading our Bibles—can be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Man Who Sold His Future Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 7, 2011

What’s wrong with being godless? If you can answer that question, you can avoid the tragedy that took Esau’s future away from him.

OPEN: A man filled his car with gas at a self-service gas station. After he had paid and driven away, he realized that he had left the gas cap on top of his car. He stopped and looked and, sure enough, it was gone. He thought for a second and realized that other people must have done the same ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:14-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Doers, Not Hearers Series

Contributed by Daniel Teberian on Mar 16, 2023

Our faith is worthless if it does not produce good works. In James 1:22-25, we are called to act according to the faith that we have in God. In order to serve the Lord, we must act upon our faith.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22-25

Of Florida Swamps And Brooklyn Bridges

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 23, 2003

As Jeremiah risked everything to buy some apparently worthless real estate in order to give a sign that the Lord would triumph, so I also asked our church to adopt a new but venturesome vision for its life.

Could I offer you a real estate deal this morning? Oh, it will be the deal of a lifetime! You can’t pass this up! Can I get you to buy a piece of land, sight unseen, in a sort-of shaky area? True, it might be taken over by the military, but, hey, who’s worried about that? Come on and buy! ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:1-41

Denomination: Baptist

Faith That Fails Series

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Sep 16, 2002

The fourth of six on James. Not all faith is powerful. There is a faith that fails. There is a faith that is worthless. James says that faith without works is dead. The deeds we do are the natural outgrowth of our faith. If there are no deeds, no wo

Faith that Fails Not all faith is powerful. There is a faith that fails. There is a faith that is worthless. James says that faith without works is dead. The deeds we do are the natural outgrowth of our faith. If there are no deeds, no works of the flesh, then there is no real faith because ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Recognize That Series

Contributed by Chris Talton on Dec 3, 2002

Without interpretation, words spoken using the gift of tongues are unrecognizable. If people do not recognize – do not understand the words that you are using, then your words will have no meaning to them. All of your speaking will be worthless.

December 1, 2002 1 Corinthians 14:6-20 “I recognize that!” INTRODUCTION Our family did not go anywhere over the Thanksgiving holiday this year. In the past, we would drive however long it took to get us to either my family’s house or Tammy’s family’s house. In my case, it would take ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:6-20

Denomination: Baptist

Hoarders

Contributed by Kelly Benton on Feb 22, 2011

Hoarders are people that are in a constant battle by an obsessive need to acquire (and failure to use or discard) a significant amount of possessions, even if the items are worthless, hazardous, or unsanitary. This is much like when people come to Jesus.

Who has seen the A& E series, “Hoarders”? I love the show! Hoarders is a fascinating look inside the lives of different people whose inability to part with their belongings is so out of control that they are on the verge of a personal crisis. VIDEO: “Hoarders” I find myself hooked to the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:23-24

Denomination: Other