Sermons on Effort That Is Worthless:

Being Properly Dressed PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 25, 2025

Relying on God’s strength and prayer, not our own efforts, equips us to stand firm and face life’s battles with confidence and peace.

Friends, you made it here today—some with a spring in your step, some with a sigh in your chest, and some just barely holding it together. That’s okay. God loves honest hearts. Maybe you’ve been standing in a storm: the phone call you didn’t expect, the bill you can’t pay, the diagnosis you don’t ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

Topics: Armor, God

Grace Alone 102925 PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 15, 2025

God’s grace meets us in our sin and need, offering true freedom and acceptance through faith in Jesus, not our own efforts.

Some of us arrived today feeling like life has been a long hallway of closed doors. You knocked on the door of good intentions and it stayed shut. You jiggled the handle of self-improvement and it wouldn’t budge. You leaned your ear to the keyhole of religious busyness and heard only your own ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:19-28, John 8:31-36

Topics: Grace, Justification

Weariness PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 27, 2025

Faithful, unseen acts of kindness matter deeply to God; persist in doing good, trusting that your efforts will bear fruit in His perfect timing.

Some days feel like a long string of unnoticed kindness. A parent packing lunches after a long shift. A nurse offering a smile under a mask. A teacher giving one more call to a student who’s fallen behind. A caregiver who holds a trembling hand at midnight. Seeds of goodness go into the soil, and ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:9-10

Topics: Perseverance

Salvation PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Nov 3, 2025

God’s grace meets us in our brokenness, offering forgiveness and new life through Jesus, not by our efforts but by His love and sacrifice.

Friends, welcome. If you walked in today with a weary heart, a worried mind, or a wound that won’t seem to heal, you’re in good company. We bring our whole selves to God—our victories and our valleys, our bright smiles and our buried secrets. Deep down, we sense something is wrong, and we long for ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, Romans 10:9  (view more)  (view less)

Topics: Salvation, Romans Road

The Bewitching Hour PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Nov 4, 2025

Relying on the Holy Spirit’s power, not our own efforts, keeps our focus on Christ and sustains us daily by God’s grace.

If you’ve ever started your morning with grand intentions and then tripped over your own shoelaces by lunch, you’re in good company. We set the coffee, open the calendar, whisper a prayer, and head out the door with a heart set on Jesus. Then the rush hits. Emails multiply. Expectations pile high. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-3

Topics: Bewitching Hour, Spiritual Influence

Smell Good Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Dec 13, 2024

When you feel defeated, trust Christ to use your feeble efforts and faltering speech to make an eternal difference in people’s lives.

A marathon, for most runners, seems long, but it is always 26.2 miles. Always. Except for the Lakeshore Marathon held in Chicago on Memorial Day weekend 20 years ago (2005). That day the 529 runners who finished actually ran 27.2 miles, one mile more than they were supposed to. Only, nobody told ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:12-17

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The God Who Blesses You Beyond Your Labour Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jan 18, 2026

This message reveals that when God steps into your labour, He multiplies results, removes sorrow, and causes your efforts to produce uncommon rewards.

THE GOD WHO BLESSES YOU BEYOND YOUR LABOUR By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Psalm 127:1-2 Key Verse: “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.” (Psalm 127:2, KJV) Supporting Texts: Deuteronomy 8:18; Proverbs 10:22; ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 127:1-2

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Sanctity And Service

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Jul 14, 2023

Christians cannot be transformed by default. ... When it comes to worship, we have to put forth an effort because sincere worship does not happen by default.

Romans 12:1-2  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  (2)  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: United Methodist

It Is The Mandate That Cures The Madness

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Sep 20, 2025

Mandate speaks of divine authority, purpose, and assignment. Without God’s mandate, efforts to address spiritual, moral, or societal problems remain powerless.

IT IS THE MANDATE THAT CURES THE MADNESS By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Mark 5:1-20 Key Verse: “And he said unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” – Mark 5:19 Supporting Texts: Luke 4:18-19, Isaiah ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:1-20

Denomination: Assembly Of God

You're Invited

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 21, 2025

God lovingly invites everyone to His eternal banquet; true acceptance means wearing Christ’s robe of righteousness, not our own efforts.

Section 1 – Introduction: The Search and the Invitation Picture the best church potluck you’ve ever attended. Tables sag under the weight of steaming casseroles, vege meatloaf, fragrant breads, and desserts that dare you to try “just one bite.” Everyone brings something, but nobody goes ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14, Luke 14:16-24, Isaiah 61:10, Ecclesiastes 3:11, Revelation 19:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Harvest Time PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 29, 2023

The sermon emphasizes trusting God's process, acknowledging that spiritual growth comes from God's work through us, not from our own efforts.

Good morning, everyone! I'm so glad to see all of you here today, ready to lean into the Word of God and see what He's got to say to us. We're going to spend some time in 1 Corinthians today, specifically in chapter 3, verses 6 through 9. So if you've got your Bibles, go ahead and flip with me to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:6-9

Topics: Trust, Process

Rise To Action PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Jan 4, 2024

This sermon explores aligning our hearts with God's will, overcoming obstacles through faith, and fostering collective effort for transformation, inspired by Nehemiah's story.

Good morning, beloved! It is indeed a joy and a privilege to stand before you today, to share and to learn from the Word of God. Our hearts are united in this sacred space, bound by our shared love for the Lord and our desire to draw closer to Him. As we prepare to unpack the profound wisdom found ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:1-10

Topics: Courage, Go

Understanding Who You Are Part #1 Your Identity In God

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Jul 11, 2025

For far too long we have as black people (a term that by the end of this lesson I may not use, and you may choose not to use anymore) have been lied to, left out, belittled, tricked, bamboozled, made to feel insignificant, worthless, useless, and cursed by God with blackness.

Opening: - For far too long we have as black people (a term that by the end of this lesson I may not use, and you may choose not to use anymore) have been lied to, left out, belittled, tricked, bamboozled, made to feel insignificant, worthless, useless, and cursed by God with blackness. That’s not ...read more

Denomination: Apostolic

Jehovah-Tsidkenu - The Lord Our Righteousness PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 26, 2023

Our righteousness comes not from our own efforts, but from the Lord Himself, and we should look forward to His promise of safety, security, and a day when all will be made right with hope and joy.

Good morning, family. Today, we're diving into a powerful, hope-filled promise from the book of Jeremiah, a promise of safety, security, and a day when all will be made right. We'll be focusing on Jeremiah 23:5-6, where it says, "The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up for ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:5-6

Topics: Names Of God

You Are Somebody Special To God Series

Contributed by Troy Campbell on Nov 8, 2011

Have you ever felt like a failure in life? Have you ever experienced insecurity? Some are insecure about your appearance, your abilities, your personality, your life? Have you ever felt unloved and worthless? Have you ever said the following words: “I

Title: Who Am I – 6 “You Are Somebody Special to God – 2” Text: I Peter 2:9-10 Last week I started preaching on the subject that “You Are Somebody Special to God.” It was a very encouraging message to everyone that hears it. We all need to know from ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9-10, Daniel 1:10

Denomination: Pentecostal