Sermons on effort that is worthless:

Four Stops On The Way To A Christ Centered Christmas

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 20, 2005

It seems that Christ is not the center of the festivities. It takes an effort in our culture today to keep Jesus front and center at this time of the year. It is amazing how much Christmas is not about Jesus Christ to many. Most people do not have one s

Into: The picture in Luke chapter nineteen should be familiar to us at this time of year. No matter where Jesus went he drew a crowd. This time of year we see crowds as well. But it is not necessarily because Jesus is at the center. The Christmas season malls, stores, Wal-Mart, even many ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer-Care-Share: Your Circle Of Influence Series

Contributed by Marty Boller on Jan 24, 2006

#2 in a series. God is pouring out a whole new level of city-wide cooperation amongst churches and church leaders. Prayer-Care-Share is a concentrated effort focusing on "Building Bridges to our Community"...loving our communities to Christ.

Pastor Sandy Boller... Prayer. Care. Share. Building Bridges in Linn County. Loving our Community to Christ! Last week, Marty introduced the Prayer.Care.Share initiative that some 30 churches in Cedar Rapids are participating in. These churches are choosing to pull our ministries together for the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer-Care-Share: Kick-Off Sunday Series

Contributed by Marty Boller on Jan 16, 2006

#1 in a series. God is pouring out a whole new level of city-wide cooperation amongst churches and church leaders. Prayer-Care-Share is a concentrated effort focusing on "Building Bridges to our Community"...loving our communities to Christ.

This is a very special day! This is a very unique day! A special day @ Father’s House. A special day here in Cedar Rapids. A special day for all of us in Christ. A special day for Jesus. So what makes this day so very special & unique? Let me answer that question by starting with God’s Word. The ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Shadow Of Bulls & Goats Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Aug 23, 2012

Before Christ gave up his life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, there was a system that God put into place through Moses that resembled what was to come in Christ. This system of sacrificing animals and shedding blood was the people’s effort to g

Today we begin a short series on what I believe may be the best chapter of the bible in terms of explaining exactly what Christ has done, because it puts in the historical perspective of why sacrifices were necessary in the first place. You can read more about the old covenant in chapter 9. That ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:1-10

You Must Be "Dreaming"

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Jul 13, 2016

Don't get caught up in only believing the possibilities of what you have seen in the past! Because no matter where you are at in life, He wants you to dream bigger than your efforts are capable of bringing to the table.

You must be dreaming? Oral Roberts used to use a chorus that some detested, ‘Expect a miracle every day, Expect a miracle when you pray, If you expect it God will find a way, To perform a miracle for you each day.’ What are you expecting or dreaming about for God to do in your life ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:39-43

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Compelled By Love

Contributed by John Gaston on Sep 3, 2017

The heart of God is to rescue the perishing. Paul caught the vision of God's incomparable love and was so moved that he too felt compelled to join God's efforts, regardless of the cost. The love of God should motivate us to rescue the perishing too!

COMPELLED BY LOVE 2 Cor. 5:14 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: school is back in session. 1. “How did school go today?” a mother asked her little boy. “Fine”, the little fellow replied. “We had a new teacher and she wanted to know if I had any brothers or sisters and I told her I was an only child”. “What ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

But They Could Not...

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 13, 2018

Despite the repeated efforts of mankind to duplicate the work of the Lord, His work is unique and man is unable to do what He does. Eventually, those who imagine they can supplant God crash up against reality, and they are revealed to be frauds.

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Say to Aaron, “Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.”’ And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 8:16-19

Denomination: Baptist

Bumpin Into Jesus Series

Contributed by Jeffrey Sims on Nov 27, 2018

This sermon is about making an effort to encounter Jesus in an intentional way instead of just bumping into him on occasion. It should cause us to look at our relationship with Christ and evaluate whether we are in a relationship with Jesus or if he is just a casual acquaintance.

In our scripture today we find Jesus surrounded by a large crowd on His way to the home of a synagogue official named Jarius’ whose daughter is dying. Now in the whole of the scripture today we learn of two separate miracles but I want to focus on just one today. I want to focus not on the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:43-48

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Character Study Of Ishmael Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Mar 21, 2025

Ishmael's story teaches us the importance of trusting God’s timing and avoiding decisions based on impatience. While human efforts can bring temporary success, only God’s promises bring true fulfilment.

CHARACTER STUDY OF ISHMAEL – SON OF ABRAHAM AND HAGAR By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Genesis 16:10-12 "The angel of the Lord also said to her, 'I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.' And the angel of the Lord said to her, 'Behold, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:10-12, Genesis 17:18-21, Genesis 21:8-21, Galatians 4:22-26

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Story Of An Absentee King Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 9, 2021

Every believer will give an account of their efforts You will give an account of your whole life. Some of you have taken the gospel and stuck in a sock drawer. Some of you have taken the story of Jesus and stuffed in under your mattress.

I wish I could say I was shocked when I saw the story… A Libyan branch of ISIS claims to have beheaded 21 men. A caption across the bottom of the video screen read, “The people of the cross, followers of the hostile Egyptian church” As many as thirteen of the men were from one small farming ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:11-27

Denomination: Baptist

Sermon On The Challenges Of Life

Contributed by William Meakin on Nov 22, 2021

Amongst the many interpretations, the challenges of life have been defined as "The situation of being faced with something that needs great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully and therefore tests a person's ability."

Roy T. Bennett, the author of “The Light in the Heart” once remarked: “Every challenge you face today makes you stronger tomorrow. The challenge of life is intended to make you better, not bitter.” James 1:2-4 reminds us: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:10, Isaiah 41:13, Philippians 4:13

The Songs Of Ascent – Part 9 – Psalm 127 – Without The Lord All Labour Is In Vain – And A Look At The Evil Of Solomon Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 19, 2023

The Lord must build the house (be the foundation for your life). There is no other foundation and it is vain to think otherwise. The Psalm says children are a gift from the Lord. We look at the evil of Solomon who was an idolater, but wrote this Psalm early in his life.

THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 9 – PSALM 127 – WITHOUT THE LORD ALL LABOUR IS IN VAIN – AND A LOOK AT THE EVIL OF SOLOMON PSALM 127 A SONG OF ASCENTS, OF SOLOMON [A]. SADLY WE WILL CONSIDER SOLOMON WHO WROTE THE PSALM The first things we note here is that this Psalm was penned by Solomon. This ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:1, 1 Kings 11:3, 1 Kings 11:1-2, 1 Kings 11:4-8, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Kings 11:9, Psalm 127:1, Luke 6:47-49, 1 Corinthians 3:11-12, 1 Timothy 6:18-19, Psalm 127:2, Psalm 31:14-15, Psalm 127:3, Genesis 1:28, 2 Timothy 3:1-4, 2 Timothy 3:12-13, Psalm 127:4-5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Getting A New Body Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jul 13, 2004

We spend many hours and much effort to make our present bodies better. While there’s nothing wrong with it, we should also be preparing to get our new bodies - ones that won’t decay or atrophy.

For more Bible studies go to: www.LivingWatersWeb.com It’s too bad our bodies break down. I remember when I was much younger I could go and go and go and never get tired. Then when I became a parent, my kids could go all day and night and never stop and I was just dragging by the end of the day. I ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

3 Ingredients For A Successful Church.

Contributed by Terry Hensley on Jan 31, 2002

I’m not no cook, but I know that for a cook to be able to make a meal that’s just out of this world; the cook must use the right ingredients. The same emphasis is necessary for the success of a Christian in his efforts to win the lost, in this world of wi

3 Ingredients For A Successful Church Text: Acts 17: 1-9 A. What we need in the church is some more trouble-markers! Trouble-makers? Yes, Trouble-makers! That’s what the enemies of the church called the Christians at Thessalonica. They said they were the ones, “who have caused trouble all ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

"What Changed His Mind?"

Contributed by Jerry Depoy on Apr 26, 2006

When Jesus was first placed on the cross both thieves, mocked on Jesus. What caused the repentant thief to change his mind? Knowing the answer to that question will help us, in our efforts in bringing others to that same place of repentance. Simple thre

Title: “What changed his mind?” When Jesus was first placed on the cross both thieves, mocked on Jesus. What caused the repentant thief to change his mind? Knowing the answer to that question will help us, in our efforts in bringing others to that same place of repentance. Note this text in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-43

Denomination: Baptist