Sermons on Effort That Is Worthless:

Desperation That Breaks Through Resistance

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jun 18, 2025

Desperation is often seen as a last resort, but in the life of a believer, it can be the catalyst for divine breakthrough. When we reach a point where all human efforts fail, desperation drives us to seek God with intensity and faith.

DESPERATION THAT BREAKS THROUGH RESISTANCE By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Genesis 32:24-30 Supporting Texts: Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:1-7, Matthew 15:21-28, Psalm 34:6 INTRODUCTION: Desperation is often seen as a last resort, but in the life of a believer, it can be the catalyst for divine ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:24-30

Denomination: Assembly Of God

What To Do When Your Culture Is Destroying Itself [2nd Copy]

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 25, 2024

When this message was planned this past winter, services were cancelled due to a blizzard. This is a second effort that has been revised and brought up to date. How shall Christians respond as our contemporary culture self-destructs?

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

God Appoints His Servant To Hard Tasks!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 16, 2024

As one who follows the Risen Lord, you may be assured that Christ has assigned you to do a particular task. And that task will require your finest effort, because God appoints His servant to hard tasks.

“The word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’ Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.’ But the LORD said to me, ‘Do ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-10

Denomination: Baptist

Cause And Effect (Growth)

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 7, 2026

Wisdom learns that action requires faith. We often do not act we react to the situation. Healthy growth is not by accident. We need a plan and a purpose. Are we exerting effort to plant wisely? Evaluate your seeds?

CAUSE AND EFFECT --- A GROWTH MINDSET By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Watch: YouTube: Wade Hughes) GROWTH: to increase in size or substance, progressive development, one can improve their talents and capacities by EFFORT and PERSISTENCE. 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:18, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, Matthew 6:21

Denomination: Assembly Of God

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

The Longest Day

Contributed by William Yates on Feb 13, 2004

In this text we see the story of how the Israelites faced the armies of five kingdoms in their efforts to defend the Gibeonites. We can learn from this text to trust in a God who would stop the rotation of the world if He needed to.

The Longest Day Joshua 10 The Sun Stands Still 1 Now it came to pass when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai and had utterly destroyed it--as he had done to Jericho and its king, so he had done to Ai and its king--and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 10:1-15

Free From The Law: The First Question Of Romans 7 Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 21, 2004

Our sanctification (being set apart for God as holy) does not occur through human efforts to keep the law, but through the power of the Spirit animating, motivating, and empowering us to do God’s will. It is a matter of motives and means.

Free from the Law: The First Question of Romans 7 (Romans 7:1-6) 1. Sally was married to Bill for many years. Then one evening Bill had a heart attack and died. Several years latter Sally remarried a man named Jack. Jack was in many ways different than Bill. Bill didn’t like to eat breakfast (he ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:1-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Minimalism

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on May 14, 2003

We often try to get away with putting forth the least effort possible in order to achieve the greatest results. But this is far from a Biblical concept. God has a better idea in mind, as he has already shown in Christ.

Passage: 1 Peter 1:13-21 Intro: One of the most prevalent tendencies among human beings is our desire expend as little effort as possible to achieve our goals. 1. weight loss without diet or exercise, pill. 2. destroy Iraqi regime in a week. 3. “what do I need to do to pass this course” 4. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-21

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Man's Control Dissipates Power Series

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Sep 29, 2003

Man’s effort to control and secure the forces of life generates greed and idolatry. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Man’s system simply does not work – if the goal is a good, Godly life of abundance and peace.

Man’s Failing Control Dissipates Man’s effort to control and secure the forces of life generates greed and idolatry. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Man’s system simply does not work – if the goal is a good, Godly life of abundance and peace. Some things just don’t ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Only Means Of Revival

Contributed by Thomas Lanthrip on Nov 4, 2006

Are you weary from the daily struggles of life? Do you long for a brighter more spiritually uplifting life? There has been and currently is a lot of effort being placed on “Revival”, but the problem is in our methodology; “Revival” cannot be structured by

Quote: Lord, revive the church—beginning with me. SAMUEL M. SHOEMAKER First things first, Revival is not an evangelistic campaign, neither is it about what I can receive from Jehovah. It can be stated this way by an old statement from Teddy Roosevelt: “Ask not what my country can do for me ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 57:10-15

Denomination: Baptist

What You See May Not Be The Truth

Contributed by Paul George on Jun 9, 2006

Because of our tendency to pass quick and critical judgment on others, our Lord has chosen to address this issue. Chapter 7 verses 1-12 addresses an issue plaguing the religion of Jesus’ day and of ours, that of misdirected effort.

What You See May Not Be The Truth Matthew 7:1-12 A while back, I read the very distressing account of an incident in the life of a young bachelor. He worked in an office where every year the boss gave each employee a turkey as a bonus for the holiday season. Of course, the bachelor could never ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-12

Denomination: Holiness

Work Till Christ Comes

Contributed by Jason Spangler on Jul 4, 2006

Your work reflects who your are, so put forth the greatest effort to make the most impact in your work by following Paul’s example to the Thessalonians; remember, vocation is ministry more so that ministry is vocation

2 Thessalonians 3: 6-15 Title: Work till Christ comes: “do what is right” Introduction: How does Eschatology, the theology concerning the second coming, the Parousia (pah-ro̅o̅-seeʹuh), affect our behavior? • Talk of the end of the world tend to make people behave strangely; we ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Discipline Of Prayer Series

Contributed by David Scudder on May 30, 2009

Since prayer is really just talking to God, then why is it so hard? Some of us have no problem spending a lot of time talking to other people? So why does it take so much effort to talk to God?

Purpose: To show that a false commitment to Christ will cause a lack of desire to pray. Aim: I want the listener to be sure that he is totally committed to Christ. INTRODUCTION: For many years medical science thought that ulcers were caused by stress and spicy foods. But, in 1979 two Australian ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:22-35

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Preparing To Build Series

Contributed by David Owens on Jul 20, 2009

Even though David was not allowed to build the temple he threw his effort behind making preparations and inspiring Solomon for the work. David provides a good example for us as we seek to inspire our children to serve the Lord.

Introduction: A. Let’s begin with some statements from some great visionaries. 1. In 1859, Edwin L. Drake tried to enlist some drillers to help with his proposal to drill for oil. They said to him, “Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil? You’re crazy.” 2. In 1899, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 22:1-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Surviving The Wait

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jan 20, 2011

Waiting for God is not laziness. Waiting for God is not going to sleep. Waiting for God is not the abandonment of effort. Waiting for God means, first, activity under command; second, readiness for any new command that may come; third, the ability to do

Opening illustration: A professor in a world-acclaimed medical school once posed this medical situation - and ethical problem - to his students: "Here’s the family history: The father has syphilis. The mother has TB. They already have had four children. The first is blind. The second had died. The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational