Sermons on Effort That Is Worthless:

"Anointed To Prosper!"

Contributed by Charles Banks on Jun 12, 2003

This sermon gives a very earnest effort in showing that when GOD has anointed us for a particular tasks, no weapons, tricks, pitfalls, or anything can stop it from being accomplished as long as we keep our focus and trust in Him!!!

“Anointed to Prosper!!!” Genesis 37:3-5; 18-20; 50:20 3. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. 4. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:20

Denomination: Christian Church

Ark, Anger, And Acceptance

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 20, 2010

We who are successful want instant gratification, but must know that God’s timing may be different, and that it is important to do something that enables others to succeed. In prayer we learn that we are accepted and so our efforts have meaning.

Success brings with it its own set of problems. If you get used to being successful, you soon expect it, and then if it eludes you, that can be very hard to take. I know that I am speaking this morning to reasonably successful people, by and large. Most of you, when you face a challenge, are able ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-27

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer-Care-Share: What's Next? Series

Contributed by Marty Boller on Apr 24, 2006

#8 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.

We started PRAYER CARE SHARE in late January. Twelve weeks ago! How many of you are still praying over your bookmark people? How many would say that God has been working in some of the people’s lives? As a church we have two choices... 1. Let Prayer Care Share be a program and now let it ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:6-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer Isn't For Sissies Series

Contributed by Roger Thomas on Jul 20, 2006

Prayer matters. Real prayer is worth whatever effort it takes to make it the source of power in our lives. In our text, John reveals the secret of effective praying. Note the three keys that can unlock prayer’s power for you.

Prayer Isn’t for Sissies! 1 John 5:14-15 Dr. Roger W. Thomas, Preaching Minister First Christian Church, Vandalia, MO Prayer isn’t for sissies! A lot of people think otherwise, perhaps some in this room Some think it is a cop-out. They say, “praying is an attempt to find an easy way out. ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:14-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Prayer-Care-Share: My Bookmark Story Series

Contributed by Marty Boller on Feb 8, 2006

#4 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.

PRAYING FOR MY CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE: MY STORY By Intern Pastor Dave Doyle I’ve been excited by the whole concept of churches in Cedar Rapids coming together in prayer. Think about it. Jesus said that wherever two or more are gathered in His name, He is there as well. Now try to imagine the power ...read more

Scripture: John 9:31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer-Care-Share: Salvation Is A Process Series

Contributed by Marty Boller on Feb 8, 2006

#5 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.

PRAYER.CARE.SHARE. Week # 5 For those who are new today...we’ve been working together over the last 4 weeks toward a common goal... 30-35 churches in CR area working TOGETHER for: PRAYING, CARING SHARING for our community. Loving our community to Christ. Building Bridges in Linn County. Two ...read more

Scripture: James 4:8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer-Care-Share: Book Mark Sunday Series

Contributed by Marty Boller on Jan 30, 2006

#3 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.

Here in Cedar Rapids, 30-plus churches are uniting together under ONE CAUSE, ONE PURPOSE. Cedar Rapids has become a pilot-city with Mission America to see what might happen if a number of churches actually work together to fulfill Jesus’ GREAT COMMISSION and Jesus’ GREAT COMMANDMENT in Linn ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

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

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

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

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

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

Strike Until The Battle Is Won Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jul 17, 2025

This account reveals that partial obedience, half-hearted efforts, and spiritual laziness can limit the fullness of God’s intended victories. Many believers fail to receive all God has for them because they stop striking too soon.

STRIKE UNTIL THE BATTLE IS WON By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 2 Kings 13:14-19 Supporting Texts: 1 Corinthians 15:57; Hebrews 10:35-36; Galatians 6:9; Isaiah 54:17; Romans 8:37 INTRODUCTION: There are moments in life when the outcome of a battle is not just determined by the enemy's ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 13:14-19

Denomination: Assembly Of God