Sermons on Effort That Is Worthless:

Grace Transforms 4 Series

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Oct 1, 2011

I know I need to change, I am painfully aware of the chasm between what I am in Christ and how I appear to be but all of my diligent effort actually takes me in the opposite direction. Rules do not produce obedient hearts; rules breed rebellion.

Dakota Community Church October 2, 2011 Grace Transforms 4 Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. 1. What is biblical grace? 2. Where does grace originate? 3. Grace ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Mennonite

The Call To Holiness

Contributed by Ian Hyde on Mar 26, 2019

The call to holiness is one which we all share. But none of us are called because we are good enough. In fact, by our own efforts none of us could ever be good enough. And yet each of us is called to a purpose greater than any of us could imagine.

A Strange Encounter Imagine for a moment a young woman waking early, just before dawn to begin her daily chores. Still groggy with sleep though the morning is cold and quiet, she feeds the animals, and gathers water for the day’s washing. As she fills her bucket at the well, she imagines the life ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38, 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Denomination: Nazarene

Sin That Crouched At The Door Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 19, 2023

Why would Cain kill Abel, and what can we learn from his failure?

Years ago when I was at Purdue I decided to read the Bible for myself. So, I bought myself a Bible Commentary, and a Bible Dictionary, and I made a deal with God: I told Him I’d read everything but the poetry, the prophecy, and the “who-begat-whos.” I set my Bible and study books out where I ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Lessons From Jeremiah – Part 6 – When The Lord Is Forsaken Disaster Awaits Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 15, 2024

Israel committed two evils and was reaping the bitterness of forsaking the LORD. They were matching Egypt against Assyria but got swallowed by Babylon. The current world has forsaken God and is fast heading to disaster. Great blessing awaits Egypt and Assyria.

LESSONS FROM JEREMIAH – PART 6 – WHEN THE LORD IS FORSAKEN DISASTER AWAITS PART 6 - Jeremiah 2:13-19 CHAPTER 2 [A]. TWIN EVILS HAVE BEEN COMMITTED {{Jeremiah 2:13 for My people have committed TWO EVILS. THEY HAVE FORSAKEN ME, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 2:13, John 4:10, John 7:37-38, 2 Timothy 3:13, Jeremiah 2:14-15, Exodus 4:22-23, Revelation 16:13-14, Zechariah 14:2-3, Jeremiah 2:16-18, 2 Kings 23:35, Isaiah 19:21-25, Jeremiah 2:19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Build A "Mega" Church!

Contributed by Dwight Jones on Nov 27, 2005

We trumpet high impact ministry with all of its frills. Our services are filled with video clips, movie clips and unfortunately scripture clips. We take more time and efforts refining our delivery than we do making sure that what we are delivering has H

In practically every gathering of ministers there is a subject that comes up; that subject is church growth. “How do we get people to come to church?” We have answered that question with a thousand books and yet by and large we are losing the battle for souls. In spite of our best efforts, we ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:10-11

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Walking Towards Spiritual Fitness

Contributed by Steve Taylor on Jun 9, 2018

Spiritual growth requires effort and diligence, and it takes time. It’s not a one shot deal. There’ll be constant battles. But just like physical fitness, you’ve gotta keep getting back out there, and start back working out, your body, mind and soul.

Do you ever feel like you’re slipping with your faith? You just can’t seem to keep steady with doing what you know it takes to be a good Christian. You just can’t be that perfect projection of what’s perceived to be the “perfect Christian”. Well believe me, true spiritual growth requires effort ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:7-8

God Is With Us - Always Series

Contributed by Allan Quak on Jan 1, 2019

When we fall into a rut, or feel that our efforts are not worth God’s attention, God comes alongside as and reminds us that He is with us. Which means we shouldn’t get stuck in the moment and allow that to be the focus – we need to look beyond the moment to what God is doing.

Jexit - Judah Comes Home God is With Us - Always Haggai The last time we focussed on the returned exiles we discovered that they were in a bit of a rut in their spiritual lives. The sacrifices had started to happen as the alter was in place. But there was no temple building as the temple ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Not As Easy (Or Hard) As It Looks

Contributed by Michael Blitz on Aug 23, 2025

Being a Christian isn’t as easy as we think—our best efforts fall short before a holy God. But it’s not as hard as it looks either, because Christ has already done the impossible for us, giving us His Spirit and His strength to live as His people.

GOOD MORNING. There were definitely times that I thought that being a pastor would make it easier to be a Christian. I realized how foolish that was even before going to seminary watching some rather famous pastors fall very publicly to temptation in the 80’ and 90’s. And this isn’t about beating ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:14-24, John 8:25-36

Denomination: Anglican

Let It Happen In Your Heart

Contributed by Troy Borst on Mar 12, 2005

The outside of my life should match my heart. I think this is one of the lessons that we Christians miss most of all in our efforts to be like Jesus. Many times we can talk a good game or know the right places to be, but our heart is truly what God look

LET IT HAPPEN IN YOUR HEART Colossians 3:15-17 INTRODUCTION The Apostle Paul tells us that when we put on the characteristics of Christ (mentioned in verses 12-14) that it should demonstrate itself in several ways. Paul says that these characteristics of Christ should not be just on the inside ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:15-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Aspects Of Love Series

Contributed by Thomas H on Jan 21, 2005

Christians often wonder what God’s will for their life is. While we expend great effort in seeking God’s will, we often miss the obvious as contained in the Bible. This sermon looks at practical ways we can help fulfil God’s will for us to love our neig

What am I supposed to do? What is God’s will for my life? Have you ever wondered what God wants you to do with your life? Have you ever spoken with other Christians who say “I wish God would tell me what He wants me to do with my life, then I’ll do it!” Have you ever seen Christians paralysed ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21

Denomination: Baptist

Unrestrained Pursuit Series

Contributed by Danny Davis on Jan 30, 2014

When God brings us into His kingdom through faith in Christ we become His son or daughter. As such, God calls us to make every effort to live in peace and to be holy. But how can we do this. Join Pastor Danny as he teaches on how to have peace

(ME) Good morning Odessa First! I am Pastor Danny – I am the Senior Pastor. I am thankful you have chosen to be with us this morning to worship our risen savior Jesus Christ. Over the last few weeks we have been studying the Book of Hebrews chapter 12 and learning about an UNSHAKEABLE ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:14-17

Denomination: Assembly Of God

How To Get The Most From Your Prayer Life

Contributed by Darrin Fish on May 7, 2014

So many Christians today are not experiencing victory, Because they have never gotten past the awkward stage with God. The only way to get beyond that stage,is to make the effort.When we come before God we need to share more than our requests but also our thoughts.

How to Get the Most from Your Prayer Life Ephesians 6:18 You know…the Apostle Paul really knows how to end a letter with a BANG! • In this chapter he starts by talking about Family and having healthy relationships. • Then he goes on to teach us what we need to do in order to have ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18

Denomination: Christian Church

How To Live Like Christ

Contributed by Craig Condon on Jun 8, 2015

God calls us to have a servant's heart. He wants us to glorify him and not ourselves. God places us where he wants us to serve, and we must give our all in everything he asks us to do. God wants our obedience and our best effort.

It is February 15, 1921. In the operating room of the Kane Summit Hospital, Dr. Evan O'Neil Kane is performing an appendectomy, but this is no ordinary appendectomy. First, it marked the first use of local anaesthesia in major surgery. Dr. Kane believed local anaesthetic was much safer than ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Anglican

How Can We Know If We Are Really Serving God?

Contributed by David Scudder on Jan 24, 2011

How can we know if we are really working for God? We could be doing things that God really doesn’t want us to do, or we could be doing the right things with a wrong motive. How tragic it would be to spend a lot of effort serving God and still not be pleas

Purpose: To show the evidences of serving God. Aim: I want the listener to pursue serving God in order to glorify God. INTRODUCTION: It is easy to SAY we are serving God when we really aren’t. But, it is also possible to put a lot of effort into doing a lot of good religious things and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:1-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Give It Away Now Series

Contributed by Caleb Anderson on Nov 7, 2016

What happens when you’re successful? It might look differently you imagined… but let’s expect that you’re efforts will have an impact for good in the world… or at least in one person’s world. That’s called success.

What’s easier to deal with success or failure? no one likes failure, but success is more dangerous 52 days Nehemiah is wildly successful What happens when you’re successful? It might look differently you imagined… but let’s expect that you’re efforts will have an ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 5:14-18

Denomination: *other