Sermons on Effort That Is Worthless:

The Battle For The Heart

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Aug 1, 2021

The media is full of “heart-healthy” tips that we should follow, but even more importantly are the efforts we make to safeguard our spiritual hearts, or what Solomon calls the wellspring of our spiritual life. Learn more about this battle for our hearts in this Sunday’s message.

The Battle for the Heart Introduction Last week we looked at the battle for our minds, and I ended saying, “That while the battle we are in is spiritual, the primary ground that this battle is fought is in our minds. But what ultimately determines the victory is the place we give to Christ in our ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:23, Luke 6:45, Jeremiah 17:9-10, Ezekiel 36:26

Denomination: Foursquare

Complete In Jesus

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 9, 2022

Have you ever questioned your salvation? As long as we keep our trust totally in Christ, we stand assured of God’s promise of eternal life. But as soon as we rest any weight on the thin ice of our own efforts, we topple into insecurity.

Have you ever wondered about your salvation; about whether or not you are going to heaven when you die? Some questions we might have are, “What am I supposed to do in order to gain God’s acceptance and love?” “Do I have to read the Bible all the way through?” “Do I have to knock on a million ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:6-23, Colossians 3:1

Denomination: Baptist

Free To Live The Life Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 1, 2004

Education, self-help books, and personal improvement efforts can make life richer and better. But nothing can do what God does when a person turns his or her life over to Jesus Christ. IN Jesus Christ, we can have victory in the fullest sense.

Free to Live the Life (Romans 8:1-4) 1. Once in a while you read a news story that makes you feel good: MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - A Mexican boxing champion beat up and hospitalized a gunman who shot at him outside a gym in a crime-plagued city on the U.S. border. Prosecutors in Ciudad ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1-4

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Are You A Grasshopper Or A Giant Warrior?

Contributed by Jennifer Casto on May 21, 2007

So many people in this life want everything but without putting forth any effort...nobody wants to sweat anymore...everyone wants things the easy way...they don’t want to fight their giants--- Yes God wants to prosper you and bless you, but sometimes you

So many people in this life want everything but without putting forth any effort...nobody wants to sweat anymore...everyone wants things the easy way...they don’t want to fight their giants---they just wanna lay down and let someone else do it...and then whine and complain about things the whole ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 13:25-33

Denomination: *other

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

Are You Searching For Milk And Honey And Finding Nothing But Grass?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Dec 8, 2006

While we search for a land of milk and honey, we often find nothing but green grass. With patience and love and effort green grass can turn into milk. OBSTACLES ARE WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOSE SIGHT OF GOD AND THE GOAL. DRY WELLS WILL PRODUCE EMPTY BUCKETS

THIS LAND OF MILK AND HONEY LOOKS LIKE GRASS TO ME? THIS IS NOT AN OBSTACLE --- THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY! By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com This is a two part lesson. Let us ponder a few points before we start. Is not this a land of milk and honey? NO, TO MY EYES IT LOOKS JUST LIKE A ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:19

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Graced From Shame (2nd Sunday) Series

Contributed by Kent Kessler on Dec 9, 2006

Has someone put a little "dis" on the front of your grace? Elizabeth knew what that was like. Her freedom was hindered, her past was haunting her, her conditions were less than what they should be, her religion was empty and she her efforts were fruitless

When I was little, if I had something on my face, my mother would often spit on a napkin or her thumb, reach over into my space and wipe the grit, or food, or dirt off of my face. It is a proven fact that a mother’s spit contains the same ingredients found in Formula 409! When we don’t look right, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25

Denomination: Methodist

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

What A Wonderful World Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 17, 2017

When we "Contend For The Faith" we need to realize the importance of contending for the fact that we have been created in the image of God. We're not an accident - we have value and a reason to live. But if folks damage that "image" how can they fix that?

(We started out the sermon with a video from BBC One Videos - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auSo1MyWf8g - which displays the wonder of God’s creation accompanied by a poetic reading of the song “What A Wonderful World”) What a wonderful world we live in. The Psalmist observed “When I look at ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 8:1-3

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Born To Be A Better Savior Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 23, 2022

Jesus was born to be our savior. But what does that mean, and what difference can that make in our lives?

There was a Christian who gave a Bible to somebody who was going through a rough time. Their life had been one disaster after the other, but in all that time there was never really made an effort to follow Jesus. So, as this Christian gave a Bible to the man… he encouraged him to read it, and he ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 7:22-27, Luke 2:11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

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

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

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

Initiating The Turn-11(2024)

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Oct 8, 2024

11 of 12. Luke informed his audience of the initial steps that God took to turn His people toward Himself. God began the process of turning of His people toward Himself. But what principles does God use to begin turning people toward Himself? In Initiating the Turn, God uses...

‘INITIATING The TURN’-XI—Luke 1:24a(:5-25) Attention: The aftermath of Hurricane Helene(Cat. 4; Landfall in Florida, Sept. 27, 2024; Sept. 28 it carried not only wind, but unprecedented amounts of rain into mountainous areas of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, & Tennessee causing ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:24, Luke 1:5-25

Denomination: Baptist