Sermons on Effort That Is Worthless:

Laodicea: Knock, Knock! Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Feb 14, 2021

Becoming a tepid or lukewarm church doesn’t take any effort at all … none. All we have to do is sit in the pews, sing the same old hymns, hear the same old sermons over and over again, and eventually you’ll end up with a tepid church full of lukewarm Christians.

The sun showed them no mercy. Directly overhead, it blazed and beat down on them. They were tired and hungry and very thirsty, so the sight of a well … even a Samaritan well … was a more-than-welcome sight. Jesus and the Disciples didn’t have a jar or a bucket with them, so they had no way to ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22, Isaiah 55:1-2

Denomination: United Methodist

Be Present Series

Contributed by Kory Labbe on Sep 5, 2025

Every healthy relationship we have in life requires us to show up! We need to make a proactive effort if we want to grow closer to someone. This story about Zacchaeus shows us that our relationship with Jesus can also benefit from doing what is necessary to move closer to Him.

When was the last time that you just sat in the silence and waited on God? Every day we are bombarded By noise. In fact, scientists are starting to study what different types of noise do to individuals. If you were to go to my office at work and walk through the behavioral health hallway, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Knocked Down But Not Knocked Out

Contributed by Karl Perry on Dec 31, 2006

It’s good to know that it does not matter how many times we get knocked down, just as long as we get up again? And the good thing about this is the fact that when we do get back up, we may not have our full balance and composure, but just the mere effort

“KNOCKED DOWN, BUT NOT KNOCKED OUT!!” II CORINTHIANS 4:8-9 8. We may be troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9. Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. In the sport of boxing there are all kinds of ways that a boxer can be ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cross The Line

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jun 19, 2018

Our world has drawn new lines in the sand in an effort to separate us from those who need what only Jesus can give. Our world says – keep your religion to yourself – we don’t want it here. Jesus says cross the line, I'm here for you.

Cross the Line John Chapter 11 Jesus crosses the line and goes back to Judea where his friend Lazarus has died. Sometimes God will call us and ask us to cross the line. To go from a place of relative safety to a place of danger. The last time Jesus was in Judea they tried to kill Him by ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

God's Will For Our Lives Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jul 2, 2018

1. Be grateful for God's goodness (vs. 18-19). 2. Make extra efforts to reach people for Christ (vs. 18). 3. Learn your limits (vs. 19-20). 4. Take the time to rest (vs. 21-23). 5. Be open to new opportunities from the Lord (vs. 21-23).

God's Will for Our Lives The Book of Acts - Part 63 Acts 18:18-23 Sermon by Rick Crandall Grayson Baptist Church - November 2, 2014 BACKGROUND: *Tonight, we will come to the end of Paul's second missionary journey. We will see Paul finish his work in Corinth and begin to head home for a while. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:18-23

Denomination: Baptist

There Are No Atheists In Hell

Contributed by John Gaston on Jan 25, 2023

People with "no religion" have grown to over 30% of the population. We must reach them.“There Are No Atheists in Hell” because all of them became believers, just too late! See the reasons why, God's efforts to reach them, and what you need to tell them.

THERE ARE NO ATHEISTS IN HELL Luke 16:22-29 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: ONLY HEARING ONE SIDE 1. A Judge was about to swear in a member of a jury when he was told that the man was deaf in one ear. 2. “You really can’t serve on the jury.” “Why not?” 3. “Because you can only hear one side!” ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:22-29

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Give Them Jesus! Series

Contributed by Mark Nichols on May 18, 2008

Jesus makes some exclusive claims…but He has the right to do so because He offers what NO ONE else can! In our efforts to reach the lost, let’s make sure we give them what they can’t get anywhere else…let’s give them Jesus!

TEXT: John 14:6-8 TITLE: “Give them something they can’t get anywhere else!” SERIES: The Growing Church Part 2 TOPIC: Evangelism OCCASION: Burnside Christian Church PROP.: Jesus makes some exclusive claims…but He has the right to do so because He offers what NO ONE else can! In our efforts ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Our Mighty God Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Nov 27, 2007

This is the second sermon in this series. 1. He Knows Where You Are. 2. He Knows What Shape You Are In. 3. He Knows How Much Time You Have Left. 4. He Knows The Efforts You Have Made To Save Yourself. 5. He Knows That You Need Him.

Our Mighty God Have you ever found yourself at the mercy of someone else? Has your car ever broken down while you are quite a distance from home? Have you ever had a flat tire and gone to get the spare only to find that the spare was flat too or you don’t have one? Have you ever been traveling ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Someone Is Praying For You: The Holy Spirit Prays

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Jan 15, 2014

God the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness, because He prays for us according to the Father’s will. We will see from the Scriptures that although we often come up short in our best efforts, with God’s help we can get through anything we face in life.

Someone Is Praying for You: The Holy Spirit, Our Intercessor Text: Romans 8:18-28 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-28

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Learning To Live Inside Out: First Sunday In Lent, Year A Series

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Feb 25, 2023

Intro: If Black America endeavor to work in the world around us, we will fall. From time to time, we will fail; our efforts will not be received in the spirit intended; the fruit of Black History has been slow in coming. So, if we must fall, let us fall down in worship of the one who redeems us.

Matthew 4:1-11 The Message (The Test) 4 1-3 Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: United Methodist

Allow Me To Meet You Series

Contributed by Jesus Rodriguez on May 7, 2025

In the chaos of life, Jesus doesn’t shout, He simply shows up. Allow Me To Meet You is a call to pause, refocus, and choose what matters most: sitting at His feet. When Jesus enters our busy lives, He’s not asking for more effort, He’s asking for our heart.

(38) Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. (39) And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. (40) But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Apostolic

Sowing In Faith, Reaping In Hope Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Oct 3, 2024

The Bible often uses agricultural imagery to teach us about spiritual truths. Just like a farmer plants seeds and waits for a harvest, we plant spiritual seeds through prayer, good works, and faithful living.

Sowing in Faith, Reaping in Hope Introduction: It’s such a blessing to gather together and dive into God’s Word. Today, we’re going to explore what it means to live a life of faithful sowing. Our Christian walk often mirrors the rhythms of farming—planting seeds of faith, nurturing them through ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:6, Matthew 13:3-9, Galatians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 3:6

Denomination: Pentecostal

Our Labor For The Lord

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 3, 2013

God has a job for you: 1. Bear someone else’s burden (vs. 1-2). 2. Examine your efforts (vs. 3-5). 3. Spread the right kind of seed (vs. 6-8). 4. Be willing to wait on the Lord (vs. 9). 5. Get fully involved in God’s labor of love (vs. 10).

Our Labor for the Lord Galatians 6:1-10 Sermon by Rick Crandall Grayson Baptist Church - Sept. 1, 2013 *Back in 2004, “Reader’s Digest” told the story of a family going on vacation: the Klinger family. Before they left, they asked their 9-year-old neighbor about taking care of ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Sermon On The Mount - Part 9 Series

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Jun 26, 2019

This is Part 9 in a 14-part series of studies I call “The Christian Character” as described by Jesus in what is familiarly known as the “Sermon on the Mount.” In this part Jesus speaks of righteousness exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees; murder, divorce, and oaths - and a better way.

Part 9 - Righteousness exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees; divorce, oaths Sermon on the Mount The Christian Character Matthew 5:3 - 7:27 (Cf. Luke 6:20-49) This is Part 9 in a 14-part series of studies I call “The Christian Character” as described by Jesus to a crowd of people on a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:19-20, Matthew 5:21-48, Matthew 5:23-26, Matthew 5:27, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Deuteronomy 24:1-4, Matthew 5:33-37, Deuteronomy 23:21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sorry Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 13, 2023

To be sorry means "I am filled with sorrow." What can the Pharisee and the Tax Collector teach us about the value of being "filled with sorrow" before our God?

A woman told about a conversation that she’d had with her 4-year-old son after they’d gotten out of their Bible Studies one night. She said: “My son and I were WALKING to our car, and he said to me, ‘Mom, I’m not going to sin anymore.’” I got to wondering this, so I asked him why he said that, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ