Sermons on Effort That Is Worthless:

Soul For Sale

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jun 3, 2009

In America, you can metaphorically and literally sell your soul and be rewarded for it. One wonders how the purchaser intended to collect. We can’t literally sell our soul, but we can lose our soul to gain something else. We need to ponder Jesus’ question

Opening illustration: One would think that selling one’s soul, as Faust offered his to the devil in Goethe’s Dr. Faustus, is only a figment of literary fiction. Medieval as it seems, however, several cases of soul-selling have occurred. Wired magazine reported that a 29-year-old university ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rooted In God's Love Series

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 14, 2009

Whether we have begun the journey to emotionally healthy spirituality long ago or just starting, there is a crucial element that we must grasped in order support us during any of our difficult emotional trials.

Back To School Rooted on God’s Love Ephesians 3:16-19 October 11, 2009 Two weeks ago we explored just three ways that we function in unhealthy emotional health. There are many more that those of us who are involved in the small group study will uncover. I just wanted to give you a taste of the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:16-19

Denomination: Church Of God

Moving Out And Welcoming In

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 29, 2016

Let's talk about being salt and light (Material adapted from Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp's book, Relationships: A Mess Worth Making, chapter 15, pg. 167- 177)

HoHum: Christianity is one beggar telling another beggar where he found bread- D.T. NILES WBTU: 3 disciples are important for us to remain faithful disciples of Jesus. These are in Luke 6. This outlines for us an important night and day in the life and ministry of Jesus. Jesus spent the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Staying In The Fight: Spiritual Warfare In The 21st Century

Contributed by Ian Hyde on Mar 26, 2019

Do you believe there are forces around us, influencing our lives, which are battling for control of our world? This sermon makes the case that spiritual warfare is very real, and that at the end of the day we all serve one side or the other, whether we want to admit it or not.

INTRODUCTION Do you believe in spiritual warfare? Do you believe there are forces around us, influencing our lives, which are battling for control of our world? It sounds sort of conspiratorial doesn’t it? It sounds like something that drives the plot of a movie, or maybe a sensationalist blog ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18, Ezekiel 28:13-19, Isaiah 14:12-15

Denomination: Nazarene

Leave The Old Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 27, 2018

Just as fall turns to winter we can Leave the Old behind. But in order to do this we must: 1) Forsake our Former life (Galatians 4:8), 2) Understand our Present Life (Galatians 4:9) and 3) Live for our Future Life (Galatians 4:10-11)

As we come to the final season of the year, it tends to be a time of extremes. We are called to more events, to buy more and decorate more than the rest of the year combined. People will also go to personal extremes. Those who have been able to control spending, drinking and personal habits, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:8-11

Denomination: Other

Confidence In Christ Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Aug 6, 2004

The Power of Christ meant for Paul a confidence. For the believer the resurrection is a certain fact. It gives us confidence. This confidence in Christ is for all Christians. Not just a few, but all are meant to have this abundant power.

Just imagine something with me today. Let’s say that a few years ago that you went out and for a nickel a share bought fifty thousand shares of stock in a company that no one really thought would do any good. Some company they called the cellular phone company. And all of a sudden that stock that ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-11

Denomination: Baptist

What Will Your Contribution Be? Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Oct 21, 2022

If you want to make a significant contrition to the lives of others, proclaim God’s Word instructively, preach God’s Word intelligibly, pray intelligently, and so persuade effectively.

In the movie Emperor's Club Kevin Cline portrays an instructor of Western civilization in a prestigious private school. It is the first day of class, and about 30 high school boys, dressed in matching red jackets, settle into a room adorned with maps and busts of Caesar, Plato, and Socrates. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:1-25, Matthew 22:37, John 4:23, Romans 8:26, Isaiah 28:11-12, Romans 10:17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Benefits Of Justification

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

The Benefits of Justification by Faith - Rom. 5:1-5

The Benefits of Justification by Faith - Rom. 5:1-5 Illustration:It is no wonder that in 15 years of asking high school students throughout America whether, in an emergency situation, they would save their dog or a stranger first, most students have answered that they would not save the stranger. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Rewards Of Faith

Contributed by Brian Menear on May 6, 2011

Everyone asks "whats in it for me". This sermon answers those questions in regards to faith and belief in Jesus Christ and God.

The Rewards of Faith Job Interview Illustration- What’s in it for me? How will this affect my life, family, etc…What are the benefits. Always asked in regards to jobs, hobbies, marriage. Faith and belief in God brings the ultimate benefit. To understand and appreciate this benefit ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Weathering The Storms Of Life Series

Contributed by Terry Blankenship on Mar 5, 2013

Trials, troubles and tears are the lot of the believer. James encourages us to live a life of faith.

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Consequences Of Denying The Resurrection

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jan 15, 2023

If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, then the past two thousand years have been the greatest tragedy and travesty of human civilization ever recorded.

There is enough credible eyewitness testimony and extra biblical evidence to verify the historical significance and fact that the event of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as written in the Scriptures and secular history is true. The resurrection evidence can be presented in any objective court ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, Acts 10:38-41, Romans 6:9, 1 Peter 3:18, Mark 14:28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Caring For The Vineyard

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Oct 5, 2023

We can learn from the parable of the wicked vineyard tenants how to stay vigilant with being good stewards of God's Kingdom on earth.

THERE IS A COST INVOLVED WITH FOLLOWING JESUS. THERE ARE STRICT REQUIREMENTS OF SACRIFICE, INITIATIVE, AND EFFORT AS WE BECOME MORE PASSIONATE WITH HOLINESS AND THE PRIORITIES OF LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR, PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL, AND BEING MORE FOCUSED ON THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND MAKING DISCIPLES. WE SEE ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46, Philippians 3:7-14, 2 Corinthians 6:2, Luke 10:27, Isaiah 5:1-7, Psalm 118:22, John 15:4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Free Methodist

Really Bad Sin! Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 22, 2012

Be careful how you rate sin because Jesus has a different scale than you do. Make sure to follow His scale and not yours!

Theme: 12 in 2012 - the second challenge for the year. Illustration: Have another rock placed next to the spiritual mile marker rock on stage as our second visual spiritual mile marker for the year. Point out the rock by the tree. Our next spiritual mile marker we are challenging you with this ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Everything Minus Love Equals Nothing Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 17, 2021

In this great love chapter Paul makes it clear that love is the supreme gift. All of the human relation problems in the world are caused by a lack of love, and only love can lift us above the hatreds in the hearts of mankind.

Where love is absent hate will reign. This is true in every area of life for individuals and groups of all kinds. We are grateful for those who give their lives to protect us from enemy forces, but we cannot thank God that their sacrifice was necessary, for we would not have needed such ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-2

Salty, Shinny And Reflective Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Jan 4, 2018

An externally focused church makes a difference in the community through good works and living out the Gospel in their daily lives.

SALTY, SHINNY, AND REFLECTIVE Text: Matthew 5:13-16 Introduction 1. Illustration: What is an Externally Focused Church? It is a church that is "increasingly convinced that effectiveness is not measured by what happens inside the church but rather by the impact the people of the church have on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16

Denomination: Methodist