Sermons on Effort Vs Harvest:

Prayer-Care-Share: The Key To Care-Part 1 Series

Contributed by Marty Boller on Mar 8, 2006

#6 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 # 6 So did you see the Prayer Care Share Wall in the lobby as you came in today? If you weren’t here last week…we had a GREAT DAY…writing our names on our bookmarks onto the wall. Go to the Wall…taking our prayers to the extreme. In 30 plus churches in CR…Prayer Wall is ...read more

Scripture: John 5:16-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

The Story Of An Absentee King Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 9, 2021

Every believer will give an account of their efforts You will give an account of your whole life. Some of you have taken the gospel and stuck in a sock drawer. Some of you have taken the story of Jesus and stuffed in under your mattress.

I wish I could say I was shocked when I saw the story… A Libyan branch of ISIS claims to have beheaded 21 men. A caption across the bottom of the video screen read, “The people of the cross, followers of the hostile Egyptian church” As many as thirteen of the men were from one small farming ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:11-27

Denomination: Baptist

Sermon On The Challenges Of Life

Contributed by William Meakin on Nov 22, 2021

Amongst the many interpretations, the challenges of life have been defined as "The situation of being faced with something that needs great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully and therefore tests a person's ability."

Roy T. Bennett, the author of “The Light in the Heart” once remarked: “Every challenge you face today makes you stronger tomorrow. The challenge of life is intended to make you better, not bitter.” James 1:2-4 reminds us: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:10, Isaiah 41:13, Philippians 4:13

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

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

Enter Through The Narrow Door!

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Aug 26, 2025

In this Gospel Lesson we hear our Savior speak words of warning and encouragement. Jesus said that there is only one way to enter heaven. He said that we should make every effort to: “ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW DOOR”

“How do you get into heaven?” A Sunday school teacher asked that question of her 2nd grade class. It seemed like a simple question for a group of little Lutherans. But no hands went up. Silence. Crickets. The teacher was confident that the students knew the answer, so she waited patiently. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:22-30

Denomination: Lutheran

Make It Make Sense

Contributed by Dr. Jwt Spies on Oct 16, 2025

Pause and reflect on the hand of God in your life. When God allows something to bend a certain way, no human effort can straighten it out, unless He wills it. It may not make sense to us, but it may sense to God.

Ecclesiastes 7:13 (NIV) Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what He has made crooked? Look at somebody and tell them, Neighbor, I’m trying to make it make sense. Look down your row at somebody else and say, but sometimes it just doesn’t make sense. Because if we’re honest today, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:13

Denomination: Baptist

Abraham’s Faith, God’s Faithfulness

Contributed by Barnabas Park on Oct 31, 2025

Abraham trusted God’s promises despite doubt, fear, and impossibility—and how, like Abraham, we are justified not by our works but by God’s faithfulness. It reminds us that salvation and blessing are gifts of grace, not achievements of human effort.

“What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? If Abraham was justified by works, he would have something to boast about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’” ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:1-3, Genesis 15:5-6, Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 3:13-16

Denomination: Baptist

Worship Wars

Contributed by Matthew Stoll on Nov 7, 2006

Sermon to handle the increasing division over style of music in worship (contemporary vs. traditional). We sing for God’s benefit and not our own. Yet God continues to inspire us with a new song and styles of worship.

In the last month or so I have heard some interesting comments. I’ve heard, “we don’t sing enough of the old hymns,” or “I don’t like the new music,” and I have also heard “we are singing too many hymns,” or “we sing songs too slow.” Interesting isn’t it? Whenever people are involved there are ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 98:1-9

Denomination: Methodist

The Truth About Discipleship

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Mar 27, 2009

Jesus wants us to know the truth about being one of His disciples. He wants all of us to count the cost, so in vs. 24 the Lord tells us three things we must do.

The Truth about Discipleship Matthew 16:20-25 Sermon by Rick Crandall McClendon Baptist Church - March 22, 2009 *I read about a little boy who was trying to memorize some Scripture. He accidentally got two verses jumbled together. It came out this way: “A lie is an abomination unto the Lord. -- ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:20-25

Denomination: Baptist

True Greatness

Contributed by Christopher Martin on Sep 20, 2009

A sermon for Pentecost 16B/Proper 20 preached September 20th, 2009 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Audubon, Iowa. It talks about greatness in the Kingdom of God vs. greatness in the eyes of the world.

I’d like for you to imagine the following scene, and tell me what you think about it. You’ve just been told by a doctor that you have an incurable disease. This disease is fatal. You know you have a short time until you die. The doctor describes in detail how the disease will progress and rob you ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:30-37

Denomination: Lutheran

The Power Of Christ's Reconciliation Series

Contributed by David Taylor on Mar 12, 2015

The Power of Christ's Reconciliation Big Idea – The gospel turns enemies into friends and promises that we will one day stand before God sinless and pure. Our Present Status: Reconciled through Christ (vs. 22)

The Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ, part 6 The Power of Christ's Reconciliation Colossians 1:18-23 David Taylor March 1, 2015 We are in a series on Paul's letter to the Colossian church, called “The Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ.” Two weeks ago we saw Paul describing the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:18-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational