Sermons on Effort:

Bifocal ---Always Get Up

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Aug 7, 2019

Most bifocals are two fold: DISTANCE and NEAR VISION. What makes one great? We could achieve so much more with a little more vision, effort and planning. DON'T FORGET HEAVEN. God is rewards His people!

BIFOCAL LENSE? NEVER DIE EASY, ALWAYS GET UP By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com BIFOCAL: lense with two parts normally one for distance and the other for near vision. We seriously need clear vision in the church today. We die for a lack of vision. Many want to ride the ride, few ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:24-25, Hebrews 11:6, Matthew 16:27

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Easy Button

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Sep 1, 2019

Don’t get caught up in only believing the possibilities of what you think is happening in the now or 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 delivering.

The Easy Button... How many of you here this morning remember the easy button commercial Staples launched February 3 2005? Every time someone got in a situation that seemed impossible to figure out, all they had to do was push the easy button and everything magically worked out perfectly without ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:2-3, Jeremiah 32:17, Matthew 11:28-30, Ephesians 3:20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Image Is Everything Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 24, 2019

We live in an image-driven culture and our churches seem to be buying into the concept in their efforts to reach people, but more than ever, what people need is for us to be genuine followers of Christ. Consider these thoughts from our Family Minister Scott Jewell.

*Disclaimer- You need to know your audience to do what I did. It could probably be tamed down with wearing just a pair of sunglasses. I started behind the closed doors at the entrance of the sanctuary. When the entrance music for WWE’s The Big Show started to play, I flung the doors open and ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Victory Over Dieases

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Sep 29, 2020

Victory over diseases begin with a desperate desire to be well (2) A willingness to Act on Your Faith: put forth an effort, A Willingness to put Faith in Christ alone, A Willingness to Acknowledge the true source of victory and A Willingness to Praise God and Testify before men.

Victory Over Diseases Mark 5:21-34 Introduction: Jesus returned again to Capernaum, and was met by Jairus, a ruler of the Synagogue, whose daughter is sick unto death. On his way to Jairus' house, the woman of our text interrupts him and receives a "wayside miracle" ... an ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:21-34, Luke 10:19

Denomination: Methodist

Hindered But Not Hopeless Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Nov 11, 2020

There can be no doubt that Paul endured much for the sake of the gospel. From a worldly perspective, one might have thought his efforts had largely failed. However, Paul kept the faith and continued serving the Lord. We should be thankful for his perseverance.

Hindered but not Hopeless 1 Thessalonians 2: 17-20 What precious and powerful words are recorded for our exhortation in these few verses! These words reveal the very heart and soul of the apostle Paul. He, of all men, knew what it was to face adversity and extreme difficulty in ministry. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20

Denomination: Baptist

Unlocking Divine Blessings SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 9, 2023

Many individuals expend unnecessary effort in worry, work, and struggle without God's blessings. Haggai's message to the people, in nine points, taught them how to align their priorities correctly. He provided them with a word from God that reverberated with wisdom and guidance.

Many people spend too much time worrying and working without experiencing the blessings of God. In Haggai's message to the people, he taught them how to prioritize their lives according to God's will. By aligning their actions with God's purpose, they could tap into His supernatural blessings. Let ...read more

Topics: God's Provision, Prioritizing God

Keep Pushing

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jan 18, 2025

The Christian journey is a marathon, not a sprint. It demands consistent effort, unwavering faith, and persistence. Just as a woman in labour must push until the baby is delivered, so must we persevere in our spiritual race until we receive our eternal crown.

Title: KEEP PUSHING By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: “But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.” (2 Thessalonians 3:13) Supporting Text: Luke 9:57-62 INTRODUCTION: The Christian journey is a marathon, not a sprint. It demands consistent effort, unwavering faith, and persistence. Just as a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:13, Luke 9:57-62

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Removing The Hindrances

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 3, 2022

Christians will pray for those who are lost in sin, but they usually do nothing more than pray. They are either afraid, or they don’t want to make an effort. Jesus had those who prayed unto Him take an active role in assisting Lazarus.

In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus gave His disciples and all believers the Great Commission, in which He said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you.” The ...read more

Scripture: John 11:38-44

Denomination: Baptist

A Soiled Faith

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 6, 2022

Jeremiah's prophecy of the sash. The effort put forth in holding up one’s clothes represents a willingness to labor for the Lord, and letting ones clothes drag along the ground is symbolic of laziness and a lack of zeal for God's work.

In days of old, ladies who wore long dresses would lift them up past their ankles when they were walking near a mud puddle or climbing up some stairs. One reason why they did this was so they would not trip and fall; but another reason was to keep their clothing nice and clean. In order to keep ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 13:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Veil Torn

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 12, 2025

When Jesus died, God Himself tore the temple curtain from top to bottom—forever removing every barrier between His holiness and our hearts. The way into His presence is wide open, not by our efforts or rituals, but by the finished work of Christ.

Introduction – A Wall Comes Down, A Veil Is Rent Down I still remember the summer of 1964 when our family crossed from West Germany into East. We were crammed into a Volkswagen bus—my parents up front, four sisters and two brothers jammed shoulder to shoulder. The youngest, little Sarah, was still ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:51, Hebrews 10:19-22, John 19:30, Hebrews 4:16, John 4:23, 1 Corinthians 3:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Sustaining Christian Ministry-4

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Feb 4, 2025

4 of 4. The apostle Peter concerned himself with sustaining Christian ministry. Christian ministry must be sustained indefinitely. But, ?What sustains Christian ministry? Or: ?How is Christian ministry sustained? Christian ministry is sustained thru...

SUSTAINING CHRISTIAN MINISTRY-IV—2Peter 1:12-15 Attention: ‘The Constitution of the United States of America’ is a document that records the unprecedented experimental design for a new country, that was born from the collective wisdom of the founding fathers. One of their main concerns in the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:12-15

Denomination: Baptist

Can We Ignore God Without Consequence?

Contributed by Jason Pettibone on Mar 23, 2004

Noah built the ark in the open plain, far from the sea, surely attracting derision. It was hard work that required sustained effort over years and years time. But he BELIEVED and OBEYED God as a result of his faith. God honored that faith by providing a m

Can We Ignore God Without Consequence? We return to the book of Beginnings this morning. Our text is drawn from one of the most well-known stories in the Bible, found in Genesis 6 through 9. The account of Noah. With apologies to David Letterman, here’s a Top Ten list of lessons learned from ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:1-8

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Benefit Of Godly Elders

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Apr 3, 2003

Here is an example of how multiple gifts, abilities and perspectives can synergistically work together for a greater total effect than the sum of several individual’s efforts. Without elders, the church can easily be led astray by one person’s agenda, per

Why Elders Are Important - Acts 15:1-29 Illustration:Peter Drucker offers insightful guidance to the church when he calls leadership a peak performance by one who is "the trumpet that sounds a clear sound of the organizations’ goals." His five requirements for this task are amazingly reliable and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:1-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ho-Hum

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Apr 2, 2006

We are lost in the swamp of compromise, because: 1. We value security over significance. 2. We value what is easy over what takes effort. 3. We value the material over the spiritual. 4. We value mediocrity over excellence.

John Steinbeck, winner of the Nobel Prize, decided to travel around the country he loved in order to explore and enjoy it more deeply. He was also planning on writing about his experiences in a book, but he was surprised that very few people encouraged him to go. Some even said that it was too ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-5

Denomination: Methodist

Are You Experiencing Victory Or Something Less?

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Nov 27, 2006

So many Christians experience phyrric victories that masquerade for the spiritual victories that are won through the Lord Jesus. Phyrric victories are those which are won through efforts of our flesh that may win a few battles but end up costing us so muc

Are You Experiencing Victory or Something Less? (I Cor 15:57,58) But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (I Cor 15:57,58) Song - ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational