Sermons on Effort:

Compelled To Continue

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Mar 5, 2017

Have you ever felt as if your efforts were in vain, and questioned if you were making a difference? We find ourselves questioning God, and tempted to abandon the work. We are not the first to feel this way. God is able to provide the strength we need.

Compelled to Continue Jeremiah 20:9 The life and ministry of Jeremiah was interesting to say the least. He is commonly known as the “Weeping Prophet,” and for good reason. His ministry spanned forty years in Judah, leading up to their captivity at the hands of the Babylonians. During his faithful ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 20:9

Denomination: Baptist

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

Unlocking Divine Blessings SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 10, 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

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

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

The Benefit Of Godly Elders

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Apr 4, 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

Freedom's Spirit Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Feb 5, 2009

Through six very pointed questions, Galatians 3:1-5 reminds us that from beginning to end the secret to living the Christian life is not found in our own human efforts, but in trusting God’s Holy Spirit lavishly supplied to every believer.

Freedom’s Spirit (Galatians 3:1-5) On June 23, 2001, the Boeing company finished a labor of love—the complete restoration of the last existing 307 Stratoliner. It was the world’s first pressurized commercial airliner. A New York company used a vintage loom to reproduce the original Pan Am wall ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Kinsman-Redeemer Series

Contributed by Thomas Donelan on Jun 29, 2010

Ruth the widow who left with her mother-in-law and came to Bethlehem and a difficult time, God has blessed her efforts and brought her into favor with Boaz. We have studied how this story as an allegory between Christ & the church. Watch for the blessing.

Introduction Ruth the widow who left with her mother-in-law rather than return to a soft life at her father’s house who more than likely could have arranged for a nice marriage for Ruth came to Bethlhem and a difficult time gleaning in the fields to help support herself and Naomi. God has ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 4:1-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Overcome

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Apr 26, 2009

Prayer is a tough subject. The problem is our prayers are very superficial for the most part...We don’t often consider if the point of the glimpse into the Garden is to show us that the best human effort from the holiest Man who ever lived even tends towa

"Overcome" Romans 8:26-39 (The Message) Romans 8:37 - No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. _________________________________________________________ “Overcome” – at first glance one might feel this presentation promises to be boring. The word is ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:26-39

Denomination: Salvation Army

Christ Has Chosen Us

Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Dec 18, 2012

I. EXORDIUM: Are you bearing fruit? II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: Believers III. OBJECTIVES: To show that bearing fruit is the work of the tree, that's the Vine - our LORD JESUS CHRIST not human effort. IV. TEXT: John 15:16 (New Living Trans

I. EXORDIUM: Are you bearing fruit? II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: Believers III. OBJECTIVES: To show that bearing fruit is the work of the tree, that's the Vine - our LORD JESUS CHRIST not human effort. IV. TEXT: John 15:16 (New Living Translation, Second Edition) You didn’t choose me. I ...read more

Scripture: John 15:16

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Peculiar People Of The Chosen Generation

Contributed by Joseph Lai on Aug 11, 2013

If you are to rise up to become all that you can be and all that you are in Christ, recognizing who you are as being the peculiar people is just the beginning. You need to allow that revelation to lead you to consecration. And in consecration you make effort to grow in personal holiness.

The Peculiar People A Calling to Recognize your Identity and Purpose "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: " (1Pe 2:9) The same apostle who ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Part 6 - The Evangel Of Worship Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Feb 18, 2020

we put quite a bit of effort into being attractional to the culture outside of the church. But is this really the best approach? How much is the church allowing culture to influence worship? When we understand the evangelistic nature of worship, we can better approach our role.

www.gracecommunity.com In 1940, a small country called Latvia in Europe was annexed into Russia. Most of us have never heard of it. It lived under the alien rule of Russian communism until they regained their freedom in 1991 when the iron curtain fell. They lost their freedom, their culture, ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:1-10, Matthew 15:11, Matthew 5:13-15

Denomination: Brethren