Sermons on Extra Effort:

Living In Christ Part 2: Bearing Fruit Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Aug 11, 2008

We must put forth an effort towards becoming fruitful.

Living In Christ Part 2: Bearing Fruit Text: Eph. 4:25-32 Introduction 1. Illustration: There are no short cuts to maturity. It takes years for us to grow to adulthood, and it takes a full season for fruit to mature and ripen. The same is true for the fruit of the Spirit. The development of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-32

Denomination: Methodist

Come Let Us Reason Together.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 10, 2022

The failure of our efforts and the glory of Christ's work.

COME LET US REASON TOGETHER. Isaiah 1:10-18. Isaiah addresses his congregation as “rulers of Sodom” and “people of Gomorrah”, and begins to reason with them (Isaiah 1:10). It is all quite shocking: how dare he expose our comfortable, upright congregation to such strong language? After all, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:10-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Psalm 27 - The Lord Of Light And Salvation Series

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Apr 7, 2014

This is another message from my efforts to preach through the Psalms.

THE LORD OF LIGHT AND SALVATION TEXT: Psalm 27:1-14 Psalms 27:1-14 KJV A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? [2] When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:1-14

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Monument Of Shame Series

Contributed by Mathew Philip on Sep 7, 2020

Man's efforts without God result in confusion.

Several of the structural designers of the original World Trade Center was attending a conference in St. Louis. During the question and answer period a person asked to one of the chief engineers if he had any regrets about the design of the building. When asked this question, the chief structural ...read more

Denomination: Other

Unanswered Prayers Part 1 - The Dead Zone Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 21, 2008

Sin can create a "dead zone" where our calls to God will not be answered. Find out what they are, and how we can move out of the zone of unanswerable prayer.

OPEN: About 3 years ago Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had an idea! He was eager to get in touch with the people of his country so he gave out his personal cell phone number during a speech and urged Indonesian people to contact him directly with any complaints about the government’s ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Challenges Of Being A Cheerful Giver

Contributed by Joseph Betz on Nov 22, 2006

Lay Sermon on Stewardship. The focus is on the historical and social responsibility of being a Christian and giving and does not mention biblical tithing.

"The Challenges of Being a Cheerful Giver" Sermon Preached by Joseph A. Betz Setauket Presbyterian Church, NY October 22, 2006 Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9: 6-15 The Apostle Paul writes, "God loves a cheerful giver." The original Greek word he used was hilaron for cheerful, which translates into ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Radical Gospel

Contributed by Ian Lyall on Oct 11, 2008

Is the Gospel we preach, and the God we preach the same as Paul had preached to the Thessalonians in AD 49?

The first epistle to the Thessalonian, of which we just heard the first chapter, is the earliest of Paul’s writings. We read in Acts chapter 17 of his visit to Thessalonica (modern-day Salonika) in the year 49; of how he preached in the synagogue for two Sabbaths, but was then driven from the city ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Responding To Opposition To Being A Christian

Contributed by Richard Schwedes on Oct 15, 2007

Throughout history there is always been opposition to Christianity, this sermon deals with some of the ways we can respond to such opposition

49“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52From now on there will be five in one family ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:46-53

Denomination: Lutheran

God, Are You Imagining Things?

Contributed by Coz Von on May 9, 2016

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

Are we predestined to be saved or lost? By the foreknowledge of God and through His infinite wisdom God knows the future and what the outcome of our choices would be, Knowing this, isn’t it true that the outcome of my salvation is pre-determined? Is my quest for salvation just a matter of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Brothers Return (Genesis 43)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 26, 2024

Can youthful egos be turned to humility? Can God finally bless us when they do? Let's look at Genesis 43.

Does the reality of life often turn youthful bragging and lack of wisdom into humility? Does God sometimes bring wonderful surprise blessings after many years of trial and testing? Let’s look at Genesis 43. Why did Joseph’s brothers eventually need to return to Egypt? Now the famine was severe in ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Experiencing The Word Of God Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Feb 2, 2003

1. Being a student of the Word takes effort. 2. Being a student of the Word turns effort into joy. 3. Being a student of the Word turns the written Word into the Living Word.

Ravi Zacharias, a Christian intellectual who travels around the world lecturing in secular settings on spiritual themes, tells of an experience he had in Columbus, Ohio. He writes, “A few weeks ago, I did a lectureship at Ohio State University. As I was being driven to the lecture, we passed the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:9-16

Denomination: Methodist

The Gospel: Opposes Legalism Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Sep 4, 2015

There is a monumental issue at stake. The Gospel of Grace is being weighed in the balance. Donft turn Christianity into a list of rules. It takes extra work to be Spirit led.

How would you like to walk up to the man who preached the Pentecost sermon, get up close to his face, (this man who walked on water), look him straight in the eye in front of a crowd of people and say, Peter my buddy, Cephas old pal, you are not preaching the true gospel. You better straiten up and ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:11-16

Denomination: Baptist

What Are You Looking At ? Series

Contributed by Randall Lavere Ii on Oct 20, 2006

2nd in a series of 2. Rather than focus on the problems of life, we should look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

What are you looking at? Hebrews 12:1-3 Continue dialogue from Zaccheus. He rose above the rest of the crowd, and made the extra effort to see Jesus passing through. We talked about getting into position to receive the blessings from God, and how the timing in life is everything. (Marvin & ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Denomination: Charismatic

Having The Also Spirit

Contributed by James Rich on Oct 4, 2001

God is searching for someone who will go beyond the ordinary. Someone who will go the extra mile. Not just what is expected of them but ALSO.............

Genesis 24:1And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. 2And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: 3And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 24:1-20

Denomination: Pentecostal

Look Into The Face Of Christ, And See The Heart Of God.

Contributed by Don Schultz on Dec 6, 2001

Because we cannot ascend to God (which is attempted during the Christmas season), God descends to us, and gives us meaning and joy.

Luke 2:1-20 Look Into The Face of Christ, and See the Heart of God. Of all the holidays during the calendar year, both secular and religious, I would describe Christmas as a high-effort holiday. We have lots of low-effort holidays, like Memorial Day or Labor Day. How much effort do those ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Lutheran