Sermons on Extra Effort:

God Is With Us - Always Series

Contributed by Allan Quak on Jan 1, 2019

When we fall into a rut, or feel that our efforts are not worth God’s attention, God comes alongside as and reminds us that He is with us. Which means we shouldn’t get stuck in the moment and allow that to be the focus – we need to look beyond the moment to what God is doing.

Jexit - Judah Comes Home God is With Us - Always Haggai The last time we focussed on the returned exiles we discovered that they were in a bit of a rut in their spiritual lives. The sacrifices had started to happen as the alter was in place. But there was no temple building as the temple ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Walking Towards Spiritual Fitness

Contributed by Steve Taylor on Jun 9, 2018

Spiritual growth requires effort and diligence, and it takes time. It’s not a one shot deal. There’ll be constant battles. But just like physical fitness, you’ve gotta keep getting back out there, and start back working out, your body, mind and soul.

Do you ever feel like you’re slipping with your faith? You just can’t seem to keep steady with doing what you know it takes to be a good Christian. You just can’t be that perfect projection of what’s perceived to be the “perfect Christian”. Well believe me, true spiritual growth requires effort ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:7-8

Not As Easy (Or Hard) As It Looks

Contributed by Michael Blitz on Aug 23, 2025

Being a Christian isn’t as easy as we think—our best efforts fall short before a holy God. But it’s not as hard as it looks either, because Christ has already done the impossible for us, giving us His Spirit and His strength to live as His people.

GOOD MORNING. There were definitely times that I thought that being a pastor would make it easier to be a Christian. I realized how foolish that was even before going to seminary watching some rather famous pastors fall very publicly to temptation in the 80’ and 90’s. And this isn’t about beating ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:14-24, John 8:25-36

Denomination: Anglican

Initiating The Turn-11(2024)

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Oct 8, 2024

11 of 12. Luke informed his audience of the initial steps that God took to turn His people toward Himself. God began the process of turning of His people toward Himself. But what principles does God use to begin turning people toward Himself? In Initiating the Turn, God uses...

‘INITIATING The TURN’-XI—Luke 1:24a(:5-25) Attention: The aftermath of Hurricane Helene(Cat. 4; Landfall in Florida, Sept. 27, 2024; Sept. 28 it carried not only wind, but unprecedented amounts of rain into mountainous areas of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, & Tennessee causing ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:24, Luke 1:5-25

Denomination: Baptist

A Holy Wrestling Match

Contributed by Robert Higgins on Aug 23, 2006

What happens when you wrestle with God?

A Holy Wrestling Match Have you ever wrestled with someone bigger and stronger than yourself? Needless to say, it isn’t a pleasant experience, since you are generally destined to lose. All of the tricks in the book, including trying to curl up and keep the other person from flipping you over and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:3-30

Denomination: Baptist

Let It Happen In Your Heart

Contributed by Troy Borst on Mar 12, 2005

The outside of my life should match my heart. I think this is one of the lessons that we Christians miss most of all in our efforts to be like Jesus. Many times we can talk a good game or know the right places to be, but our heart is truly what God look

LET IT HAPPEN IN YOUR HEART Colossians 3:15-17 INTRODUCTION The Apostle Paul tells us that when we put on the characteristics of Christ (mentioned in verses 12-14) that it should demonstrate itself in several ways. Paul says that these characteristics of Christ should not be just on the inside ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:15-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Aspects Of Love Series

Contributed by Thomas H on Jan 21, 2005

Christians often wonder what God’s will for their life is. While we expend great effort in seeking God’s will, we often miss the obvious as contained in the Bible. This sermon looks at practical ways we can help fulfil God’s will for us to love our neig

What am I supposed to do? What is God’s will for my life? Have you ever wondered what God wants you to do with your life? Have you ever spoken with other Christians who say “I wish God would tell me what He wants me to do with my life, then I’ll do it!” Have you ever seen Christians paralysed ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21

Denomination: Baptist

How Can We Know If We Are Really Serving God?

Contributed by David Scudder on Jan 24, 2011

How can we know if we are really working for God? We could be doing things that God really doesn’t want us to do, or we could be doing the right things with a wrong motive. How tragic it would be to spend a lot of effort serving God and still not be pleas

Purpose: To show the evidences of serving God. Aim: I want the listener to pursue serving God in order to glorify God. INTRODUCTION: It is easy to SAY we are serving God when we really aren’t. But, it is also possible to put a lot of effort into doing a lot of good religious things and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:1-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How To Get The Most From Your Prayer Life

Contributed by Darrin Fish on May 7, 2014

So many Christians today are not experiencing victory, Because they have never gotten past the awkward stage with God. The only way to get beyond that stage,is to make the effort.When we come before God we need to share more than our requests but also our thoughts.

How to Get the Most from Your Prayer Life Ephesians 6:18 You know…the Apostle Paul really knows how to end a letter with a BANG! • In this chapter he starts by talking about Family and having healthy relationships. • Then he goes on to teach us what we need to do in order to have ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18

Denomination: Christian Church

Unrestrained Pursuit Series

Contributed by Danny Davis on Jan 30, 2014

When God brings us into His kingdom through faith in Christ we become His son or daughter. As such, God calls us to make every effort to live in peace and to be holy. But how can we do this. Join Pastor Danny as he teaches on how to have peace

(ME) Good morning Odessa First! I am Pastor Danny – I am the Senior Pastor. I am thankful you have chosen to be with us this morning to worship our risen savior Jesus Christ. Over the last few weeks we have been studying the Book of Hebrews chapter 12 and learning about an UNSHAKEABLE ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:14-17

Denomination: Assembly Of God

How To Live Like Christ

Contributed by Craig Condon on Jun 8, 2015

God calls us to have a servant's heart. He wants us to glorify him and not ourselves. God places us where he wants us to serve, and we must give our all in everything he asks us to do. God wants our obedience and our best effort.

It is February 15, 1921. In the operating room of the Kane Summit Hospital, Dr. Evan O'Neil Kane is performing an appendectomy, but this is no ordinary appendectomy. First, it marked the first use of local anaesthesia in major surgery. Dr. Kane believed local anaesthetic was much safer than ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Anglican

Where Will I Go?

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Oct 1, 2019

This sermon is going to review the story of the children of Israel at the Red Sea in order to show that while many battles in life cannot be won through our own effort, God is more than capable and willing to secure our victory if only we would stand still and let Him fight for us!

Where will I Go? Exodus 14:5-14 Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567 “Self-esteem is that speck in the eye which most effectually mars human vision; the Great Surgeon of souls removes this from us chiefly by sanctified afflictions.” Charles Spurgeon Ever face a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:5-14, Hebrews 11:1, James 1:2-5, Romans 8:28

Denomination: Baptist

Give It Away Now Series

Contributed by Caleb Anderson on Nov 7, 2016

What happens when you’re successful? It might look differently you imagined… but let’s expect that you’re efforts will have an impact for good in the world… or at least in one person’s world. That’s called success.

What’s easier to deal with success or failure? no one likes failure, but success is more dangerous 52 days Nehemiah is wildly successful What happens when you’re successful? It might look differently you imagined… but let’s expect that you’re efforts will have an ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 5:14-18

Denomination: *other

To God Be The Glory Series

Contributed by Larry Grant on Jul 10, 2021

Power and glory belong only to God. He himself calls his Church, and rules, sanctifies and preserves it through his Word and his Spirit. Therefore, in return for the goodness bestowed upon us, we ought to thank and praise God, directing all our efforts to the recognition and glory of his name.

Our Prayers, Our Passions & Our Praise The position is that the end of all things is at hand. The miserable destruction of the nation foretold by our Saviour is now very near; consequently, the time of their persecution and our sufferings is but very short. The world itself will not continue ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

La ContribuciÓn De Las Iglesias Metodistas Al Desarrollo De Nuestro CarÁcter Nacional

Contributed by Byron Perrine on Apr 22, 2020

El contenido de este discurso ha sido extraído de Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre, y reelaborado en un mensaje originalmente presentado en un servicio ecuménico el Día de la Bandera celebrado al aire libre en el parque de la ciudad en Bird Island, Minnesota, el 13 de junio de 2013.

La IMU y las muchas otras ramas del movimiento metodista comprenden uno de los mayores grupos de denominación protestante en el mundo de hoy. El movimiento metodista fue iniciado en el siglo XVIII por John y Charles Wesley para atender las necesidades de las clases socioeconómicas ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14-20

Denomination: United Methodist