Sermons on Extra Effort:

The Tongue As A Fire! Extra Material. 20 Seed Thoughts! Series

Contributed by John Wright on Feb 1, 2010

20 undeveloped seed thoughts relating to James' teaching

(Proverbs 18:21; italics mine). Nick Young counted some twenty positive things in the Scriptures that the tongue can do, and twenty negative things. A great ruler once sent a gift of meat, the carcass of an animal, to a philosopher with the request that the philosopher send back the best part and ...read more

Scripture: James 3:9-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Is There An Extra Cup In Luke’s Last Supper? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 24, 2020

A look at an initially confusing part of Luke's Last Supper passage and the significance of what the "extra cup" means.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH VERSE 17? Why is there an extra cup in Luke’s version of the Lord’s Supper? - Luke 22:17. - Verse 17 speaks of Jesus taking the cup. But then v. 19 has Him taking the bread and then v. 20 has Him taking the cup. What’s going on? Is there supposed to be two cups? Why ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:14-20

Denomination: Baptist

Do We Have To Keep Being Extra Faithful? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 18, 2019

Our religious ritual can make us feel like we are the extra faithful when we are really failing to give God what He wants.

- We had several night visions one after the other in the chapters up to this point in Zechariah. As we come into chapter 7, two years have passed. And there are signs of progress on the temple – the walls are rising! - So is everything great? Not exactly. - The people of Bethel come with a ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 7:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

What Might Have Been?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 15, 2005

Little effort, little satisfication? there are no sadder words of pen or tongue, than the words, what might have been.

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN, IF I TRIED A LITTLE HARDER? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com INTRODUCTION: Have we really been trying? Oct. 1978: Mrs. Fannie Turner of Little Rock, Arkansas passed her written drivers test on the 104th attempt, and thus made the Guinness Book of World Records. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:6-9

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Spots & Stripes Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Feb 12, 2011

If you want true success in life, don’t depend on your shrewd deals, and don’t depend on your spent schemes. Instead, depend on the Lord.

Ted Engstrom and Edward Dayton, in a Christian Leadership Letter some time ago, talked about a young man who was appointed president of a bank. Intimidated by his new responsibilities, he nervously sought the advice of his gray-haired predecessor: “Sir, what has been the secret of your success?” ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 30:25-43

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Christmas: Christ The Greatest Gift

Contributed by William Wyne on Feb 5, 2013

Christmas is doing a little extra for someone!!! But then God did a little extra!

Christmas celebrates the awesome and amazing fact that is grander, wiser and more mysterious than we could have ever imagine. That is why the church (believers) must keep telling the Christmas story, singing the Christmas songs, and living the Christmas spirit. Because it’s the hope and the ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Baptist

Eating The Fruit Of Your Labor - Part I Series

Contributed by Pastor (Dr.) Francesca Fajinmi on Dec 31, 2016

Our labor bears fruits but the fruits are not worth eating. This sermon debunks the idea that the fruit of our labor is worth eating or enjoying. This is the first part of a two part sermon

Labor generally signifies heavy duty task, work or effort. Oftentimes, it is something we'd rather not do but because of some inherent benefits we continue to do it. For a married woman, who trusted and believed God for the fruit of the womb, getting pregnant and going into labor - though hard, it ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-22, Acts 53:4-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Matthew 5 – Part 19 – "But The Guy Is A Jerk And Deserves It!” Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 8, 2010

Most action movies have some aspect of revenge in their storyline. When the bad guy finally gets killed, I agree with the hero as he says, “The guy was a jerk and deserved everything he got!” Am I the only one? Jesus challenges my thinking!

Matthew 5 – Part 19 – “BUT THE GUY IS A JERK AND DESERVES IT!” Most action movies I have seen have some aspect of revenge in their storyline. And I must admit it, when the bad guy finally gets killed, I am there saying on the inside “The guy was a jerk and deserved everything he got!” Am I the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Got Guilt?

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Jul 1, 2010

we know we are saved by faith, but we often live with guilt because we can’t measure up to God’s standards - we need God’s grace as much after we are saved as before

Got Guilt? TCF Sermon June 20, 2010 The Apostles Paul and John, in most of their New Testament epistles, began with a greeting that included something like this one in 1 Corinthians 1:3 (NIV) Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, it’s the exact same ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Therefore, Bear Fruits Worthy Of Repentance"

Contributed by Howard Gunter on Sep 16, 2018

understanding what repentance really is

Weekend Message/Devotion Matthew 3:8 September 16, 2018 Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance How often do we pray for forgiveness and repentance? It is within our daily prayers at the Gunter house. In Matthew’s account of John the Baptist in Chapter 3, we come across a very interesting ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Best Laid Plans Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 19, 2019

Robert Burns wrote a poetic apology to a mouse for having destroyed its home. How often are we like that mouse when we try to leave God out? What does the Psalmist have to say about finding balance between faith and effort? Check out these thoughts from our Family Minister, Scott Jewell

There’s a popular saying that goes, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” Where does this saying come from? Many attribute this to John Steinbeck’s book- Of Mice and Men, written in 1937. He actually got the title from a poem by Robert Burns- To a Mouse, written in 1786. ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Altar Of Stones

Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Jun 7, 2015

To show that we worship GOD in JESUS's name and no man-made, self-effort worship will be accepted. Our worship is accepted by GOD because of JESUS.

I. EXORDIUM: Are you a worshipper? Yes. Hebrews 12:28 Hebrews 12:28 Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe; II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 27:5

Denomination: Pentecostal

#15 Understanding Love: Sweat And Dirty Hands?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 1, 2016

To understand love we must go beyond human logic and realize the lesson that sometimes all we can do is DIG THE WELL AGAIN. We also consider all the tears and sweat that Nehemiah invested to rebuild God's church and walls.

#16 LOVE UNDERSTANDS: SWEAT AND DIRTY HANDS By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com What a strange text about understanding love? Proverbs 14:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. Proverbs 14:4 (NLT) Without oxen a stable stays clean, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:4

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Get Smart - 2 Peter 1:5 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Feb 9, 2025

Is the Christian life supposed to be hard work? Or should it be easy?

2 Peter 1:5 For this very reason, having made every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:5

God Can Use A Rib

Contributed by Bill Andrews on Aug 17, 2012

Take the extra mile.

In the book of Genesis, starting at Genesis 2 and 22, we become witnesses of an awesome event, which shape the destiny of relationship. Read along with me: “And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.”- Genesis 2:22 God had to ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational