Sermons on Failure:

What Does The Church Do? Series

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Oct 21, 2003

The world today sees the church as powerless and irrelevant in our culture and the reason is due in great part because of our failure to live life differently than the world around us.

In the play, My Fair Lady, Eliza is being courted by Freddy, who writes to her daily of his love for her. Eliza’s response to his notes is to cry out in frustration: Words! Words! I’m so sick of words!... Don’t talk of stars Burning above, If you’re in love, Show me! Don’t ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-5, Acts 2:41-47

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

"Contract Or Covenant?"

Contributed by Jerry Depoy on Apr 30, 2004

Most people live in a "Contract World," and not in a "Covenant World." Contracts are written with the idea of failure in mind. That is, "What if things do not work out?" A covenant comes with the word, "Everlasting."

"Contract or Covenant?” Jonathan and David, best friends. Jonathan needed a friend... I have often wondered why Jonathan himself did not take on the giant Goliath? He displayed the right kind of faith and courage needed for the mission in 1 Samuel 14 when he and his armour bearer took on the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

The Best Player In The Game

Contributed by Jason Winters on Sep 15, 2007

Talk about best atheletes. They fail forward until they succeed. God wants us to go forward through our failures to be all He would have us to be.

The Best Player In The Game being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (NIV) So What does God expect from Me? I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Reclaiming Your Passion Part 2 Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Jul 22, 2009

And so at a point in history… Christ came to reclaim our destinies… by providing for the forgiveness of our failures and wanderings… and freeing us / allowing us… to hear the Father’s voice again…

Movie Clip: LION KING – IDENTITY AS GOD’S CHILD - A young lion runs away after being led to believe he is to blame for his father’s death. As such he is refusing to return as the new new king who could help his fellow clan to battle their now impending enemy. In this scene the rather strange ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Genesis 9 – Part 3 – If I Call My Dad An Idiot, Am I Cursed? Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 25, 2010

It’s interesting that the first time wine is mentioned in the Bible, it is connected with drunken behaviour. BUT IT IS HAM’S DISRESPECT, NOT NOAH’S FAILURES THAT FEATURE IN THIS STORY.

Genesis 9 – Part 3 – IF I CALL MY DAD AN IDIOT, AM I CURSED? Here’s the story – Noah gets drunk and gets naked in his tent. He behaves badly. He fails in terms of his witness to his family. He fails God in that he’s way out of control. It’s interesting that ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:22-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Do You Recognize Faith?

Contributed by William Mouser on Mar 11, 2005

The "Faith Hall of Fame" shows us how we recognize faith -- not by the success or failure of those who have it, nor by their joy or sadness, but by the way they clothed their faith in works.

18th Sunday in Trinity Hebrews 11:1-39 "How do you recognize faith?" Many years ago, a pornography case came before the United States Supreme Court. Justice Potter Stewart said this: “I shall not today attempt further to define [obscenity]; and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-39

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Don't Give Up

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Jul 20, 2007

This sermon encourages us not to give up in the face of failure. You can see it and/or hear it at our website at www.glenvillenewlife.com under Sermons--Pastor Rick

Don’t Give Up Genesis 21:14-21 Matthew 26:69-75 Have you ever been in a situation in which things were going pretty good, and then you did something to screw things up. You find yourself in a jam and don’t know exactly what to do? Has there ever been a time in your life, in which you were ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:69-75

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Patience Of God As Salvation Series

Contributed by Robert Higgins on Nov 14, 2006

We must learn to regard God’s patience as salvation because it is exactly that. Without it we would be doomed to His wrath after our first failure or sin.

1. Kid quotes about God’s patience – It seems they understand Him better than most adults do. a. "God waits until he gets his turn," says Savannah, age 5. b. God has patience with us "by waiting in line," says Ashton, 5 c. "God has patience with me and everyone else because we all mess up a lot," ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:14-15

Denomination: Baptist

It’s Ok To Be Human

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 25, 2017

Message deals with the struggles Christians experience with their own failures and the condemnation the Accuser often brings. This sermon helps believers be realistic about their journey of faith and the power of God's grace in their lives.

Rom. 3:23 10/2/16 I want to begin this morning by reading a familiar verse, Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”i There are two verbs in that phrase and this translation accurately translates the tense. The first verb is in the past tense.ii In the past you have ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23, Romans 7:1-25, Philippians 3:12-14, Romans 8:1-5, 2 Corinthians 12:9, 1 Peter 4:12, 1 John 3:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

What Easter Meant To Peter

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Apr 8, 2012

Easter was intensely personal to Peter because of his massive failure in denying the Lord. His post-resurrection encounter with the risen Lord on the Sea of Galilee shows the incredible love of Jesus.

What Easter Meant to Peter Chuck Sligh April 8, 2012 TEXT: Mark 16:1-8 – “And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Mountain Within

Contributed by Jesse Crooks on Feb 26, 2019

The success or failure of life depends to a very large degree on how we deal with these mountains. I want to talk with you about three different ways people deal with their mountains.

The Mountain Within (Matthew 17: 20-21) Introduction: While Linda and I were working at the Baptist Children Home, decades ago, they made a documentary film called “The Mountain Within.”. It was on an old 35mm. reel. In fact, some of you old timers may have seen the movie. It was shown in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:20-21

Holy Spirit Fire Or Hell Fire

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on May 5, 2016

Pentecost Sunday - Contrasting the Fires of Hell and the Fire of the Holy Spirit. The Fires of Hell point to a Failure, An agony of Remembrance and are Eternal. The Fire of the Holy Spirit brings a Fullness, Renewal and are Everlasting!

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21; Genesis 11:1-9 and Luke 16:19-31 Theme: Holy Spirit Fire or Hell Fire Proposition: One of the greatest images of Pentecost is the image of Fire. Today we can choose between the Fire of Hell or the Fire of Heaven. 1. The Fire of Hell points to a Failure while the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Denomination: Nazarene

Expand Your Destiny

Contributed by Jeff Van Wyk on Sep 20, 2012

There are so many Christians today who are discouraged and despondent because they feel they are barren and producing nothing in their lives. They seemingly experience the same cycles of failures and struggles. Prophetically, this is the time to star

Expand Your Destiny Sing a new song Isaiah 54:1 - "Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman," says the LORD. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 54:1

Denomination: Charismatic

Character Study Of David Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Mar 22, 2025

David’s life was a mixture of great victories and serious failures, but his devotion to God remained constant. He was not perfect, but he was quick to repent and seek God’s mercy.

CHARACTER STUDY OF DAVID – SECOND KING, MAN AFTER GOD’S HEART By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 1 Samuel 13:14 "But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 13:14

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Shepherd's Folly: When Leaders Cease To Seek

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Sep 5, 2025

This sermon reveals how leaders at every level—in the pulpit, in the home, or of their own soul—become spiritually "brutish" and destined for failure the moment they stop seeking the Lord.

Introduction: The Weight of Leadership Good morning, brothers and sisters. In the Scriptures, God often uses the simple, earthy image of a shepherd and his sheep to describe the relationship between a leader and their people. A shepherd's task is one of immense responsibility. He must have the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 10:21

Denomination: Baptist