Sermons on Harmful Motives:

The Surest Path To Great Reward In 2023 Series

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Dec 27, 2022

Jesus reveals the surest path to God's greatest rewards. So, Jesus begins talking about the importance of right motives in serving, in giving, in praying and in fasting. Seek first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness...

Sermon: The Surest Path To Great Reward Text: Matthew 5:20; 6:1-8; 16-18, 33 Matthew 5:20 “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven! Matthew 6:1-6 “Watch out! Don’t do ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:20, Matthew 6:1-8, Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 6:33, 1 Kings 3:9-13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Worth The Effort Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 14, 2020

It takes great effort to build up (edify) believers with the Word of God, both on the part of those who teach and those who learn. But it is worth it.

Worth the Effort (Acts 20:1-12) 1, This week, I watched part of a White Sox baseball game from two weeks agon on youtube. It was nice to be able to fast forward and see the more interesting moments. Which brings on a joke. 2. Have you heard about the first baseball game in the Bible? In the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:1-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Judgment Please, Hold The Mercy - James 2:8-13 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Aug 28, 2021

Showing mercy means giving people what they need rather than what they deserve. This message will help you enjoy receiving God’s mercy every day and will motivate you to show mercy to others—especially in your thoughts toward people.

James 2:8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of ...read more

Scripture: James 2:8-13

Sermon # 35 - The Heart Of A Christian Leader Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Dec 18, 2024

Jonah was a prophet of God, but he did not understand the loving heart of God towards a repentant people. The heart of Moses as a leader of the Israelites and the forgiving heart of Jesus are the best examples of how a Christian leader should love and care for the people under his or her care.

We read in Jonah 4:1, “Jonah was very unhappy about this and became angry.” (GNB) There are two kinds of emotions that Jonah expressed as mentioned in the verse above, one was sadness, and the other was anger. As we meditate on this portion of scripture, we will try to understand the reasons for ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1, Jonah 3:10, Philippians 1:15-16, Exodus 32:1, Exodus 32:4, Exodus 32:6, Exodus 32:7-8, Exodus 32:31-32, Luke 23:34  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

True Reconciliation Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Oct 28, 2006

We’re on a mission from God. The motivation for our mission is the fear of the Lord and the love of Christ. The message of our mission is that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. The magnificence of our mission is that God has made us his

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone about something really important and you’ve been interrupted? Perhaps the phone has rung, or someone has come into the room with something that just can’t wait and the conversation is stopped dead in its tracks. What do you do? Well if it’s me, I ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21

Denomination: Anglican

Dying To Self Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Feb 16, 2004

Life is to be lived for the glory of God. When a person lives out of a motive of self interest he is operating just as the world operates and experiences life accordingly. But for those who will deny the self-centered desires of their fallen nature and pu

Dying to Self Fortifying the Foundations # 28 John 12:12-36[1] 2-15-04 Intro Video Clip “The Greatest Story Ever Told” [Ch. 22 (2:07: 47) to Ch. 23 (2:10: 36)] Does Christianity really work? Is there something to be experienced in a walk with God that is not experienced by the average human ...read more

Scripture: John 12:12-36, Philippians 2:5-7

Denomination: Charismatic

Holiness Is A Matter Of The Heart

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jun 1, 2002

Holiness is more than merely a matter of religious activities. God is not near as concerned with our methods of ministry as He is our motives of ministry. That’s because God is not so concerned with the surface of man as He is with the spirit of man.

Holiness Is A Matter Of The Heart Text: Eph.6: 6; Mark 7: 18-19a Intro: It is absolutely impossible to become a Christian without a change of heart. Everything about trusting Christ as ones Savior affects the heart. If there has been no change of heart, there has been no conversion. Just ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:18-19, Ephesians 6:6

Denomination: Baptist

Living In Christ- Part 3 Series

Contributed by Cesar Delgado on May 26, 2006

We should be motivated both by our promised reward and by the consistent example of faithful Christians such as Paul. Like them, let us “press toward the mark of prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14)

LIVING IN CHRIST (Philippians 1:12-26; 2:1-13; 3:7-21; 4:4-19) Part 3 PRESSING ON in CHRIST Philippians 3:7-21 May 2006 Introduction A. The peace of Progress The title of today’s message is “Pressing On in Christ.” part 3 in our sermon series Living In Christ. Through this text we will know ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Those That Proclaim "No” God, "Know” God

Contributed by Ralf Bergmann on Sep 14, 2004

The church as a whole needs to be reinstructed in regards to the reading of God’s Word. It needs to be motivated in its time and in its manner of prayer. It needs to become respectful of God’s positions as “The Creator”. It needs to be re-informed abou

Sermon Title: Those that proclaim “no” God, “know” God Text: Romans 1:16-23 Date: August 17, 2003 Context of Scripture: This morning, we are going to be taking a break from Paul’s letter to Timothy and instead we are going to look at Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. As we look at this ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-23

Denomination: *other

Attaining Your Goals Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Apr 25, 2005

How do you get where you want to be? Naturally we try hard and try to be motivated - and hope God approves of us. In reality we need to trust in the Holy Spirit instead of our own abilities.

What if you had to climb a really steep trail - and somebody came along and said, "here, use my brand new 2004 Dodge RAM SRT-10 with its 500 horsepower engine capable of 525 pound feet of torque - able to reach 60 miles an hour in 5 seconds and tear up that mountain trail!" So you say "thanks" ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-18

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Christian Disciplonie - By Camille Lang Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Mar 14, 2005

When Jesus comes again there will be judgment and reward. For those who have their hearts right with God … the right motives … they will receive a reward from their Father in Heaven … For those who don’t have their hearts right with God … there will be ju

Well it’s official!!!! my personality has been locked in!!! I am an "I". Let me explain … I did a personality survey a couple of years ago (and they are always so spot on!!) … it was the DISC model. Now the word DISC is an acronym – that is the letters standing for different words … in this case ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-18

Denomination: Anglican

"The Subtle Sin Of Codependency"

Contributed by Jerry Depoy on Jul 31, 2008

We might assume that Eve wanted to know evil, however, was that her primary motive? It is my opinion that Eve wanted to become “God” so that she could be good, not necessarily so that she could be evil! And that is a subtle thought!

My personal definition of co-dependency for your consideration: When a person focuses on someone besides God, in an attempt to become the god of a person who is in distress, until the person they are trying to help, ultimately becomes their god. Our Church has begun a “Celebration Recovery” ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Resting Your Soul From Stress

Contributed by Vinnie Cappetta on Jul 26, 2011

Your life is a lot like a Rubber band...some stress is good b/c it tends to motivate us, but too much stress will break us altogether. Key is knowing when to allow the band to rest from the stress.

Mt. 11:28-30 Your life is a lot like a Rubber band Some stress is good b/c it tends to motivate us, but too much stress will break us altogether. Key is knowing when to allow the band to rest from the stress. Apostle Paul said it this way We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What More Can You Ask?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 19, 2009

What keeps us from fulfilling Jesus’ "So send I you" mandate? Lack of information? There is the Bible. Motivation? Forgiveness is critical for all. No personal experience with Christ? Now is the time for a fresh encounter. Montgomery Hills Baptist

Some of us live in a state of perpetual unreadiness. No matter what happens, we think we are not ready. Notice how I put that. We THINK we are not ready. We may have plenty of stuff in our old kit bags. We may have assembled all that we need to accomplish whatever we are about to do, but the ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: Baptist

Ambassadors For Christ

Contributed by Daniel Austin on Jan 21, 2011

The Apostle Paul lived in the body as an ambassador. Every Christian should feel that way. We anxiously await the coming of the Lord but, in the meantime, we have a message, "be reconciled to God," a mission to the entire world, and the motivating love of

Ambassadors For Christ 01/10/10 AM Text: II Corinthians 5:18-21 Introduction Bible scholar and author William Barclay wrote of an ambassador in Roman times and noted two things about the office. 1. He was an administrator sent by the Emperor to a conquered land. His commission was from the Emperor ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ