Sermons on Harmful Motives:

Sermon On Motivation

Contributed by William Meakin on Jul 20, 2023

Motivation is defined as a reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way.

Taylor Swift, an American singer-songwriter once remarked: "I just want you to know that if you are out there and you are being really hard on yourself right now for something that has happened ... it's normal. That is what is going to happen to you in life. No one gets through unscathed. ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23, Matthew 19:26, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Romans 12:11

Motives For Giving Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Apr 13, 2023

It is important for us not just to give to the Lord, but to give with the right motives. Jesus rebukes those who gave with the wrong motives, so we need to carefully consider our motives and how our motives align with God’s purposes and glorify God.

What motivates people to give? You could read about results of research on this topic about what part of giving is motivated by self interest and what part is motivated by serving others. Our interest here is not the human psychology side of giving motivation, but the biblical motivation. What do ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:7-9, 2 Corinthians 9:10-12, Luke 6:32-36, Matthew 6:2-3

Denomination: Baptist

Motive For Murder

Contributed by Robert Tallent on Aug 20, 2023

All the crime shows on tv talk about motive.

Motive for Murder Acts 7:54 -60 One person said: Man's life is made up of 20 years of his mother asking him where he is going, 50 years of his wife asking him where he has ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:54-60

Denomination: Baptist

Selfish Motives PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Feb 12, 2024

Explores our internal battles with greed and pride, encouraging us to seek God's guidance in cultivating humility and generosity.

Welcome, beloved family of God, to this sacred gathering where we come together in unity and love, drawn by the magnetic pull of His grace, to seek wisdom and understanding from His holy Word. We are a community, a family, bound by a shared faith in a God who loves us, a Savior who redeems us, and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9, Acts 5:1-11, Philippians 2:3-4

Topics: Greed

A New Motivation

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on May 14, 2025

What makes Jesus different to any other warrior. His redeeming heart of love. And we are called to love one another

Jn 13:31-35: A new motivation Story: When the 19th Century French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled on St. Helena, he was asked by one of his friends, 'Who was the greatest warrior the world has ever known?" Without hesitation, Napoleon answered, "Jesus Christ.' ...read more

Scripture: John 13:31-35

Denomination: Anglican

Excellent Motivation

Contributed by Efren V. Narido on Jan 6, 2025

What excellent motivation, not only right but godly, that we can have or develop to propel us to action, even to do what is seemingly impossible?

“Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: ’Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’ Therefore they could not believe. For ...read more

Scripture: John 12:37-43

Denomination: Baptist

The Gospel Message And Motivation Series

Contributed by David Taylor on Mar 6, 2014

Open Doors The Gospel Message and Motivation

Open Doors The Gospel Message and Motivation Acts 18:5-11 November 10, 2013 We started this series in Colossians, where Paul tells us to walk in wisdom toward those who do not know Christ by making the best use of our time. So Paul asked the Colossian church to pray that God would open a door to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:5-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Motivates You?

Contributed by Dana Visneskie on Jun 14, 2004

I ask the question, what motivates you as a Christian? What makes you do the things you do? I then make a contrast between David and Saul and ask, what motivated David to weep for a man who wanted to kill him, and what motivated Saul to pursue David.

Title: What Motivates You? Text: I Sam 18:1-12; 19:9-11; 24:1-7; 26:5-12; 31:6; II Sam 1:11-12 Pray!!! Read Text - (II Sam 1:11-12) Introduction: - A question that has been frequently asked by Christians is “If you knew the Lord was coming in 2 weeks what would you do?” - Many have said, I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Memorial Day Motivations

Contributed by Perry Greene on May 25, 2021

Memorial Day motivates us on a patriotic and spiritual level.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Moving Into Harms Way - With God's Blessing Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jul 13, 2005

Jacob and his family move to Egypt, knowing that they will face hardship. Yet God also promised to go with them and bring them. He makes the same promise to us if we will go the place of worship, peace, and refreshment.

Has God ever instructed you to go into a place where you knew eventually there would be suffering? I’m not sure that’s happened to any of us - and I am even less sure that knowing that fact would help us in any way. But in doing so we fulfill God’s plan not only for us but for His purposes on ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Heaven Can Be Harmful To Your Health Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 30, 2021

Heaven can be harmful to your health. Any blessing of God can bring with it some handicap or problem because human nature has a tendency to pride that is so strong that if the blessings of life are not balanced off with some kind of burden they can actually lead to evil rather than to good.

For 40 years Rev. William Tennent served as pastor of the historic Presbyterian Church at Freehold, New Jersey. As a young man this pastor experienced a remarkable trance. He was in bad health, and one day while talking with his brother he fainted away and appeared to have died. The doctor ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Protecting Yourself From Harmful Relationships. Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Jun 26, 2024

The people we surround ourselves with can have a profound impact on our lives.

The people we surround ourselves with can have a profound impact on our lives. While positive relationships can uplift and inspire us, evil influences can lead us down a path of destruction. In this article, we'll explore the dangers of evil influences and guide how to protect yourself from ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:24-25, Matthew 22:37-40

Praying With The Right Motives Series

Contributed by Leighton (Lee) Vary on Oct 27, 2016

Christ says that a man who prays to be seen by men loves to pray, but he is a hypocrite

Introduction A. This come from Pastor Tim again, Part of my job as a public-health nurse is teaching new parents how to care for their infants. As I was demonstrating how to wrap a newborn, a young Asian couple turned to me and said, "You mean we should wrap the baby like an egg roll?" "Yes," I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-6

Denomination: Baptist

What Is Your Motivation? Series

Contributed by Bart Price on Jan 8, 2016

As we go about making disciples, what is our motivation? Why should we want to fulfill Jesus' call?

Let’s get to our passage. Turn over to Matthew 28. This passage might be pretty familiar to you, but that’s ok. When you get to Matthew 28, we’ll read verses 19-20. Pay attention to this passage…as it lays the foundation for what we’re studying today. Let’s read ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Denomination: Christian Church

Motivational Atrocity-2

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Jun 4, 2019

2 of ? Amos declared God’s wrath to be justified/warranted due to nationally motivated atrocities. Why/When/How do nationally motivated atrocities move God to anger & retribution? National atrocity motivates God’s retribution when that nation endorses...

MOTIVATIONAL ATROCITY-II—Amos 1:3--2:5 OR--Indefensible National Atrocities/Pride Attention: A distraught husband is standing in the local florist’s shop pleading with the clerk about his need for geraniums. “I'm sorry,” said the clerk, “we don't have potted geraniums. Could you use ...read more

Denomination: Baptist