Sermons on Harmful Motives:

"All Rise - A Christmas Message"

Contributed by Ken Harris on Dec 16, 2007

The purpose of this sermon is to motivate the hearers to love and support one another, during this Christmas Holiday Season, by refusing to sneer and judge fellow believers.

16 December 2007 U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris Ord Military Chapel Seaside CA BIG IDEA: Believers are encouraged to love and support one another, during this Christmas Holiday Season, by refusing to sneer and judge fellow believers. REFERENCES: John 7:5 (NIV) For even his own brothers ...read more

Scripture: James 5:7-11

Denomination: Pentecostal

Controlling The Tiny Terror

Contributed by Jeffrey Sims on Sep 12, 2015

This sermon makes us aware that our words do harm others and offers insight on how to change our thinking so the things we say will bring up-building to others

Just so you know the title of this sermon isn’t about how to discipline my 2 year old grandson Kaden. Even though it’s pretty hard to get a handle on a 2 year old strong willed little boy , it’s even harder to get a handle on something each of us possess that is much, much ...read more

Scripture: James 3:2-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Faith As A Child (Matthew 18:1-14)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jan 7, 2026

Jesus taught His disciples that faith does not need to be complicated. He also warned that any one who harmed children or someone new to the faith would suffer a horrendous fate.

Verses 1-5: The disciples asked Jesus a question. Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? They were probably thinking that one of them was better than the others and were as the term says, “jockeying for position” to see who the Lord would choose as His “favorite”. Now was the time for ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 127:3, Proverbs 22:6, Matthew 18:6-7, Ephesians 5:8

Denomination: Baptist

Attending Your Own Funeral, Part One Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 1, 2004

Christians should not take sin lightly, but need to focus on developing their relationship to God instead. Paul offers several arguments to convince us of this. There are other motivations besides merit and fear (Law); Grace motivates us out of love, app

Attending Your Own Funeral, Part One Note: When I preached this sermon, I found out I really had two sermons (time wise); so I preached part two (labelled, "Attending Your Own Funeral Conclusion" in which I summarize my first point and then half of the second point (which is far as I got), and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Acts Of Righteousness Series

Contributed by Steve Smith on Aug 28, 2007

Jesus causes us to consider our motive in what we do and reminds us that if our inward motive from the heart is "not of God" then "not of God" is what we will get. Why do you do what you do?

INTRODUCTION Chapter 5 began the sermon on mount with definition of “Happiness”: If you will look, and search – If you really hunger and thirst – IF you truly SEEK God with all of your heart THEN your actions will show it – And The RESULT will be “Happiness” as God defines it to be! Chapter 5 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Collaboration Of Love And Faith Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Jun 24, 2016

Love serves as a great motivator, and our faith is motivated by love. When our love is lacking or weak, our faith will be as well. Love and faith go hand in hand, working together as we strive to serve the Lord, consistent with His will.

The Collaboration of Love and Faith 1 John 5: 1-5 Today we enter the fifth and final chapter of John’s first epistle. Consistent with previous teaching, John continues to deal with love, a subject he has spoken of at length. We have considered much concerning our love for the Lord and our ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Compelled By The Love Of God Series

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Mar 11, 2012

As amazing as these truths are Paul says the most compelling thing that should motivate us in our love for Christ is what He did in giving His life for us. Greater motivation than how great heaven will be or how horrible to face judgment.

Last week we had two messages based upon the first 13 verses of chapter 5. Paul focused strongly upon the aspects of things beyond this life: the transformation of our earthly body to a building made without hands in the heavenlies, our being newly clothed in our eternal apparel and last Sunday ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

How To Lose Friends And Make Enemies Series

Contributed by Terry Blankenship on Mar 13, 2012

The book, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, was a best seller in the motivational market years ago. Today, people are using God's Word as a motivational marketing tool to win friends and influence people. However, Jesus lost frien

John 6:25-59 How to Lose Friends and Make Enemies Intro – With Friends Like That… Recently I had a dream. My friend Corey and I were hunting with a group of friends. We paired off in groups of two and went to our assigned location to hunt. Later that evening Corey returned alone, ...read more

Scripture: John 6:25-59

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Verses Self-Centered Religion

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Sep 16, 2002

Jesus attacked self centered religion and warns us not to be apart of the traditions of men because their motives are self-centered not God-centered. Scripture

Jesus verses Self-centered Religion Thesis: Jesus attacked self centered religion and warns us not to be apart of the traditions of men because their motives are self-centered not God-centered. Scripture Texts: Matthew 9:2-17: 1Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:1-17, Luke 19:41-44

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Blessing For All Nations

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 23, 2016

The ultimate harvest will be when "all the ends of the earth" revere God.

A BLESSING FOR ALL NATIONS. Psalm 67. The opening of this Psalm echoes the beginning of the high-priestly benediction pronounced by Aaron and his sons (Psalm 67:1; cf. Numbers 6:24-25). The Psalm also has its foundations in the blessing of all the families of the earth through Abraham and His ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 67:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

War Of Your Worlds Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

When you see yourself as an alien and an exile with your citizenship in heaven, and God as your only Sovereign, you stop drifting with the current of the day. You ponder what is good for the soul and what honors God in everything.

When is something worth nothing? Zimbabwe’s central bank will introduce a $50 billion note -- enough to buy just two loaves of bread – as a way of fighting cash shortages amid spiraling inflation. Zimbabwe is grappling with hyperinflation now officially estimated at 231 million percent, and its ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Holy Spirit And Evangelism Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Sep 25, 2025

The Holy Spirit empowers believers with boldness and courage to proclaim Christ fearlessly, even in the face of opposition, making evangelism fruitful and effective.

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND EVANGELISM – Boldness To Preach Christ By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Acts 4:29-31 Key Verse: “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” – ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:29-31

Denomination: Assembly Of God

What Is Your Excuse?

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Jul 9, 2019

Three men and three different excuses as to why they couldn't follow Jesus. We can learn from their mistakes to live out our calling with passion and to keep from letting the world distract us from this important mission.

MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH “ALICE IN WONDERLAND.” IN THE MOVIE, ALICE FINDS HERSELF AT A FORK IN THE ROAD. AS SHE CONTEMPLATED HER DECISION, SHE NOTICES THAT THE CHESHIRE CAT IS UP IN THE TREE. UNDECIDED ON WHICH ROAD TO TAKE, ALICE LOOKS AT CHESHIRE THE CAT AND ASKED HIM, “WHICH ROAD DO I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:51-62, Matthew 7:10-14, Matthew 6:21

Denomination: Free Methodist

Unanswered Prayer (Part 3) Series

Contributed by Benjamin Utomo on Mar 1, 2023

God invites us to ask Him, and we will receive (Matthew 7:7). But why does He sometimes not answer our prayers? This sermon series explains several possibilities for why God does not grant our prayers.

Prayer is an essential part of the Christian life and an excellent means of communication with our Heavenly Father. We can express our deepest longings, fears, joys, and hopes through prayer, seek God's guidance and help and intercede for others. However, sometimes it seems God is not answering ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7, 1 John 5:14, James 4:3, Psalm 66:18, Isaiah 59:1-2, 1 Peter 3:7, Jonah 3:5-10, Genesis 21:14-19, 1 Kings 21:17-29, Mark 7:24-30  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Daughter Of The Most High

Contributed by Pastor Renji George on Jan 7, 2026

Like the sandalwood tree that imparts its fragrance to the axe that cuts it, a woman can become a blessing to many (even to the one who harms her) through what she has learnt of God in her sorrows!

The beautiful title a woman can have at any time of her life is ‘daughter’. She can rise up to any level with any impressive titles in her whole life. But ‘daughter’ is the title that assures her security, comfort, hope and belonging. When you are confident that you are not only called but are ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:25-29, Luke 10:39-42, John 4:1-30, Luke 8:43-48, Mark 5:25-34, Matthew 9:20-22, Acts 16:13-15, Romans 16:1-2, Judges 4:1-15, Luke 1:5-25, John 20:1-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal