Sermons on Harmful Motives:

Gratitude's Nemesis: The Grumble Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 5, 2023

Understand the harmful effects of grumbling and the benefits of gratitude. Grumbling leads to discontentment and distances us from God, while gratitude brings us closer to God and improves our overall well-being.

Do you remember the movie 'Inside Out'? You know, the one with all the emotions living inside the girl's head? Imagine if there was a character in there called 'Grumble'. He'd be the one always complaining, always seeing the glass half empty. Funny in a movie, but not so cool in real life, right? ...read more

Topics: Gratitude, Complaining, Emotional Impact, Positive Psychology

"give Till It Feels Good" Series

Contributed by David Henderson on Nov 3, 2020

Paul names 7 of these spiritual gifts and I like to refer to them as motivational gifts. They are what motivates you; what drives you and makes you who you are and if you use these gifts throughout your lifetime you will be very effective in God’s work.

UNWRAPPING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS” “Give Till it feels Good” Romans 12:3-8 and 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 So in our series titled “Unwrapping your Spiritual Gifts” we are talking about 7 spiritual gifts that Paul mentions in Romans 12. Listen now. Now in that list we have already covered the spiritual ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-9, 2 Corinthians 8:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

A Kind Of Firstfruits Series

Contributed by John Visser on Feb 20, 2006

God allows and trials and purposes in your life, not to destroy you, not to harm you, not even to hurt you, but to strengthen your faith to teach you perseverance an endurance and to help you grow up in Christ in every way.

A Kind of First Fruit James 1:16-18 What I want us to try to do together in the time that we have this morning is unpack these verses that we have read together from James Chapter 1, the verses 16, 17 and 18. The book of James, like all Bible books is not simply a collection of isolates verses ...read more

Scripture: James 1:16-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Positive Side Of The Ten Commandments: The Ninth Commandment Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Nov 15, 2002

The hidden motive back of each commandment is worship. Since everything a Christian does should praise God, all of the Ten Commandments revolve around worshipping God.

NINTH COMMANDMENT “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor” (Ex. 20:16). A. INTRODUCTION 1. Relationship. Why did God say, Thou shalt not lie? Because you know when you lie, you cannot lie to yourself. We lie to others. 2. Destroys self-respect. If we cannot lie to ourself, how ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:16

Denomination: Baptist

Called To Freedom Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Feb 8, 2009

Paul gives four purposes of God’s call to the freedom of loving Him: 1)To oppose the flesh, 2)To serve others, 3)To fulfill His moral law, & 4)To avoid harming others.

In the lead-up to the 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver is experiencing a construction boom. But there is growing concern that all the money being thrown around in the chase for skilled labour has led to an increase in drug use among construction workers. So construction companies and the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:13-15

Denomination: Other

How Jesus Learned Obedience Through The Things He Suffered

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Believers should also be motivated by the knowledge that their heavenly Father both blesses obedience and disciplines disobedience in His children

How Jesus Learned Obedience Through Hardship (Heb 5:8) "He learned obedience through the things He suffered." (Heb 5:8) Everyone who wants to make a success out of his or her life has to remain teachable. Jesus humbled Himself by temporarily setting aside His rights to take on the form of a ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Were The Wise Men Wise?

Contributed by Ken Harris on Jan 11, 2001

The purpose of this sermon is to motivate the hearers to affirm to others that men have been brought from far to WORSHIP CHRIST.

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris, Jr. Fort Stewart, Georgia I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Matthew 2:1-12 II. THE LARGER CONTEXT: Now, before we begin, allow me to share with you some HISTORICAL TRUES regarding THE BOOK OF MATTHEW. For example, in the Book of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12, Matthew 2:1-2

Denomination: Pentecostal

Difficulties In Prayer Series

Contributed by Alan Mccann on Sep 7, 2004

why do we encounter difficulties in prayer - sin, disobedience, wrong relationships, wrong motives, loss of focus

DIFFICULTIES IN PRAYER Isn’t it amazing the excuses you can find not to do something. I am constantly amazed at my ability to find reasons why I should not do administration. Or why it would be better not to go running and just to read a book. But what is not so amazing is how easily reasons not ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:11-22

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Why Is God So Willing To Answer Our Prayers?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 10, 2004

This message focuses on the 4 passages that specifically point us to God’s motives and reasons for answering our prayers.

Jesus On Prayer: 1. Most passages deal with the conditions of answered prayer: a. You’ve got to have faith. - Matthew 17:20; Matthew 21:21-22; Mark 9:23; Mark 11:22-24; John 14:12. b. You’ve got to be obedient. - John 14:15; John 15:7, 16. - also, James 5:16; 1 John 3:22. c. You’ve got to be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-8

Denomination: Baptist

How Do We Please God? - Pt 1

Contributed by Jim Kane on Oct 5, 2004

How do we please God? By regularly examining our motives and priorities against God’s standards.

Recently someone in our congregation shared a photocopy of an article from the May 13, 1955 (that’s right, 1955) issue of Housekeeping Monthly entitled The Good Wife’s Guide that feature tips on how to please their husbands when they come home from work. Here are some excerpts: • Have dinner ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:2-5

Denomination: Church Of God

Nuts Stewardship "Whose Fries Are These" Series

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Nov 5, 2002

This is a stewardship sermon dealing with the reality that all we have belongs to God. It motivates to become tithers and generous givers.

NUTS Stewardship “Whose Fries Are These”? GNLCC 10/26/2002 Malachi 3:1-12 Matthew 19:17-21 Text 1 Chronicles 29:10-16 We are continuing our theme of becoming a NUTS church. What is a NUTS Church? A Church that never underestimates the Spirit. The Theme comes from our adaptation ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:1-12, 1 Chronicles 29:10-16, 2 Chronicles 29:10-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Lord Teach Us To Pray

Contributed by John Johnson on Nov 12, 2002

One of the things that motivated the disciples is that they saw Jesus pray. Each and every one of us must be a person of prayer.

Lord Teach Us to Pray Luke 11:1 Why does a person want to learn to pray? One of the things that motivated the disciples to ask Jesus was that they saw him pray. Often times they would see Jesus pray He prayed on everyday occasions. As he was ministering to the crowds by teaching, preaching and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1

Denomination: Baptist

What Is A Constrite Spirit?"

Contributed by Ken Harris on Aug 20, 2005

The purpose of this sermon is to motivate the hearers to affirm to others that God dwells with those who are humble and have a contrite heart.

21 August 2005 by U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris Busan, Korea (Ulchi Focus Lens Exercise) Isaiah 57:14-21 (NIV) Big Idea: God lives with those who are humble and have a contrite heart. REFERENCES: Isaiah 57:1-21; Hebrew 12:1-10; Lamentation:33-34; Psalms 51:17 (The sacrifices of God are ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 57:14-21

Denomination: Pentecostal

"In The Tops Of The Mulberry Trees..." By Dr. Winson Butler

Contributed by Winson Butler on Feb 23, 2005

It is not the man with a motive but the man with a purpose who prevails. David is our classic example. Let’s examine it together!

Introduction Everyone has met the character David. Who can forget him. Young, innocent, brave and of course handsome to a fault...but not without them! All of us do. Have faults that is. David was no exception. He who was after God’s own heart often times let his own heart get in his way. The ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 5:24

Denomination: Baptist

Pilate's Politics Served A Good Purpose Series

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Mar 9, 2005

This sermon reflects on what motivated Pilate to do what he did, and how it affected what happened to Jesus.

March 9, 2005 Pilate’s Politics When you put people into your car to ride with you, you are putting their lives into your hands. One wrong turn or one moment of indecision could lead you into a quick and fiery death of the most painful kind. Imagine, for instance, that as you were driving ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran