Sermons on Harmful Motives:

Jesus' Instructions To All Disciples

Contributed by Michael Mays on Jun 8, 2021

Jesus didn't leave us a command and a commission without the means, methods, motivation, and power to accomplish it.

Intro Young William Wilberforce was discouraged one night in the early 1790s after another defeat in his 10 year battle against the slave trade in England. Tired and frustrated, he opened his Bible and began to leaf through it. A small piece of paper fell out and fluttered to the floor. It was ...read more

Judgement Day Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 4, 2021

We are called to judge ourselves, especially focusing on our motives, as we come before the Lord's Table.

“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:27-32

Denomination: Baptist

Love Not Fear: Obedience From The Heart PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Jan 9, 2024

This sermon explores the concept of obedience as a reflection of our love for God, motivated by love rather than fear, and as an expression of faith.

Good morning, beloved. It is indeed a joy to gather together in God’s house, to bask in His presence, and to delve into the richness of His Word. As we gather here today, we are on a mission to understand something so fundamental, so critical to our walk with Christ: obedience. Not just any ...read more

Topics: Obedience, Love

Rapture PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 27, 2025

The sermon encourages believers to find hope, comfort, and motivation for faithful living in the promised return of Jesus and the assurance of eternal reunion.

Some promises hush a room. “I’m on my way,” is one of them. The Lord Jesus has said it. And the homesick hearts of God’s people have been listening ever since. We ache for that trumpet, we long for that shout, we yearn for that reunion where grief will be gone and goodbyes will be history. Does ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

Topics: Rapture, Church

Status Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 25, 2019

Our status as unique children of God – in contrast to unbelievers – carries with it a host of implications.

Status (I John 2:28-3:3) 1. A not-so-bright woman noticed that her coworker has a thermos, so she asks her what it's for. She responds, "It keeps hot things hot and cold things cold." The not-so-bright woman immediately buys one for herself. The next day, she goes to work and proudly ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Where’s The Love? Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Oct 7, 2024

The message examines love as the motive for what we do. The context of the Love Chapter is the operation of the gifts of the Spirit (listed in 1 Corinthians 12 and regulated in 1 Corinthians 14).

Intro Our text today is found in 1 Corinthians 13. After addressing the nine gifts of the Spirit in the first part of 1 Cor. 12, Paul introduced an analogy of the human body to teach these believers the importance of valuing and caring for one another. On the one hand, these Corinthians are doing a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, Galatians 6:10, James 2:1-20, 1 Peter 2:20, 1 John 4:1-21, Jeremiah 45:5, 1 Peter 4:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

How To Find The Good Shepherd Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Jun 8, 2021

The world is a very dangerous place spiritually, full of wolves that come to us in sheep's clothing, evil shepherds masquerading as good shepherds. How do we find the Good Shepherd? How do we determine the difference between good shepherds and bad? Jesus provides insight in John 10.

If you’re only casually familiar with the Bible, you might be surprised to find out that one of the major themes of the New Testament is false teachers. Under this general category fall false shepherds, false prophets and false apostles. You see, the Bible claims to be the truth about God and ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-13, John 9:13-34

Denomination: Bible Church

He Taught Them Many Parables… (The Fig Tree) # 16

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 14, 2022

The Lord taught many parables. But to fully understand these parables as we study them, we need to examine what motivated Him to teach that particular parable.

In order to do this, you generally have to read the verses that precede the parable He spoke. For example, following Jesus' comments about the widow giving her two small coins in the temple, He teaches about: • The destruction of the temple • The coming of the end of the age Look at Luke 21: ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:29-33

Denomination: Baptist

Thirteen Ways The Spirit Helps Us Exhibit Self-Control

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jul 15, 2004

The Holy Spirit motivates us to serve with love from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith by helping us to control our thoughts, emotions, and choices.

Thirteen Ways the Spirit Helps us Exhibit Self-Control Gal 5:23 - "The fruit of the Spirit is self-control." Illustration: A man from Michigan had an idea for removing a tree stump from the yard of a friend. He decided to use some dynamite he had stored away in his house. It did the trick. The ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Gifted (Part Six) Series

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jun 25, 2018

We've looked at six of the seven motivational gifts listed in Romans 12:6-8. Today we'll focus on the last one-mercy.

GIFTED (part six) We've looked at six of the spiritual gifts listed in Rom. 12:6-8. Today we'll focus on mercy. 1) The gift of mercy. The ability to minister cheerfully and appropriately to those who are suffering or undeserving; to spare them from their deserved punishment or consequences. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 78:38-39, 1 Timothy 1:13-16, Luke 10:30-37

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Our Confidence In God Series

Contributed by David Phaneuf on Jul 31, 2003

"I shall not want... I will not fear... I will dwell..." -- three great affirmations expressing confidence in God who provides for our needs, protects us from harm, and promises us abundant and eternal life.

GREAT STORIES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: OUR CONFIDENCE IN GOD (The Shepherds Psalm) Psalm 23 We have been looking at some of the Great STORIES of the Old Testament, stories of people and their encounters with God, stories of how God worked in someone’s life. Today’s sermon, however, is not strictly ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Denomination: United Methodist

I Know Your Schemes Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 29, 2002

Poetic reflection for Maundy Thursday, in which the Jesus who is about to go to the cross tells His disciples that He knows their schemes to harm, their unwillingness to travel difficult roads, and their failure to accept the burden of testimony, so that

"Oh, I know your thoughts, and your schemes to wrong me. ... Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony?” ‘Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me." They began to be distressed and to say to him one ...read more

Scripture: Job 21:27-29, Mark 14:18-20

Denomination: Baptist

The Invasion Of Islam, Pt. 2

Contributed by Dave Kinney on Jul 22, 2007

Jesus raised the dead and Mohammad killed the living. Jesus healed the sick and Mohammad harmed the healthy. Jesus released the oppressed and Mohammad enslaved the free! And it’s still happening today somewhere around the world!

I just want to go on record again as saying; these 2 weeks have not been a Muslim bashing, but rather it’s been an exposing of the mystery behind the veil that makes Islam so intriguing to its 1.5 billion followers. Last week we found out the complexity of the Muslim messenger and the confusion of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:15-20

Denomination: Baptist

Threats From Without - Dangers From Within Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Dec 18, 2005

Do you fear external forces will harm you? You are not alone, but you also don’t need to fear in Jesus. But - perhaps you are not aware of an internal danger that the enemy seeks to use against you.

What do you fear? One website lists the top ten fears among humans: 1-Fear of spiders, 2-Fear of people, 3-Fear of flying, 4-Fear of open spaces, 5-Claustrophobia, 6-Fear of vomiting, 7-Fear of heights, 8-Fear of cancer, 9-Fear of thunder & lightning, 10-Fear of death. The top five fears that ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-17

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Family Secrets Series

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Mar 22, 2018

Family secrets harm families. In Jacob's family, there was disunity and favoritism. Family secrets need to be brought into the open, where they can be dealt with. Families can change the way they deal with issues: truth, attitudes, and actions.

FAMILY SECRETS—Genesis 26:34-27:45 Are you familiar with the phrase, “the elephant in the room”? Imagine some people in a room, with an elephant in the middle of the room, but no one wants to recognize that the elephant is there. The people in the room talk about a lot of things, but no one ever ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed