Sermons on Human Effort:

He Prepared Not His Heart

Contributed by Greg Irby on Feb 28, 2009

It is necessary that we prepare our hearts to seek the Lord. If no care or effort is made in doing and making the heart right, it will go wrong.

HE PREPARED NOT HIS HEART 2 CHRONICLES 12 Text: 2 Chronicles 12:14 2 Chronicles 12:14 14 And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD. Introduction: In your study of the Word of God you have probably noticed that as a general rule, at the end of each king’s reign ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 12:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Searching For The End Of The Rainbow Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Apr 27, 2009

An effort to help people become wiser to the pitfalls of materialism and to accept contentment as a proactive way to live within God’s design

Open with skit - (complete skit is pasted below) You have to relate to some of the drive of Dorothy, scarecrow, the tin woodsman, and the lion. 4 characters, drawn together by what they have in common: they’re lacking something. In Frank Baum’s classic story, they’re all seeking to improve ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Finding A Quiet Place

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Jul 16, 2009

We need to recharge our batteries by finding a quiet place in order to give our full attention and effort to serving the Lord.

Mark 6: 30 – 34 / Finding A Quiet Place Intro: I would be willing to bet that the majority of you sitting here today are really sick! Let me describe some of the symptoms of your illness: 1) You complain you don’t have enough hours in the day, 2) at a stoplight, you get into the lane with the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-56

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Sodom & Gomorrah Pt. 1: A Byword For Depravity Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Feb 17, 2010

Our society is still as depraved as Sodom and Gomorrah was. Does God still judge with disasters in an effort to wake us up?

Read Matthew 24:3-8. The birth pains have begun my friends. Lloyd gave me these rocks that are from Haiti and as I watched CNN this week, I saw hundreds and thousands of people lying dead and alive underneath much larger pieces of rock from collapsed buildings. Bodies scattered on the sidewalks ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 19:1-11

Building A Community Of Benai Shalom Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 26, 2015

We aid each other in the effort to build an authentic community of people working together to do God’s will.

Thursday of 26th week in course 2015 Joy of the Gospel Last Thursday we heard the words of the prophet Haggai to the returning exiles–rebuild the Temple of the Lord. It would not have the glory of Solomon’s Temple, but it would be a place around which to restructure the worship of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

Being A Focused Christian Series

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Apr 10, 2015

Being focused believer takes effort and it takes determination. There are many distractions that can pull you away from a relationship with the Lord.

Being a focused Christian Thinking, Acting, Being like Jesus Matthew chapter 6:33 Introduction We are still in the series Thinking, Acting, Being like Jesus. Last week you remember we looked at the principal and relationship of prayer. We agreed that prayer works, and I asked that we do ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33

Denomination: Nazarene

How Impressive

Contributed by Craig Benner on May 17, 2017

What kind of an impression are you making? Is it temporal or is it eternal? Anyone can leave a mark, but it takes effort to leave a positive impression.

LASTING IMPRESSIONS Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. Acts 4:9-13 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:9-13

Denomination: Pentecostal

David And Saul's Jealousy

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Jun 7, 2019

1 Samuel 18:6-30 shows us Saul’s jealousy of David’s success and efforts to kill him.

Scripture God has rejected Saul as king over Israel, and David has been anointed as the future king over Israel. Later, the Philistines gathered their armies for battle against the armies of Israel. At this time young David killed the giant Goliath. The armies of Israel then routed the armies of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:6-30

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

An Ode To The Messed-Up Church Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 11, 2020

This passage details the numerous efforts the Paul made to get the Corinthians back on track and the harsh reality that some churches are just a mess.

- Maybe start with the story of Pastor Mark and church “J.” THE SITUATION FOR THIS MESSED-UP CHURCH: 1. Paul handled his ministry there with integrity. - 2 Corinthians 12:11-12, 17-19. 2. Paul sacrificed for them. - 2 Corinthians 12:13, 14b, 15-16. 3. This was not the first time he’d tried ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:11-21

Denomination: Baptist

Obedience Is The Key For Success: Part 2 Series

Contributed by Bala Samson on Jun 18, 2021

God is not going to ignore people who are obedient and who take all efforts to please God despite the inconveniences. Are you listening?

Obedience is the key for success: Part 2 Genesis 26:1”….So Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines.2 “The LORD appeared to him and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I shall tell you.” Obedience is the key for success: God is not going to ignore ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 26:1

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Danger Of Drifting

Contributed by Rick Boyne on Nov 4, 2025

We must anchor ourselves in the truth of Christ, lest we drift into destruction. Drifting never requires effort, only neglect.

The Danger of Drifting November 2, 2025, Morning Service Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK Rick Boyne Message Point: We must anchor ourselves in the truth of Christ, lest we drift into destruction. Focus Passage: Hebrews 2:1-4 (Pew Bible page 1373) Supplemental Passage: Therefore, since we ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:1-4, Hebrews 12:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

The Promise Of Peace

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Feb 22, 2024

Peace requires effort and intentionality, a conscious choice to turn away from the distractions and temptations that pull us away from God.

The Promise of Peace Scripture: John 14:27. Introduction: Peace requires effort and intentionality, a conscious choice to turn away from the distractions and temptations that pull us away from God. Reflection In the tumultuous seas of life, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, to lose sight of ...read more

Scripture: John 14:27

Denomination: Other

Resurrected Living

Contributed by David Scudder on Apr 12, 2009

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is much more than just an important event in human history. Those are two-thousand year old facts of history that we celebrate on Easter Sunday. But what do they mean to us today? Paul answers that question in to

Purpose: To explain the transformation that life in Christ brings. Aim: I want the listener to surrender to Christ’s forgiveness. INTRODUCTION: "The day after Easter, the newspaper headline read: ’Entire World Celebrates the Risen Christ.’ On the same page under smaller headings ran stories ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

You're Invited

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 21, 2025

God lovingly invites everyone to His eternal banquet; true acceptance means wearing Christ’s robe of righteousness, not our own efforts.

Section 1 – Introduction: The Search and the Invitation Picture the best church potluck you’ve ever attended. Tables sag under the weight of steaming casseroles, vege meatloaf, fragrant breads, and desserts that dare you to try “just one bite.” Everyone brings something, but nobody goes ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14, Luke 14:16-24, Isaiah 61:10, Ecclesiastes 3:11, Revelation 19:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Grace Alone 102925 PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 16, 2025

God’s grace meets us in our sin and need, offering true freedom and acceptance through faith in Jesus, not our own efforts.

Some of us arrived today feeling like life has been a long hallway of closed doors. You knocked on the door of good intentions and it stayed shut. You jiggled the handle of self-improvement and it wouldn’t budge. You leaned your ear to the keyhole of religious busyness and heard only your own ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:19-28, John 8:31-36

Topics: Grace, Justification